The City of Sainte-Thérèse requests Canadian Pacific to cease clear-cutting along the railway track
In April of this year, the Canadian Pacific (CP) company began cutting down healthy mature trees on its own land along the railway track near the level crossings in Sainte-Thérèse. Following complaints from residents on Rue de Rouen and Rue des Ormes, located near Rue Blainville Ouest, Mayor Christian Charron, District Councillor Héloïse Bélanger, and the Urban Planning and Sustainable Development Department have exerted pressure to immediately halt this clear-cutting.
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The City of Sainte-Thérèse is thus requesting CP to commit to ceasing these unacceptable practices nationwide, adopting a comprehensive vegetation control policy that is environmentally conscious, and adequately informing municipalities of any upcoming work by detailing the safety reasons given.
“This abusive tree cutting is unacceptable. It has a direct impact on the quality of life of our citizens and the environment. In the context of a climate emergency, preserving trees that are not diseased or posing a danger is everyone’s responsibility, including CP. The municipal council wishes to reiterate its demand to the officials of the Canadian Pacific company and Transport Canada to immediately cease the clear-cutting and develop a protocol for maintaining greenery while ensuring safety,” said Mayor Christian Charron of Sainte-Thérèse.
“There is evidently a legal loophole when it comes to preserving nature on private property. Theoretically, CP could eliminate all green spaces on its land without any valid reason and spread herbicides everywhere, and it would not be illegal, although absolutely immoral in the current context where the environmental contribution of trees in urban areas is absolutely necessary, especially to counteract the effects of heat islands,” added District Councillor Héloïse Bélanger.
“Last week, I informed the Federal Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra, about the situation and urged CP to stop behaving recklessly without caring for a single moment about the consequences their actions could have on the environment and the citizens of Sainte-Thérèse. While we recognize the company’s right to act for safety reasons, that does not exempt CP from doing so in a reasonable and responsible manner, respecting the citizens and the environment. Acting wildly like this, clearing everything to avoid having to bother, is not the kind of behavior expected from a good corporate citizen,” said the Member of Parliament for Thérèse-De Blainville, Louise Chabot.
At present, CP has informed the City of Sainte-Thérèse that only half of the pruning work at one of the three level crossings near Rue Blainville Ouest has been completed, and further operations are planned near the level crossings on Rue Turgeon and Rue Saint-Louis in June. CP has also mentioned its intention to use herbicides to prevent vegetation regrowth. In response, the City of Sainte-Thérèse, in collaboration with the office of the federal Member of Parliament for the Thérèse-De Blainville riding, Louise Chabot, will continue to exert pressure on CP and Transport Canada in favor of these changes.
