The City of Montreal estimates at nearly $200 million the amount needed to acquire land earmarked for more than twenty school construction projects “currently planned” on its territory. A bill that she urges Quebec to assume in order to prevent Montreal residents from finding themselves paying “more expensive” for the education of their children, because of the particular real estate market of the metropolis.
Since 2020, municipalities in Quebec must give land free of charge to school service centers on their territory. A situation that has been deplored in recent years by both the mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, and the Union of Quebec Municipalities, arguing that this measure risks affecting the finances of several cities in the province.
In a recent brief written as part of ongoing consultations regarding the Government of Quebec’s Bill 16, which seeks to amend the Planning and Town Planning Act, the City of Montreal thus estimates at nearly $200 million the amount it will have to pay “only for the acquisition of land” intended for the construction of schools on its territory. Moreover, more than twenty new schools are “currently planned” in the metropolis, mentions the document, posted online on Wednesday.
“This situation creates tax inequity in all areas where the cost of land is high, including Montreal. Consequently, the citizens of these regions find themselves paying more for the education of their children, which is, let us remember, above all a jurisdiction of the Government of Quebec,” notes the 23-page brief.
The City therefore recommends that the Government of Quebec undertake, in its Bill 16, to assume the costs related to “the acquisition and development of the land necessary for the construction of educational establishments”. It is also proposed that Quebec revise its standards surrounding the financing of school construction to facilitate the development of denser buildings that respond to the Montreal context, where large lots are becoming increasingly rare.
Affordable housing
In a little less than 10 years, the City hopes to have contributed to the development of 60,000 affordable housing units on its territory. To help it achieve this target, it is asking Quebec to give municipalities the power to apply differentiated zoning for real estate projects that only include affordable housing. Such projects could benefit from greater density without having to apply for an exemption from the City, for example.
Thus, the City hopes to be able to convince more developers to carry out affordable housing projects, at a time when property values and rental costs have increased significantly in recent years.
“Montreal has always been envied among major North American cities for its affordable housing stock, which is one of its major assets. However, without a change of course, conditions will continue to deteriorate and the loss of affordability will be irreversible,” warns the City.