20 – Responsibilities of the city

Who is responsible for protecting the health of the citizens of the city of Beaconsfield? This central question explains more than 30 years of delays caused by the refusal of the city of Beaconsfield to share this responsibility. Let us recall the facts:

FACT : One third of the Beaconsfield residents suffer

• 1000 homes and 4 schools in a quiet neighborhood
• A calm boulevard transformed into a highway
• Those residents were not consulted and they are not responsible
• But they suffer daily the toxic effects
• This has been an unfairness for more than 30 years
• “These residents suffered enough” said the Transport minister

FACT: The Beaconsfield Polluted Corridor

Three facts have long been scientifically established:

• Noise and air pollution along highways is a major cause of disease, a public health problem that attacks the quality of life of residents.
• The most dangerous area is a 250-300 meter corridor on each side of the highway.
• The city of Beaconsfield was informed by the MTQ of the excessive level of noise pollution during measurements along the 20 in 1987 and in 2010 (made at its request).

FACT: The MTQ’s three proposals in Beaconsfield

Consequently, the MTQ proposed mitigation measures in 1987, in 2010 and again in 2015. This latter proposal will materialize with the publication of a preliminary study by the MTQ in 2020.

All of these proposals were in line with the Road noise policy (1998) which shares with the cities the responsibility for implementing mitigation measures along existing highways.

FACT: Many cities accepted the MTQ proposals

Many cities have benefited from this policy for 30 years and contributed to 50% of the costs of acoustic barriers on their territory. The mayors of Longueuil and of Baie d’Urfé are among the last mayors to sign such agreements in 2019. Both have mentioned the same intention of protecting the health and quality of life of their citizens.

FACT: Beaconsfield Refuses to Help Protect the Quality of Life of Its Citizens

Everyone accepts MTQ’s proposals, all are on the same wavelength EXCEPT … here in Beaconsfield.
Each time, the Beaconsfield administration refuses to help solve this public health problem and to improve the quality of life of its citizens.

FACT: A unique proposition in Quebec

Yet in September 2015, then Minister of Transport Robert Poëti made a unique proposition to Beaconsfield: “The residents of Beaconsfield have suffered enough.” He proposed a 25-75 split of costs for acoustic barriers at Beaconsfield. This is a unique proposition in Quebec!

But the mayor refused to commit and he wants to hold a referendum on a subject where he has full authority.

CONCLUSION: It’s about responsibility

After more than 30 years of stubbornness from municipal administrations in Beaconsfield and the openness of all these other administrations elsewhere in Quebec, a central question arises:

The city of Beaconsfield appears to be the only one not responsible for protecting the health and quality of life of its citizens on its territory along the highway.

We study this central question by distinguishing three types of municipal responsibilities:

• Legal responsibility;
• Moral and social responsibility;
• Environmental responsibility