Bixi to continue despite financial problems

A member of Montreal's city executive committee says hecannotguarantee the municipal administration will put more money into Bixi if it requires financial assistance.

The bike-sharing program has struggled to make ends meet since it first hit Montreal streets in 2008.

• Bixibike-sharing service in financial trouble

Yesterday, a letter from Montreal's auditor general to the city was released. In it, auditor Jacques Bergeron said he had serious doubts as to whether Bixicould continue its Montreal and Toronto operations.

In the letter, dated Sept.11, Bergeron said the evidence he saw while compiling his annual report on Bixi's operations led him to believe the programs in those two cities were in serious trouble.

Ral Mnard, the executive committee member responsible for the transportation dossier, told Daybreak Tuesday that he didn't know whether Montreal could continue to fund Bixi.

"If you say,'Can you make a commitment that City Hall will putmoney into Bixi?' I think its not going to happen.But it doesnt mean that Bixi will not be in operation," he said.

• Bixi company struggles with deficit

Mnardsaid that he is concerned about Bixi'scurrent cashflow problems,but that the program isnot facing bankruptcy, and added that bikes will be back on the streets next season.

Mnard said these financial difficulties aredue to outstanding payments from U.S. cities that use thebike-sharing program.

"We'reexpecting to have money.When the money will be there, Bixi will be in a better situation," saidMnard.

"We are optimistic that the crisis we are talking about will be solved."

Jean-Franois Lise, the provincial minister responsible for Montreal, said Bixi was a valuable service and deserved to be helped out. He said the Quebec government is working on a $5-million bridge loan for the program.

"It's a success in Montreal. It's an international success but we seem not to have been able in the last few years to come up with a business plan that makes this a sound and permanent success in Quebec," Lise said.

In 2011, Montreal's city council approved a $108-million bailout package for the program to cover a budget shortfall. That included a $37-million loan to coverBixi'sdeficit, and another $71-million in loan guarantees to export and develop the system abroad.

That loan is on top of Bixi'scurrent $6-million deficit.

2012 financial statement still not public

Bergeron's report on Bixi's financial year ending on Dec. 31, 2012 was slated to be submitted to Montreal city council yesterday;however,Mnard says he has not yet seen the document.

"The taxpayer has the right to know the financial situation," saidMnard.

"We need to have this information because we are talking about a public fund,and the board of Bixi has to collaborate closely with M. Bergeron," he said.