Cleaning brigades to tidy up all boroughs of the city
Montreal is expanding its cleaning brigades to the entire city, dispatching crews on a part-time basis to all 19 boroughs between June 1 and Oct. 31, after a successful pilot project in five boroughs. The cleaners, who operate in addition to regular city employees, target higher-traffic commercial areas on main arteries or areas that are difficult for the city’s mechanized cleaners to access. Cleaners collect garbage, sweep sidewalks, remove graffiti and clean urban furniture like benches and tables, pick up cigarette butts and remove noxious weeds. At present, cleaners are working seven days a week in Côte-desNeiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Plateau—Mont-Royal, Le SudOuest et Ville-Marie. Under the expansion of the pilot-project that had cleaners work limited shifts in five boroughs last summer, they will visit other boroughs in three-hour shifts, between one and three times a week. “This type of initiative considerably improves the quality of life of residents and workers, and increases the attractiveness of our city for tourists,” Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said in a statement. Plante had promised to extend the cleanliness brigades throughout the city during her election campaign to become mayor. In May, the city announced that cleanliness brigades would serve five additional boroughs over the summer: Ahuntsic—Cartierville, Mercier—Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, Rosemont—La-PetitePatrie, Verdun and Villeray— Saint-Michel—Parc-Extension. The program originated in 2006. She was criticized at the time for favouring boroughs in which her Projet Montréal party held the majority of council seats, and snubbing those run by opposition parties. She denied the charge, saying the city based its decisions on the greatest needs.