Roger-Luc Chayer (Photo: Pixabay)
The metropolis of Quebec, Montreal, is at the heart of a region where more than 50% of the population of the province of Quebec lives, the latter being the largest province in Canada. As a major economic, cultural, and social center, Montreal is currently overwhelmed by problems that seem to have become unsolvable.
Housing crisis, homelessness, proliferation of construction sites with little visible progress, blocked or crumbling streets, encampments of homeless individuals, pervasive dirt, extreme poverty, and uncontrolled immigration: in short, issues often associated with megacities in the developing world are now present in Montreal. Under the management of Mayor Valérie Plante, the situation has deteriorated to the point where the city has lost much of its appeal to both tourists and international conventions. Montrealers are leaving the city like never before, while its economy is stifled by incessant street closures for major construction work. Areas such as Saint-Hubert, Sainte-Catherine (downtown), Saint-Denis, and du Parc streets are particularly affected, putting immense pressure on local businesses and the economy.
Taking a step back, we are alarmed to see that what was once the « French pearl of the Americas » is now on the verge of decline, threatening to plunge into a dark and troubling deadlock. Is this path toward darkness inevitable?
What is the Role of Politicians in the State of the Metropolis?
The current state of the city reflects the decisions of elected officials, who, depending on their experience, skills, or incompetence, have produced the results we see today. Normally, the role of Montreal’s elected officials is to ensure the development and growth of the city, to make its economy attractive for national and international investments, and to ensure the best possible quality of life for Montrealers.
We all remember the time when Montreal ranked among the best international cities to live in. Unfortunately, the decisions made by municipal administrations over the past few years have placed Montreal in a precarious situation.
A Possible Solution: Trusteeship
In Quebec, cities are not strictly speaking sovereign entities; they are creations of the Quebec State. Local municipalities hold powers and responsibilities defined either by the Act Respecting Cities and Towns or by the Municipal Code of Quebec. They therefore fall directly under the jurisdiction of the Quebec government, which can intervene if a city or municipality loses its capacity to manage its daily affairs.
This seems to be the case in Montreal. Aside from the continuous convening of roundtables and discussions, the municipal administration appears incapable of effectively managing the entire city or making major decisions to radically improve the situation.
The Municipal Commission of Quebec is the organization authorized to intervene when the government decides to place a municipal administration under trusteeship. The government has exercised this power recently, in June, with the city of Desbiens in Lac-Saint-Jean.
According to the press release published on June 19, 2024, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest, stated: « Today, the government of Quebec is taking the necessary steps to ensure the proper administration of the City of Desbiens. Citizens have the right to sound management of their municipality; that is why we have decided to act more firmly. I am convinced that this decision will lead to sustainable solutions to the problems raised so that the municipal council can quickly regain its decision-making autonomy. »
And this is not an isolated case. Since 2015, 74 cities and municipalities have been placed under the trusteeship of the Municipal Affairs Commission, making this a practice far from unusual.
According to the website of the Municipal Affairs Commission, « When a municipality is under trusteeship, the Commission assists it in resolving its operational issues. The municipal council remains functional and continues to administer the municipality, but all its decisions must be approved by the Commission. The government adopts a decree to place a municipality under trusteeship when there are internal operational problems. It can also request a public inquiry in addition to the trusteeship. The trusteeship begins as soon as the government’s decree is adopted and ends when the Commission deems it no longer necessary to assist the municipality. The Commission appoints two members to act as trustees. They quickly contact the general director, the clerk, or the clerk-treasurer of the municipality and meet with them to explain the role of the Commission and the proceedings of the trusteeship. They also meet with municipal councilors and the mayor. »
The Case of Montreal
Montreal seems to meet all the criteria justifying a trusteeship. The city has become unmanageable, and problems continue to accumulate instead of being resolved. Although the city has considerable powers and budgets, the current state of affairs leads me to believe that the only solution to avoid a lasting disaster is a decree from the government of Quebec ordering the trusteeship. The management of Montreal would then be entrusted to two officials from the Municipal Commission until positive and coherent results are objectively observed.
Municipal elections do not solve everything — we have seen the evidence. The current mayor is in her second term, and yet, the situation in the metropolis has never been as concerning. I am convinced that a trusteeship would be well-received by the vast majority of Montrealers.
When will the decision be made?