Press release
The PMAD: after 10 years,
an acceptable compromise is finally taking shape
Montréal, September 29, 2011 – This afternoon, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal shared its views during public consultations on the urban development planof the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM): the Plan métropolitain d’aménagement et de développement (PMAD). “After 10 years of waiting, it is high time the metropolitan area have a development plan,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade.
“Some find the plan too restrictive, others not enough,” Mr. Leblanc said. “As far as the Board of Trade is concerned, the proposed plan is an effective compromise. In our 33-page brief, we make recommendations for improving the plan, but our message is clear: the Board of Trade supports the PMAD, its mission and its objectives. The PMAD finally provides a predictable environment for developers and establishes rules for the years to come.”
“As an organization dedicated to economic development and good governance, the Board of Trade clearly supports the orientations of this plan,” Mr. Leblanc said. “The PMAD will make it possible to increase the density of urban development and thereby reduce sprawl as well as infrastructure costs and the resulting productivity costs. The congestion on the city’s road network alone is a compelling argument in favour of adopting the development plan. Plus, this document gives the metropolitan area a global vision, something the Board of Trade has long been calling for.”
“The study of best practices in North America presented in our brief confirms that this plan is a solid foundation to providing a framework for the region’s development for the next five years,” Michel Leblanc said. “We also suggest some minor adjustments in our brief to help protect industrial spaces and improve the alignment between the CMM and the AMT.”
“To succeed, the PMAD must be quickly adopted by the CMM, supplemented by an effective action plan and governed by independent monitoring mechanisms; it should receive the attention necessary from the Government of Québec and be flexible enough to achieve the full potential of economic development in the area in the years to come,” Mr. Leblanc said. “Decision makers must take note of the extent of mobilization in the city in favour of this project.”
The Board of Trade’s complete brief is available in electronic format at: www.ccmm.qc.ca/memoire-pmad2011 (in French only)
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has some 7,000 members. Its primary mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montreal and to provide individuals, merchants, and businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec’s leading private economic development organization.
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Source:
Sylvie Paquette
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4015
sylvie.paquette@ccmm.qc.ca