Spring Update: March 23, 2013
After a long winter hiatus, it's high time for an update.
Couillard Sandpit Exploitation
When we last communicated in the fall, we were under the impression that the Attorney General of Quebec, acting for MDDEP, was intending to continue pressing for an injunction against Couillard for environmental violations, despite having lost their first attempt at a preliminary injunction in early September.
Then in early January, our lawyer, Franklin Gertler, finally received word from the Ministry that the case had been dropped because it had become moot.
"Nous nous sommes désistés de notre injonction puisque celle-ci était devenue théorique."
Of course no one witnessing the ongoing devastation at Rockhurst and 105 would consider the matter moot, but that's what they said.
Disappointing.
We thank Franklin for the time and effort he put into this matter on our behalf, the donors who made it possible for SOS to retain him, and the neighbours who provided witness statements. We will try to archive the background material in the Wakefield Library, and this website remains active as a testament to the event.
On a more positive note, however:
The Spring Remains Healthy
We have been monitoring the water quality throughout construction, alongside the municipality and other players. While some wells in the area were affected by the blasting, we are pleased to report that water quality at the spring has remained excellent and it continues to be a great place to fill your bottles.
Source Protection Plan
One of the primary objectives of SOS since inception in 2011 has been to convince the Municipality to adopt a formal source protection strategy.
We’re very happy to report that the Municipality has acted on this. A budget has been allocated and a call for tenders has been issued for a source water protection study, with a closing date at the end of this month. Once a contractor is hired, we will continue to be engaged in providing advice as well as monitoring the process to ensure that the study is done well and the recommendations eventually implemented.
And finally:
CPAWS Event in Wakefield on March 26
The Canadian Parks And Wilderness Society Ottawa Valley chapter is hosting an event at the Black Sheep Inn at 7:30PM on Tuesday March 26th.
CPAWS will introduce its organization through a short presentation on the history of the chapter and its Gatineau Park campaign.
The film "Borealis" will be screened, followed by an informal meet and greet with the attendees.
Please come and encourage CPAWs to take part in the work of habitat remediation and tree re-planting that will be needed after the highway construction is finished.
Couillard Sandpit Exploitation
When we last communicated in the fall, we were under the impression that the Attorney General of Quebec, acting for MDDEP, was intending to continue pressing for an injunction against Couillard for environmental violations, despite having lost their first attempt at a preliminary injunction in early September.
Then in early January, our lawyer, Franklin Gertler, finally received word from the Ministry that the case had been dropped because it had become moot.
"Nous nous sommes désistés de notre injonction puisque celle-ci était devenue théorique."
Of course no one witnessing the ongoing devastation at Rockhurst and 105 would consider the matter moot, but that's what they said.
Disappointing.
We thank Franklin for the time and effort he put into this matter on our behalf, the donors who made it possible for SOS to retain him, and the neighbours who provided witness statements. We will try to archive the background material in the Wakefield Library, and this website remains active as a testament to the event.
On a more positive note, however:
The Spring Remains Healthy
We have been monitoring the water quality throughout construction, alongside the municipality and other players. While some wells in the area were affected by the blasting, we are pleased to report that water quality at the spring has remained excellent and it continues to be a great place to fill your bottles.
Source Protection Plan
One of the primary objectives of SOS since inception in 2011 has been to convince the Municipality to adopt a formal source protection strategy.
We’re very happy to report that the Municipality has acted on this. A budget has been allocated and a call for tenders has been issued for a source water protection study, with a closing date at the end of this month. Once a contractor is hired, we will continue to be engaged in providing advice as well as monitoring the process to ensure that the study is done well and the recommendations eventually implemented.
And finally:
CPAWS Event in Wakefield on March 26
The Canadian Parks And Wilderness Society Ottawa Valley chapter is hosting an event at the Black Sheep Inn at 7:30PM on Tuesday March 26th.
CPAWS will introduce its organization through a short presentation on the history of the chapter and its Gatineau Park campaign.
The film "Borealis" will be screened, followed by an informal meet and greet with the attendees.
Please come and encourage CPAWs to take part in the work of habitat remediation and tree re-planting that will be needed after the highway construction is finished.
Quebec Ministry of Environment finally files for Injunction against Couillard Construction. Hearing to take place Tuesday Sept. 4.
August 31, 2012 -- After months of protest and lobbying, SOS Wakefield is pleased to hear that the Ministry of Environment, Parks and Sustainable Development (MDDEP) filed a motion for a provisional injunction against Couillard Construction this morning in a Montreal courtroom.
The Quebec Attorney General put forward the motion for a provisional injunction this morning, but the defendant asked for and obtained the postponement of the case until Tuesday, September 4 in Practice Court, #2.16, Montreal Court House. Once the provisional is heard in Montreal, the case will return to Gatineau for the interlocutory and final injunction hearings.
SOS Wakefield steering committee members learned about these moves in a private meeting this morning with Stephanie Vallée and Quebec Environment Minister Pierre Arcand in Wakefield, Quebec.
“We are happy to know that our concerns around the illegal exploitation of the Rockhurst sandpit in Wakefield, and the potential risks it poses for 5000 users of the Wakefield Spring, have finally been heard at the highest levels in the Ministry of the Environment” states SOS chair Peter Andree.
“Stephanie Vallée has come through on her promise to work to protect the Wakefield Spring, made on Radio Canada on August 9, first by helping to move a source protection strategy in La Pêche forward, and now by encouraging the Ministry of Environment to act against Couillard” notes Bob Gibson of SOS Wakefield.
SOS Wakefield hopes that the court will impose an immediate injunction halting the removal of sand and filling of clay at the Rockhurst sandpit until Couillard Construction has a proper Certificate of Authorization and a full hydrogeological study of potential impacts on the Spring is completed.
Download Application for Injunction (large PDF file)
Media Contacts:
Peter Andrée (English, Francais)
Chair, SOS Wakefield
pandree@nexicom.net
819-459-1450
Bob Gibson (English)
Bob.gibson42@gmail.com
819-459-8870
Louis Molgat (Francais, English)
lmolgat@gmail.com
819-459-1481
The Quebec Attorney General put forward the motion for a provisional injunction this morning, but the defendant asked for and obtained the postponement of the case until Tuesday, September 4 in Practice Court, #2.16, Montreal Court House. Once the provisional is heard in Montreal, the case will return to Gatineau for the interlocutory and final injunction hearings.
SOS Wakefield steering committee members learned about these moves in a private meeting this morning with Stephanie Vallée and Quebec Environment Minister Pierre Arcand in Wakefield, Quebec.
“We are happy to know that our concerns around the illegal exploitation of the Rockhurst sandpit in Wakefield, and the potential risks it poses for 5000 users of the Wakefield Spring, have finally been heard at the highest levels in the Ministry of the Environment” states SOS chair Peter Andree.
“Stephanie Vallée has come through on her promise to work to protect the Wakefield Spring, made on Radio Canada on August 9, first by helping to move a source protection strategy in La Pêche forward, and now by encouraging the Ministry of Environment to act against Couillard” notes Bob Gibson of SOS Wakefield.
SOS Wakefield hopes that the court will impose an immediate injunction halting the removal of sand and filling of clay at the Rockhurst sandpit until Couillard Construction has a proper Certificate of Authorization and a full hydrogeological study of potential impacts on the Spring is completed.
Download Application for Injunction (large PDF file)
Media Contacts:
Peter Andrée (English, Francais)
Chair, SOS Wakefield
pandree@nexicom.net
819-459-1450
Bob Gibson (English)
Bob.gibson42@gmail.com
819-459-8870
Louis Molgat (Francais, English)
lmolgat@gmail.com
819-459-1481
