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Chinatown merchants say the city’s decision to install a public toilet in Sun-Yat-Sen Park without local consultation is a sign of disrespect.

“The park honours our founding father,” said Bryant Chang, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Montreal (CAM).

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The decision to erect a $300,000 self-cleaning toilet in the pagoda of the tiny park at Clark and la Gauchetière Sts. is “not respecting our founding father,” he said.

Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925) was the first president and founding father of the Republic of China.

Community members held a press conference in the park Sunday, with support from the Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR).

Chang said the local Chinese community frequently uses the park for community events like the annual Ancestral Ceremony in the second week of June.

But last month, workers fenced off a section of the park where the toilet will be installed. That’s preventing citizens from using the park and leaving plans for the Ancestral Ceremony in limbo, he said.