Municipal officials frustrated over red tape as Montreal's shoreline erodes
Retiree Mark Lindsay walks along the Lachine shoreline twice a day, and during every jaunt, the river creeps closer and closer to the walking path because of erosion.
"I don't see anything being done for it," he said. These fences have been here for the six years that I've been in Lachine, so they don't seem to do very much."
Efforts to repair green spaces along Montreal's waterfront are facing red tape as the work has yet to be approved by the provincial government.
It's an unfortunate situation for those like Lindsay who appreciates the view.
"We can see the ships coming through the locks. I mean, it's fantastic," he said. "And in the summer, it's full of people. It's there's a lot of life. It's really great."
Finding a solution to the problem is proving frustrating.
"It is insane how hard it is," said Lachine borough mayor Maja Vodanovic.
Vodanovic said Lachine has tried to repair parts of its shoreline for the past five years, but the work must be approved by the Quebec Environment Ministry.
"We are not allowed to just repair it," she said. "We have to do numerous amounts of steps and jump through hoops that are just that are that are very, very time consuming."
Lachine's most recent proposal to repair a 100-metre stretch of shoreline was submitted eight months ago, and Vodanovic said the borough is still waiting for a response.
"We are eight months after we sent the letter to the government," she said. "We really need to get this done. It's in an emergency. While they're still looking at the file."
Neighbouring cities say they have similar issues approving shoreline projects.
Dorval is also waiting on the environment ministry.
"It's frustrating for us," said Doval Mayor Marc Doret. "It's frustrating for the residents who want to use that space, and we hope that we can get this work done in the next year or so."
Elected officials say they want to see the laws change to make it easier for municipalities trying to do maintenance on shorelines.
"We are not a corporation that wants to build a factory next to a lake," said Vodanovic. "We're just a municipality that wants to fix its park."
Lachine's mayor is worried the borough might not get the approval it needs and that the path along the shoreline that so many people enjoy might not be there for daily walks in the future.
The Quebec Environment Ministry did not reply to a CTV News request for an interview.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Scottie Scheffler isn't the first pro golfer to be arrested during a tournament
Scottie Scheffler's arrest hours before his second-round tee time at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, will go down as one of the most shocking in professional golf history. It certainly wasn't the first, though.
NEW What a wildfire survivor says she regrets not grabbing before leaving home
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta border: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Canadian convicted of attacking Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer sentenced to 30 years
The man convicted of attempting to kidnap then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacking her husband with a hammer was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison.
World No. 1 golfer charged with police officer assault before PGA Championship second round
World number one golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested and charged with the assault of a police officer in what he called a 'chaotic situation' before being released in time to start his second round at the PGA Championship on Friday.
Australia's richest woman seeks removal of her portrait from exhibition
Art is subjective. And while many artists long to share their work with the world, there's no guarantee that the audience will understand it, or even like it.
B.C. optometrist warns against trending eye colour change procedure
A medical procedure that can permanently change a person's eye colour may be trending on social media, but a B.C. optometrist is warning about the significant risks associated.