Summary#
Montréal’s city council approved a 10-year lease for the City from Hydro-Québec, starting January 1, 2026. The lease covers about 366 square metres of lot 1 154 856 in Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles, for a bike path. City staff say the goal is to keep the path available to the public.
- The City will pay $46,896, taxes included, under the lease.
- The site has been used for a bike path since 1981, according to city staff.
What it means for you#
- Cyclists and other residents: The City can continue using the leased land for the bike path. City staff say that without the lease, residents would no longer have access to the path.
- Taxpayers: The agglomeration will pay the full cost. The decision does not create a new cycling service; it continues the City’s use of this site.
Money#
The lease costs $46,896, taxes included, over 10 years.
- City staff list the net cost after tax rebates as $42,822.30. The agglomeration pays 100% of the expense from the responsible city service’s operating budget.
- The listed 2026 rent is $3,725 before taxes. City staff say the annual market rent for the site ranges from $2,598 to $3,800.
What is unclear#
- The supplied material does not include the full lease, including its detailed annual rent schedule and other terms. No publicly available information on those details is supplied.
Case for#
- City staff say the lease allows the City to continue using the site for the bike path and maintain public access.
- The proposed annual rent before taxes is within the market range given by city staff.
Case against#
- The City is committing to rent the land for 10 years. The supplied material does not include the full lease terms or annual rent schedule, making it harder to assess how the cost changes over the term.