Montreal, April 23, 2008 – Les amis de la montagne, a charitable registered organization dedicated to the protection of Mount Royal, will present their memorandum tonight on the draft Mount Royal Protection and Enhancement Plan as part of the consultations being held by the Montreal Public Consultation Bureau.

According to Sylvie Guilbault, executive director of Les amis de la montagne, “The draft plan prepared by the City of Montreal draws a precise picture of the state of the mountain and its various heritage assets, and of the principal challenges and problems the municipal administration faces in the coming years.”

Sylvie Guilbault will recommend, however, that an overall vision for the mountain be elaborated, in order to orient protection objectives and determine priorities, and develop guarantees for the execution and follow-up of the announced protection and enhancement measures.

More fundamental still to Les amis de la montagne is the fact that the plan omits any form of widespread discussion in advance of the decision-making processes leading to the elaboration of projects or approvals for development.

Les amis de la montagne are convinced that the stated objectives of the plan will never be achieved unless Montrealers are given the opportunity to appropriate this great project. The adoption of this project can only be made possible through the creation of mechanisms that allow the dissemination of information, that ensure transparency in the decision-making process and that truly involve of citizens and different mountain partners in the protection and enhancement of Mount Royal.

Click here for a copy of Les amis de la montagne’s memorandum (in French).

Information:
Gabrielle Korn
Director of Communications
Les amis de la montagne
514 843-8240 ext. 237