Montreal’s borough mayors could soon receive a $700 stipend for each meeting of the Table of Mayors, a proposal that would raise their annual compensation to as much as $7,000.
The city council is reviewing a plan that would allocate $700 to each mayor who attends the regular Table of Mayors sessions, a forum where the leaders of the city’s 19 boroughs gather to discuss shared issues.
City officials say the payment is intended to encourage consistent participation and to strengthen collaboration across the municipality’s diverse neighborhoods. By offering a modest financial incentive, the administration hopes to improve the effectiveness of inter‑borough cooperation.
If the proposal is adopted, a mayor who attends ten meetings a year would earn the maximum $7,000 under the new scheme. The amount reflects a per‑meeting rate rather than a fixed salary increase, and the total would depend on the number of sessions each mayor chooses to attend.
The initiative forms part of a broader effort by Montreal to formalize mechanisms for joint decision‑making among its boroughs. The Table of Mayors, established to facilitate dialogue on matters ranging from public safety to urban planning, would receive direct financial support for its participants under the suggested policy.
The council is scheduled to debate the remuneration plan at its next meeting, with a vote anticipated before the start of the upcoming fiscal year. If approved, the first disbursements would follow the subsequent Table of Mayors session, allowing participating mayors to receive the stipend for that period.
Some observers have pointed out that the additional outlay will come from the municipal budget, although the city has not released a detailed cost breakdown. Supporters contend that the modest per‑meeting payment could encourage fuller attendance and, in turn, promote more coordinated policy actions across the boroughs.