Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted a position supporting $391,920.20 in funding for Jeunesse au Soleil and a two-year agreement starting September 1, 2026. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. The stated goal is to continue emergency help for people affected by an intervention of the Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal (SIM).
- The proposed agreement covers help across the Montréal agglomeration after a SIM emergency intervention, including urgent situations beyond fires. City staff give examples such as a home flooded by a broken pipe or an urgent eviction.
- Jeunesse au Soleil would provide the assistance; the SIM would remain responsible for the service and for following up on the agreement.
- The amount includes all applicable taxes and 5% annual management fees. It is $193,827.99 for 2026–27 and $198,092.21 for 2027–28.
- The agreement does not cover major disasters that exceed the SIM’s usual capacity and require coordination by the agglomeration’s civil security organization.
What it means for you#
- People needing emergency help: If the agglomeration council approves the agreement, Jeunesse au Soleil would continue providing assistance after a SIM emergency intervention. The agreement describes help such as housing, clothing, medication, and other basic needs, potentially beyond 72 hours.
- Residents and taxpayers: The funding would be paid from public budgets. City staff say the agglomeration would cover costs up to the cost of the agreement ending August 31, 2026, and the SIM would cover the difference.
- People affected by a major disaster: This agreement would not cover cases requiring coordination because the event exceeds the SIM’s usual capacity.
Money#
The proposed two-year agreement costs $391,920.20, including all applicable taxes and management fees.
- Jeunesse au Soleil’s annual contribution is $184,598.09 for the first year, then indexed by 3% for the second year. The 5% annual management fees are applied to the indexed amounts.
- Payments would be made at the start of each quarter. The costs would be $64,609.33 in 2026, $195,249.40 in 2027, and $132,061.47 in 2028.
- City staff say the SIM would cover the difference between the new agreement’s cost and the amount covered by the agglomeration under the previous agreement. The materials do not give the dollar amount of that difference.
What is unclear#
- The agglomeration council has not yet made the final decision on the funding and agreement.
- The agreement’s detailed service rules are not included in the materials. No publicly available information is provided here on how people request help, how eligibility is decided, or what help is available in each case.
- The materials do not define the full range of “urgent” situations covered. They give examples, but not a complete list or a decision process.
- The materials do not say how the agreement’s management committee will report its evaluations or adjustments publicly.
Case for#
- City staff say the current agreement ends August 31, 2026, and continuing the service would help avoid a break in assistance.
- Staff say one agreement across the agglomeration could support more consistent service for people affected by SIM interventions.
- Jeunesse au Soleil already provides second-line support and, according to staff, can draw on other programs to help with needs such as housing, clothing, and medication.
Case against#
- The agreement broadens the described situations beyond fires, but its full scope and the process for deciding who qualifies are not clear in the materials.
- The proposed cost is higher than the amount covered by the agglomeration under the previous agreement, according to the cost-sharing description; the materials do not state the size of the difference the SIM would pay.
- The materials describe an internal committee to assess operations and make adjustments, but do not set out public reporting or other oversight details.