Gildan CEO Challenges Order to Reforest Land in Quebec
Glenn Chamandy, President and CEO of Gildan Activewear, and Amel Murad are contesting an order from the Commission de protection du territoire agricole du Québec (CPTAQ) requiring them to reforest portions of their land in Quebec. The dispute centers around whether the land in question was already considered to be in agricultural use, and whether an order for reforestation is justified.
The CPTAQ issued an order demanding the reforestation of land cleared for an maple grove (érablière) and other areas. Chamandy and Murad are seeking the complete annulment of the order, or, alternatively, a modification to exclude the maple grove and clarify the areas requiring remediation. They argue that much of the land is already in an agricultural state, including areas covered wiht grass which their lawyer contends qualifies as “couvert végétal” and therefore “en état d’agriculture”. [https://www.journaldequebec.com/2024/05/23/glenn-chamandy-conteste-un-ordre-de-reforestation-de-ses-terres]
During a hearing before the Tribunal administratif du Québec (TAQ), the CPTAQ’s lawyer expressed difficulty understanding the arguments regarding the land’s agricultural status. [https://www.journaldequebec.com/2024/05/23/glenn-chamandy-conteste-un-ordre-de-reforestation-de-ses-terres]
The CPTAQ is seeking the complete rejection of the landowners’ challenge, maintaining that the original order is “well-founded.” [https://www.journaldequebec.com/2024/05/23/glenn-chamandy-conteste-un-ordre-de-reforestation-de-ses-terres]
Administrative judges Annick Guérard-Kerhulu and François Boutin have reserved judgment,with a decision expected at a later date.
Furthermore, the Quebec ministry of the Environment is preparing a separate order concerning a portion of the land identified as a wetland that was also destroyed. A notice of this impending order was issued to Chamandy and Murad last week. [https://www.journaldequebec.com/2024/05/23/glenn-chamandy-conteste-un-ordre-de-reforestation-de-ses-terres]