Ottawa blocks aerodrome project in Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan

The federal Minister of Transport, Marc Garneau, decided Friday in the thorny issue, with a decree that prohibits the implementation of the project as proposed by the sponsor.

Marc Garneau justified his decision by referring to gaps in the process of consulting the project and a lack of clarity in evaluating its impacts.

The lack of clarity about anticipated activities at the aerodrome and the impact on the community of the audio footprint confirm the need for action on the record.

According to the Canadian Aviation Regulations, it is up to the proponent to conduct the consultations and the assessment of the impacts of their project, which they must then summarize in a report submitted to the federal Department of Transport. Then it is up to the latter to accept or reject the project.

Lack of social acceptability

Like their neighbors in Mascouche, the citizens of Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan had mobilized against the SRA developer's aerodrome project.

Photo: CBC / Delphine Jung

However, the construction of this small private airport was rejected 96% in a referendum held in the municipality on August 11, the citizens feared in particular for their quality of life and the financial and environmental costs of the project.

The mayor of Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan, Yves Prud'homme, welcomed Ottawa's decision, noting that the citizens were able to demonstrate to the federal government that this project was not in place. public interest.

We can only be extremely satisfied. Labor Day will begin! he exclaimed in an interview with The Canadian Press.

The airport that the SRA group planned to build in Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan was to be located on farmland along Highway 25, where there are few residences. But the presence of a large, well-used campground 1.5 kilometers away was a problem.

The air traffic generated by the aerodrome also worried the citizens of a peaceful rural area, who also feared to be stuck with the infrastructure and associated costs in the event of closure or relocation.

It was originally in Mascouche that the promoter SRA wanted to install his aerodrome, but again, the project had not emerged for environmental reasons and social acceptability.