City of Gatineau loses court battle over park road closure by feds

OTTAWA – The Federal Court has ruled the National Capital Commission is well within its rights to close a section of road that runs through Gatineau Park.

The city of Gatineau, Que., took the federal government to court last year to try to stop the commission from closing a 600-metre stretch of Gamelin Street to the public.

The city, across the Ottawa river from Parliament Hill, argued closing the road would cause traffic jams and delay emergency services.

But the commission says the plan was always to close this section of the road.

The agency also says a traffic study by the city found closing the road would have no impact on police or fire services.

However, the commission agreed to continue to allow ambulances to use the road after it closes to motorists.

The Federal Court released a judgment Monday that found the decision to close the road is reasonable.