Summary#
Montréal city council approved a contract for work in Parc Jarry, in the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension. It awarded the contract to Les Terrassements Multi-Paysages inc., the lowest compliant bidder, and authorized a maximum total expense of $1,386,774.32, taxes included. City staff say the goal is to improve and connect park paths, including informal paths, and make them more comfortable and accessible.
- The work includes removing and building paths, protecting plants, landscaping, and installing furniture and equipment.
- The approved amount includes the contract price of $1,066,749.48, plus budgets for contingencies, quantity changes, and other incidentals.
- The city must evaluate the contractor’s performance.
- The work is scheduled for October to December 2026. The tender documents provide for a daily late penalty of 0.1% of the contract value before taxes.
What it means for you#
- Park users: The work is intended to improve paths and access around the park. City staff say mobility will be maintained during construction; the decision does not give details on how.
- Taxpayers: The Ville centre (central city) will pay the full expense. The decision does not create a new fee for park users.
Money#
The city authorized a maximum expense of $1,386,774.32, taxes included ($1,266,309.80 net of tax rebates).
- The contract itself is capped at $1,066,749.48. The additional authorized budgets are $213,349.90 for contingencies, $53,337.47 for quantity changes, and $53,337.47 for incidentals.
- The contract was awarded through a public call for tenders. Four bids were submitted, all compliant; the selected bid was the lowest. It was 9.3% below the city’s estimate for the contract and contingency/quantity amounts.
- The expense is funded through the city’s existing borrowing bylaw and its 2026–2035 capital plan.
What is unclear#
- The decision does not specify which paths will be built or repaired, or how the extra budgets will ultimately be used.
- City staff say the work will follow universal-access principles, but no detailed equity analysis or consultation with affected groups was done.
- The decision gives a schedule, but not a more precise completion date or details of how access will be maintained during construction.
Case for#
- City staff say frequent use has created informal paths and some existing paths are deteriorated. Formalizing paths and repairing surfaces could improve comfort and access while protecting vegetation.
- The winning bid was the lowest compliant bid and was below the city’s estimate for the contract and contingency/quantity amounts.
Case against#
- The authorized extra budgets total $320,024.84 beyond the contract price. They cover unexpected site conditions, quantity changes, and incidentals, but the decision does not say how much will be spent from them.
- The city approved accessibility-related work without a detailed equity analysis or specific consultation with groups it aims to serve.