The Mayor of Montreal is asking for more predictability from the Quebec government and Public Health, to ensure the revival of the event and cultural industry in the metropolis by the summer. Losses of millions of dollars would be at stake.
Accompanied by Yves Lalumière, president and CEO of Tourisme Montréal, and Glenn Castanheira, general manager of the Société de développement commercial Montréal Centre-Ville, Valérie Plante asked for a “complete reopening plan”.
“Other provinces have predictability, but not Quebec. Montreal, as a cultural and economic metropolis, needs this plan to be able to support its entire sector,” added the mayor, who is afraid “that we will miss the boat” to organize this summer’s events, such as festivals, shows, but also congresses, which bring together hundreds of international travellers.
In addition to a reopening plan, the head of Projet Montréal would like to know what the sanitary rules will be required in the spring and summer, and asks the provincial government to “continue to financially support the performance halls, which will open at loss tomorrow by hosting at 50% of their capacity.
Other provinces have predictability, but not Quebec
Contacted by The dutyQuebec indicated that it had nothing “to add to the remarks of the government and Public Health already communicated this week” and that a point would be made “as usual in the coming days”.
Increased competitiveness
“Montréal not only runs a financial risk, but also a reputational one, our health rules being more rigid than those of our competitors, despite the performance of [la ville] with regard to vaccination,” said Yves Lalumière.
Indeed, other cities, such as Toronto, unveiled a plan at the end of January for the gradual relaxation of health measures. This is not the case in Montreal, where around fifty rallies in March and April have already been canceled.
If Quebec has been able to count on local tourists to revive the summer attendance of museums, restaurants and other cultural and tourist services, the general manager of the Montreal Center-Ville Commercial Development Corporation believes that the situation will be very different this summer. . “Last year, the whole world was confined. This year it’s the opposite. »
The metropolis is losing its competitiveness compared to other North American cities, and this risks tarnishing its reputation as a cultural hub, which has taken “decades to develop”, laments Glenn Castanheira.
Compliance with health instructions
Valérie Plante took care to point out that the City of Montreal is still in a state of emergency. The idea is not to challenge the decisions of Public Health, but to obtain “a clear plan, timetables for reopening, accompanied by health measures”, she added.
“The Quebec business and cultural community” will continue to respect them “in an exemplary manner”, as it has done “since the first day” of the pandemic, underlined Glenn Castanheira.