Fast food is landing the Côte-des-Neiges-NDG borough in a legal battle because of a bylaw restricting where franchises can set up shop.
Fast food restaurants can only be located at three areas in the borough: Saint-Jacques Boulevard in NDG, along the Decarie service road and near the Côte-des-Neiges Plaza.
Restaurants Canada, a lobby group for the food services industry, is contesting the bylaw.
They said in a statement, “the law does not give municipalities the power to establish their zoning on the basis of the personal nutritional choices of their citizens.”
Marvin Rotrand, a city councillor for Côte-des-Neiges-NDG, first introduced the bill in the winter.
“We’re not banning fast food,” he told Global News.
“What we’re doing is zoning them to three areas of our borough. Zoning is a municipal power to decide which activities should go where.”
The bylaw came into effect in March and residents Global News spoke to said they support it.
“In some boroughs, it changes the habits of the people. Yes, I think they should be allowed to be established in some areas – but controlled,” said one McDonald’s customer.
“As long as it’s in a business area, they should be able to set up and certainly they should have drive-thrus for people who can’t find a place to park,” said another.
Rotrand insisted limiting the choice will force residents to think twice about what they eat.
“It’s this sort of societal shift that happened with tobacco, where cigarettes were once considered cool and aren’t anymore,” he said.
“People re-assessed tobacco. It’s not that everyone is against fast food, but the public wants better information and better offer of food.”
The case is expected to be presented before Quebec Superior Court Tuesday.