The participatory budget is a process that enables the population to decide how to use part of the municipal budget. It gives the opportunity to Montrealers to propose ideas regarding municipal developments or facilities, and then to vote on the projects to be carried out by the city.

Process

The budget includes various steps:

1. Collection of ideas: any person who is interested in participating in Montréal’s future may submit their idea. Ideas may be proposed individually or collectively: on behalf of an association, a family, a group of friends or neighbors, etc.
2. Analysis of ideas and project development: the city analyses the ideas received and converts them into attainable projects in collaboration with representatives of organizations as well as citizens. An assessment of project feasibility and costs is carried out and a final list is submitted for voting.
3. Planning and realization: the projects with the highest number of votes are realized by the city within the allocated budget of $45 M, of which the amount of $10 M is reserved for projects that meet the expectations of the city’s youth.

Submitted ideas had to relate to at least 1 of the following themes:

• Youth: Meet the needs of citizens who are aged 30 or younger, as well as those of future generations
• Equity: Ensure that Montrealers from all walks of life have equitable access to municipal infrastructures across city territory
• Safety: Offer safe living environments by improving:
  • safe mobility (on foot, by bike, by skateboard, by car, by scooter, etc.)
  • violence prevention and a sense of safety in the city (streets, sidewalks, parks, municipal facilities, etc.)
  • protection against severe inclement weather (climate events such as abundant rain, heat waves, freshet, rising temperatures, drought, destructive storms)

And meet the following criteria:

• Meet a collective need (serve a collective interest rather than a private one)
• Be feasible for the city (Located on public property or on city-owned land)
• Represent an investment expenditure, which means that the budget must be spent on developments or equipment that will last and be sustainable in the long run
• Present the potential for a major project (project value between $500,000 and $5 M)

Examples of ideas

You could, for instance, propose development projects or equipment that contribute to:

• the practice of a sport (for example, outdoor rock climbing wall on a city building)
• socialization and meetings (for example, recreational sitting areas with wifi)
• universal accessibility (for example, inclusive playgrounds)
• improving mobility (for example, bike parking shelters near high-traffic areas)
• improving safety at intersections (for example, protected pedestrian infrastructure)
• improving safety in public areas (for example, safe and artistic public lighting)
• managing abundant rainfall (for example, public “water square”)