Santé Québec Fence Sparks Outrage Over Montreal’s Boisé Vimont

Santé Québec is constructing a fence around Boisé Vimont in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough of Montreal to protect residents of the nearby CHSLD Grace-Dart, a decision that has sparked fierce opposition from local citizens and politicians over public spending, environmental impact, and the displacement of unhoused people, Radio-Canada reported.

Controversial Fence Sparks Neighborhood Backlash

The installation of the barrier has drawn sharp criticism from neighborhood residents who regularly use the green space for running, dog walking, and cycling. Activist Anaïs Houde of Mobilisation 6600 Parc-Nature argues that putting up a fence does not solve underlying neighborhood issues. Ça ne règle vraiment rien, à mon sens, de juste mettre une clôture, Houde said in an interview with Radio-Canada.

Other residents question whether the physical barrier will deter anyone at all. Carl Béchard told Radio-Canada that people will simply cut through the wire and continue using the paths regardless of new barriers.

Santé Québec Relocates Squatters over Safety Concerns

Santé Québec Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal launched the project following a recent fire and safety concerns raised by neighbours regarding unhoused individuals living among the trees. According to Santé Québec, three people who squatted on the property were recently relocated to secure living environments.

The disputed woodland sits just a short distance from the Notre-Dame street campement, which houses roughly one hundred people. While Houde acknowledges that neighborhood cohabitation is complex, she questions whether moving individuals merely enlarges nearby encampments into sprawling shantytowns.

Parties Dispute the Cost of the Fence

Financial disagreements have further fueled tensions in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. Santé Québec puts the pre-tax price tag for the fence at 71,300 dollars, while Mobilisation 6600 claims on local banners that the actual cost reaches nearly 400,000 dollars.

Radio-Canada was unable to verify the origin of the higher figure at the time of publication. Québec solidaire MNA Alexandre Leduc stated that the larger amount does not seem exaggerated to him, though he is still seeking to validate the numbers.

J’aimerais mieux qu’on investisse ces fonds dans des soins de santé et dans l’amélioration de notre environnement.

Alexandre Leduc

Zoning Status and Future Access

The controversy deepened after a significant tree-clearing operation took place in the autumn of 2025, surprising residents who believed the land held protected status. Boisé Vimont is owned by Santé Québec, but a 2021 zoning change officially categorized it as a natural space.

To address public concerns about losing access, Santé Québec confirmed via email that entry points will remain available through Adam Street and the Centre Grace Dart parking lot. Leduc remains opposed to the project, expressing deep frustration that public funds are being used to limit access to nature for vulnerable populations.