Projet Montral wants public consultation on zoning of houses of worship

As the borough of Outremont debates banning new houses of worship fromtwo main arteries, Montreal'sofficial oppositionis callingfor a city-wide public consultation on the zoning of religious buildings.

"Religious communities have the right to settle in all boroughs, and in no case should that right be limited," said Projet Montral leader Luc Ferrandez in a news release.

Ferrandez said a public consultation would look into how tobetter integrate places of worship in neighbourhoods, in order "toencourage a healthy cohabitation of different beliefs and faiths."

The opposition is also accusing Mayor Denis Coderre of inaction on the issue that Ferrandez said is "indirectly raising tensions" in boroughs such as Outremont, quashing aProjet Montral motion for a public consultation last spring.

Since then, tense debates on the issue have bubbled up in a few boroughs, including the Southwest borough, Ahuntsic-Cartierville and VilleraySt-MichelParc-Extension.

New synagogues to be 'ghettoized': Pollak

Outremontheld a public consultation earlierthis week on a proposed bylaw toban any new places of worship on two main arteries, Bernard and Laurieravenuesjust a few months after approving a request for a new synagogue on Bernard Ave.

The move hassparked anger from the Outremont's large Hasidic community, which says its membersfeel new synagogues arebeing pushed into an isolated "ghetto" near the railway line.

"Is ghettoizing a place of worshipreally something we want to do in 2015 in Montreal?" Projet Montralborough councillorMindy Pollak asked in an interview with CBC News earlier this week.

"We need a general city-wide discussion on this issue," saidPollak, who is the first Hasidic woman to be elected to municipal office in Canada, in Friday'snews release.

"Mayor Coderre may talk the talk, but the issues won't be solved by slogans and press conferences. And these issues come up daily in our boroughs."