Lake Megantic Quebec - Nearly 11 years after the Lake Megantic rail disaster, opponents to a proposed rail bypass of the town are calling for a new set of environmental hearings on the plan by the Bureau d'Audiences Publiques sur l'Environnement (BAPE).
 
Speaking to reporters Monday while in front of the Quebec environment ministry, the opponents said the route of the bypass will destroy hundreds of hectares of natural habitats and wetlands.
 
The BAPE has already held hearings on the bypass.
 
However, the opponents to the project said new information needs to be taken into account and the project has no social acceptability.
 
They said they tried to put pressure on the federal government, which is overseeing the bypass plan, but no member of Parliament would take up their cause.
 
Carrying out a pledge made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez announced last October that work on the bypass had begun.
 
However, the plan's opponents say that while expropriations are proceeding, no actual work has been carried out.
 
Author unknown.