Quebec wants to reduce delays in cities awarding contracts
To do this, it aims to allow municipal bodies to authorize “mixed” projects – either residential or commercial – which deviate from town planning regulations.
The Quebec government, led by Premier François Legault, aims to streamline the processes that cities and municipalities face when awarding public contracts. Municipal Affairs Minister Andrée Laforest introduced Bill 79 on Thursday, designed to simplify regulatory procedures and reduce delays in launching projects at the municipal level.
The proposed legislation, titled "enacting the Act respecting contracts of municipal bodies and amending various provisions primarily for the purpose of reducing the administrative burden on municipal bodies," seeks to facilitate a quicker start for various urban initiatives. Specifically, it would allow municipal bodies to approve “mixed” residential or commercial projects even if they do not strictly align with existing town planning regulations.
Additionally, the bill would remove the legal process through which eligible voters can request that the Quebec Municipal Commission review the compliance of a particular urban planning by-law with the broader urban plan.
With these changes, Quebec hopes to cut down by 25% the processing times required for municipal bodies to receive approval from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing on compliance requests. Minister Laforest explained that the current framework for municipal contracts is complex and can present significant barriers for businesses and municipal stakeholders, noting the reforms are intended to address these challenges and reduce administrative burdens.
