Motorists in Vaudreuil-Soulanges living within the jurisdiction of the Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM) will see their vehicle registration tax rise sharply from $59 to $150 as of January 1, 2025. This substantial increase aims to fund public transit across the Greater Montreal area.

In Vaudreuil-Soulanges, the affected municipalities include L’Île-Perrot, Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Pincourt, Terrasse-Vaudreuil, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Saint-Lazare, Pointe-des-Cascades, Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac, L’Île-Cadieux, Hudson, and Les Cèdres.

Despite opposition from several municipal officials in the region, the increase will take effect in the coming days.

In addition to the $150 tax, a $30 fee is also applicable as a contribution to public transit. However, municipalities such as L’Île-Cadieux, Les Cèdres, Pointe-des-Cascades, and Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac are exempt from this additional charge.

Financial Strains in Public Transit

According to a statement released by the CMM, this measure is part of an effort to address a significant funding gap in the public transit financial framework.

“Considering the government contribution publicly announced by Transport and Sustainable Mobility Minister Geneviève Guilbault is approximately $200 million for the 2025 fiscal year—a $38 million decrease compared to 2024, which was already insufficient—this measure aims to offset the shortfall in the estimated $561 million financial framework after transport companies have optimized their operations. Since municipalities, which are already bearing an increasing share of funding, cannot run deficits, the remaining $361 million will be covered by this registration tax, a measure now available to all Quebec municipalities,” explained the CMM in its statement.

Rising Costs for Transit Projects

The financial framework for metropolitan public transit must also account for operating and capital costs for several new projects, including:

• The launch of new REM branches
• The extension of the metro’s Blue Line
• The implementation of reserved bus lanes

While these projects enhance public transit offerings in the region, they significantly inflate costs. The financial framework could rise from $3.2 billion in 2019 to $5.4 billion by 2028.

Long-Term Challenges

CMM data suggests that financial pressures will continue in the coming years. Projected shortfalls are as follows:

• $604.6 million in 2026
• $670.4 million in 2027
• $697.8 million in 2028

These figures highlight the ongoing challenges of securing sustainable funding for public transit in the region.