powered by:
valneva canada inc.
opposition wants montreal to expand aid to businesses affected by roadwork
a motion calls for more businesses to be eligible for more money, and for them to access those funds without being overburdened by paperwork.
aug 14 2024
2 minute read
we apologize, but this video has failed to load.
try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
businesses need a simplified and more lucrative program to compensate them when they are affected by roadwork, montreal’s opposition said wednesday.
ensemble montréal made public a motion it will introduce at the next council meeting requesting that the city increase the funding available to businesses, and allow them to access those funds without being overburdened by paperwork.
currently, merchants can access up to $40,000 if there is a roadwork project in front of their store that has been underway for at least six months.
that should be changed to three months, and the subsidy amount should be changed to $45,000 and indexed on an annual basis so it keeps up with inflation, said julien hénault-ratelle, the opposition spokesperson for economic development. it would roughly double the number of businesses eligible for the subsidy. he also wants the city to expand the number and type of businesses eligible for such subsidies — to include dentist offices, for example.
“after eight years that this program has been in place, only half the money budgeted has ever been used,” hénault-ratelle said, adding that it requires far too much energy and time to access the funding.
to get access to the subsidy, merchants must prove they lost out on potential revenue. however, business owners say that requires them to fill out many forms and provide documentation. often they have to hire an accountant to have access to the funds available.
advertisement
advertisement
“the energy and the time it takes to do all this is (about equal to) what they receive as a subsidy,” hénault-ratelle said. “we have even seen cases where businesses received less than what it cost to fill out the documentation.”
businesses also have access to a $5,000 grant if there is roadwork on their street, without having to prove a loss in revenue. the opposition motion calls on that amount to also be available for new businesses that open on a street already undergoing roadwork.
on x, projet montréal councillor alia hassan-cournol responded to a post by the opposition, saying the subsidy program for roadworks is a montreal innovation that has since been copied by other canadian cities.
le programme de compensation des commerçants a été mis en place dès l’arrivée au pouvoir de @projetmontreal en 2017, avec le programme artères en chantier, une innovation montréalaise qui est maintenant cité en exemple pour inciter les autres villes canadiennes à emboîter le pas
— alia hassan-cournol (@alia_hassancour) august 14, 2024
speaking for the plante administration, catherine cadotte said the program for aid to merchants is continually being improved in order to be adapted to the needs on the ground. she added that the administration will have more to say about the motion during the next city council meeting on monday.
share story
