By Joel Goldenberg

Environmentalists are enthused about the Plante administration’s decision to buy land in the West Island from Hypertec for $30 million, expanding the Sources Nature Park, but there were other ways those funds could have been spent.

One example is $15 million for the long-promised expansion of the Jacques Bizard corridor to relieve traffic in the West Island municipalities, especially the area of Highway 40 and St. Jean, including building a new main road from Shakespeare in Dollard des Ormeaux to Highway 40.

As well, $300,000 a year could be devoted to continuing the fluoridation of West Island water in Pointe Claire and Dorval. Montreal’s decision to halt this in 2025 was based on that figure. The decision is affecting 140,000 people in Pointe-Claire, Beaconsfield, Kirkland, Baie-D’Urfé, Dollard-des-Ormeaux and Dorval.

Also, Beaconsfield is suing Montreal for $15 million, alleging a breach in the 2008 agreement of expense sharing in the island-wide agglomeration that was set up by the provincial government, resulting in what is alleged to be an overcharging of taxes.

Finally, $3 million could be spent for new buses to improve mobility in the West Island. n