Beaconsfield increases its lawsuit against the government of Montreal and Quebec – Montreal | The Canadian News

Beaconsfield Mayor Georges Bourelle is upping the ante against the city of Montreal and the Quebec government.

West Island Township is increasing its demand by $ 2 million, bringing it to $ 6 million.

The mayor argues that that is the amount Montreal has overcharged Beaconsfield for shared public services, such as public transportation, police and firefighting.

“Let me tell you that we have done our homework,” Bourelle told Global News.

The island’s 15 separate municipalities have been trying to renegotiate an agreement with Montreal for years on how to pay for shared common services.

Each city and town is billed annually for its share, but the amount paid to Montreal is based on the value of the properties. The mayors of dismembered cities argue that this is unfair, wanting the formula based on the amount of public services provided to each municipality.

A recent ministerial order from the Quebec government almost prevented change from taking place.

Bourelle contends that a homeowner in one of the separate municipalities pays 62 percent more for the same services than a homeowner living in Montreal.

The mayor says the time to talk is over and that going to court is the best option for reimbursement.

“Our lawsuit will be the most significant way to resolve this situation,” he said.

But one city affairs analyst contends that Beaconsfield’s chances of winning are remote.

“The intention was always for Montreal to control the island, either directly or indirectly. In this case, it will indirectly lead to the same result, ”Karim Boulos told Global News.

And the mayor of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue argues that the Beaconsfield case will be hard to win.

“I understand the frustration, but I don’t think it will lead to the result we are looking for,” Paola Hawa told Global News.

Hawa insists that increasing pressure on the Quebec government is the most efficient way to change the funding formula and redistribute the money to the suburbs.

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