A story in the Montreal Gazette highlights how Montreal City Council is debating whether to in-source asphalt production and pothole repair after years of sub-standard performance by external contractors:
Sensing that Montrealers are fed up with the expensive and poor-quality work of suspect asphalt companies, the opposition Vision Montreal party says it’s time the city considered producing its own asphalt to repair potholes and repave streets.
With Montreal’s city council set to vote on Friday on whether to award contracts to fill potholes to companies that may have been named at the Charbonneau Commission, Vision Montreal leader Louise Harel wants the city to conduct a feasibility study on the cost and benefits of a city-owned asphalt production plant.
“All Montrealers feel that what is being used doesn’t last,” Harel said at a news conference at city hall. “We have to bring back the knowledge and expertise … and have a better understanding of the market so we can get a fair price.”
Part of the feasibility study would look at the cost of having blue-collar workers fill potholes instead of outside firms, she said. The idea of municipalities producing their own asphalt was raised in February when The Gazette’s Linda Gyulai reported that the Union des municipalités du Québec had suggested that nothing stopped municipalities from getting together to produce their own asphalt.
As this case illustrates, the construction industry scandal is triggering a closer look at whether the taxpayer is actually getting value for money by contracting out critical infrastructure maintenance service.
