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Wednesday, March 23, 2005

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(CCNMatthews - March 23, 2005) - Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay presented an action plan for the Acadie-Chabanel district, which includes the city's commitment to add a station on the Montreal-Blainville commuter train line.

"With our partners we have formulated an action plan aimed at strengthening the garment industry, which is facing huge challenges in the face of international competition. This plan is also seeking to accelerate the diversification of the economic activity of the sector. The decision by the Laurentian Bank and Aviva Canada insurance company to establish offices with hundreds of employees at 555 Chabanel St. corresponds perfectly with this plan to revitalize this sector," Mayor Tremblay said.

Mayor Tremblay said the action plan includes different measures designed to develop the area, which possesses both a strategic location and assets to attract new businesses. The mayor said the construction of a new Chabanel station would act as a catalyst for revitalizing the L'Acadie-Chabanel district and is an essential element for the general transportation strategy of the entire area.

Mr. Claude Dauphin, chairman of the Montreal Transit Corporation and responsible for transportation for the city's executive committee, said that the Chabanel station project must be realized. "In collaboration with the AMT, we are exploring different scenarios so that the future station and the transportation network can compliment each other and ensure that this project benefits as many Montrealers as possible," said Mr. Dauphin.

The action plan includes the construction of a new station and also defines major development initiatives aimed at supporting the garment and fashion industries, the forging of a partnership with the Chabanel business community, a detailed plan for developing Acadie-Chabanel and the review of a program to assist property owners in the sector.

"These major initiatives represent some of our combined efforts for ensuring the revitalization of the Acadie-Chabanel sector. If we carry out our plan with diligence and if our partners continue to support our projects as they are presently doing, our attempt to renew this sector will be a success. Montreal and the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville will come out winners," said Alan DeSousa, who is responsible for economic and sustainable development on the city of Montreal's executive committee.

Important support for the Chabanel station

Yvan Bordeleau, MNA for Acadie, said he was delighted by the city's commitment to build the new Chabanel station, which represents a project that he has ardently supported over the past few years with the Government of Quebec. "This achievement will certainly constitute a highly valued tool in the renewal of Acadie-Chabanel and in achieving optimal development of the Marche central, while offering another means of transportation to local residents," said Mr. Bordeleau.

The Honourable Eleni Bakopanos, Member of Parliament for Ahuntsic and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Social Development, said she was delighted by the city of Montreal's decision to place special emphasis on this initiative. "Having supported the Chabanel Station project for many years, I believe that today's announcement is excellent news for residents of Ahuntsic and for Chabanel's industrial and commercial sector," said Ms. Bakopanos. "Chabanel Station is a major project that will not only revive the fashion and textile industries but the entire district, which requires adequate infrastructure for its development," said Ms. Bakopanos.

Efforts to revitalize the Acadie-Chabanel district correspond with the City of Montreal's economic development plan as well as its urban plan. Representatives from the city administration's central departments are already at work with their colleagues from the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville to ensure that this renewal plan yields concrete results in the very near future. Various discussions have taken place between representatives of the public and private sector.

The industry's textile and garment industry provides 22,000 jobs in the areas of design and manufacturing. This figure represents nearly 5% of all workers within the city of Montreal and 90% of all industry workers within the region. With production equal to 10% of that of the manufacturing sector as a whole, this industry ranks sixth among Montreal's manufacturing sector. Montreal ranks third in North American garment and textile production, after New York and Los Angeles.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Source and Information:
Office of the mayor and of the executive committee
Darren Becker
(514) 872-6412
or
Service de la mise en valeur du territoire et du patrimoine
Jean-Jacques Bedard
(514) 872-3393

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