When it comes to the protection of natural environments in southern Quebec, unfortunately we often have the impression of playing in the same film over and over again. This time, Faubert is talking about the Earth, in Chateauguay, a former agricultural land which now represents the largest remaining green space in Châteauguay and the only green space in the neighborhood. We find, on this ground of 28 hectares, wooded areas and wetlands. And, guess what ? A developer wants to do residential development there. The City says that citizens will be able to participate in the development of the Special Urban Plan (PPU), but warns that there will be residential development in this area one way or another. Valleyfield and Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac BEC (Woodlands and ecology Châteauguay), However, for several months we have been asking the city of Châteauguay to carry out a characterization study of its entire territory before continuing blind residential development.. This application, for the moment, has still not been accepted by the council. We therefore continue to destroy the remaining natural environments without even knowing their importance and their wealth.. It is “business as usual !” And Quebec’s commitment, during the COP 15 held in Montreal in December 2022 to protect 30 % of the territory here 2030 and restore 30 % degraded ecosystems ? We'll think about that later… This is why MARE decided to support the citizen group “Let's save the earth in Faubert”. It is only through citizen pressure that we can really manage to change our old ways of doing things in order to place the protection of ecosystems at the heart of priorities.. This group has also filed, the 13 last may, a petition of more than 3700 names in order to request the protection of woodlands and wetlands on the land in Faubert. It is still time, if you wish it, to add your name to this petition.

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MARE present during the public consultation

Last May, MARE gave its support to the Châteauguay citizen group “Let's save the Earth in Faubert“. a former agricultural land which now represents the largest remaining green space in Châteauguay and the only green space in the neighborhood. We find, on this ground of 28 hectares, wooded areas and wetlands.

The City invites citizens to participate in the development of the Special Urban Plan (PPU), but warns that there will be residential development in this area one way or another.

Valleyfield and Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-LacBEC (Woodlands and ecology Châteauguay), However, for several months we have been asking the city of Châteauguay to carry out a characterization study of its entire territory in order to stop indiscriminate residential development..

This is why MARE was present at the public consultation of the 20 June, in order to submit a document.

Here are excerpts :

“Why is MARE concerned about the residential development of former agricultural land left abandoned? ? Should environmental movements always oppose any new development?, whether residential or industrial, without taking into account the housing crisis and the needs of our economy ?

Actually, what MARE asks of elected officials at all levels of government, it is to take into account scientific advice and to stop wanting to carry out economic development in an isolated manner without taking into account the reality of the environmental crises that we nevertheless face..

MARE is therefore participating in the citizen consultation on the development of Terre Faubert to ask the city of Châteauguay to adapt the organization of its territory's planning in order to take into account the climate and biodiversity crises and to intensify its efforts to protect and restore natural environments. The recommendations that we propose to the city of Châteauguay are in harmony with those issued by groups of experts (IPCC, Group of experts on adaptation to climate change (GEA) mandated by the government of Quebec to make recommendations) as well as with the new OGAT(Government guidelines for land use planning) which were published in May 2024 and will come into force in December this year.

Our three recommendations are as follows: :

1) Characterize all of its natural and semi-natural environments in order to establish an effective conservation and development strategy.

2) Establish a conservation target representative of different types of ecosystems of at least 30 % of the territory and a restoration plan for 30 % degraded ecosystems.

3) Aim for zero land artificialization, and therefore stop the loss of natural environments and agricultural land.”