Summary#
Montréal city council approved a contract with Telus to bury its overhead cable network on Notre-Dame Ouest, between 6th and 20th Avenue in Lachine. The contract is for a maximum of $119,762.20, taxes included; the decision does not set a broader policy goal.
- The city awarded the contract directly to Telus, without a call for tenders, for work on Telus’s own network.
- The president of the Commission des services électriques de Montréal (CSEM) is authorized to sign the required documents for the city.
- City staff say the wider project involves removing 42 poles. Staff expect civil works from spring 2027 through the end of 2028, cable removal during 2028 and 2029, and pole removal by the end of 2030.
What it means for you#
- Taxpayers: The city’s central budget will pay the full contract cost.
- People in Lachine: The decision funds work on Telus’s overhead cables on this stretch of Notre-Dame Ouest. It does not specify construction impacts on residents or businesses.
Money#
The city authorized a maximum payment of $119,762.20, taxes included.
- Payment will be based on actual costs invoiced with supporting invoices, up to the authorized maximum.
- City staff say the CSEM checked Telus’s estimate against similar projects and reviewed the quantities of cables and equipment to be removed.
What is unclear#
- The contract’s specific start and end dates are not stated; the dates given are for the wider project.
- The decision does not describe the detailed work schedule or possible disruptions on the street.
Case for#
- City staff say Telus must do this work on its own network, so the contract was awarded directly rather than through a competitive tender.
- Staff say the CSEM checked the estimate against similar projects and reviewed the quantities involved.
Case against#
- No competing bids were sought, so the materials do not show how Telus’s price compares with other offers.