Summary#
Montréal’s city council unanimously adopted its position for a later agglomeration council vote: provide the Regroupement des éco-quartiers (REQ) with support for the 2026 Patrouille bleue and approve a funding agreement. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. City staff say the goal is to educate residents about saving water and protecting sewers and waterways.
- The adopted orientation names a grant of $69,076.99 to REQ. The decision summary and official title instead say $69,076.09.
- City staff’s plan is for REQ to hire 14 patrol workers for four weeks in boroughs and linked municipalities.
- The patrol would offer water-saving advice, explain existing outdoor water-use rules, and encourage people not to put prohibited materials down toilets or drains.
What it means for you#
- Residents: The planned patrol would provide information and, where available, water-saving materials. This decision does not change the existing water-use bylaw or create new fines or duties for residents.
- REQ: It is the named recipient of the proposed support and would organize the patrol if the agglomeration council approves the decision.
- Public: The city council’s orientation is not the final approval of the funding.
Money#
The decision summary lists $69,076.09 in support, including taxes, but the adopted orientation states $69,076.99.
- City staff say the money is planned from the Service de l’eau budget.
- The summary allocates $43,512 to hiring patrol workers and $25,564.08 to coordination and materials. Those amounts add up to $69,076.08, which does not match either stated total.
- Staff say the coordination and materials cost would be split 70% to the agglomeration and 30% to the city centre.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not explain the differences between the amount in the adopted orientation, the amount in the title and summary, and the sum of the two listed budget items.
- The funding agreement’s full terms are not provided, so its payment conditions and reporting requirements are unclear.
- The materials do not give a detailed method for measuring the patrol’s results in 2026.
Case for#
- City staff say the patrol builds on a program that has operated since 2010 and has reached more than 130,000 people.
- The planned outreach addresses household water use and materials that can cause problems in sewers and at the wastewater treatment plant.
- Staff report that the 2025 patrol spoke with 10,465 people, giving a basis for continuing the work.
Case against#
- The amount discrepancies make it unclear exactly how much support is being put forward.
- Staff describe past benefits, but the materials do not show how much of the reported change was caused by the patrol.
- The planned campaign lasts four weeks; the materials do not say how its reach or longer-term effects will be assessed.