Montreal wants to revitalize and better organize its nightlife

Developed in collaboration with various nightlife players, including the MTL 24/24 organization, the roadmap presented Monday by Montreal mayoress Valérie Plante and Luc Rabouin, head of economic and commercial development on the City’s executive committee . , will have a budget of 2.1 million dollars.

This plan, which should lead to the development of the first nightlife policy in Montreal in 2023, aims, through a series of pilot projects and studies, to support the development of nightlife in Montreal, while maintaining quality of life of citizens living in these neighborhoods.

Seriously tested over the past two years of the pandemic, the quality of Montreal’s nightlife is one of the city’s international signatures, Mayor Valérie Plante said. The party is part of Montreal’s DNAhe remembered.

An economic machine

ang night life is also highly profitable for the City, merchants and business circles.

According to an economic impact study presented by MTL 24/24 general manager, Mathieu Grondin, socio-cultural nights of the metropolis generate approximately $ 2.26 billion in direct spending each year in Montreal, including $ 121 million in tax spinoffs for governments.

The sector also represents 33,559 jobs and $ 994 million in payroll.

In 2019, 22% of all tourists visiting Montreal did so because of its nightlife, the study points out. It represents 2.44 million visitors who alone spend $ 909 million in the city.

If this share of night tourism grows to represent 33% of the tourist mass, as is the case in Amsterdam and Berlin, an additional 676 million dollars will be put into the local economy, out of a total of $ 1 .6 billion.said Mathieu Grondin.

Unlike Montreal, Berlin and Amsterdam benefit from policies that shape and regulate nightlife.emphasized by Mr. Grondin.

To also fulfill such a policy, the Plante administration has been working for at least two years with a series of partners.

The roadmap he presented on Monday includes approximately 20 actions that include conducting a series of pilot projects and studies to deepen the economic profile of night life Montrealers and study new opening hours for certain types of bars, restaurants, and performance halls.

The plan also provides for the creation of a permanent consultation table that will bring together key players in nightlife who will also be invited during the revision of the urban planning and mobility plan as part of the strategy to relaunch the city center.

Reduce irritants

The roadmap also includes a section intended to mitigate negative impacts, particularly noise problems caused by certain performance halls. The $ 2.4 million envelope associated with the plan notably includes $ 1.4 million in subsidies to be paid to approximately twenty alternative theaters to help them better soundproof their premises.

We want to ensure that our alternative areas continue to be areas of cultural propagation for the next generation and emerging culture. We put all the conditions in place to support these alternative roomsexplained Luc Rabouin.

Still in terms of noise, which is one of the main nuisances for citizens living near bars and performance halls, MTL 24/24 is calling for a revision of the noise law to give it to standard goal which will allow everyone to take the same situation reading during noise problems to protect both the presentation halls and their neighbors.

Hours of operation and extension of liquor licenses

Mathieu Grondin also asked the City to designate night areas where commercial activities can take place 24 hours a day. All this is accompanied by the extension of the operating hours of alcohol permits for restaurants, bars, nightclubs and cinemas as desired.

” These changes will require the City of Montreal to make significant investments in road infrastructure and public safety. “

But these costs are worth it if you believe the figures he presented: our study shows that every dollar invested in nightlife has a return on investment of 285%.

The quality of life of some neighborhoods is at stake

Asked by reporters about his administration’s enthusiasm for nightlife, which is sometimes a major irritant for residents living near these businesses, especially in terms of chaos, noise, public safety and sanitation, he intended Mayor Plante to be reassured.

” We want people to sleep the same. The idea is not that everything starts without any rules. We are not really in that spirit. “

The roadmap is really to try things out so that by 2023 we will have the first nightlife policy that the mayor wants to be inspired by international best practices.

Regarding street safety, if Montreal extends the opening hours of businesses at night, the mayor ensures that SPVM is involved in the process, while emphasizing that the closure of bars and night clubs at night to others’ t other times worked well in other cities, as it avoids all customers being on the streets at once.

There may be benefits to thinking differentlydispute of the mayor.