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Plante's administration confirmed on Tuesday that the subsequent closure of bars does not mean that Montreal “will become like Las Vegas.” On the contrary, it intends to develop a nightlife policy “for the whole city”, adapted to the realities of each area.
“The goal is not to be Las Vegas. We really believe this can be done collaboratively. We want people who don't want to participate in nightlife to be able to rest easy, but that they can… To have this economic development and this cultural impact as well.”
In the evening, she answered questions from several Montrealers who attended the launch of the consultation on future nightlife policy.
Essentially, Montreal is proposing to create “nighttime hotspots” where higher noise levels are permitted, as well as providing financial assistance programs so that some establishments can improve soundproofing and close their doors later, after 3 a.m.
Currently, noise rules are the same everywhere, regardless of whether you are in a residential area or not. This must change in the coming months. “We'll meet in the middle: enjoy your nightlife or enjoy your bed,” M emphasizedI Alnos, who also sees it as a way to “provide support to the cultural community.”
“No wall to wall”
But the idea raises concerns in the commercial world. Several questions from citizens also focused on bars and performance halls that are witnessing complaints from residents because of the noise they emit, which threatens their survival. MI Specifically, the goal is to move toward “more flexible, more adaptive and more targeted” noise regulation, Alnus stressed on the subject.
“This will not be a project where we are going to be wall-to-wall,” said Culture Ministry Director Valérie Beaulieu. “We don’t want this to be a policy for downtown nightlife, but for all neighborhoods that have different realities,” she insisted.
The city says that it has observed, based on pilot projects held in particular at Art Technologies (SAT) in 2022, that the noise does not increase after 3 hours of work. “The observation we've made is that the noise level is still high, but only near the facility. This is a plus compared to the 3 a.m. closure where people can stop in a nearby park,” Economic Development Commissioner Thomas Peltier said.
“An area with nightlife can also be defined as a place, especially if it has a large reception capacity,” Mr. Peltier continued, citing as an example the MTelus Hotel, formerly known as the Metropolis, which has more than 2,000 venues.
With Isabelle Ducasse, Journalism
“Music guru. Incurable web practitioner. Thinker. Lifelong zombie junkie. Tv buff. Typical organizer. Evil beer scholar.”
