SAGUENAY, Que. – The federal government has ordered a halt to Montreal’s controversial plan to dump eight billion litres of raw sewage into the Saint-Lawrence River until further scientific analysis can be done.
Infrastructure Minister Denis Lebel made the announcement on behalf of the environment minister today in Saguenay, Que.
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He said Leona Aglukkaq has issued an interim order under the Fisheries Act to put the project on hold.
Montreal had planned to dump the untreated wastewater into the river between Oct. 18 and 25.
READ MORE: Documents show Environment Canada knew about Montreal raw-sewage plan in 2014
The city is closing an interceptor – a large sewer used to feed wastewater to treatment plants – to do maintenance work and relocate a snow chute located underneath the Bonaventure Expressway, which the city is converting into an urban boulevard.
Quebec’s Environment Department has already signed off on the plan but in recent weeks, the plan had become fodder in the federal election campaign.
WATCH: Montreal to dump raw sewage into Saint-Lawrence
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