Summary#
Montréal city council adopted a decision awarding CMS Entrepreneurs Généraux inc. a contract for work on the trail along avenue du Parc-La Fontaine, in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough. The decision authorizes up to $4,011,678.85, taxes included, for the contract and related budgets; the stated goal is to improve the trail and its safety.
- The work includes rebuilding and adding paths, improving pedestrian crossing entrances, repairing the Léo-Ayotte lookout, upgrading lighting and planting 2,541 perennials and grasses.
- The contract was awarded through a public call for tenders. Six bids were submitted; CMS was the lowest compliant bidder.
- The decision also requires the city to evaluate CMS’s performance. Late-work penalties may apply under the tender documents.
What it means for you#
- Park users: The project will change paths, crossing entrances, the lookout and lighting in this part of the park. City staff say the work is intended to improve access, safety, drainage and comfort; those are expected benefits, not guaranteed results.
- Nearby residents and other park users: The materials do not set out construction dates or describe any temporary closures.
- Taxpayers: The decision authorizes a maximum amount, including reserves for unexpected costs and other expenses. It does not mean every dollar of those reserves will be spent.
Money#
The city authorized up to $4,011,678.85, taxes included; the net amount after tax rebates is to be funded through the city’s parks service and an existing borrowing bylaw.
- The contract itself is capped at $2,971,613.96, taxes included. The decision also authorizes $594,322.79 for contingencies, $297,161.40 for changes in quantities, and $148,580.70 for incidental costs, all taxes included.
- City staff say $3,663,197.50 net of tax rebates is budgeted and available through the Parc La Fontaine rehabilitation program. The planned allocation is $1.465 million in 2026 and $2.198 million in 2027.
- CMS’s bid was 0.2% above the city’s latest estimate. The second-lowest compliant bid was 6.9% higher than CMS’s.
What is unclear#
- No publicly available information in these materials gives the planned construction start or completion dates, or details of temporary access arrangements.
- The decision authorizes reserve budgets, but the materials do not say how much, if any, will be used.
Case for#
- City staff say the work addresses a deteriorated trail, uneven ground, recurring drainage problems and outdated lighting.
- CMS was the lowest compliant bidder among six bids, and its price was close to the city’s estimate.
Case against#
- The authorized reserves and incidental-cost budget add up to more than one-third of the base contract price. They address possible extra costs, but the materials do not say how much will ultimately be spent.
- The materials do not provide construction dates or explain how access to this part of the park will be maintained during the work.