Montreal's sreet merchants association - paying for what?

When you fling open wide the doors to your new retail outlet in Montreal, there's a good chance you'll receive a bill from the city upwards of $500 - no choice, you have to pay it - for membership to an association that bands the merchants together. What are you getting for your money? You get a group working full time trying to keep the street lively. Some aggressively fight empty storefronts by organizing loans and grants, such as on St. Hubert.

Not all associations have done so well, such as in the sad case of Sherbrooke West while Wellington and Monk have had their problems as well.

Most merchant associations have a couple of employees and organize street sales, supposedly a windfall for merchants. They'll lobby politicians, and help beautify the streetscape. That's what they tell you anyway. The truth is that they're helpless in many situations and could even take your dues to fund your competition... Click here for more...