A Couillard Construction bachoe rips down several trees on Brown Lake Road Feb. 22. Trevor Greenway photo
Couillard Construction has begun ripping through the forest on Brown Lake Road Feb. 21, but no A5X protesters were found on site. Couilllard didn’t confirm whether or not the 300-year-old tree, which the group is fighting to save, will be chopped down today. The employee kicked the Low Down off the site and said that nobody would be allowed into the area. Pick up this week’s Low Down to get the latest.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
The Couillard guy tried to kick a CBC news crew and me off the site.
We told him to get lost …And we kept recording the incident till about 2:00 pm. MRC police also showed up.
I was there not long after you. By then, CBC was on site, CTV were just arriving and so were a couple of people hogging the camera. After seeing the tree that some people are protesting over, and knowing I have two very similar in my back yard that I pray don’t land on my roof, I decided this was such a non-event, I started to leave. On my way, I saw two police officers who had just arrived. I spoke with officer Fournel (sp}? He was in agreement, the highway has to go through. He discussed the 20 deaths he has had the missfortune to deal with because of the existing hightway. I mentioned during my youth we only had the river road and were so happy to see the new (back then) road happening. I think we need to really examine our battles and decide…. Is this for the benefit of the people and if not, then what is the best way to proceed?
Peace and harmony.
Jeff
Dear Jeff,
My Mother was afraid of tall trees so close to a house too- lighting, wind storms . . act of God. Is this Highway for the benefit of ‘people’- THAT is just a naive notion. This highway is not for Tourists to get to Cottage Country. The right hand lane of Autoroute Un to Paris
is bumper-to-bumper with transports. So is Belgium, same with the the Netherlands. (on pilgrimage to Vimy Ridge)
Have you been on the 401 lately- either direction?
This Highway is being built for TRANSPORTS.
The Battle as you call it has been examined by some courageous thoughtful and wise people and this is what has to be done right now.
The best way to proceed is for the MTQ to swallow their pride and to unroll the drawings and take another look.
The ramifications of this HUGE construction footprint spells too much risk to fragile Earth systems we know nothing about.
RISK so close to Human Settlement
Some suggested readings for you: Aquifers = super heated condensed waters from the Earth’s core.
Once you f-k them up = NO human settlement.
yours truly,
Rita Komendant
A5x and other protesters have reiterated that they are not opposed to a highway to increase safety.
They are opposed to the highway’s excessive SIZE and outdated design. Even the news media understand this is not simple “ for or against” issue. Unfortunately, some members of the public are polarizing the conflict by arguing; “if you are not for the highway-you are against it.” We are all for increased safety even if that means a new road . However, constantly arguing against the moral convictions of protesters – that their objectives will compromise human safety is non-nonsensical, nonconstructive and detracts from arriving at a solution . Even the regional MDDEP were prepared to recommend a reduction of the highway’s foot-print on its approach to Wakefield but a “government decree” outlining procedure constants prevented them from suggesting this alteration to the Quebec Government. If aged trees leaning over your home induce anxiety remember that inherent risks are part of the living condition. The failure to acknowledge this is to deny the fundamental fragility that confronts us all. Who said, “I am the tree of life…”? Does not this suggest that trees are sacred in both the the natural and spiritual world? The protesters are safeguarding the ancient pines because they are an icon which symbolizes the whole forest ecosystem being demolished by our the MTQ .
I agree with you Jeff and officer Fournell. Let’s not be detracted by neo Luddites and keep moving forward.