Citizens of Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve have received from the City of Montreal an “important opinion” asking them to keep closed doors and windows, but also to limit the outings of their domestic animals not far from the railways of the National Canadian (CN). The reason? The company had to spread a glyphosate pesticide, which was done on Tuesday. However, the use of this prohibited product in Montreal raises strong criticism.
The CN regularly proceeds to this type of spreading pesticide everywhere in Canada, in order to eliminate the vegetation that grows in the immediate grip of the railway. In Montreal, such spreads take place in residential sectors, such as Tuesday in the district of Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
In anticipation of work at the schedule this week, the City had also distributed an “important opinion” to residents of the sectors affected by the “herbicide spreading operation” along the Avenue Soulignery. In some places, the railway is located just over twenty meters from the residences.
In its opinion, the city recalls that products “prohibited by municipal regulations” are used by the CN, adding that “the CN is not subject to municipal regulations within the framework of its activities”. The document therefore asks citizens to “take certain precautions during and after the interventions planned”, a message which is addressed in particular to those which remain “in the immediate vicinity of the intervention zone”.
“Keep your windows and closed doors”, “avoid circulating near the railway” and “limit the outings of your pets near the railway”, can be read in the “general precautions” to take.
“Probable carcinogen”
The CN recognizes directly on its website the use of glyphosate, recalling that this substance designed to kill the vegetation in a non -selective manner is authorized in Canada. In 2015, the International Center for Research on Cancer, an agency of the World Health Organization, however ranked glyphosate as a probable carcinogen for humans. A decision that has been challenged, but the effects of pesticides on the environment, on which we depend directly, have been largely documented.
The City of Montreal also prohibited in 2021 the sale and use of glyphosate on its territory, saying applying a “precautionary principle” in the face of risks to human health and the environment. The use of a glyphosate pesticide, however, remains authorized “in a rail transport corridor”.
Ronald Daignault, from the Mercier-Est environment collective, remains near the CN way. Even if he has been in the sector for several years, it is the first time that he has received such a “important opinion” concerning the use of pesticides by the CN. He says he is worried about these operations of spreading such a product in a residential area and would like the CN to find another solution to eliminate the vegetation.
“The City of Montreal takes all measures in its power to protect the health of citizens, as evidenced by the opinion to the residents transmitted by the district of Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. The operation, which is now completed, was supervised by the municipal inspectors, who made sure that the conditions of application were rigorously respected, ”explains the city by email.
Canceled spreading
Resident of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and member of the mobilization in favor of the protection of green spaces located between the Ray-Mont Logistics industrial project (RML) and the residential sector located nearby, Elisabeth Greene also deplores the use of the controversial pesticide.
“We do not understand why our federal government allows the use of this product near dwellings and in ecologically sensitive sectors. We ask for a legislative tightening about the use of glyphosate on the railways, ”she argues.
The CN had considered spreading on railways located on the ground nicknamed “the wasteland” and with green spaces which are frequented by citizens and their children. Citizens who have integrated this land into their neighborhood life want the use of a pesticide to be excluded.
However, the city said Tuesday that “according to discussions with the arrondissement and the city, the CN and its contractor decided not to spread on the railway which runs along the RML and the Boisé Vimont. In this sector, unused railroad tracks are found in this sector, but also green spaces which are connected to two wooded, including the Steinberg wood. More than 140 species of birds have been identified in the sector, some of which are in danger.
By email, the CN explains that the management of vegetation on the tracks is an obligation. “Under the Act respecting rail safety, the CN has the obligation to control the vegetation located on the railroad or in the immediate vicinity of it. The vegetation along the track must be controlled to protect the lines of view of the train teams, to prevent the trees from falling on the track during storms, to ensure good drainage along the ditches and the ponceaux, and for other requirements related to safety. It is mainly mechanically controlled, by mowing. The interview was completed as planned this week in the Montreal-East region. »»
