Concession 25 workers were on the job, Thursday preparing the way, south of Leéesque Blvd., corner of Roger-Lortie Avenue, for the construction of two pylons needed to support steel cables for the future bridge.
(Photo: Martin Alarie)
Injunction considered by Coalition opposed to A-25 project
The work on the extension of Highway 25 that got underway this past Wednesday has stirred the green Coalition that still hopes to take out an injunction that would immediately put the brakes on the project.
"A decision will be made early next week," jointly stated Andre Porlier and Steven Guilbeault, of the CRE (Conseil régional de l'environnement) de Montréal and Équiterre, respectively, describing as "reckless, arrogant, and irresponsible" the decision of the Charest government to issue construction permits on February 14, while the matter was still before the courts.
"That same day, government prosecutors met with our attorneys to set a new date for the court procedures which were supposed to have opened February 7," said an irritated André Porlier.
After obtaining a delay in the proceedings due to medical leave on the part of its attorney, two days before, "Bingo … the government tries to confront us with a done deal by instigating the start of the construction work," and this with no regard for the judicial process, deplores the CRE de Montreal director-general.
A June date
To this end, Mr. Porlier emphasizes that due to the urgency of the situation, the tribunal had accepted, in autumn, to move up the hearing into the legality of the government decree, in order to hear the arguments before work was to begin. Ironically, the court hearing scheduled for May 2008 will finally take place this coming June 2 to June 11.
Accoring to Greenpeace, it is imperative to let the judicial process unfold in view of the public nature of the extension of Highway 25. "Otherwise, we have a serious problem in Quebec," says Arthur Sandborn, coordinator of the Greenpeace Climate and Energy Campaign. "If all the Private-Public Partnerships (PPP) (are allowed to) escape the oversight of the BAPE (Bureau des audiences publiques en environnement), we're going back 50 years in relation to the evalauation of projects in Quebec," he concludes.
The judicial steps taken by the Coalition March 30, 2006 precisely envisaged the invalidation of the process of examination and consultation conducted in 2005, while it was only in 2007 that details of the project and the identity of the developer were made public, it should be known.
Photo:897
(Photo: Martin Alarie)
Météo: Laval, 22 mai 2008 / 12°C
/ Faible averse de pluie
/ Vents: 9 Km/h / Humidité relative: 67 % 
Steven Guilbeault - 
