Montreal contractors often submit low-ball bids to win contracts and then compensate those bids with corner-cutting repaving techniques that fail to meet quality standards, the city's inspector general has found. (Charles Contant/Radio-Canada)The inspector general also found cases of contractors using unacceptable materials, such as bituminous mixes that do not comply with the city's requirements. As a result, the report states, sidewalks now cost up to half as much as a few years ago. Regardless, the inspector general says the sidewalk industry remains a vulnerable sector because of its unsavoury past. With Montreal planning major investments in sidewalk infrastructure in the near future, the inspector general "intends to remain vigilant" and closely monitor future projects.

Source: CBC News September 18, 2018 16:00 UTC