After long debates, the Montreal municipal council gave the green light on Tuesday to a proposed contract worth nearly 160 million over 10 years with the Proanima organization for the management of the municipal animal shelter which should see the light of day in the east of the city in 2026. But several elected officials refused to ratify the project, considered too expensive, which could commit the City for a period of up to 20 years and at a potential cost of 450 million dollars.
After more than a decade of procrastination, the City proposed to the municipal council to conclude a mutual agreement with the NPO Proanima so that the organization could take charge of the animal shelter project. The mandate provides that Proanima will take care of stray or abandoned animals, provide veterinary care and offer sterilization services, for a period of 10 years, with a possibility of renewal for another 10 years.
Proanima will also have to acquire a building to accommodate the shelter. The contract provides, however, that in the event of termination of the contract or default in mortgage payment, the City may take possession of the building.
The 10-year contract at a cost of 157.9 million – in addition to contingency costs of $5,000 -, accompanied by the possibility of a renewal of 251 million, sparked lively debates in the municipal council. LaSalle borough councilor Richard Deschamps denounced the scale of the project and the duration of the contract submitted. The elected official recalled that under the administration of Gérald Tremblay, in 2011, he had piloted the initial project, which was estimated at 23 million. “We are going to commit the City and the citizens for 20 years with this decision that we are being asked to take quickly,” he lamented. I would never vote for that. I would feel like I was betraying my citizens. »
According to him, the Plante administration should have presented other options to elected officials, such as the City taking charge of the file, as is the case in Calgary, rather than entrusting its management to a third party. He said he felt rushed by the administration, which required elected officials to decide with “a knife to their throat” without being able to make improvements to the project in order to reduce its costs. However, he was unable to get the study of the file postponed.
The responsibility of the City
Ensemble Montréal, which forms the opposition, has tabled several modifications. The party notably obtained that the costs imposed on the boroughs remained stable over the 10 years of the contract. The leader of the opposition, Aref Salem, also questioned the possible creation of a second animal refuge which would serve the west of the territory, a commitment which remains vague. “We must ensure a certain territorial equity,” he stressed. For the moment, the administration does not know where the shelter will be located, limiting itself to saying that it will be in the east of Montreal. Ultimately, it aims to open a second animal center, for the western territory. However, it is committed to territorial equity so that all districts can benefit from the services.
The person responsible for consultation with the boroughs on the executive committee and mayor of Lachine, Maja Vodanovic, came to the defense of the project she is piloting. She argued that the current animal management model relied on public donations made to the SPCA, which has contracts in several boroughs. “For too many years, it has been loyal donors who have, in fact, contributed to something for which the City was responsible. It’s time to be responsible and pay the right price. This is what we do,” she explained.
The elected official indicated that with the draft contract, the City would pay an amount that is comparable to that paid by other Canadian cities, such as Calgary. The central city will cover all of the capital costs for the project, and the boroughs will assume 50% of the operating costs, she noted. “Yes, it’s more expensive. But for too long, we benefited from subsidies from the SPCA. But now it’s over. We must take our responsibilities,” she repeated, affirming that it was a “good deal “.
The elected representatives of Ensemble Montréal voted for the draft contract, but the mayor of Saint-Laurent, Alan DeSousa, admitted to doing so “while holding his nose” for the well-being of the animals. The elected officials of Équipe LaSalle, including Richard Deschamps, Anjou councilor Andrée Hénault as well as independent councilor Serge Sasseville registered their dissent.
A saga
Over the past decade, several municipal pound projects have been developed and then abandoned. The administration believes this time is the right one.
Announced in 2011 by Mayor Gérald Tremblay following a shocking report from the show Investigation on the treatment of animals in Berger blanc, a first project for a municipal pound had been developed. The City had decided on the construction of an animal center on the Angrignon Park site at a cost of 23 million. The following year, the Coderre administration opted instead for a site in Saint-Michel, before the bill climbed to 46 million in 2018.
The file continued to progress and, last April, the Plante administration revealed its intention to conclude an agreement with Proanima, an NPO founded in 2012 which already offers animal management services in several municipalities on the South Shore, including Longueuil, Boucherville, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
Montreal estimates that there are 353,000 cats and 115,000 dogs present on its territory. One in two Montreal households has at least one pet, according to the City.
Currently, the boroughs have contracts with four different suppliers, including the SPCA, which has wanted to withdraw from municipal animal services for several years.