Category Archives: North Hatley Communications

Letter from Michel Clairoux and Robert Benoit to Premier Couillard

Put your rubber boots back on, Mr Couillard

The Memphrémagog MRC has just adopted a by-law which will allow North Hatley to make a major development in a high current flood zone (0-20 years); only 4 weeks after the disaster that struck 261 municipalities in Quebec. Should we be surprised? No.

While the flooding was at its worst, Mr Couillard, his rubber boots on, was pleading that people stay in their houses for ever. Millions of dollars were made available. That is all very well. We acknowledge that we are collectively responsible for past mistakes. However, didn’t our Premier declare we must learn from those mistakes and rethink, as a society, our vision of development in flood zone areas?

Is the MRC to blame for going forward? No. The MRC is simply playing its role as an MRC. In addition, Mayors will note five ministries have studied the case. None of these mayors feel like they have the right to take this opportunity away from North Hatley. They will emphasize that North Hatley has choice. They are right.

Will North Hatley adopt the project? Surely. The MRC gave the town the right to do it. North Hatley plays its role as a municipality. North Hatley is in critical need of tax revenue.

Then, the developer will be blamed. ‘Unthinkable’ say many, ‘that he still believes in building there.’ Wrong. The developer plays his role as a developer. Five years ago, he was told all this was possible. He was required to supply dozens of expert reports. He invested. He believes in it. If there is blame, it shouldn’t fall on him.

Then who? Who will be responsible in 5 or 10 years when millions of dollars will be needed for funding flood victims?

The North Hatley project is based on Art. 5.3 of Protection of Shoreline Littoral and Food Zones Policy (Politique de protection des rives, du littoral et des plaines inondables). To meet the mandatory target of urban density (75%), the authorities, like magic, excluded parks and parking from their calculations. That is the way to authorize over 200 new households in a flood area for a municipality who doesn’t even count 700 permanent residents.

North Hatley is one example out of so many others. All the local administrations are caught under the stranglehold of economic development ; they sincerely believe they must grow and expand.

The flood zone’s future belongs neither to North Hatley nor to the Memphrémagog MRC. It belongs to you, Mister Premier, to put your rubber boots back on and decree a moratorium on all such projects. Then, we will feel this Symposium, recently announced for next Fall, will lead toward a real vision for the future.

Michel Clairoux, President, Everblue Massawippi; Robert Benoit, President, Memphrémagog Conservation Inc.

The opinions expressed on this website are those of their authors. Space on the website is provided as a service to the community and FANHCA, its administrators and host cannot be held responsible for any of the opinions expressed thereon.

A comment from Russell Pocock

I am not a resident although I operate a stand at the Saturday Market and North Hatley is a village close to my heart. The idea that, in all situations, there is an opportunity for opposing sides to discuss appeals to me. If it can work in war-torn Colombia, there might even be a chance in North Hatley!

I would imagine a workshop including all interested players where we begin with everyone sharing what they love about North Hatley. That establishes common ground. Then we could move to what everyone hopes for North Hatley going forward, and why.

When visions emerge with differences or even clashes, there needs to be both “safe time and space” for positive exchanges to take place (rants, raised voices and ultimatums must be left at the entrance to the room) and a possibility to work towards consensus – which may involve an acceptable compromise for everyone involved.

If it is felt that things are at an impasse, it may be time for some mediation or conflict resolution exercises, and there are people with such expertise around North Hatley or in the Canton.

The opinions expressed on this website are those of their authors. Space on the website is provided as a service to the community and FANHCA, its administrators and host cannot be held responsible for any of the opinions expressed thereon.

Lettre de M. Paul St-Pierre à La Tribune, Sherbrooke

11 mai 2017

Étant donné les inondations importantes actuellement à proximité de Montréal et dans l’ouest du Québec actuellement – l’Estrie n’ayant été épargnée cette fois que dû à une anomalie dans le jet stream – il n’est absolument pas logique que la MRC de Memphrémagog envisage d’approuver la construction de résidences et de commerces à North Hatley dans une zone inondable connue et bien identifiée.

Un représentant du ministère de l’Environnement a déclaré à maintes reprises qu’il est certain que la zone préconisée pour le développement va s’inonder – la question n’est pas de savoir s’il y aura inondation, mais à quelle fréquence et avec quelle sévérité. Pourquoi la possibilité de permettre la construction dans la zone inondable à North Hatley est-elle encore envisagée, en particulier dans les parties de la zone où les inondations seront les plus désastreuses, les parties ‘à grande vélocité’?

Nous ne devons plus faire les autruches; il faut comprendre ce qui se passe de plus en plus souvent, les risques que cela implique pour les résidents et les coûts énormes que cela représente pour tous les contribuables. Pourquoi augmenter ces risques et ces coûts inutilement? Il y a d’autres espaces à North Hatley qui peuvent être développés – construisons sur ceux-là.

Paul St-Pierre