Sinkholes and drying wetlands cause of concern during REM light rail construction project
It has now been confirmed that REM light-rail construction is to blame for two sinkholes opening up in a wetland near the Pierre Trudeau International Airport in Montreal.
Environmentalists were surprised to find that the St-Laurent Technoparc had partially dried up, but the REM says it's not because of the sinkholes.
The company said the tunnel boring machine hit some soft clay while digging under the wetlands on its way to the airport, which caused the land to cave in essentially causing two sinkholes that appeared during the summer.
However, both the company and the Quebec Environment Ministry, who also investigated the situation, said the drying up of Herons' Marsh is not related to sinkholes.
REM director of communicaitons said the drying up of the marsh was caused by unseasonably dry weather, pointing to Environment Canada trends over the past decade.
In May, the area around the airport got four millimetres of rain compared to the average of 72.
The wetlands dried up in 2012 and 2016.
Environmentalist David Fletcher, however, doesn't buy the argument.
“It’s not a convincing argument," he said. "It has been very dry this summer admittedly, we acknowledge that, but it’s not a coincidence with the appearance of sinkholes that water went out. There still needs to be accountability.”
Fletcher has been going to the wetlands for over a decade and said this year, it didn't just dry up; it drained within a week.
REM workers have filled the sinkholes with soil and is replacing any affected plant life.
It is also filling the marsh with water.
Fletcher will be keeping a close eye on the area hoping the company takes more responsibility.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.