Summary#
Montréal city council adopted the borrowing bylaw Règlement autorisant un emprunt de 46 375 000 $ afin de financer la réalisation du Plan de la forêt urbaine (a bylaw authorizing a $46,375,000 loan for the Urban Forest Plan). It authorizes borrowing for the city-centre portion of the Plan de la forêt urbaine (Urban Forest Plan), including work planned for 2026–2028. City staff say the goal is to fund tree planting, care and protection, including in areas vulnerable to heat.
The bylaw still needs approval from Quebec’s minister of municipal affairs and comes into force only when published.
- The borrowing can fund planting and monitoring trees and other plants; nursery production and purchases; equipment and supplies; and research on urban forestry.
- It can also fund work against the emerald ash borer and other pests or diseases, hazard-tree work, and restoration and ecological checks in wooded areas.
- Funding may support nonprofit planting on private land and grants to property owners replacing ash trees. The bylaw summary does not set out who qualifies or how to apply.
- The authorized borrowing period must not exceed five years. The council materials refer to a detailed spending breakdown and repayment method in the bylaw and its annex, which were not supplied here.
What it means for you#
- Residents and taxpayers: The city is authorized to borrow for these activities, but the materials supplied do not say how repayment will be allocated or who will pay which share.
- Private property owners: The spending may include grants for replacing ash trees on private property. This decision does not itself establish grant eligibility or an application process.
- Nonprofits: The funding may include contributions for tree planting on private land. The decision does not specify the terms.
- Boroughs: City staff say the funding is intended to support planned planting and transfers to boroughs, including replacing felled ash trees and strengthening tree cover. The amounts and allocation rules are not provided here.
Money#
The bylaw authorizes $46,375,000 in borrowing; no estimate of the eventual net cost is provided.
- The borrowing finances the city-centre portion of the Urban Forest Plan for its first three years, 2026–2028. Its financing period may not exceed five years.
- City staff say some activities may qualify for reimbursement of 50% of eligible expenses through the federal “2 Billion Trees” program. The eligible spending period ends March 31, 2029; the materials do not say how much the city will receive.
- The detailed spending breakdown and repayment method are referenced but were not supplied.
What is unclear#
- What share of the borrowing will go to each activity, borough, or type of recipient.
- Who will repay the borrowing and how repayment costs will be allocated.
- The eligibility rules and process for property-owner grants and nonprofit contributions.
- Which activities will qualify for federal reimbursement, and how much reimbursement the city expects.
- The bylaw’s detailed spending annex and repayment terms were not available in the supplied material.
Case for#
- City staff say the borrowing would provide funding for planned tree planting, maintenance and protection, as well as work to address pests and disease.
- It could support tree planting and care in heat-vulnerable areas, consistent with the city’s stated goal of planting, maintaining and protecting 500,000 trees.
- Funding a range of work, including tree inventories, research and ecological restoration, may help the city plan and protect its urban forest.
Case against#
- The city is taking on debt, but the supplied materials do not show the repayment allocation or the detailed spending breakdown.
- The plan includes many kinds of work, but the available material does not show how the city will prioritize them or measure results.
- Some costs may be reimbursed, but the amount and activities that will qualify are unclear; the city may not receive the full 50% described for eligible expenses.