Soraya Martinez Ferrada promises to eliminate terrace fees in Ville-Marie

Montreal mayoral candidate Soraya Martinez Ferrada is promising to make it easier and cheaper for some business owners to put up a terrace.

On Thursday the Ensemble Montréal leader outlined several measures to facilitate the installation of terraces and reduce the administrative difficulties involved in acquiring various terrace permits in the Ville-Marie borough.

If elected, she is also proposing to eliminate all fees — by next year — for businesses related to issuing permits and terrace development on public property.

RELATED: Montreal relaxes terrace rules that led to Grand Prix mayhem last year

Ferrada also hopes to improve the overall customer experience by focusing on cleanliness and safety, including coordination and communication of construction sites and major works to increase the number of terrace visitors.

She says she’s aware that terraces account for a significant proportion of restaurant and bar sales, as well as strengthening commercial arteries and improving Ville-Marie neighbourhoods.

Some of the other measures include improving bureaucracy and regulations surrounding terrace development by leveraging artificial intelligence to facilitate processes; supporting merchants by deploying a low-cost professional service for the various architectural plans and requirements for terraces located throughout Montreal; and improving the terrace experience by multiplying cleaning squads and deploying security brigades while adding workers dedicated to street maintenance.

“My administration will make every effort to be an ally in the installation and operation of terraces,” Ferrada said. “After years of difficulties caused by the accumulation of orange cones and inspections deemed ‘ridiculous’ by many last summer, it’s time to give our restaurateurs a break.”

The candidate for mayor also addressed the ongoing situation involving the extortion of restaurant owners and merchants in Ville-Marie.

“Our hearts are with you,” she said. “In terms of we want you to feel safe, we want to make sure that you denounce, that you are supported by the police. Because it is zero tolerance, and we have to make sure that everybody feels safe and feels the trust that they’ll be supported by the police if this happens to them.”