Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted a position on a two-year agreement with the Société canadienne de la Croix-Rouge (Canadian Red Cross) to help people affected by emergencies involving the Montréal Fire Department. The position is to grant $1,174,326.52 and approve the agreement, starting September 1, 2026; the agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting.
- The agreement would continue an existing service after the current agreement expires on August 31, 2026.
- It would cover urgent help after a fire department emergency response, including some non-fire situations such as flooding from a broken pipe or an urgent eviction.
- The City would make payments over two years, with annual amounts that include a 12% management fee and a 3% increase in the second year.
- The agreement would pay an additional $281.43 per person helped above 1,300 in the previous year, indexed by 3% in the second year.
- The SIM director would sign the agreement for the City. The Red Cross would form a committee with the City to assess how the agreement works and make needed adjustments.
What it means for you#
- People affected by an emergency: The agreement would continue Red Cross help following a SIM emergency response. It does not cover major disasters that exceed the SIM’s usual capacity and require coordination by the agglomeration’s civil protection organization.
- Red Cross: It would receive the funding and provide the service under an agreement made directly with the City, rather than through a call for tenders.
- City services and taxpayers: City staff say the SIM would manage the service and follow the agreement. The SIM budget would cover the difference between the new agreement’s cost and the cost of the previous one.
Money#
The fixed two-year contribution is $1,174,326.52, including applicable taxes; extra payments may also be due.
- The annual amounts, including the 12% management fee, are $578,485.97 for 2026–27 and $595,840.55 for 2027–28. The underlying annual contributions are $516,505.33 in the first year and $532,000.49 in the second, including taxes.
- Payments are planned at the start of each quarter. City staff say the amount is included in the SIM’s budget, and the SIM will prioritize the extra cost over the previous agreement in its operating budget.
- Above 1,300 people helped in the previous year, the agreement provides $281.43 per additional person, indexed by 3% in the second year. City staff estimate this variable extra could range from $1,000 to $100,000 a year. They report an extra payment of $107,224.83 based on 2025 service.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not set a maximum for the extra payments or explain how the City would respond if they exceed the estimated range.
- The agreement itself is not included, so its detailed service terms and how the management committee would make or report adjustments cannot be checked.
- The materials do not explain how people request help or what support each person can receive.
Case for#
- City staff say the current agreement is ending and continuing the service would avoid a break in help after SIM emergencies.
- The service would cover some urgent situations beyond fires, and staff say one agreement could support more consistent service across the agglomeration.
- Staff say the Red Cross may be able to bring in resources from outside the island if local volunteers are stretched by several emergencies at once.
Case against#
- The agreement is made directly with the Red Cross, with no call for tenders described. The materials do not compare the cost with other options.
- The per-person extra payment means the fixed two-year amount may not be the full cost; the materials give no maximum for those extra payments.
- The service excludes major disasters beyond the SIM’s usual capacity, so this agreement does not cover every emergency response.