Dear fellow Montrealers,
In adopting its First Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development in April 2005, Montréal made a clear commitment to the importance of sustainable development as a basis for the city’s development. The results of the 2005-2006 Phase clearly show how the community has taken this cause to heart and the benefits generated by its actions.
In a society in which over 75% of people live in urban areas, implementing a sustainable urban development plan is a major challenge. Above all, it is an opportunity to position metropolitan Montréal favourably in comparison with other urban regions. These regions have not only become crucial poles of economic growth, but are also faced with major planetary issues: climate change, constantly growing demands on energy and water resources, and biodiversity loss. More specifically, the attractiveness of an urban region depends largely on its ability to solve problems relating to increasing road traffic, urban sprawl, access to green spaces and so on.
With the 2007-2009 Phase of the Plan, the municipal administration is confirming its commitment to sustainable development and reaffirming its role as a leader in identifying and proposing possible solutions. Renewed commitment by organizations and attracting new partners are essential to showing the interest and determination of social and economic players in Montréal in achieving this goal. The special nature of the Plan, and its success, lie in the commitment by public authorities and by partner organizations to developing and implementing the Action Plan.
In these pages we set out a number of actions proposed by the municipal administration to achieve the orientations and objectives of the Plan. We present some concrete contributions relating to these issues and illustrate the municipal administration’s desire to take action now. These actions will not be carried out in a vacuum, however – many other policies and plans already incorporate them or will in future. The administration vows to do everything possible to ensure that Montréal’s different municipal plans and projects are in line with sustainable development principles.
Since it is essential that the Plan be coherent and continue to be applied, the municipal administration and its partners have agreed on the importance of continuing and completing the actions undertaken in the 2005-2006 Phase. Accordingly, they have carried over the four priority orientations, and agreed to widen their scope.
For the municipal administration, the issue is simply vital: We want to ensure the city’s prosperity, of course, but must do so in a healthy and pleasant environment. An environment that everyone will be proud to pass on to future generations.
To achieve these goals, we must be able to rely on strong partnerships and full community support!
 |
 |
Gérald Tremblay
Mayor |
Alan DeSousa, FCA
Member of the Executive
Committee
Responsible for sustainable development
and economic
development
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