Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted a position on ending CREO inc.’s contract to design the Poptopia exhibition at the Biosphère. It also supports paying CREO $45,921.02, taxes included, for work already done. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting.
- The position is to end the contract, originally awarded for $256,106.81, taxes included.
- It supports a final payment of $45,921.02, taxes included, for a preliminary scenario and exhibition concept completed 75%, plus specialist work.
- City staff say the work already completed could be used by a future team, and that the city could seek a new contractor to complete the project.
What it means for you#
- Biosphère visitors: City staff’s plan is to open Poptopia in December 2027. The exhibition is not guaranteed by this decision.
- CREO inc.: The city council’s position is to end its contract and pay for services already provided. The contract was originally awarded after a public call for tenders that received six bids; the materials do not say whether CREO’s bid was the lowest compliant bid.
- Public: This decision does not directly change a public service or create a new benefit, fee, or rule for residents.
Money#
The decision supports a $45,921.02 payment, taxes included; its net amount after tax rebates is $39,940.
- The agglomeration would pay the full cost because the Biosphère is in Parc Jean-Drapeau.
- CREO had already received an initial payment of $25,610.68, taxes included. The original contract was valued at $256,106.81, taxes included.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not give the cost of hiring a new firm or completing the exhibition.
- They do not say how much of the original contract amount would remain unspent after termination.
- The schedule for seeking a new contractor and opening in December 2027 is a city-staff plan, not a guaranteed result.
Case for#
- City staff say creative differences between the parties caused significant delays and persisted despite efforts to resolve them. Ending the contract by mutual agreement could let the project proceed with a different team.
- Staff say the completed work could still be useful to that team, and that a new market solicitation could allow the exhibition to be completed.
Case against#
- The city would pay for work under a contract it plans to end, then seek another firm; the materials do not estimate the total cost of completing the exhibition.
- The original target was winter 2026–27. The staff plan now targets December 2027, and the materials do not explain whether that later opening date will be met.