The City of Montreal announced on September 21, 2026 that it is suspending its mediation process with Sanimax and has asked the Quebec government to assume responsibility for the case involving odor complaints linked to the agri‑food plant in the Rivière‑des‑Prairies borough.
The decision comes after a period of mediation between municipal officials and Sanimax aimed at addressing resident reports of unpleasant smells emanating from the facility. Residents in the Rivière‑des‑Prairies area had repeatedly voiced concerns about the odor, prompting the city to seek a negotiated solution.
By referring the matter to the provincial government, Montreal is transferring the handling of the dispute to Quebec authorities, who will now oversee any further actions related to the plant’s emissions. The city indicated that the Quebec government is now the appropriate body to manage the issue.
The shift marks a change in the city’s approach after the mediation effort did not resolve the odor problem to the satisfaction of the community. With the Quebec government now in charge, residents can expect provincial involvement in any future assessments or corrective measures concerning the agri‑food plant’s operations.