Montreal Convention Center | The fear of “slow marginalization”

A “slow marginalization” and a performance worthy of a “second-class” establishment: this is what awaits the Palais des congrès de Montréal in the absence of an expansion, warns its president and CEO Emmanuelle Legault. While waiting for Quebec, the place is refusing dozens of requests to hold events because it is too cramped.

By informing the Legault government of the potential economic benefits of expanding the footprint of the Palais des congrès, its leader also serves as a warning about the prospects if nothing changes.

“The status quo condemns the Palace to slow marginalization accompanied by a marked reduction in the economic benefits generated, jobs created and tax revenues for governments,” writes M^me Legault.

This email comes from a response to a request made under the Act respecting access to documents held by public bodies and the protection of personal information. This comes from the MP and PQ spokesperson for tourism, Pascal Bérubé, responsible for the Palais des congrès when he was a minister in the Marois government.

The expansion of the place does not seem to arouse enthusiasm within the Legault government. Before the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM), in December 2022, the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard, publicly insinuated that an expansion was not necessary. However, Quebec has already spent more than 20 million to expropriate the necessary land, east of Saint-Urbain Street.

M^me Legault is not giving up, however. In her plea sent to the deputy minister at the Ministry of Tourism, Audrey Murray, and two other people whose names are redacted, the manager provides forecasts on “additional events”, additional conferences and tax benefits in the possibility of expansion. This data was also redacted. Quebec nevertheless has an idea of ​​the potential benefits of expansion.

This scenario, if it materializes, will have consequences, she warns. Over two decades, the “financial and economic” indicators of the Palais des congrès will correspond to those of a “second-class” center. What it means ? A loss of attractiveness of the metropolis for international meetings, affirms the CCMM.

“Gradually, the biggest conferences will not come here,” says in an interview its president and CEO, Michel Leblanc, who describes the file as “frustrating”. “Being a second-rate place means that it’s not going to happen in Montreal. »

The documents distributed by the Palais des Congrès also demonstrate an apparent proximity to the office of the Minister of Tourism, Caroline Proulx. On a few occasions, members of his cabinet appear in internal emails regarding media responses to be sent on behalf of Mr.^me Legault.

Getting back on track

The COVID-19 pandemic had dealt a serious blow to the activities of the Palais des congrès due to health restrictions, which prevented gatherings from being held. However, we seem to have turned the page on this episode. The proof: between the months of January and July, the complex had to refuse 52 conferences and events due to “lack of availability or space”, it is specified in the documents sent.

Since much information is redacted, it was not possible to obtain details on the scale of the planned events. The refusals extend until 2026.

“It’s pretty full for the next two years,” bluntly states the president and CEO of Tourisme Montréal, Yves Lalumière.

To illustrate the limits of the Palais des congrès, the latter recalls the gathering of the American College of Physicians that the metropolis was unable to host in 2020 because “our house was too small”. Meanwhile, rival resorts elsewhere in the country – such as Vancouver and Calgary – have been able to expand or are in the process of increasing their footprint.

It was not possible to speak with Mr.^me Legault, who mentioned a trip to Quebec on Monday. By email, she said she could not “say more” regarding the expansion file. However, she indicated that the pandemic turbulence was a thing of the past.

“The Palais des congrès de Montréal also experienced a historic record in its 2022-2023 financial year in terms of the economic benefits of the business events hosted, amounting to 426 million for the metropolis and Quebec,” wrote M^me Legault.

During this financial year, the location was the scene of 280 events, an increase of approximately 16% compared to the previous year.

Still analyzing

The observation of the president of the Palais des congrès is very different from the portrait painted by the Minister of Tourism, Caroline Proulx – responsible for the Palais des congrès de Montréal –, when she responded to a question from Mr. Bérubé during the study of the budgetary appropriations on April 26.

Asked whether the government would put forward the expansion project before the end of its current mandate, Ms.^me Proulx responded that the analysis was continuing since business tourism had done a “180 degree” with the pandemic.

“We went from 100% face-to-face to 100% virtual,” she said. What we are currently doing is a worldwide analysis to find out whether the model will return to the way it was before or whether it will change. »

In a telephone interview with The Press, Mr. Bérubé believes that the recent refusals recorded by the Palais des congrès due to lack of availability and space demonstrate the need to confirm the expansion of the complex. In his opinion, it is a “way of seeking external money” for “the hotel and restaurant sector” while maintaining the international competitiveness of the metropolis.

M’s office^me Proulx did not make the minister available to comment on the plea made by M^me Legault last July. In a statement sent by email, he recognized the “exceptional 2022-2023” financial year of the Palais des congrès, adding that it was still “too early” to talk about expansion.

With the collaboration of André Dubuc, The Press