Letter to the editor 3, June 18, 2020

Open letter to the MRC Vaudreuil-Soulanges This letter is regarding the postponement of a study addressing the quality and resilience of the underground water table that supplies 18 of the municipalities in the MRC Vaudreuil-Soulanges region. With the impact of climate change causing uncertain precipitation levels, increased temperatures, and increased water consumption, this urgent study needs to be rescheduled as soon as possible. To the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC council: As outlined in the considerations and adoption of Resolution 20-01-29-23 on January 29, 2020 the vulnerability of the underground water in Vaudreuil-Soulanges remains a vital concern to the entire region. We discovered last week that resolution 20-01-29-23 was postponed, among others due to a budget adjustment prompted by the COVID-19 crisis, (resolution # 20-03-25-05). As a citizen of Saint-Lazare, l would like to know the following : 1. What were all the relevant factors other than budgetary that resulted in this specific project being postponed? 2. When will the water study be re-instated? What are the specific factors that will affect such a reinstatement? 3. Will the postponement of this study affect the subsidy of $250,000 applied for by the MRC, l’UQAM and Université de Sherbrooke for a federal grant (CRSNG) that will underwrite half the entire project? In other words, is there a deadline to use this subsidy, or is it at risk of being withdrawn because of your postponement? Despite the initial shock and profound upheaval brought on by COVID-19, the current reality of the quality, quantity, and resilience of our water supply must be an ongoing discussion. The continual decrease in rainfall and increase in temperatures are creating a catastrophic trend that we all have to contend with, currently through increasingly frequent and unconventionally timed water bans and water use warnings. In addition, to put local citizens back to work through construction projects and provide for incoming population projections, the state of the water supply must be urgently addressed. This important data must be considered when approving the placement and density of future development and infrastructure though appropriate Schema objectives and municipal zoning regulations.

As more than 18 municipalities are affected by these resolutions, it is in the interest of all Vaudreuil-Dorion MRC citizens that this urgent study be re-scheduled as soon as possible.

Corry Terfloth


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