Both opposition parties, Vision Montreal and Projet Montreal, say the Tremblay administration's 2013 tax hikes are unacceptable.

Vision councillor Veronique Fournier, who represents Sud-Ouest, says in light of what's going on at the Charbonneau Commission, any tax hike is just wrong.  She sites allegations that Montrealers pay 30 percent more for construction, in addition to cash kickbacks and collusion.

Peter McQueen, councillor for N.D.G. and member of Projet Montreal, says the tax increases are "disgusting".  And adds that taxes in Notre Dame de Grace have skyrocketed 17 percent in four years, while at the same time property values have climbed dramatically.

McQueen goes one step further.  He says it's clear there's a corruption problem at City Hall. 

"What Mayor Gerald Tremblay should have done was to freeze taxes until the next election, in November of 2013." 

Meanwhile, Mayor Tremblay says the average tax hike in his $4.9 billion financial plan will be in the range of three percent, about $100 dollars per household.

In Anjou, the hit won't be so bad, 0.5%, but  in the Plateau, it'll be more like 5.7%.

Meantime, residents in demerged cities, like Pointe Claire, are collectively holding their breath.   Their agglomeration rate increase should be known this week.

Photo:  Margoe Edwards