The Vaudreuil-Soulanges Islamic Cultural Center has been caught. According to documents received by VIVA MÉDIA, the location was used as a mosque although municipal regulations prohibit it.
Photo Steve Sauvé
The saga surrounding 2400, rue Saint-Antoine in Vaudreuil-Dorion takes a new direction. In the past, a group of citizens opposed the sale of the old restaurant to Réseau Trait d’Union, responsible for the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Islamic Cultural Center. Citizens then claimed that the place would be used for religious purposes despite the zoning prohibiting it. Yet, the building was sold, but the buyer cannot use the building as a mosque.
Usage
For several weeks, citizens have noticed a constant coming and going at 2400, rue Saint-Antoine in Vaudreuil-Dorion. Faced with this, these citizens contacted the City of Vaudreuil-Dorion to express their displeasure. In fact, one of the citizens involved in the filing of a complaint, explains that as soon as the old Sunny’s was transformed into an Islamic cultural center, the place was used as a mosque.
“People go to pray there six times a day, said one of the complainants. Suppose there are 40 members, that’s 480 vehicles entering or exiting there every day. They arrive about 30 minutes before prayer time and leave 30 minutes after. It starts early around 4:15 a.m. and continues until 9:30 p.m.”
Clear prohibition
The certificate of occupancy issued by the City of Vaudreuil-Dorion bearing the number 2021-20050, in the name of Réseau Trait d’Union, dated January 26th , 2021, is unequivocal. “Religious organization use is strictly prohibited both inside and outside this building”, we can read on page 2 of the certificate, which was signed on February 2nd , 2021 by Tahar Houari on behalf of the applicant of Réseau Trait d’Union.
The City cannot comment
The City of Vaudreuil-Dorion refuses to comment on the situation for the moment. “In order not to create a situation likely to hinder a possible investigation, the City does not intend to confirm, for the moment, the existence of a complaint and will not grant any interview on this matter”, explains the municipal administration.
This approach by the City of Vaudreuil-Dorion is completely in accordance with article 28 of the Act respecting access to documents held by public bodies and the protection of personal information, which provides that a public body must refuse to release of to confirm the existence of information contained in a document that it keeps in the exercise of a duty provided for by law involving the prevention, detection or repression of crime or statutory offenses, or that it keeps for the purpose of cooperating with a person or body responsible for such a duty, if its disclosure would likely hamper a future or current investigation or an investigation that may be reopened.
Supporting evidence
VIVA MÉDIA got a hold of an email exchange between a citizen and an employee of the City of Vaudreuil-Dorion. In the email, the lady confirms that the City of Vaudreuil-Dorion has issued a verbal notice to those in charge of the center so that they respect their certificate of occupancy, and that the City has announced the next steps if they breach again, namely a fine.
