Soraya Martinez Ferrada commits to streamlining and accelerating City processes to build faster

Candidate for Mayor of Montreal and Leader of Ensemble Montréal, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, announced Thursday morning her commitment to implement a maximum standard of 90 days for issuing as-of-right building permits, as well as 25 days for renovation permits related to small-scale work such as replacing doors and windows.

In addition to speeding up housing construction in Montreal, these measures will simplify procedures for property owners who wish to maintain their buildings. Between 2019 and 2024, processing times for construction and renovation permits rose significantly—by 111% and 60% respectively.

These commitments will be made possible through the use of artificial intelligence and the establishment of a centralized online portal by boroughs, inspired by the model already implemented in Saint-Laurent. Martinez Ferrada intends to roll out these standards in consultation with the Council of Mayors announced in June, to ensure uniform and efficient implementation citywide.

Commitments:

• Establish a maximum standard of 90 days to obtain an as-of-right building permit;
  
• Set a maximum delay of 25 days for renovation permits related to minor work such as door and window replacements;
  
• Integrate artificial intelligence to automate and simplify certain steps in the permit review process and improve processing speed, including through the deployment of an online portal managed by boroughs.
  

Quotes:
“If we truly want to address the housing crisis, we must modernize our practices and remove unnecessary obstacles. A metropolis like Montreal can and must do better. At Ensemble Montréal, we want housing projects to move forward—not be slowed down by administrative red tape.”
– Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Candidate for Mayor of Montreal and Leader of Ensemble Montréal

“Too many construction projects are stalled by unjustified delays. Reducing permit wait times not only encourages construction but also restores confidence among citizens and stakeholders. This is a step forward in unlocking the full housing potential of our city.”
– Sylvain Gariépy, Ensemble Montréal Housing Spokesperson and Candidate for Mayor of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension