Montreal West

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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Demerged cities to oppose any inequitable agglo expenditure: ASM

Local Journalism Initiative / The Suburban / February 28, 2024 / agglo expenditure, ASM, Beny Masella, Demerged cities, Montreal West

By Joel Goldenberg

The Association of Suburban Municipalities, representing the demerged cities on the island of Montreal, announced last Wednesday they will 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.

The decision comes in light of what the ASM says is the failure of the agglomeration “to reach a new agreement on the sharing of expenses” with demerged cities.

“The mayors of the ASM must now take a firm position,” the organization’s statement says. The decision was made unanimously by the member-Mayors and announced to the agglomeration Jan. 25 by ASM spokesperson and Senneville Mayor Julie Brisebois.

The decision is “in line with the opposition already expressed last December regarding the adoption of the Agglomeration’s 2024 budget,” says the ASM statement. “Therefore, the mayors of the ASM unanimously expressed their opposition to nine objects of expenditure deemed inequitable, representing more than $63 million. For the Mayors, the situation is all the more unacceptable considering that, in the fall of 2023, the City of Montreal itself acknowledged, through its Executive Committee Chair, that the current expense distribution system and the resulting municipal shares had reached their limits.”

ASM president and Montreal West Mayor Beny Masella said “the decision to systematically oppose any expenditure or financial measure reflects the determination of the elected officials of the ASM to defend the interests of their fellow citizens and to promote fair financial management within the Agglomeration.

“For several years, we have been advocating for a review of the expense distribution system to ensure a fair outcome for all municipalities of the agglomeration. Status quo is no longer an option!”

The ASM statement also pointed out that “although the 15 demerged municipalities represent only 12 percent of the total population of the Island of Montreal and only 18 percent of the fiscal capacity as established according to the rules enacted by the Government of Quebec in 2023, they will be responsible for 38 percent of the total increase in the agglomeration’s expenses in 2024.

“The citizens of the demerged municipalities involved pay an average of 65 percent more than the citizens of the city of Montreal, while receiving considerably fewer services, particularly in terms of police presence and public transit.”

Masella said the member-Mayors of the ASM “reiterate their will to find a solution to put an end to this unacceptable situation that maintains two classes of citizens on the Island of Montreal.

“They remain open to dialogue and negotiation, and maintain the hope that the City of Montreal will take the necessary measures needed to reach a fair solution that serves the interests of all citizens of the agglomeration.” n

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