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Montreal Gazette
6 days ago
- General
- Montreal Gazette
ADM's 20-year master plan would destroy hopes for nature park north of Trudeau airport
By The Aéroports de Montréal has made public its master development plan for the next two decades, and the news is not good for those advocating for conservation of about 230 hectares of forests, wetlands and meadows north of Trudeau International Airport. The City of Montreal, the Montreal Metropolitan Community and two dozen other municipal or borough councils on the island have passed resolutions supporting conservation of the site, while Montreal has proposed calling it the Parc-nature des Sources. The proposed nature park would include about 60 undeveloped hectares of Montreal's former Technoparc lands in the St-Laurent borough, as well as about 170 hectares of Crown land in Dorval. Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), the not-for-profit private corporation responsible for management, operation and development of the airport, signed an 80-year lease for that Crown land with Transport Canada in 1992, and the ADM sublets 107 hectares of it to the City of Dorval for its municipal golf course. But in its master plan document, called 'Horizon 2023-2043; An Airport Ecosystem that Benefits the Community', recently posted on the ADM website, the airport authority reveals its plan to conserve only a small, 25-hectare, previously announced wetland area. It hopes to build solar panels, store the 'fuels of the future', and otherwise develop the site of what is now the Dorval golf course and Monarch Fields. Katherine Collin of TechnoparcOiseaux, the conservation group that has led the fight to protect the area, said her group is 'very surprised at and disappointed in' the master plan, which she has been requesting to see for the past six months, to no avail. 'What we see is worse than we could have imagined,' she said Thursday. 'Development is planned over vital habitat for endangered and threatened species, there are no buffer zones planned around current conservation areas, there will be a massive loss of green space — 130 hectares — and, with that loss, increased health risks for everyone working and living in the area.' She said the plans are the exact opposite of what the community should expect from an organization that claims to be prioritizing sustainability. 'Paving over long-standing ecologically rich areas violates the basic precautionary principle at the heart of the conservation hierarchy, namely to above all to avoid damage — analogous to doctors' mandate to 'do no harm'. We find the document utterly insufficient to meet the needs of today's climate reality and, more importantly, the collective will of the people.' At its annual public meeting on May 8, ADM president and director general Yves Beauchamp found himself on the defensive as members of the public showed up to question airport development plans. About 15 members of the group Mères au front, which advocates for action on climate, biodiversity and pollution, showed up wearing neckties. 'Sometimes men in ties are listened to more than mothers who are concerned about the health and futures of their children,' explained the group's spokesperson Nathalie Ainsley before posing her question. 'Will ADM maintain its intention of destroying 100 hectares of wetlands, mature forests, of habitat for numerous endangered species, including the monarch butterfly, to build its ... decarbonization hub?' Beauchamp responded that ADM's first concern is safety of passengers. 'So a park of this expanse, near the runways, is not compatible with the safety goals we have. So will we change our opinion? No.' He said bird strikes on aircraft have tripled since 2019, while the number of flights had not increased. He suggested that conserving the natural space that exists now will somehow attract more birds to the area. He noted the master plan makes official the ADM's plan to conserve a 25-hectare wetland area which the ADM calls the 'Parc des Sources' (not to be confused with the proposed 230-hectare 'Parc-nature des Sources'). 'The other 140 hectares is actually the golf,' he said. 'We are not talking about wetlands we are talking about a golf (course) actually, that is being used by the City of Dorval and a field that is described as the Monarch Fields.' He said the plan to replace green space with solar panels and buildings dedicated to storing cleaner fuels for aircraft will reduce more carbon pollution than what the green space currently sequesters. 'So what we will put on Lot 20 will have much more impact on the reduction of greenhouse gases than would preserving it as a park. But before all that, it is safety that is important. Our experts ... say we can manage the 25 hectares and that's what we've put in the plan. But we can't actually manage the 140 more hectares if they were to become a park.' Collin points out that Beauchamp has repeatedly implied that conservation advocates are calling for creation of more green space. In fact, the whole 230-hectare area is currently green, and there are trees, grasslands and wetlands on the golf course that provide important habitat, she said. She also noted that contrary to what ADM's website states, the government has not yet formally accepted the master plan. 'Should the federal government allow ADM's plan to move forward, the government will jeopardize its international and domestic commitments made during COP15' to protect endangered species habitat and to conserve 30 per cent of its land by 2030, she said. That promise was repeated by King Charles III in Tuesday's Throne Speech, which laid out the new federal government's priorities. 'Nature is core to Canada's identity,' King Charles said. 'In 2022, Canada convened COP15 in Montreal, which concluded with 196 countries striking a historic agreement to protect 30 per cent of their lands, and 30 per cent of waters by 2030. To this end, the government will protect more of Canada's nature than ever before through the creation of new national parks, national urban parks, marine protected areas and other conservation initiatives.' The City of Montreal has proposed the land north of the airport be considered for national urban park status. During the election campaign, Prime Minister Mark Carney made it clear that he intends to fast-track the creation of 15 national urban parks, promised by the previous Liberal government in 2021 but not delivered. At a campaign stop in St-Eustache on April 15, Carney was asked whether his government would consider giving national urban park status to the Parc-nature des Sources. He said the site 'is one of the areas under consideration. We are going to drive a quick public process to make those determinations. And I'm glad you raised it because this commitment on 15 national urban parks is part of, as you referenced, a much bigger commitment on nature and biodiversity, which will help drive us towards what was a commitment ... made in Montreal for 30 per cent preservation by 2030. Progress has been made. More needs to be done. That would include national parks.' A spokesperson for Parks Canada said the agency is currently in talks with seven cities across the country — Victoria, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Windsor, Halifax, and St. John's — about potential national urban park sites. 'No engagement or collaboration is currently underway in the Montreal area, although discussions have taken place in the past with the City of Montreal and the City of Laval,' said Robyn Hufnagel, chief of media relations for Parks Canada. Due to Quebec laws, the creation of a national urban park in any Quebec municipality would have to be authorized by the provincial government, she noted. The City of Montreal, meanwhile, is eager to restart talks about creating a national urban park on the island, said Alex Norris, associate member of the city's executive committee responsible for large parks. 'Our interest in creating a new national urban park in Montreal remains strong,' Norris said in a written statement to the Gazette. 'The Parc-nature des Sources is a site we have submitted, one that holds significant potential, as do other areas in the city. We stand ready to collaborate with the government and welcome their sense of urgency to accelerate the creation of these new green spaces.'
Cision Canada
12-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
RDV Réseau Forum at Mirabel Promotes Advanced Air Mobility Français
MONTRÉAL, May 12, 2025 /CNW/ - The Consortium for Research and Innovation in Québec (CRIAQ), in partnership with ADM Aéroports de Montréal, hosted today an RDV Réseau Forum focused on advanced air mobility (AAM) at the YMX International Aerocity of Mirabel Innovation Centre. This event brought together over 100 innovators dedicated to shaping the future of Québec's aerospace sector. RDV Réseau Forum: A catalyst for engagement Thanks to the participation of our members and partners from the private, academic and institutional sectors, RDV Réseau fosters collective engagement within the ecosystem. The May 2025 edition was held against the backdrop of the growing Espace Aéro innovation zone, where the Mirabel site is one of three territorial hubs. Through its new Innovation Centre at YMX, ADM – in conjunction with CRIAQ – presented a first official event in the new infrastructure, which was acquired specifically to encourage synergies between research organizations (including universities and college technology transfer centres) and companies in their research and development efforts. Highlights The institutional perspectives presented by ADM, the City of Mirabel, CRIAQ and Espace Aéro provided insight into the vision and leadership that will be deployed in the Mirabel cluster. Meanwhile, a panel of advanced air mobility (AAM) experts brilliantly showcased Québec's strengths and advantages in developing key technologies in this promising sector. Additionally, participants toured the Innovation Centre facilities and recognized their significant potential for research and innovation. Networking sessions helped to strengthen professional ties and facilitate the exchange of ideas about opportunities, challenges and issues related to innovation, competitiveness and market development. Advanced Air Mobility: A promising innovation theme Shaping the aviation of tomorrow provides an opportunity to adopt sustainable solutions amid an energy transition. Thanks to its technological expertise, AAM is offering new avenues for transport development. These solutions will contribute to the growth of an innovative Québec aerospace industry that is looking for new international business opportunities. Quotes "The YMX Innovation Centre is much more than just a venue. It is, first and foremost, an engine that will propel aeronautical innovation in Québec. It will do so by enabling manufacturers, institutional and government ecosystem partners, academic and training institutions, as well as researchers and students, to come together. That's precisely what we're doing today by hosting the CRIAQ's RDV Réseau Forum, the inaugural event of this new era. The YMX site boasts an impressive concentration of expertise and ADM is thrilled to host large-scale projects, collaborate with cutting-edge companies, and support the research that will shape a more sustainable and intelligent future for aeronautics." – Yves Beauchamp, President and CEO of ADM Aéroports de Montréal. "At Mirabel, our ambition is to build Québec's future in aerospace alongside all of our partners. By uniting companies, research centres and training facilities, we are fostering a dynamic and sustainable ecosystem for the next 20 years. Through industrial optimization, decarbonization, advanced air mobility and training, we are driving innovation and establishing our leadership in aerospace, particularly in advanced air mobility." – Patrick Charbonneau, Mayor, City of Mirabel. "Mirabel's ecosystem of researchers, SMEs, large companies and test facilities enables us to explore advanced technological solutions for tomorrow's air mobility and advanced manufacturing. This network, at the heart of the Espace Aéro innovation zone, is essential for structuring an innovation chain capable of generating concrete economic and environmental benefits." – Mélanie Lussier, President of Aéro Montréal, on behalf of Espace Aéro. "In collaboration with ADM, CRIAQ is proud to mobilize our members and partners to seize and create opportunities in aerospace innovation at Mirabel. The RDV Réseau Forum provides an ideal platform to discuss trends in advanced air mobility, and to develop promising collaborative research projects. Building on our strengths in innovation, we can enhance our capacity to attract talent, investment and key players to promote exports." – Guillaume Côté Ph.D., President and CEO, CRIAQ. About CRIAQ ( The Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Québec (CRIAQ) is a unique model of collaborative aerospace research involving companies of all sizes, universities, and research centers. Its mission is to increase the competitiveness of the aerospace industry by stimulating innovation in businesses through collaborative R&D. It also aims to develop a new generation of innovators to strengthen Québec's technological leadership in cutting-edge aerospace applications: digital aviation, future air mobility, and sustainable aerospace.
Cision Canada
08-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
ADM ANNOUNCES ITS FINANCIAL RESULTS AT MARCH 31, 2025 Français
, May 8, 2025 /CNW/ - ADM Aéroports de Montréal today announced its consolidated operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. These results are accompanied by passenger traffic data for YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport. Highlights Passenger traffic at YUL totalled 4.9 million for the first quarter of 2025, down 2.0% compared with the same period of 2024. The domestic sector rose by 1.1% over the same period in 2024. The international and transborder sectors declined by 1.7% and 6.0%, respectively, compared with the first quarter of 2024. EBITDA (earnings before income taxes, net financial expenses, depreciation and impairment and share in the results of joint ventures, see the "Non-GAAP measures" section for more information) was $90.6 million for the first quarter of 2025, a decrease of $7.8 million over the EBITDA of $98.4 million recorded in the same period of 2024. Capital investments were $138.7 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared with $46.3 million for the corresponding period of 2024, an increase of $92.4 million, or 199.6%. Investments in the Airport Program totalled $111.9 million ($39.2 million in 2024), while investments for the airport's REM Station totalled $26.8 million ($7.1 million in 2024). Quote "After several years of strong growth in passenger traffic at YUL Montréal-Trudeau Airport, new travel habits began to emerge in the first quarter of 2025, particularly due to the current geopolitical and economic context, although it is still too early to speak of a major trend," said Yves Beauchamp, President and CEO of ADM. "That being said, it's shaping up to be a busy summer at YUL and ADM's teams are already working hard to ensure the smoothest possible experience against a backdrop of major work to improve access to the airport site. To avoid any headaches for users, several key summer 2024 measures have been back in place since early May, including express drop-off services and free 40-minute parking in nearly all on-site parking lots. Additional staff and our ambassadors, easily recognizable by their red jackets, will also be present at strategic locations to better guide passengers. Once again, I would like to thank the airport community employees, who were recognized earlier this spring as the best in North America, for their outstanding work." Financial results Consolidated revenues amounted to $219.3 million for the first quarter of 2025, an increase of $6.5 million, or 3.0%, over the corresponding quarter of 2024. These results are mainly due to the AIF increase on March 1, 2024 and the annual increase in aeronautical fees, partly offset by lower passenger traffic. Operating expenses totalled $93.0 million for the first three months of 2025, an increase of $14.5 million, or 18.4%, over the corresponding period of 2024. This increase is namely attributable to the costs associated with the preparation of preliminary studies that will make it possible to implement the airport facilities development plan. The variance is also due to higher information technology expenses as the corporation continues its transition to cloud-based solutions, and to the increase in headcount compared with the same period in 2024. Transfers to governments (payments in lieu of taxes to municipalities [PILT] and rent paid to Transport Canada) totalled $35.7 million for the period under review, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 0.8%, compared with the same period in 2024. These transfers represented 16.3% of ADM's revenues in the first quarter of 2025, compared with 16.9% for the corresponding period of 2024. Depreciation and impairment of property and equipment and right-of-use assets totalled $43.3 million for the first three months of 2025, an increase of $2.6 million, or 6.4%, compared with the same period of 2024. This increase is mainly due to the revaluation of the remaining useful life of the multi-level parking facility in front of the airport and to the amortization of the P4 parking facility opened in March 2024. Net financial expenses totalled $24.5 million as at March 31, 2025, an increase of $3.2 million, or 14.8%, compared with the corresponding period of 2024. This variance is mainly due to a decrease in interest income generated on surplus cash, which had a lower balance than in the same period of 2024. Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 was $23.0 million, compared with $36.7 million for the same period in 2024, a decrease of $13.7 million, or 37.2%. Financial situation ADM's net debt as at March 31, 2025 was $2.31 billion, compared with $2.21 billion at December 31, 2024; see the "Non-GAAP measures" section for further information. The variance is mainly attributable to the use of cash for capital investments. Non-GAAP measures ADM references financial measures with no standardized meaning under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), otherwise called non-GAAP measures. They are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other entities. EBITDA EBITDA is defined by ADM as earnings before income taxes, net financial expenses, depreciation and impairment and share in the results of joint ventures. It is used by management as an indicator to evaluate operating performance. EBITDA is meant to provide additional information and is not intended to replace other performance measures prepared under IFRS. Net debt Net debt is the difference between gross debt (long-term bonds, long-term debt, amount drawn on the credit facility and lease liabilities) and cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments as well as the debt service reserve fund. Key financial measures The % variance in the above table are calculated with results in thousands. Capital investments Investments in the first quarter of 2025 at YUL and YMX were financed by operating activities, including AIF, and by the credit facility with Investissement Québec. 1 Capital investments are net of subsidies, mainly from the Canada Airport Critical Infrastructure Program (ACIP), which totalled $0.3 million for the Airport Program ($4.3 million in 2024) and nil for the REM Station ($7.2 million in 2024). Net debt (in billions of dollars) March 31, 2025 December 31, 2024 Variance (%) 2.31 2.21 4.5 The % variance in the above table is calculated with amounts in thousands. Passenger traffic For the first quarter of 2025, traffic at YUL totalled 4.9 million passengers, a decrease of 2.0% compared with the same period in 2024. International traffic was down 1.7%, transborder (U.S.) down 6.0%, while domestic traffic was up 1.1% compared with the first quarter of 2024. Total passenger traffic* *Total passenger traffic includes both revenue and non-revenue passengers and is calculated with figures detailed in thousands. Sustainability at ADM During the quarter, ADM implemented the following initiatives to pursue its commitment to sustainability: Organized the 11 th edition of YUL Premium Kids, in collaboration with Air Transat. This unique day allows children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or functional limitations to familiarize themselves and their families with the airport process and the experience on board an aircraft to ease their apprehension about travelling. This year, nearly 200 participants experienced the typical airport journey. YUL's airport community employees won first prize once again in the "Best Airport Staff Service" in North America category in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2025. The airport also topped the "World's Cleanest Airport" in North America category. Held the 28 days for my health challenge, during which ADM employees were invited to take up four daily challenges for their health and well-being: 30 minutes of physical activity per day, eight hours of sleep per night and zero refined sugar or alcohol. Thanks to the efforts and determination of its employees, ADM was able to donate $5,000 to the Montreal Heart Institute. To learn more about ADM's actions, visit its Sustainability Indicators platform, read its 2024 Sustainability Report and its Sustainability Plan 1.0. About ADM Aéroports de Montréal ADM Aéroports de Montréal is the airport authority for the Greater Montréal area responsible for the management, operation and development of YUL Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, certified 4 stars under the Skytrax World Airport Star Rating program, and YMX International Aerocity of Mirabel.
Cision Canada
08-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
/R E P E A T -- MEDIA INVITATION - Annual Public Meeting of ADM Aéroports de Montréal/ Français
MONTRÉAL, May 6, 2025 /CNW/ - ADM Aéroports de Montréal invites media representatives to its annual public meeting. On this occasion, Marie-Hélène Nolet, Chair of the Board of Directors, Yves Beauchamp, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Aymeric Dussart, Chief Financial Officer, will present a review of activities as well as the audited financial results of the Corporation for fiscal 2024. This public meeting will be held in person at the Auditorium of the Grande Bibliothèque. Grande Bibliothèque 475, De Maisonneuve Boulevard East Montreal, Quebec, H2L 5C4 Please note that a press briefing in person will follow the meeting. Media representatives interested in participating must confirm their attendance at [email protected]. Reminder WHAT: ADM Aéroports de Montréal Annual Public Meeting WHEN: Thursday, May 8, 2025, 10 a.m. WHERE: Auditorium of the Grande Bibliothèque RSVP (press briefing) No later than 9 a.m. on May 8 to [email protected] SOURCE Aéroports de Montréal
Cision Canada
06-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
MEDIA INVITATION - Annual Public Meeting of ADM Aéroports de Montréal Français
MONTRÉAL, May 6, 2025 /CNW/ - ADM Aéroports de Montréal invites media representatives to its annual public meeting. On this occasion, Marie-Hélène Nolet, Chair of the Board of Directors, Yves Beauchamp, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Aymeric Dussart, Chief Financial Officer, will present a review of activities as well as the audited financial results of the Corporation for fiscal 2024. This public meeting will be held in person at the Auditorium of the Grande Bibliothèque. Grande Bibliothèque 475, De Maisonneuve Boulevard East Montreal, Quebec, H2L 5C4 Please note that a press briefing in person will follow the meeting. Media representatives interested in participating must confirm their attendance at [email protected]. Reminder WHAT: ADM Aéroports de Montréal Annual Public Meeting WHEN: Thursday, May 8, 2025, 10 a.m. WHERE: Auditorium of the Grande Bibliothèque RSVP (press briefing) No later than 9 a.m. on May 8 to [email protected] SOURCE Aéroports de Montréal
