Projet gets to snipe from opposition now, taking down Ensemble on an unmet promise to clean up the city for spring.
Le Devoir also looks at city hall having to face rising salary demands.
As a longtime supporter of Projet, having watched Ensemble take pot‑shots from the sidelines for years, without ever explaining how they would act differently to solve civic problems, it’s giving me some small pleasure to see SMF & Co. facing the practical difficulties of running a big city and finding out it isn’t so easy. Although it’s a muted pleasure, because this is my city too and I don’t like seeing it run aground on their lack of experience.
DeWolf 14:26 on 2026-04-19 Permalink
Ensemble certainly seem to have a habit of overpromising and underdelivering. Claude Pinard on March 16: “Today, we’re announcing that there have never been so many cleanup crews and pieces of equipment dedicated to this major cleanup so early in the year—and for such a long period. This is a major undertaking. Residents will see the difference very quickly.”
I’m certainly not seeing any difference. The city seems about as dirty as it always is in mid-April, and the cleanup does not seem to be happening any faster than in other years.
MarcG 15:58 on 2026-04-19 Permalink
I saw 2 dudes picking up trash in the park nearby earlier today and thought they were just some do-gooder local Dads but maybe they were ad-hoc city employees.
EmilyG 16:28 on 2026-04-19 Permalink
There are some cleanup projects going on, such as this one: https://mission1000tonnes.com/
I think there’ll also be one, or has been one, in the Champ des possibles.
Kate 17:49 on 2026-04-19 Permalink
Jarry Park always has a cleanup brigade day – this year it’s on May 2.
As I mentioned earlier, I cleaned up my block last week. All it takes is a windy recycling or garbage day to mess it up again, though.
EmilyG 18:10 on 2026-04-19 Permalink
I would like to maybe do some cleaning around my area, though I’d have to figure out what to do with the garbage after I collected it. If I fill, say, a garbage bag, where could I put it? If I tried putting it in my own personal garbage can at home, that’s usually already filled with my home garbage. I don’t imagine I could stuff a full bag of garbage into a public trash can.
I’m not trying to look for excuses not to clean. I welcome suggestions.
CE 22:03 on 2026-04-19 Permalink
Couldn’t you just put out a second bag? I cleaned up around my yard and front of my house over the weekend and will be putting out three big bags or garbage along with my one bag of household garbage this week. I can only see this being an issue if you live in Hampstead where you only have so many bags you can put out a week.
Joey 09:11 on 2026-04-20 Permalink
@CE EmilyG means where is she supposed to store the garbage until pickup day (i.e., outside her house).
jeather 09:21 on 2026-04-20 Permalink
When it is done in my neighbourhood, people store it in their front areas, usually behind the staircase, until pickup day. If it’s properly tied no one gets fined for it.
EmilyG 10:55 on 2026-04-20 Permalink
I think in my area, you have a garbage can that you put out on collection day, and however many bags you have for that week, have to fit into that one can.
Ian 10:55 on 2026-04-20 Permalink
My landlord specifically forbids that, it’s even in our lease.
Daisy 11:27 on 2026-04-20 Permalink
I use a small bag (kitchen garbage bag) and put it in a public garbage can when it’s full.
MarcG 11:47 on 2026-04-21 Permalink
True confessions of municipal household waste criminals. Who needs Allô Police when you’ve got Mtl City Weblog?