Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada is calling on the next provincial government to establish a strong partnership with the city to address homelessness, infrastructure and economic support. She made the announcement on Wednesday ahead of the announcement of the Quebec election campaign. The city is asking the next government to reinstate “Montréal Reflex,” which would allow it to work closely with the provincial government to address the city’s priorities. It says it also wants a “Montreal Chapter” so that government funding allocations consider the city’s status and responsibilities. “There can be no prosperity in Quebec without a strong metropolis, just as there can be no prosperity in Montreal without strong regions,” Martinez Ferrada said in a press release. “We need a new partnership with Quebec City, based on a true ‘Montreal Reflex,’ where our metropolis is consulted, where the realities and crises it faces are addressed, and where it has the necessary resources to fully play its role in serving all of Quebec.” Homelessness in Montreal One of the issues Martinez Ferrada wants the next government to address is homelessness and creating pathways out of homelessness. The city is calling for 3,200 emergency shelter beds, open 24/7 and funded regularly, including 500 seasonal beds. It says it also wants three emergency centres specializing in mental health and substance use by summer 2027 to provide a rapid, tailored response to people in crisis. The city is also requesting 2,000 transitional housing units with support services to help people make a sustainable transition out of homelessness, as well as demanding that 45 per cent of housing program funding be allocated to Montreal. Aging infrastructure The city is asking the next government to modernize and expand Montreal’s aging mobility infrastructure, as well as maintain and develop its water infrastructure to better protect communities from extreme rainfall and flooding. “Municipalities manage 60 per cent of Quebec’s public infrastructure, yet they have only eight per cent of tax revenues to maintain and develop it,” Martinez Ferrada said. “The maintenance deficit for municipal water and road infrastructure is currently estimated at $50 billion and could reach $94.5 billion by 2036 if the trend continues.” Martinez Ferrada is also asking the next government to modernize the Société de transport de Montréal’s (STM) aging assets and develop a public transit project for eastern Montreal. She says she wants the city and the STM to be included in the planning and design of major public transit projects. Leverage the economy Martinez Ferrada is asking the next provincial government to provide economic support to the city and grant special status to its downtown core. “In a context of increased competition for investment and talent, Quebec must be able to fully leverage the economic, cultural, scientific and academic strengths of Greater Montreal,” the release said. In particular, the city is calling for continued investments in public safety and urban security, greater predictability in immigration pathways, an end to restrictions targeting Montreal, and tailored integration services. It is also asking for support to host major events. “Montreal creates wealth and opportunities for all of Quebec,” the release said. “Its ability to attract talent, businesses, investments, students, tourists, and major events depends directly on its quality of life, its infrastructure and the sense of safety.”
