The announcement of the construction of a by Loto-Québec Luxury hotel with 200 rooms in Parc Jean-Drapeauto serve the Montreal Casino's clientele was barely finished Monday morning when park users and Montreal elected officials took the floor and forcefully spoke out against it.
Also read: Loto-Québec will build a hotel at the Montreal Casino
“This is a new venture of privatization of the park,” complained Roger La Roche, historian and representative of the Friends of the Expo. “This project is not only unacceptable, but also unlawful. Although the land belongs to Loto-Québec, it is located in the largest and one of the oldest city parks in Montreal. Under no circumstances can we accept something like this.”
Montreal city councilor Craig Sauvé thinks no less. “The Parc Jean-Drapeau is a jewel that deserves to be highlighted, but in no case through the addition of a luxury hotel,” explained the representative of the Sud-Ouest district. I can't believe the city will allow a hotel to be built in the middle of a prestigious park. This is a completely unacceptable commercialization of public space.”
Craig Sauvé, independent consultant from Montreal. Photo Sarah Daoust-Braun
Between 2018 and 2019, the Office de Consultation Publique de Montréal (OCPM) conducted extensive consultations on the future of the park. The report prepared by the OCPM recommended preserving the park's blue and green areas, enhancing the park's heritage and resolutely affirming its public and accessible character.
The population would lose
According to Councilor Sauvé, the construction of a luxury hotel in this park would go against these recommendations. In his opinion, this would also violate several principles of the new park master plan adopted by the local council in 2021.
“Loto-Québec will rent out beautiful views of the Formula 1 circuit to a wealthy clientele from the balconies of its luxury suites,” he laments. But it is the people of Montreal who will lose if they lose access to an entire sector of Notre-Dame Island.”
Jean Drapeau Park Society
Roger La Roche denounces the “hypocrisy” in this matter on the part of the management of the Société du parc Jean-Drapeau, Loto-Québec, Tourisme Montréal and the municipal council. He also finds it difficult to explain how Mayor Valérie Plante, who is “proud of having an environmental agenda,” can support such a project.
“Why not a hotel attached to the Mont Royal Chalet or even the Botanical Gardens Arboretum while we’re at it?” he asks. While he urged the population to oppose the project by signing the petition he posted on the Expo 67 Facebook page, he advised the mayor to immediately entrust the matter to the OCPM. In his opinion, this would be his best option for the next elections.