How is Montreal governed through city boroughs and an agglomeration council?

Montreal operates under a two-tier governance system designed to manage both local and island-wide interests.

City Boroughs

The City of Montreal is divided into 19 boroughs. Each borough maintains its own council to manage local affairs. These boroughs also send representatives—the number of which is determined by population size—to the 65-member City Council, which is led by the mayor of Montreal.1

Agglomeration Council

Since 2006, the entire island of Montreal has been governed by an agglomeration council. This body includes representatives from the City of Montreal as well as the 15 independent municipalities that chose to deamalgamate following the 2002 merger. The agglomeration council is responsible for setting priorities and managing shared services that affect the entire island, such as public transit and waste management.1

On a broader scale, the Montreal Metropolitan Community coordinates regional planning across 82 municipalities, serving a population of approximately four million residents.1