Others, on the contrary, wish to preserve it for its heritage and historical value:

“In the machinery sector, another giant in its field arrived in Maisonneuve: the United Shoe Machinery Company of Canada. This was the Canadian branch of an American company that had established a virtual trust for the machinery used in shoe factories. […] The Canadian branch was founded in 1899 and set up its factory in Montreal. The company clearly benefited from the rapid growth of the shoe industry in the early 20th century, and its Montreal facilities quickly became insufficient. In search of a new site, it chose Maisonneuve. It seems that Councillor Oscar Dufresne, himself a shoe manufacturer, played an important role in this decision. As usual, the municipality was generous, granting a 20-year tax exemption. The factory was built in 1911 on Boyce Street, and that same year the property was valued at $200,000. At the time, the number of employees was nearly 300, reaching 350 by 1913. Today, the factory has been converted into condominiums.”
Source: http://www.espace-ressources.uqam.ca

So far, the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough has not taken a formal stance on the issue. The co-owners of the site met again in April 2019 to discuss the future of the chimney, which remains uncertain.

United Shoe Machinery (1911)

This company supplied machinery and machinery parts to shoe manufacturers. Maisonneuve was the shoe capital of Canada. In 1911, it ranked 5th in Canada and 2nd in Quebec for manufacturing output. This building was the first industrial structure in Maisonneuve to be converted into condominiums. This marked the borough’s intent to consider industrial architecture in the enhancement of its industrial heritage. The chimney is a striking visual landmark.
Source: Atelier d’histoire Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve