Summary#
Montréal city council approved a contract with Loiselle inc. for phase 2 of off-site handling of soils and stockpiled materials at the carrière Saint-Michel, in the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension. The work is part of preparing the site for rock from the Société de transport de Montréal’s (STM) Blue Line extension project.
- The contract covers specified soil types, including soils with invasive alien plant species, construction and demolition debris (pavers, brick and concrete), and non-hazardous waste.
- The contract award is $2,044,999.99, taxes included. Council also authorized $409,000 for contingencies and $362,171.25 for related costs, for a maximum total of $2,816,171.24, taxes included.
- Loiselle was the lowest compliant bidder in a public call for tenders that received five bids. The City must evaluate the company’s performance under the contract.
What it means for you#
- Residents: The decision does not directly change residents’ rights, services, taxes or fees. City staff say the work will clear space for the STM to place excavated rock in the quarry.
- The City and contractor: Work is scheduled from May to July 2026. For each day it is late, Loiselle must pay a penalty of 0.1% of the contract price before tax and contingencies, with a minimum of $1,000 per day.
Money#
The maximum authorized expense is $2,816,171.24, taxes included.
- The City says the expense is paid entirely by the central city. The Service de l’urbanisme et de la mobilité pays it under borrowing bylaw 19-003; the stated amount net of tax rebates is $2,571,539.71.
- The maximum includes the contract, contingency funds and related professional and technical costs. The materials do not give separate estimates for how much of the contingency or related-cost budgets will be used.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not say how much of the contingency and related-cost budgets will actually be spent.
Case for#
- City staff say Loiselle’s bid was 51.87% below the City’s estimate. They explain that some bidders have their own disposal sites, specialized equipment or ways to reuse materials, which can lower costs.
- Clearing the planned areas would allow the STM to place excavated rock directly on the quarry floor, according to the decision summary.
Case against#
- The authorized maximum is $771,171.25 more than the contract award because it includes contingencies and related costs. The materials do not say how much of those additional budgets will be needed.
- The winning bid was far below the City’s estimate. Staff offer an explanation, but the size of the gap makes cost control during the work important.