Our firm provided its municipal expertise during the 2018 annual meetings of the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ).

As an official partner, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton is proud to be involved once again in this unique forum where municipal players got together to discuss major issues. The theme of the 97th edition was “Passer de la parole aux actes” (Putting Words into Action), a reminder that’s imperative to follow through on reforms undertaken in recent years in the municipal sector.

This event, the most important in the municipal sector, took place from May 16 to 18, 2018 at the Hilton Lac-Leamy.

In an interview at the meetings, Pierre Fortin, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Management Consulting Partner, underlined the firm’s leadership in the industry, with over 300 municipalities among its clients.

Pierre goes on to explain: “We support and guide municipalities to help them with their management and growth.” On another note, the accounting firm has developed a new ethics and anti-corruption practice and makes significant investments in the digital sector.

Are municipalities ready for the legalization of cannabis?

Pierre Fortin participated in a workshop called “Le monde est stone : parlons cannabis!” (Everyone is stoned: Let’s talk about weed!). This panel touched on the issues surrounding the anticipated coming into effect of the act legalizing the purchase, sale and consumption of cannabis. Pierre presented the example of Colorado, a liberalized and regimented market from which much inspiration can be drawn.

“While there are certain differences, in particular with regard to public health, the legislative framework of the City of Denver is comparable to what we have in Montréal when it comes to government levels and the sharing of competences,” he says.

“Income generated by the tax on the sale of cannabis in Denver, as well as its share of the State Shareback, will be $21.2M in 2018, that is, about 1% of the total $2G operating budget.”

The idea for this conference came from an assignment that Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton carried out for the City of Montréal to establish an accurate fair portrait of the services and operations that will be influenced by this legalization. The firm was also asked to study financial impact scenarios.