Montréal approves three-year passport deal

Summary#

Montréal city council approved a three-year, direct-award contract with the Amis du Jardin botanique de Montréal to sell the Passeport Espace pour la vie. City staff say the arrangement is intended to protect the organization’s income while bringing passport sales revenue to the City.

  • The contract covers 2026–2028, with two optional one-year renewals.
  • The Amis must provide detailed sales statements and give the City all passport-sale proceeds. The City pays the Amis service fees.
  • The contract sets estimated fees of $1,160,000, taxes included. Extra fees may be due under income guarantees or if sales exceed projections.

What it means for you#

  • Passport buyers: The Amis will continue as a place to buy the passport. The decision does not itself change passport prices or benefits.
  • The Amis: They must report sales on April 30, August 31 and December 31 each year, and transfer all money received from passport sales to the City. The City must pay their fees within 30 days after receiving the required documents.
  • City taxpayers: The expense is paid entirely by the central city.

Money#

Estimated contract fees are $1,160,000, taxes included, for 2026–2028; the actual amount may vary.

  • The City budget sets aside $380,000 for 2026, $386,600 for 2027 and $393,400 for 2028.
  • City staff estimate passport-sale proceeds of $1,475,000 over the three years, compared with $1,160,000 in fees.
  • For 2026, if the Amis’ passport fees plus annual membership-card sales do not reach $633,021, the City must pay additional fees to make up the difference. Similar guarantees apply in 2027 and 2028, using adjusted amounts.
  • Extra fees may also be payable if passport sales exceed forecasts. The two renewal options could add costs, but the materials give no estimate for them.

What is unclear#

  • The materials do not give the cost of either renewal option or the adjusted income-guarantee amounts for 2027 and 2028.
  • City staff say alternatives were carefully assessed, but do not describe them or explain why a direct award was chosen.
  • Actual sales, proceeds and final fees will depend on sales and future passport prices.

Case for#

  • City staff say passport sales could compete with the Amis’ own membership cards and threaten income they use to support the Botanical Garden.
  • The income guarantee is designed to limit that risk to the Amis.
  • Staff estimate that passport proceeds paid to the City will exceed the fees paid to the Amis over the three-year term.

Case against#

  • The City has committed to a substantial payment, and the actual amount may rise with sales or under the income guarantee.
  • The contract was awarded directly. The materials do not provide a competitive bid comparison or describe the alternatives considered.
  • The projected proceeds are not a guarantee of the final financial result.