Elected officials call on federal government to protect biodiversity in Montreal

Montreal elected officials from various levels of government are calling on the Liberal government to better protect biodiversity on federal lands in Montreal.

Montreal elected officials from various levels of government formed a common front Friday, calling on the Liberal government to better protect biodiversity on federally owned lands in the city.

NDP deputy leader Alexandre Boulerice led the green offensive, flanked by members of Quebec’s national assembly and local borough mayors.

The group wants the federal government to protect the technoparc wetlands north of Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport.

READ MORE: Setback for Dorval Technoparc as feds reject calls, petition to protect area

“A decision has to be made. Either we’re letting the Montreal airport administration have the final word or we are not,” said Katherine Collin, Technoparc Oiseaux and defender of the green space.

The technoparc is an ecologically sensitive area that includes wetlands, is home to 200 species of birds and is a refuge for monarch butterflies and other at-risk pollinators.

On Wednesday the federal transport minister rejected a petition to protect lands saying in a statement, “the government of Canada cannot unilaterally intervene to transform lands under the management of the airport into a national urban park, in accordance with the terms of the lease.”

Boulerice disagrees with the government’s assessment calling it a falsehood.