The container transshipment and storage company Ray-Mont Logistiques had to temporarily interrupt its activities early Thursday due to the presence of around a hundred people blocking access to the company’s grounds.
The demonstration held on Notre-Dame Street East, in Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (MHM), aimed to block truck traffic on the company’s property.
The Mobilization 6600 Parc-Nature MHM group was among the activists and citizens who want to denounce the activities of Ray-Mont Logistiques. Activities which resembles a marshalling yard
on this land, near the port of Montreal.
And now he [Ray-Mont Logistiques] requests exemptions, because what he obtained by law, the marshalling yard activity, does not suit him
explained Anaïs Houde, member of Mobilization 6600 Parc-Nature MHM.
The Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OPCM) is currently looking into the company’s project, which aims to optimize its activities by the construction, transformation and occupation of buildings for the purposes of a marshalling yard as well as the development of outdoor spaces
. Which involves receiving, transshipping and storing containers and bulk goods from trains and trucks
can we read on the website of theOPCM.
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Ray-Mont Logistiques’ expansion plans in eastern Montreal are coming up against strong citizen mobilization. Residents of the area criticize the company in particular for having destroyed two wooded areas, and they want to protect a vast railway wasteland unofficially serving as a linear park for citizens.
Photo : - / Simon-Marc Charron
With the aim of increasing its export activities of agricultural products and moving closer to the port, Ray-Mont Logistiques acquired for $20 million, in 2016, the land on which it plans to build its container transshipment platform.
And it is since this date that Mobilization 6600 Parc-Nature MHM has stood against Ray-Mont Logistiques in eastern Montreal. The group criticizes the company in particular for having destroyed two magnificent woodlands
and to do suffer from infernal noise on a daily basis
in the neighborhood.
We are completely redesigning our city for a “bully” company that is a horrible corporate citizen.
There have been protests and vandalism in the past, they are just against us being on the site
explained an employee of Ray-Mont Logistique on Thursday to RDI.
I don’t know why they do this, the land is ours
another employee told RDI.
Last July, demonstrators slashed the tires of trucks and trailers and disemboweled
containers in a new act of vandalism committed against the company Ray-Mont Logistiques.
With information from Karine Bastien
