Montréal

The meeting began with an acknowledgment of being on ancient Indigenous territory and a moment of silence was observed for the victims of the March 15th events in New Zealand. The council highlighted international celebrations for March, including International Women's Day and International Francophonie Day, and acknowledged birthdays of council members. There was a welcome extended to the Consul General of Japan and the President of the Quebec City Council, Ms. Geneviève Hamelin, who was visiting to share best practices. Discussions then focused on a public consultation regarding improving the public question period, with upcoming itinerant stops detailed. Furthermore, the council acknowledged the winners of the "Twelve Poems for Montreal" competition. A significant portion of the session involved debate regarding the future governance of Montréal International and its alignment with Investissement Québec, with the Opposition expressing concern over potential restructuring. Finally, the Leader of the Opposition raised critical points about the Vision Zero action plan, noting the high number of pedestrian fatalities in 2018 and criticizing the current plan for lacking concrete actions, targets, and budget allocation, specifically requesting measures for securing dangerous intersections and increasing school crossing guards. The administration responded by emphasizing commitment to data sharing, accountability, and collaboration with the Quebec government on road safety improvements, including addressing heavy vehicle presence.

The extraordinary council meeting commenced with a moment of silence dedicated to the victims of the coronavirus, healthcare professionals, essential workers, and other groups contributing to public health efforts. The meeting was held remotely to set an example of respecting health measures. Key discussions included the renewal of the state of emergency to allow for continued action, particularly concerning efforts to stabilize the increase in homelessness in Montreal by deploying significant capacity in day centers. There was a public question period where specific inquiries regarding a contract and municipal election rules (which are governed by the Quebec government) were addressed. Council members also discussed the importance of adhering to health guidelines and setting examples as elected officials.

The session included a public study of the 2025 budget and the 2025-224 capital budget for the city, continuing until November 29th. The discussion covered studying the budgets of various city services and para-municipal entities, allowing elected officials and commissioners to question resource persons, and enabling citizens to ask questions. Key discussion points for the Commission on Finance and Administration included presenting the budget status for the Public Consultation Office of Montreal (OCPM), its resource services (human resources, communications, strategic planning, and organizational performance), and the organizational restructuring that occurred in 2024, including the transfer of employees to city employee status. The OCPM is working on continuing eight consultation mandates, including major ones regarding urban planning, mobility (PUM), social cohabitation, and homelessness. Administratively, the focus for 2025 is implementing an action plan to address the Auditor General's recommendations, establishing a governance framework to clarify the relationship between the OCPM and the city, adopting a code of ethics for commissioners, and setting up a nomination/renewal process for commissioners. Financially, the 2024 operating budget was over $3 million with no anticipated surplus, and the 2025 budget projections show a significant payroll increase due to the employee transfer, which is planned to be absorbed internally.

This document outlines the development scenario for the future Sainte-Catherine Street West, led by the City of Montreal. The plan focuses on replacing century-old underground infrastructure and rethinking urban design to enhance economic vitality. Key initiatives include prioritizing pedestrian spaces, allowing for reversible pedestrianization, increasing green infrastructure with more trees, and creating flexible public areas that adapt to seasons. It also promotes better street sharing among various users and integrates smart street technologies such as electric vehicle charging stations, heated sidewalks, free Wi-Fi, adaptive lighting, and smart parking solutions. The redevelopment will proceed in phases, starting between Bury and Mansfield Streets, extending to Philips Square, and eventually westward to Atwat, emphasizing boldness, innovation, and flexibility in urban development.

The Public Safety Commission held a public meeting to present the recruitment process and selected candidates for the leadership of the Montreal Police Service (SPVM), following the departure of the previous Director. The process included public consultation to refine the desired profile. Key discussion points involved the selected candidate's vision, emphasizing an inclusive and proactive policing approach, better consultation with diverse populations and partners, and achieving a balance between vigilance/enforcement and legitimacy/prevention. Specific concerns raised by the public included police harassment and the handling of mentally ill individuals during interventions, as well as statistics regarding traffic tickets issued in Longueuil.