Il faut remettre vos bottes, monsieur Couillard

La MRC de Memphrémagog vient d’adopter un règlement qui permettra à North Hatley le développement d’une zone inondable de grand courant (0-20 ans); seulement 4 semaines après le désastre qui a frappé 261 municipalités du Québec. Faut-il s’en surprendre? Non.

Au plus fort de la crise, monsieur Couillard, bottes aux pieds, ne pouvait envisager, par respect humain, de déraciner les gens de leur quartier. Il a débloqué des centaines de millions. Fort bien. Nous sommes solidaires, collectivement responsables des erreurs du passé. Mais le premier ministre n’a-t-il pas déclaré du même souffle qu’on profiterait de cette leçon pour remettre en question toute construction en zone inondable?

Faut-il blâmer la MRC d’aller de l’avant? Non. La MRC joue son rôle de MRC. Les maires vous diront que 5 ministères ont étudié le dossier. Aucun d’eux ne se sent le droit de priver North Hatley de cette opportunité. Ils ajouteront que North Hatley a le choix. Ils ont raison.

Est-ce que North Hatley continuera? Certainement. La MRC lui donne le droit d’agir. Elle joue son rôle de municipalité. Elle a cruellement besoin de revenus.

Alors on blâmera le promoteur. Impensable dira-t-on, qu’il veuille construire. On aura tort. Le promoteur joue son rôle de promoteur. Depuis 5 ans, on lui dit que c’est possible à coup de dizaines de rapport d’experts. Il a investi. Il y croit. S’il faut trouver un coupable, ce n’est pas lui.

Alors qui? Qui sera imputable quand, dans 5 ou 10 ans, il faudra trouver des millions par solidarité ?

Le dossier de North Hatley est fondé sur l’article 5.3 de la Politique de protection des rives, du littoral et des plaines inondables. Pour atteindre la densité urbaine de 75% qu’elle exige, on exclut, comme par magie, parcs et stationnements. On permettra ainsi 200 nouvelles résidences en zone inondable dans une municipalité dont la population permanente n’atteint pas 700.

Le cas de North Hatley n’est qu’un exemple. Toutes les administrations municipales sont aujourd’hui prises dans l’étau du développement économique; elles croient sincèrement devoir continuer.

L’avenir des zones inondables n’appartient ni à North Hatley ni à la MRC de Memphrémagog. C’est à vous, monsieur le premier ministre, qu’il appartient de remettre vos bottes pour déposer un moratoire et démontrer que, de cette réflexion annoncée pour l’automne, découlera un véritable projet de société.

Michel Clairoux, président, Bleu Massawippi; Robert Benoit, président, Memphrémagog Conservation Inc.

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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.

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.