A coalition forms to give Montréal the means of a real metropolis
"The 2010 municipal budget shows that Montréal's finances are in a vulnerable state. We are concerned about the effect of the new tax imposed on downtown parking. By sharply increasing the tax burden of businesses and residents, this budget is hobbling a still fragile economy," said Jean Laramée, Board chairman of the Institut de développement urbain du Québec (IDU).
"Merchants, restaurant owners, landlords and tenants are the ones who will have to shoulder the added pressure at a time when we are still struggling to emerge from the recession. We need to remember that 35,300 jobs were lost on the island of Montréal last year while 33,400 were created in the rest of the metropolitan area. Against this backdrop, the new parking tax and large hike in property taxes could end up weakening the City's business base," added
"All the members of the Coalition naturally have big ambitions for Montréal. We know that if Montréal is to retain its status as a metropolis, we must invest in a key element of its development: the modernization of the transit system, particularly, public transit. But vast amounts of money are needed if we are to succeed. The City of Montréal says it will take more than
"To take up these challenges, the City has decided to use the taxation powers granted by the
The Coalition feels that the
"Greater Montréal drives the
About the Coalition pour une véritable métropole
Consisting of the Association de l'industrie du stationnement de Montréal (AISM), the Association des propriétaires et des administrateurs d'immeubles du Québec (BOMA Québec), the Association des restaurateurs du Québec (ARQ), the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the Board of Trade of Metropolitan
For further information: For further information: Olivier Fillion Boutin, (514) 282-4863
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