City to award park deer-control contract

Summary#

Montréal city council adopted a position to award a seven-month contract to 9103-7143 Québec inc. for deer-control services at the parc-nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. City staff say the goal is to reduce deer density to support biodiversity and the park’s forest ecosystems.

  • The proposed contract covers the work needed to remove about 100 white-tailed deer, including preparation, professional shooting, handling and transport.
  • The public call for tenders drew one bid, from 9103-7143 Québec inc.; it was compliant.
  • The proposed total is $236,675.80, taxes included. It includes $197,229.84 for the contract and two $19,722.98 budgets: one for contingencies and one for changes in quantities.
  • Staff plan night-time operations and a safety plan that would keep people out of the site during the work.

What it means for you#

  • Park users: The planned work would take place at night. Access to the site would be blocked during operations, but the materials do not give a closure schedule.
  • Agglomeration taxpayers: City staff say the full expense would be paid from the agglomeration’s operating budget.
  • The public: This council decision sets Montréal’s position on the contract; it is not itself the final contract award.

Money#

The proposed total is $236,675.80, taxes included ($216,116.55 net of tax rebates).

  • The two additional budgets are each $19,722.98, taxes included.
  • City staff estimate the total is 11.6% below their estimate of $267,730.12.

What is unclear#

  • The materials give conflicting end dates: March 31, 2027, and April 1, 2027. They also say the contract may end earlier if the work is complete or the budget is used up.
  • The work requires a provincial wildlife-management permit; the materials say it is expected in October 2026 but do not confirm it has been obtained.
  • The materials do not give a detailed plan for how many deer would be removed on each night.

Case for#

  • City staff say the work follows a technical committee’s recommendation to reduce deer numbers, with a target density tending toward five deer per square kilometre.
  • Staff say managing deer numbers is intended to protect biodiversity and the ecological features of the park’s forests.
  • The only bid was compliant and below the City’s estimate.

Case against#

  • One bid means there was no competing bid to compare with the proposed price.
  • The operation would remove about 100 deer and temporarily exclude park users from the site; the materials do not detail the closure schedule.
  • The materials do not explain how the target deer density would be measured or how the effects of the operation would be assessed.