In brief: Confronted with an impactful investigation by La Presse and mounting public outrage, Mayor Pascal De Bellefeuille opened the August 10 council meeting with a roughly eight-minute address centered on civility — while confirming that contested urban planning projects will move forward.
Why it matters: The investigative report exposed severe planning failures in Mont-Tremblant. Rather than proposing emergency measures or addressing the core issues, the Mayor hid behind appeals for respect, budgetary constraints, and strict adherence to current administrative rules.
Key takeaways:
Dodging the real issues: No concrete measures were announced to correct the planning missteps highlighted by citizens and the media.
A false narrative: The Mayor focused on defending municipal staff, even though public anger and media inquiries are directed squarely at elected officials’ political choices and the privileges granted to developers.
Development as an ultimatum: Mr. De Bellefeuille presented growth as inevitable, claiming that pausing permits would force service cuts or tax hikes.
Denial of on-the-ground reality: The Ville maintains that all projects undergo rigorous analysis. Yet on the ground, council regularly overrides negative recommendations from its own Urban Planning Advisory Committee (CCU), and projects like Habitat Mont-Tremblant bypass the majority of PIIA criteria.
Our question to the Mayor: Given the relentless pace of development, why haven’t updated territorial mapping and traffic impact studies been made public?
Between the lines: By dismissing public outrage as mere “backyard disputes” and using the professionalism of municipal staff as a shield, the Mayor is shifting the focus to avoid accountability — effectively giving developers the green light.
Our perspective: Rather than brushing concerns aside, the Mayor must demonstrate true transparency and leadership. On behalf of over 3,800 supporters, Les Amis reaffirm our commitment to work alongside elected officials to set things right.
About Les Amis de Mont-Tremblant
Our mandate is to ensure the harmonious real estate development of the region while maintaining transparency and community acceptability.