Street vendors get a cautious green light

It looks like food trucks will make a cautious return to Montreal streets in the near future.

According to the Gazette, Montreal’s commission on economic and urban development has decided to allow street vendors to conduct business on city streets.

The city is proceeding cautiously with this ruling, as restaurant owners oppose the presence of food trucks.

They claim that it is their right to remain the only ones selling a meal since they pay taxes on the revenue they take in.

The city has announced that the food being served on the streets will not be fast food.

Street vendors have been banned in Montreal since 1947 when then-mayor Jean Drapeau called French-fry trucks un-hygienic.

Attempts to revive the movement failed each time mostly due to quality concerns and the opposition of restaurant owners.

Flickr Photo: Mr. T in D.C.