Mayor Beny Masella

Man hit by train in Montreal West

Local Journalism Initiative / The Suburban / April 27, 2024 / after which he was transported to hospital. SPVM spokesperson Sabrina Gauther told The Suburban the man was in stable condition and, at around 4:20 p.m. last Thursday April 4, hit by train, Mayor Beny Masella, Montreal West

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

A 71-year-old man was hit by a commuter train near the Montreal West station at around 4:20 p.m. last Thursday April 4, after which he was transported to hospital. SPVM spokesperson Sabrina Gauther told The Suburban the man was in stable condition and there was no fear for his life.

Gauthier added that the man was walking north on Westminster and was crossing the tracks near Sherbrooke when he was struck. “I don’t know the reason [he was struck], maybe he didn’t see the train” as he was crossing, she added.The man suffered leg and head injuries, and the conductors of the train were treated for shock.

The rail crossing at Westminster has been a locale of much discussion and controversy over the years. Recently, a train caught fire near the station. Cars, on some occasions, have also been caught between the barriers that come down when a train is passing by and the tracks.

During a 2018 council meeting, Mayor Beny Masella referred to the crossing as the riskiest in the country, which he downgraded from “most dangerous” as no serious accidents had taken place there up to that time.

“I’ve gone to all the major cities, and nowhere are there that many trains going through at a level crossing without a grade separation (separating flows of traffic with something like a bridge),” Masella told The Suburban at the time.

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All options on table against Agglo: Masella

Local Journalism Initiative / The Suburban / April 27, 2024 / agglomeration, Hampstead, Mayor Beny Masella, Mayor Jeremy Levi, Montreal West

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Nothing is off the table when it comes to the island-wide agglomeration, including some sort of legal action or Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi’s recently revealed proposal for all 16 demerged municipalities to withhold their portions of the agglomeration bill, Montreal West Mayor Beny Masella told The Suburban.

Masella is also head of the Association of Suburban Municipalities, which represents the 16 demerged municipalities. The ASM recently announced that it would systematically oppose any island-wide agglomeration expenditure or financial measure it deems to be inequitable, unless there is a clear benefit for one or more cities.

Levi had said to his fellow Mayors that while Quebec could place individual cities under trusteeship if they do not pay their portions for such services as public transit, fire and police services, the province would likely not be able to place 16 municipalities under trusteeship.

“I don’t know that I agree that the province couldn’t put us all under trusteeship,” Masella told The Suburban after the March town council meeting. “In my mind, we need the provincial government to step up. By taking that path [of withholding the funds], I don’t know if it’s the best path to get to where we need to get to.”

“But you didn’t completely rule it out?” we asked, referring to his response on the issue during the council meeting to resident Ian Robinson.

“Absolutely,” Masella responded. “It’s not the path I think would be the right one, but we’re going to have all the discussions now, because I think everything still needs to be on the table.”

Earlier in the meeting, the Mayor, as part of his monthly report, said that “as we mentioned last month, we have taken a firmer position with the City of Montreal. We are ensuring that for every motion, we will raise the issue and vote ‘against’ every time we cannot justify the benefit to the demerged towns.

“To ensure that we can never be perceived as being uncooperative, along with the Mayor of Senneville, I will be meeting [March 26] with the new president of the City of Montreal Executive Committee. Though I am having trouble maintaining my optimism, I will undertake this last-ditch effort. Rest assured though that by the end of that meeting, they will know that the status quo is not an option.”

Robinson asked if Montreal West would be involved with Beaconsfield’s $15 million lawsuit against Montreal that alleges a breach in the 2008 agreement of expense sharing that was set up by the provincial government, or Levi’s proposal.

Masella responded that regarding the path Beaconsfield has chosen, “I’m not sure that it would be fruitful, just the way they’re framing their legal action. I’m not sure they’re going to have success. “That’s not to say we’re closing the door on any legal action. Something needs to be done. All options are on the table.” n

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