Montreal officials announced on Monday that the city will not move forward with a proposed new school in the Parc‑Extension neighbourhood until the projected growth of the school‑age population is verified. The decision was made by the Martinez Ferrada administration, which continues to withhold approval despite recent analyses presented by the Centre de services scolaire de Montréal (CSSDM).
The city’s stance reflects a precautionary approach, requiring confirmation that the anticipated increase in student numbers justifies the construction of an additional facility. Municipal leaders said the validation of population forecasts is a prerequisite for any further steps in the development process.
The CSSDM has supplied updated data on enrollment trends in the area, but municipal authorities have not yet accepted the findings as sufficient to proceed. The school service centre’s analyses were intended to inform the city’s planning, yet the administration remains unsatisfied with the evidence of future demand.
Parc‑Extension, a densely populated district in Montreal, has long been identified as a potential site for expanding educational infrastructure. The proposed school would address capacity concerns, but the city insists that any investment must be grounded in reliable demographic projections.
The delay comes as part of a broader effort by the Martinez Ferrada administration to ensure that public resources are allocated based on verified needs. By pausing the project, the city aims to avoid premature construction that could result in underutilized facilities.
Stakeholders in the community, including parents and local organizations, have been monitoring the situation closely. They await a definitive response from the city after the required population validation is completed. The outcome will determine whether the new school moves from planning to construction in the coming months.