MONTREAL, Que. — Montreal appears poised to toll vehicles travelling into the city on highways tunnels and bridges.

Mayor Gerald Tremblay said yesterday that the city could generate $300 million per year from road and bridge tolls. Tolls would be slapped on vehicles entering downtown Montreal as well as the island.

Montreal could be the first Canadian city to slap congestion tolls on vehicles if the plan goes through. Much of the money raised will go towards expanding the citys transit system, Tremblay said.

“The car will still have its place, just not the whole place. And it’s from that perspective that we will appeal to profound changes in the mentality, attitudes and behaviours (of motorists),” the mayor said during a news conference yesterday.

Bridges leading into Montreal are owned by the federal government, so tolls would first have to be approved by the feds.

Tremblay did not specify how the tolls would be applied to commercial vehicles, but his comments seemed mostly to be directed towards motorists.

“If motorists want to continue driving into Montreal solo, well there will be a price to pay and a choice,” Tremblay said.