Opposition to future air corridor in Lachine

Taking advantage of the annual public meeting of the Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), the demonstrators put pressure on the association to relocate flights back to Mirabel as quickly as possible to avoid heavy air traffic in densely populated residential areas like Lachine, Dorval, St. Laurent and Bordeaux-Cartierville.

Lachine Borough has already taken a position against the implementation of this air corridor in its area during a council meeting last March. A citizens’ committee was immediately formed in Lachine under former councillor and mayor Jean-Marc Hétu to oppose this ADM project. The ADM is responsible for managing the Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau airport in Dorval.

Noushig Eloyan, leader of the official opposition in Montreal City Hall and municipal councillor for Bordeaux-Cartierville is demanding that the ADM put an end to all night flights crossing over residential districts.

The residents of Saraguay and Cartierville have been contesting the ADM’s decision – allowing night flights over their areas - for a year and a half now. “Letting the planes fly over Lachine does not solve the problem”, said Mrs. Eloyan. The time has come for all of us to challenge ADM management about the deterioration of the quality of life of residents.”

During the annual public meeting of the Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) last Thursday, a massive number of residents managed to impose the holding of a public debate on noise pollution, particularly the inconveniences caused by night flights. “It was a victory for all the men and women who are fighting to improve their quality of life”, Mrs. Eloyan said.

Marlene Jennings, MNA for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Lachine riding, filed a motion for the government to issue a ruling to the effect “that all night flights (between 23h00 and 7h00) landing at, and taking off from, Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau airport be suspended.”

“Ever since Dorval Airport started to deal with surplus passenger traffic coming from Mirabel, the residents of the West Island have been complaining about the noise in residential zones”, the Liberal MNA for the federal government stated.

“The relocation of an air corridor from one area to another and the increase in the number of flights taking off and landing between 23h00 and 7h00 not only disturbs the lives of residents of the West Island, but also constitutes a health risk”, Mrs. Jennings declared. As long as the ADM does not take concrete measures to limit the number of flights, I shall continue to put pressure on the Chamber until my motion is adopted.”

The Liberal deputy also wrote the Minister of Transportation, Lawrence Cannon to convince him to take regulatory measures that will limit the discretionary powers of the ADM regarding night flights with the exception of night flights that are due to a medical urgency, delays that are beyond the control of the carriers, bad weather conditions, or Canadian military flight operations.