Summary#
The city council adopted an orientation in favour of awarding two wildlife-management contracts to Artémis Faune inc. The contracts would run from January 2026 to December 31, 2027, with an option to extend them by one year; the stated goal is to manage wildlife issues in Montréal’s parks and other areas. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting.
- Lot 1 covers coyote and wild-turkey monitoring and capture, goose-nesting monitoring, and other wildlife issues in parks. Lot 2 covers beaver management in nature parks.
- The proposed two-year contract totals are $130,828.89 for Lot 1 and $68,309.12 for Lot 2, including taxes, contingencies and quantity variations.
- Both contracts were awarded through public call for tenders. Artémis Faune was the only bidder and submitted the only compliant bid for each lot.
- The contracts require services under the supervision of the city’s parks department. The work includes consulting, wildlife response, equipment maintenance, deterrence, capture, monitoring and beaver-impact mitigation.
What it means for you#
- Park users and the public: If the contracts proceed, Artémis Faune would provide the specified wildlife services in Montréal parks and other areas. The decision does not directly change residents’ rights or impose new rules on them.
- Taxpayers: The costs would be charged to the parks department’s operating budget. The city council’s orientation is not itself the agglomeration council’s final decision.
Money#
The proposed two-year spending limit is $199,138.01, taxes included, with no separate cost estimate for the optional extension.
- The amount includes $8,297 for contingencies and $24,893 for changes in quantities.
- The one-year extension option is valued at $82,974.01, taxes included. The contract documents say an extension requires agreement between the parties.
- City staff say Lot 1 would be paid from a mixed agglomeration and city-centre budget; the 2026 split is 50% each. Lot 2 would be paid by the agglomeration. Staff list the maximum costs net of tax rebates as $119,464.22 for Lot 1 and $62,375.33 for Lot 2.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not set out the site-by-site work plans, methods or timelines; these would be set for each assignment with the relevant parties.
- They do not explain what would lead the city and contractor to agree to use the extension option.
Case for#
- City staff say wildlife interventions are sometimes needed to protect ecological integrity in parks or address conflicts with wildlife.
- Staff say the proposed prices are similar to previous contract prices. Lot 1 is 4.6% above the city’s estimate, while Lot 2 is 14.3% below it.
- The contracts group several wildlife services under one specialist firm, with work supervised by the city’s parks department.
Case against#
- Only one company submitted a bid, so the city had no competing compliant offer to compare against.
- Lot 1 is above the city’s estimate, and the total could rise if contingencies or quantity changes are used.
- The optional extension would add up to $82,974.01, but the materials do not explain the criteria for deciding whether to extend.