MONTREAL – The borough of Outremont passed a controversial bylaw Monday night that bans the building of new places of worship on Bernard and Laurier avenues.
It’s something that has left religious groups in Outremont fuming.
Supporters of the bylaw claimed places of worship hurt commercial businesses, but critics insisted the proposition is discriminatory and targets the borough’s Jewish community.
Projet Montréal interim leader Luc Ferrandez insisted the bylaw will “ghettoize the Hasidic community” and “limit its development to a very small corner of the borough.”
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Ferrandez said Friday he wanted to know more about Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre‘s position on the issue.
Outremont councillor Mindy Pollak shared his concerns.
“They want to go forward with their proposition regardless of opposition or regardless of the fact that there were no studies that were done,” she told Global News.
“Regardless that there is no proof of their theory that it hurts commercial businesses on commercial streets. It’s very questionable.”
Projet Montréal reiterated its demand for a public consultation on the location of places of religious worship in Montreal.
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CDN-NDG borough mayor Russell Copeman reacted to the proposed public consultation Friday, claiming that it is an attempt by Projet Montréal to turn a borough issue into a city one.
The bylaw is expected to be contested in court.
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