Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted a position to award Keleny inc. a contract for judicial interpretation and translation services at the Montréal municipal court. The proposed contract is for two years, with an option for one more year; the agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting.
- The proposed two-year contract is $2,364,083.76, taxes included. It would run from June 18, 2026, to June 17, 2028.
- The contract followed a public call for tenders: two bids were received, but only Keleny’s met the requirements and passed the selection score.
- Keleny would be subject to a performance evaluation during the contract.
- The one-year extension would require a separate decision. Its estimated cost is $1,217,503.14, taxes included, with prices adjusted for inflation.
What it means for you#
- People using the municipal court: If the contract is approved, Keleny would provide interpretation and translation services for parties who request them and for witnesses in some cases. This decision does not change who may request those services.
- Court and city staff: City staff would continue arranging the services. The proposed contract covers an estimated 4,000 requests a year; 4,380 requests were made in 2025.
- Taxpayers: The cost would be charged to the legal affairs department’s operating budget. The city says funds are available and will be prioritized in the budgets for the years concerned.
Money#
The proposed two-year contract costs $2,364,083.76, taxes included.
- That is $2,158,723.58 net of tax rebates, or $2,056,172 before tax.
- The amount is 10.3% below the city’s estimate, but city staff say it is 9.7% higher than current prices.
- The possible one-year extension is estimated at $1,217,503.14, taxes included, assuming a 3% rise in the consumer price index. It is not included in the two-year contract amount and would need a separate decision.
What is unclear#
- The decision does not set a guaranteed number of requests or explain how costs would change if demand differs from the estimate.
- Whether the one-year extension will be used, and its eventual cost, are not settled.
Case for#
- City staff say the court must provide interpreters when requested by parties and for certain witnesses. The contract would continue a service needed for the court to meet that obligation.
- Keleny’s bid was the only compliant bid and came in below the city’s estimate.
Case against#
- Only one of the two bids complied. City staff say the market has two main providers in the Montréal region, which makes future prices hard to predict.
- The proposed contract costs 9.7% more than current prices, according to city staff, and the extension could add further cost.