Summary#
Montréal city council approved a payment agreement with Hydro-Québec for rent arrears on land used for public facilities from 2014 through 2025. The resolution approves payment of $125,167.62, taxes included; the decision summary gives a different total, $125,467.62. City staff say the agreement uses reduced rates and is intended to settle the arrears.
- After the City pays, Hydro-Québec will bring the balances to zero for 19 rental files, according to the staff summary.
- The sites include bike paths, parks, community gardens, parking areas and access facilities in several boroughs.
- The agreement settles past arrears. New rental agreements from 2026 onward are to be negotiated separately and brought forward for approval.
What it means for you#
- The City and Hydro-Québec: The City is to pay the amount in the resolution. Hydro-Québec is to clear the balances for the 19 files once it receives payment, according to the staff summary.
- People using the sites: The sites include the bike path between 36th and 39th avenues and Parc Marcelin-Wilson; community gardens at Montréal-Nord, Couture, Champdoré and De Lille; and other named sites including Parc Bois-de-Liesse, Parc Coubertin, the Gouin East and Keller–Thouin bike paths, and the Langelier snow-depot access. The summary says that without an agreement, Hydro-Québec might no longer tolerate access and the City and boroughs would have to remove existing installations.
- Residents generally: The decision does not set new rules for residents or guarantee that the current rental arrangements will continue after 2025.
Money#
The resolution authorizes a payment of $125,167.62, taxes included, but the staff summary’s amount and financial breakdown do not match it.
- The staff summary says the arrears total $125,467.62, taxes included, with a net amount of $114,568.66 after tax rebates. It says the expense is covered by the City’s real-estate strategy service operating budget and was already provided for in 2023 and 2024 accruals.
- The resolution says to charge the expense according to the financial information in the file. The materials do not explain the $300 difference between the resolution and staff summary.
What is unclear#
- Which total is intended to be paid: the resolution’s $125,167.62 or the staff summary’s $125,467.62.
- The exact payment date and the terms of the payment agreement are not set out in the supplied materials.
- The terms, prices and approval timing for the new rental agreements from 2026 onward are not stated.
Case for#
- City staff say Hydro-Québec initially sought about $1.9 million in arrears based on market value. Using the lower rates in the agreement between Hydro-Québec and the Union des municipalités du Québec reduced the amount sought.
- Staff say reaching an agreement avoids the risk that existing bike paths, parks and gardens on Hydro-Québec land would have to be dismantled.
Case against#
- The decision approves payment, but the two official parts of the file give different totals. That makes the amount authorized unclear.
- The agreement settles past arrears, but continued use of the sites depends on separate rental agreements to be negotiated and approved. Their terms and costs are not yet provided.