Montreal-North Sports Center postponed indefinitely

As promised in the election campaign, the sports center for Montreal North will have to wait for the project. It was not funded in the city’s next budget, postponing its construction indefinitely.

“We have to say that sports have taken an important place in the lives of young people, but at the moment, unfortunately, the facilities for this are very limited,” lamented Montreal-North Borough Mayor Christine Black. Lack of project in city budget.

At a special council in City Hall, she proposed an amendment that would grant $ 75 million over five years to finance its construction. His proposal, however, was defeated by a majority.

In the election campaign, Project Montreal candidate Will Prosper promised that the center could become a reality. Mayor Valerie Plante, who visited the borough, said the project topped his list.

“Given the budget we are currently looking at, I do not think it’s too much to say that these are election remarks with the mayoral candidate,” said Chantal Rossi, the borough’s official opposition leader and city councilor. During talks to approve the 2022 budget, she also wondered whether residents were being punished for not voting for the ruling party.

A pre-feasibility study by the borough last spring, QMI was able to access a few pages, estimating that it would cost $ 77.13 million to run the sports center project. City dwellers have been waiting for this for many years.

“If there’s one thing we all agree on, it’s, yes, there should be a sports center worthy of the Montreal-North name,” replied Carolyn Bourgeois, head of sports and entertainment on the city’s executive committee.

For her, Ms. According to the amendment proposed by Black, the Montreal project will go ahead to find out exactly how much it will cost. “It’s not something that can be done in a corner of a table,” Ms. Bourgeois added that he believes more technical studies still need to be conducted.