Summary#
Montréal city council adopted the bylaw Code d’éthique et de conduite des membres du conseil de la Ville et des conseils d’arrondissement (Code of Ethics and Conduct for City and Borough Council Members) unanimously on April 20, 2026. It replaces bylaw 22-016 with a revised ethics and conduct code; city staff say the commission recommended adopting the code unchanged. The stated goal was to meet the legal requirement to review the code after the November 2025 general election.
- The code applies to members of Montréal city council and borough councils.
- The council’s decision adopts a replacement code, rather than creating a new agency or program.
- City staff’s calendar said a public notice announcing the bylaw’s entry into force was planned for late April. The notice itself is not included in the materials.
What it means for you#
- City and borough council members: They are subject to the replacement ethics and conduct code. The supplied materials do not include its rules, so the specific conduct required or prohibited is not available.
- Residents: The decision does not directly change a resident’s service, eligibility for a benefit, tax, or fee.
Money#
City staff list the financial aspects as not applicable; no cost estimate is provided.
- The materials do not say whether replacing the code requires staff time or other spending.
What is unclear#
- The full text of the replacement code is not supplied. No publicly available information.
- It is therefore not possible to verify which rules changed, or whether any procedures, penalties, or enforcement powers changed.
- The materials say a notice announcing the bylaw’s entry into force was planned for late April, but do not include the notice or confirm its publication.
Case for#
- The city was required to adopt a revised ethics code after the general election. Replacing the code meets that requirement.
- City staff say the commission recommended keeping the existing code unchanged, which could provide continuity while completing the required review.
Case against#
- Without the code text, residents cannot assess whether its rules are clear, sufficient, or meaningfully different from the previous code.
- The materials provide no detail on enforcement or costs, so the practical effects of the replacement are difficult to judge.