Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously approved its position in favour of exercising the first 12-month extension of eight towing contracts. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. City staff say the extension is intended to maintain towing services.
- The contracts are with Remorquage Burstall-Conrad inc., Remorquage Centre-Ville inc., Remorquage Météor inc. and Remorquage Bélanger S. R. inc.
- The work covers towing vehicles that break traffic or parking rules, are involved in accidents or are broken down, are crime-related or abandoned, pose a safety concern, or belong to the city and are broken down.
- The extension is for 12 months. The resolution gives start dates of April 1, 2026, for lots 6 and 7, and July 1, 2026, for the other six lots.
- The contracts were originally awarded through a public call for tenders that received five bids. The materials do not say whether these firms submitted the lowest compliant bids.
What it means for you#
- People whose vehicles are towed: The decision would not itself change the towing rules or rates. City staff say charges for certain tows—such as vehicles breaking traffic or parking rules, or involved in accidents—are paid by the citizen through an infraction notice, at rates set by an agglomeration bylaw.
- Residents and businesses: The resolution does not create a new application or review process. The contract covers towing across the City of Montréal’s service areas.
- Taxpayers: The resolution would authorize spending from the Montréal police service and city vehicle services budgets if the agglomeration council approves the extension. The city says police-service costs are paid by the agglomeration.
Money#
The resolution authorizes $1,463,611.35 in additional spending, taxes included.
- This comprises $1,304,844.86 for the eight contract lots and $158,766.49 for contingencies.
- City staff’s financial section gives a different figure: $1,680,874.73, taxes included, for ten lots, including contingencies. It also estimates required credits of $1,534,862.69, net of tax rebates, for 2026 and 2027.
What is unclear#
- The resolution lists eight lots, while the staff summary describes ten. The resolution’s spending amounts differ from the summary’s ten-lot totals; the materials do not reconcile these figures.
- The resolution says the listed contract totals would rise to $6,723,498.98, taxes included, but its table does not explain how that figure relates to the individual totals listed.
- The materials do not say whether the agglomeration council will approve the extension.
Case for#
- The extension would continue towing services already required under the city’s towing rules.
- City staff say refusing the extension would require a new public call for tenders and could risk higher spending or a break in service.
- The extension uses an option included in contracts originally awarded through a public call for tenders.
Case against#
- The extension authorizes additional public spending, and some towing costs are charged to citizens.
- The materials give conflicting totals and describe different numbers of contract lots, making the full cost harder to assess.