Summary#
Montréal City Council unanimously adopted a position supporting a contract for work at Caserne 47, at 2111 rue Saint-Zotique Est in Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. The stated goal is to reduce emissions from municipal buildings and modernize the station’s heating and controls.
- The proposed contractor is Le Groupe M.E.A.S. inc., the lowest compliant bidder among seven bids.
- The contract covers replacing gas heating equipment and related electrical, ventilation, control and building work.
- The proposed total is $1,305,578.38, taxes included: $1,087,981.98 for the contract, plus $163,197.30 for contingencies and $54,399.10 for incidental costs.
- The resolution requires an evaluation of the contractor’s performance.
What it means for you#
- Residents and taxpayers: City staff say the agglomeration would bear the full expense through borrowing bylaw RCG 24-018. The materials do not identify a direct charge to individual residents.
- Fire-station users and staff: The work is intended to modernize heating controls and improve comfort. City staff estimate it could reduce emissions by about 113 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent.
- City services and the borough: Staff estimate that, starting in 2027, the operating budget for the relevant city service and Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie borough would need to increase by 40% for energy and technical maintenance costs.
- Timing: The planned start is March 2026, with provisional completion in March 2027 and contract end in March 2028.
Money#
The proposed total is $1,305,578.38, taxes included; the materials do not give a final net cost after any grant.
- The base contract is $1,087,981.98, taxes included ($933,472.57 net of tax rebates).
- The contingency budget is $163,197.30, taxes included; incidental costs are $54,399.10, taxes included.
- City staff say a 44% subsidy is available if all expenses are committed before March 31, 2026. Expenses committed after that date would be borne by the city’s capital program.
- Staff estimate a 40% increase in operating budgets from 2027, but give no dollar amount.
What is unclear#
- The resolution describes replacing gas equipment with equipment that emits no greenhouse gases. But the staff description says the work includes replacing gas boilers with electric and gas boilers. The materials do not explain how these descriptions fit together.
- The materials do not say how the proposed 40% operating-budget increase is calculated in dollars.
- The 44% subsidy depends on the expenses being committed before March 31, 2026; the materials do not state the amount of subsidy the project will actually receive.
Case for#
- City staff say the work supports the city’s goal of making its municipal building stock operationally zero-carbon by 2030.
- Seven compliant bids were received. The proposed total, including contingencies, is 28.5% below the staff estimate; staff say the bids indicate a competitive market and a fair price.
- Staff say the work would modernize controls and improve comfort as well as reduce emissions.
Case against#
- The estimated 40% increase in operating budgets is a continuing cost, and the materials give no dollar estimate.
- The proposed total is 28.5% below the staff estimate. Although staff consider the price fair, the materials do not explain how the city would address costs if the low bid proves insufficient; the contingency budget is 15% of the base contract.
- The description of gas boilers in the planned work leaves it unclear whether the project will fully remove gas-fired heating.