Residents protest container yard expansion near homes in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve [Video]

Residents in Montreal’s Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighborhood blocked access to a container yard on Thursday morning, protesting Ray-Mont Logistics’ plans to expand its operations close to their homes.

“We are never going to accept its presence in our neighbourhood,” said the protest’s spokesperson, Anais Houde.

The company is planning to build the container shipment yard on Notre Dame Street East, roughly one hundred metres from a residential area.

Residents said they are worried about the potential increase in truck traffic, lower-air quality, and noise pollution.

“There’s going to be vermin that will be attracted because [they are] going to be handling cereals and grains,” said resident Josée Desmeules.

The fight has been going on for years. In 2017, the City of Montreal turned down a permit-request from the company, but the following year a Quebec court sided with Ray-Mont Logistics and allowed the building.

The company now wants to extend its operation hours.

For Desmeules the idea of having a container …