Updated on February 7, 2023
At the special Council meeting held on February 2, 2023, Town Council adopted By-law 2023-001 ordering the construction of a new Sports and Recreation Center works and authorizing a loan of $27,318,686 for this purpose.
REGISTRATION DAY AND REFERENDUM
Residents opposed to the loan by-law may sign a register to hold a referendum to approve or reject the by-law.
Registration will take place on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Music Room at Town Hall.
The persons qualified to vote must ascertain their identity by presenting one of the following documents:
- health insurance card
- driver’s license
- passport
- certificate of Indian status or
- membership card of Canadian Forces.
Additional details about the conditions to be recognized as a person qualified to vote may be found in the public notice that was published on February 3, 2023.
The Act respecting elections and referendums in municipalities, sets out the rules for identifying who is eligible to vote. The calculation formula set out in the Act also determines the number of signatories required to hold a referendum. In the case of Montreal West, this number is 391.
There are two possible scenarios following registration day:
A) If the minimum number of 391 opponents as required by law is reached, a referendum vote to approve or reject the loan by-law will be held in the spring, according to the legislated timelines. It is important to note that the loan by-law is based on estimated costs and that the exact prices will only be known after the opening of the bids in March.
Following the referendum vote, if the majority votes “No”, the project will not proceed. If the majority votes “Yes”, the project will go ahead without a second vote.
B) If the minimum number of 391 signatures as required by law is not reached, the file will be sent to the Ministère des affaires municipales et de l’habitation (MAMH) for approval of the loan by-law.
In the case where there is no referendum for the loan by-law, Council is committed to holding a vote on this project once the bids are opened and the exact prices are known. At that point, we will be able to present the potential impact to your tax bill.
Residents will then have the opportunity to vote whether or not to proceed with the construction of the new Sports and Recreation Centre knowing all the facts.
The following chart illustrates the steps involved in a loan by-law procedure.
New Sports and Recreation Center FAQ
The Town has received many questions from residents concerning the new Sports and Recreation Center project. An FAQ has been prepared for the benefit of the community.
Read the FAQ