Press release
2009 budget of the City of Montréal:
Rigour and infrastructure investments appropriate
Montréal, November 26, 2008 The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal reacted positively to the municipal budget presented today by Gérald Tremblay, mayor of Montréal, Claude Dauphin, chair of the executive committee, and Sammy Forcillo, vice-chair of the executive committee, responsible for finance and taxation, infrastructure, and roads.
We must assess this budget in light of the current economic situation, taking into account the fact that the City of Montréal has very limited financial flexibility. We therefore congratulate the City on its continued efforts to control expenditures and its desire to invest strategically in renewing municipal infrastructure, declared Roger Plamondon, acting president and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.
Since Montréal is facing a slowdown in economic growth, it is important to be rigorous in using the means at our disposal to promote economic activity. Accelerating the necessary investments in infrastructure and in major development projects such as the arts and entertainment district and the reconfiguration of the Bonaventure Expressway is the best way the City of Montréal can contribute to the recovery, continued Plamondon.
Along the same lines, we believe it was essential to avoid increasing the overall tax burden on Montrealers. We appreciate the major efforts made by the municipal government to increase the amounts devoted to investment within the existing fiscal framework, concluded Plamondon.
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has some 7,000 members. Its primary mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.
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Source:
Sylvie Paquette
Coordinator, Media relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4015
sylvie.paquette@ccmm.qc.ca