Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously approved its position on changing the funding source for work on the Mount Royal Cross and recording some costs as non-capitalizable (not treated as a capital asset). The work is under a contract already awarded to Constructions Concreate ltée; the agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting.
- The contract covers steel-structure and electrical work, including reinforcing parts of the cross, replacing its lighting system, and bringing some parts up to current standards.
- The contract price is $3,177,535.33, taxes included. The maximum total, including contingencies and related costs, is $3,769,140.63, taxes included.
- The contractor was the only bidder and the only compliant bidder. After negotiation, its price was reduced from $3,301,708.33.
- The earlier decision also requires the city to evaluate the contractor’s performance.
What it means for you#
- Residents and visitors: The work is intended to preserve the cross’s appearance while repairing and updating its structure and lighting. The decision does not set new rules for visitors or create a new public service.
- The city and agglomeration: The city’s position authorizes a change to the funding source and the recording of non-capitalizable costs. The exact revised funding source is not stated in the supplied material.
- Taxpayers: The costs are assigned to the agglomeration. The material also describes cultural funding shared between Québec’s culture ministry and Montréal.
Money#
The approved maximum expenditure is $3,769,140.63, taxes included; no separate cost estimate for the funding-source change is provided.
- This total includes the $3,177,535.33 contract, $476,630.30 in contingencies and $114,975 in related costs.
- The total is $3,441,727.78 net of tax rebates.
- The summary says up to $2,204,400 is funded equally by Québec’s culture ministry and Montréal under a cultural-development agreement: $1,102,200 each. It also says the full expenditure is charged to the agglomeration.
- The sole compliant bid was 42.68% above the city’s original estimate. After negotiation, it remained 37.3% above the estimate.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not specify the revised funding source or explain how that change relates to the stated agglomeration charge and cultural funding.
- The contract duration and an updated work schedule are not given. City staff had expected work to start in late August 2026.
- The materials do not state how much of the maximum contingency or related-cost budgets will actually be spent.
Case for#
- City staff say the lighting system is near the end of its life, parts are discontinued, and the west side has had to be turned off. Repair and replacement could help keep the cross illuminated.
- The work also addresses structural capacity and brings parts of the structure and electrical system up to standards. City staff say it will preserve the monument’s appearance.
- The contractor lowered its price in negotiations, and cultural funding is available to share some costs.
Case against#
- One bidder means there was little competition to test the price. Even after negotiation, the bid remained substantially above the city’s estimate.
- The maximum includes a contingency budget of $476,630.30. The materials do not say how much of it will be needed.
- The exact funding-source change is not explained, making it harder to see how the costs will ultimately be allocated.