Montreal Expands Business Compensation for Roadwork Disruptions
Montreal is implementing significant changes to make it easier for businesses affected by construction sites to access financial compensation. Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada announced on Monday that the city is combining two existing programs to reduce bureaucracy and expand the number of eligible businesses.
Streamlined Process and Expanded Eligibility
We want to make the process more flexible, Martinez Ferrada told reporters at city hall. We heard a lot from business owners about how complicated it was. Under the new rules, merchants dealing with nearby roadwork will still be eligible for a $5,000 lump-sum grant and up to $40,000 if long-term construction is affecting their business.
However, a key change involves lowering the threshold for eligibility. Previously, merchants could only access the higher compensation amounts if roadwork lasted at least six months. The city has now reduced that requirement to three months, making aid accessible to more businesses facing shorter but still disruptive construction projects.
Geographic Expansion and Online Applications
The program is also being expanded geographically. More than 20 areas where businesses are eligible will be extended, including zones surrounding construction sites on:
- Ste-Catherine St. W.
- De Lorimier Ave.
- Notre-Dame St.
Additionally, merchants will now be able to apply for aid online, significantly reducing the paperwork burden that previously complicated the process. We need to keep projects moving forward while ensuring the commercial vitality of our businesses, Martinez Ferrada emphasized.
Case Study: Brigade Pizzeria
To illustrate the impact of these changes, the city highlighted the example of Brigade Pizzeria on Stanley St. Despite years-long construction on nearby Ste-Catherine St. W., the restaurant was previously ineligible for compensation due to zoning technicalities.
Restaurant owner Jean-Daniel Nadeau had told The Gazette in February that the construction caused his revenue to drop by 60 percent, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses. The zoning rule created a dividing line down the middle of Stanley St., making only businesses on the opposite side of the block eligible for compensation.
It's a really good win for a lot of people that are now going to be eligible, Nadeau said on Monday after learning about the changes. He described the previous zoning rule as extremely absurd and expressed relief that the loophole has been closed.
While Nadeau said he was still examining how the compensation would work in practice, he commended the city for making the adjustment. At this point my concern is much more, 'Can we get help, and are we going to get help,' he added.
Broader Implications
These policy changes represent a significant shift in how Montreal supports local businesses during infrastructure projects. By lowering thresholds, expanding geographic eligibility, and simplifying application processes, the city aims to better balance urban development needs with commercial sustainability.
The adjustments come after sustained advocacy from business owners who have struggled with construction-related disruptions across Montreal. As infrastructure projects continue throughout the city, these expanded compensation measures are expected to provide crucial support to merchants facing temporary but substantial economic challenges.
