“All revolutions on Earth start from some oddballs who believe in something and try to lead others. Let's say I'm one of the oddballs. »
In Sneakers in the Snow, René Cloutier takes us around his Promont property. Behind, we can see Brom mountain with ski slopes. Mount Bernard stands next to it, covered in pristine forest. This last hill will always be special in René Cloutier's eyes.
Lead by example
About ten years ago, Sky Promont's chairman, Charles Desordi, wanted to build luxury homes in Mount Bernard and Horizon. Mr. Cloutier is one of the few citizens willing to defend the base. The portfolio manager at RBC Dominion Securities also took a sabbatical to immerse himself in the fray.
A fight he and his allies won.
But René Cloutier was not the type to insist on security only on other people's lands.
In 2018, he decided to dedicate 5.54 hectares (the equivalent of about eight football fields) of his land in Bromont to conservation. By doing so, he permanently waived his right to build a property there or to cut timber there.
The land he now shows us, divided into three, met the same fate a year ago. In the first place, Mr. Cloutier had a wonderful property. But on the other two, the equivalent of roughly six football fields, he abandoned any development through a mechanism known as a “conservation easement” (see text in next tab).
Photo by Martin Tremblay, The Press
In the first place, René Cloutier had an amazing property. But in the other two, the equivalent of about six football fields, he abandoned any growth.
“I'm still at home, I can walk around my land. But I don't have the right to cut down a tree,” he explains, while an owl, nearby, screeches.
The Appalachian Corridor, a conservation organization, has certified these lands as having high ecological value. They provide shelter to a small wetland that contributes particularly to the water quality of Bromont Lake and represents a preferred habitat for many species in critical situations.
No fewer than 35 bird species frequent the area, 9 of which are considered “priority” by the Canadian Wildlife Service.
René Cloutier's projects concern areas that I would describe as modest, but of very high ecological value. We are in Montérégiennes and when it comes to protecting it, we jump on it.
Melanie Lelievre, General Director of the Appalachian Corridor
Mr. The organization makes regular visits to the site to ensure that Cloutier's land is well and truly protected. A sector-specific endowment fund was created to fund these audits.
Tax credits
According to the assessors assigned to the project, Mr. The value of the two lots secured by Cloutier dropped noticeably, going from $810,000 to $55,000. Foundation receipts equal the $755,000 difference, thanks to federal and provincial government programs. Given to Cloutier.
“I can get half of it back in taxes. The other half, I leave it on the table,” says Mr. Cloutier.
One could say that he is not to be pitied, and in a sense that is true. Mr. Cloutier enjoys a property with no immediate neighbors and can benefit from tax breaks today without having to sell it. If he had sold his lands for their full market value, he would have to pay the capital gain as well.
The fact is that his land has undeniably lost value. And if the government had wanted to buy them in the market to preserve them, the bill for the taxpayer would have been higher.
What were Rene Cloutier's motivations?
At this point in our discussion, man becomes animated. We feel this material is deeply about him and he has a lot to say.
“You have to start somewhere and stop waiting for everyone else,” he replied. What is happening on the planet is a horror, but I am not a loser. I tell myself that we must act. »
Photo by Martin Tremblay, The Press
René Cloutier and Appalachian Corridor General Director Melanie Lelievre
All I do is take one small step. But in this area, if 10 people secure 10 acres each, it will start acquiring land.
Rene Cloutier
“I'm a privileged person in life,” he continues. I have a way to do it, so I do it. »
He talks at length about the “viewers” who once entertained the idea of preserving vast green spaces like Mount Royal Park in Montreal or Central Park in New York.
Mr. Cloutier also recalls that Bromont and the surrounding areas were taken over by townspeople, especially after the epidemic. The municipality's population growth is four times that of Quebec as a whole.
“Protecting the territory does not mean opposing construction,” he insists. Instead, we create quality of life and attractiveness. Don't forget that people come here for nature. We'll be shooting ourselves in the bud by growing everywhere. »
René Cloutier notes that he was never interested in the idea of presenting himself and talking about himself. “I'm a very down-to-earth person,” he said. But if someone reading your report does the same, it's a win. »
“Music geek. Coffee lover. Devoted food scholar. Web buff. Passionate internet guru.”
