Municipal Leaders Condemn Government Overreach in Blainville Land Dispute
Maria Diamantis
LJI Journalist

A wave of regional opposition is building against the Quebec government’s attempt to expropriate protected lands in Blainville for the benefit of Stablex, a subsidiary of an American multinational corporation. The MRC of Thérèse-De Blainville has unanimously adopted a resolution rejecting the government’s move, citing concerns over municipal autonomy and local governance.
Municipal leaders argue that the provincial government’s actions undermine the fundamental principle of municipal autonomy, which grants cities and towns the right to manage and develop their territories based on their specific economic, social, cultural, and environmental needs.
“It is in the interest of all municipalities that we unite our voices to uphold our autonomy and regulations,” stated Eric Westram, Prefect of the MRC of Thérèse-De Blainville and Mayor of Rosemère. “As local governments, we must stand together against this dangerous precedent, which threatens municipalities across Quebec. The MRC of Thérèse-De Blainville is committed to defending the right of municipalities to shape their own development according to their vision and priorities.”
A United Front for Local Governance
Blainville Mayor Liza Poulin expressed her gratitude for the unanimous support from the MRC, emphasizing the critical nature of the issue. “I sincerely thank my colleagues for this united front on such a crucial matter for our city. This resolution, alongside those adopted by individual municipal councils, showcases our collective commitment to protecting municipal autonomy—an essential right. We strongly denounce this governance by decree from the Quebec government and will continue to defend our position with the invaluable support of our partners.”
The controversy stems from Bill 93, proposed by Maïté Blanchette Vézina, Quebec’s Minister of Natural Resources and Forests. The bill seeks to forcibly transfer a plot of land from the City of Blainville, which has firmly opposed the move.
With growing resistance from local governments, the battle over this expropriation is shaping into a significant test of municipal rights in Quebec, as leaders push back against what they see as an unjustified overreach by the provincial government.