Could the city of Montreal be getting smaller?
Several borough mayors have come together; threatening to demerge from the city should the provincial government continue with legislation that ultimately gives the Mayor of Montreal the power to control almost everything.
Bill 120 would amend the Charter of the City of Montreal to make it easier to keep centralized powers under central city control.
As it stands, in order for the city to take a power from a borough, a 50 per cent plus one vote at city council is needed. This has led to decisions regarding snow removal, parking, trash collection and animal control to now be in the hands of the city.
The transfer of power would last two years. After which the borough would regain control, unless city council votes with a two-thirds majority to extend its jurisdiction for another two years.
The proposed legislation would reduce the two-thirds vote to another 50 per cent plus one, a move that could be the tipping point for some borough mayors.
Mayors from Outremont, Plateau-Mont-Royal, Rosemont, Île-Bizard-Sainte-Geneviève, Anjou and LaSalle all spoke out against the legislation Tuesday.
"If I had known what I know today, it's for certain I would have fought to demerge [in 2004]," said LaSalle mayor Manon Barbe.
"I told my citizens we must stay in Montreal because we have a written agreement with Quebec and Montreal that boundaries, powers and governance of boroughs would not be affected. Since the election of [Denis Coderre in] 2013, it's been bit by bit that has been taken away."