A plea to protect the
Technoparc Wetlands

Alexandre Boulerice writes to Justin Trudeau requesting the protection of an important urban ecosystem

February 7, 2022

The Green Coalition wishes to express its complete support for the letter written by Alexandre Boulerice, MP for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie and NDP Deputy Leader, the letter he has just sent to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Honourable Justin Trudeau.

In his letter, Mr. Boulerice calls upon the Prime Minister and the Government of Canada to protect the integrity of the Technoparc wetland ecosystem in its entirety. Once again, Mr. Boulerice makes a public appeal for the protection of our environment and for our urban wetlands. This position of the New Democratic Party is a very important contribution to the national debate on the critical biodiversity of the Technoparc ecosystem north of Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau Airport in Montreal.

Mr. Alexandre Boulerice’s letter is particularly important and pertinent to the Technoparc file, and the Green Coalition reproduces it below:

Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada

February 7th, 2022

On January 11, 2022, Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) announced that the Medicom Group, through its affiliate Meltech Innovation Canada, would not be proceeding with its construction project on federal lands known as the Monarch Fields. The Monarch Fields are part of the last large unprotected marshland and riverine ecosystem on the island of Montreal. These 215 hectares of rare wildlife habitats – the size of Mount Royal Park – located north of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, known as the Technoparc, are in need of formal protection.

The cancellation of this development project is a testament to the mobilization of citizens for this natural space. I ask you to take advantage of this moment – when the City of Montreal wants to protect the lands under its jurisdiction – to commit to protecting the federal lands in the sector. Your government often talks about your objectives of protecting 30% of the land by 2030. Now it is time to act.

As I am sure you are aware, Canada has already lost 90% of its urban wetlands – that is why the Technoparc ecosystem is so important.

In his letter of September 1, 2021 addressed directly to you, Mr. Prime Minister, the Honourable Clifford Lincoln, former Quebec Minister of the Environment, spoke for many citizens: “ADM’s mission is to run an airport, and not to become a commercial developer on public land held in trust by the Government of Canada on behalf of all Canadians. The solution is to establish permanent protective status on the federal lands north of the airport.”

I ask you to act now to protect the Technoparc wetland ecosystem.

Alexandre Boulerice
MP for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie
Chef Adjoint du NPD

For more information:

David Fletcher: fletcherdavid@me.com • 438-526-7684
Patrick Barnard: pbarnard@videotron.ca • 514-463-0573

Feature image: Virginia Rail and downy chick, by Ilana Block

Read other articles about the Monarch Fields

The Green Coalition – representing more than 80 citizens groups dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Environment. Founded in 1988.