A word from the mayor

It is with great pride, and a sense of accomplishment, that we are presenting the city’s 2019 operating budget, as well as our 2019-2021 Three-year capital works program (TCWP). Our approach breaks with the past. This roadmap is the very first to express our true aspirations and our vision for the development of Montréal. Real change, the kind that brings about in-depth transformations, cannot be made overnight. It is worth preparing thoroughly, and that is exactly what we have accomplished over the first year of our term, by listening to the concerns voiced by our population. We will work with our fellow citizens to build a metropolis at a human scale, one that will be better prepared to face the challenges of our century, all while offering efficient neighborhood services. After all, that is the quintessential role of a municipal administration. Montréal is doing well, but competition among the world’s metropolises is fiercer than ever, and the issues related to demography, technology and climate change are more pressing than ever before. As we address them, we must have a strong vision to guide our choices and to yield responsible decisions. This budget and Three-year capital works program enable us to lay the groundwork for the projects that will shape our strong vision. The budget, totaling $5,705.1 M, clearly establishes the priorities on which we intend to focus our efforts. As for the TCWP, it allows for a long-term plan to build the future of our metropolis, to improve the daily lives of our fellow citizens, and to secure a fair and equitable future for generations to come. Montréal’s businesses are driving forces in our city and contribute to its unique diversity. More than ever before, the administration takes them into consideration. For instance, the city will soon adopt a by-law enabling business owners who were affected by major work sites to receive partial compensation for their losses, retroactive to January 1, 2016. Moreover, with this 2019 budget, we will go even further in reducing taxes for a vast majority of owners of non-residential immovable properties. Indeed, the city will reduce the property taxes on the first $500,000 increment, which will effectively lower tax charges by 10%. As a result, most of Montréal’s business owners will pay fewer taxes in 2019. This is a tangible example of the measures we are rolling out. Supporting our businesses means supporting the vitality and strengthening the social fabric of our communities. Montréal’s vitality is actually best reflected by its neighborhoods. We must thus ensure that every one of them can offer a green and attractive living environment to those who choose to call it their home. Large amounts were earmarked for the preservation and greening of our territory, both to revamp local parks and to purchase vast green areas to be added to the regional park network. We trust that these investments will enable us to reach our ultimate goal of protecting 10% of natural environments on the island. In terms of housing, it is essential for all Montrealers to have access to decent housing within their means. This is a fundamental right. In light of this necessary commitment, we will develop 6,000 social housing units and 6,000 affordable dwelling units, at a time when housing needs are critical. As we have said time and time again, it is essential for us to rethink the way we get around in the 21st century. It is not only an environmental issue, but also a matter of health, economic growth and, above all, a matter of quality of life! The means by which Montrealers get to work or to school, shop or engage in recreational activities undergoes transformations from one year to the next, and our city must adapt swiftly to it all. This is why major investments in road infrastructures will yield more possibilities for active transportation (walking, biking, etc.) and for public transit. In this respect, $1 M is provided for the Bureau de la ligne rose. What’s more, we have made in-depth changes to our road infrastructure maintenance programs, so that we may catch up on the maintenance deficit all the while improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists, children and senior citizens. Dynamic commercial thoroughfares, safe streets, renovated parks, new housing co-ops: these neighborhood-based interventions all converge towards a common goal: strengthening our communities. We are building an inclusive city for all, by preserving and enhancing Montréal’s social and economic diversity, a fundamental value that prevails in our actions. In conclusion, I want to thank all municipal employees. Your contribution is key to making our city an efficient organization, one that strives for consistently improving the services rendered to its citizens. Our city is driven by people who are passionate about their metropolis!