Saint-Laurent contributes more than $2.2 M to the Montréal Recovery Plan relating to COVID-19 Français
SAINT-LAURENT, QC, May 6, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Under the terms of the Financial Recovery Plan requested by Ville de Montréal on April 23 to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Saint-Laurent's administration has contributed $2.2 M out of the $28.7 M expected from the boroughs. On the grounds of the criteria established by the City to determine each borough's contribution, during this exercise Saint-Laurent is making the biggest contribution, second only to Ville-Marie during this exercise.
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"We are sparing no effort to assist the public during this time of crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Citizens are relying on our services now more than ever to face this unique situation. At the same time, while our citizens are enduring the impacts, like the other boroughs, Saint-Laurent is being asked to contribute to the financial effort requested by Ville de Montréal. Nonetheless, we are facing additional costs relating to emergencies, and certain revenues, such as property takes, are down. All this weighs heavily on our finances and the current crisis is jeopardizing our balanced budget. Accordingly, our teams have worked very diligently to reassess their budgetary needs to support the resumption of normal life and once again offer most of our services as soon as we get the green light."
Alan DeSousa, the Mayor de Saint-Laurent
Highlights
As a reminder, Ville de Montréal has a savings objective of $123.4 M, $28.7 M of which will come from the boroughs. This represents a 3.1% overall decrease in the budgets allocated for corporate services and the boroughs.
The savings measures and sources are essentially distributed as follows:
- $1.6 M from the reduced time banks allotted for entertainment and activities that are currently suspended due to COVID-19, including sports, recreation, culture and the libraries.
- $0.6 M in major savings from the suspension of the maintenance contracts for the municipal buildings that are currently closed due to the pandemic, including the Bibliothèque du Boisé, the Bibliothèque du Vieux-Saint-Laurent, the Sports Complex and the Centre des loisirs.
These streamlining proposals were prepared in consideration of two principles:
- On one hand, the priority was to minimize the impact on direct services for citizens. Accordingly, despite the application of these proposals, the Borough will be prepared to resume 100% of its activities with no service reduction as soon as the situation permits.
- On the other hand, Saint-Laurent's administration has been able to preserve all its employees and permanent positions and maintain ties with occasional employees to benefit from the necessary expertise to ensure the successful relaunch and quickly restore its regular service supply.
About the Borough of Saint-Laurent
Saint-Laurent is one of the 19 boroughs in Ville de Montréal, and it celebrated its 125th Anniversary in 2018. Sustainable development is at the heart of its decisions, and on January 8, 2019, the Borough declared itself a "sustainable municipal territory". Its population of over 100,000 residents is among the most multicultural, with 81% of its residents being immigrants or having a parent born in another country. Located at the crossroads of the city's main road arteries with excellent access to public transit, the Borough covers 42.8 square kilometres. More than 70% of its territory is dedicated to industrial and commercial activities. With 4500 businesses and 110,000 jobs, it represents the second largest employment pool on the Island of Montréal. It is also home to one of the main industrial and technological hubs in Quebec. Finally, thanks to its two libraries, its Centre des loisirs, its new Sports Complex and around 50 parks, Saint-Laurent offers an extensive line of services in many areas including culture, sports and recreation. Accordingly, the Borough offers the families and businesses established therein an excellent quality of life.
SOURCE Ville de Montréal - Arrondissement de Saint-Laurent
Source: Marc-Olivier Fritsch, chargé de communications, Direction d'arrondissement, Division des communications et des relations avec les citoyens, Arrondissement de Saint-Laurent, 514 855-6000, extension 4342 / [email protected]; Information: Marc-Olivier Fritsch, Media lines: 438 368-3318 or 514 825-6231
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