Westmount, June 12, 2008 - The 15 reconstituted cities on the island of Montreal have signed a groundbreaking entente with the City of Montreal and the Government of Quebec regarding responsibility-sharing that will move us toward a real improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of the agglomeration of Montreal.

 

Now, the responsibility for our arterial roads will remain with the cities where they are situated. Annex A equipment, infrastratucture and activities of island-wide interest will be redefined and we will return to a single property tax bill which each city will send and which will reflect residents’ entire tax responsibility for both local and agglomeration services.

 

“The structures of governance in a democracy must always be able to evolve as needed to improve not only their functioning but also their ability to fairly represent their constituents. This entente is a beginning step toward achieving that goal,” explains Westmount Mayor Karin Marks, President of the Association of Suburban Municipalities of the Island of Montreal. “This entente and other changes which are proposed for Montreal recognize our collective role as a unique metropolis within the region, and the province of Quebec.”

 

The signing of this entente signals a positive shift in relations between the 15 reconstituted cities, the City of Montreal and the Government of Quebec. This entente is the first step down a new path of true cooperation, setting the stage for an ongoing working group that will continue improving the functioning of the agglomeration.