Summary#
Montréal city council approved a $290,000 donation to Centraide du Grand Montréal for its 2025 fundraising campaign. City staff say the donation is intended to support Centraide’s work against poverty and social exclusion.
- The city will make an institutional donation of $290,000. It is separate from donations by city staff, elected officials and retired staff.
- The donation is $5,000 more than the city’s 2024 donation.
- Councillor Claude Pinard declared an interest and did not take part in the discussion or vote.
What it means for you#
- Taxpayers: The city will pay $290,000 from credits available in the Direction générale budget, according to the decision summary.
- Centraide and the public: Centraide will receive the donation for its 2025 campaign. The decision does not set rules for how Centraide must use this specific donation.
- City staff, elected officials and retired staff: Their personal donations are separate; the decision does not require them to donate.
Money#
The city approved a $290,000 donation; city staff say the required budget credits are available.
- The decision summary says the donation has no impact on the city’s financial framework.
- The materials do not say that taxes are included or provide a separate tax amount.
What is unclear#
- The decision does not specify how Centraide must use the city’s donation or require a report on its use.
- The materials do not explain how the $290,000 amount was set beyond the recommended $5,000 increase, which staff link to growing needs.
Case for#
- City staff say Centraide funds community organizations and projects that work on poverty and social exclusion.
- Staff say Centraide supports 375 organizations and projects and improves the lives of one in five people in Greater Montréal. These are staff’s stated reasons for the donation, not results guaranteed by this decision.
Case against#
- The decision does not set specific conditions for the donation or require a report on how this money is used.
- A possible trade-off is that city budget credits are being used for a donation rather than another city purpose; the materials do not compare those options.