Former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre seeks bankruptcy protection, citing $1.1M debt

Former MP and Montreal mayor Denis Coderre speaks at a news conference, Friday, June 21, 2024 in Quebec City. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Former Montreal mayor and federal cabinet minister Denis Coderre has filed for bankruptcy protection, seeking relief from nearly $1.1 million in debt, according to documents released by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy.

The documents show that Coderre sought protection on Jan. 6, citing “illness, death, divorce, biopsy and media harassment” as factors contributing to his financial difficulties. The documents note that he suffered a stroke, which required a year of recovery.

The documents indicate Coderre owes $663,162 to 9377-4750 Québec Inc. -- a management consulting firm he controls.

They also note a potential conflict of interest: “The trustee has never provided services to the debtor in the past, but the trustee administers the transfer of Québec Inc., of which the debtor was the administrator.”

Other listed creditors include $127,537 owed to the Canada Revenue Agency, $93,593 to Revenu Québec, $75,000 to a mortgage lender, $25,000 to his partner Annie Paré, three private creditors each owed $25,000, and a credit card balance of $39,498 with Scotiabank.

The document also mentions a potential debt to Chantale Renaud, his former wife, of $165,000.

When asked for comment, Coderre told The Canadian Press in a text message: “To everyone who talks about it or wants to talk about it, it’s private.”

Revelations about Coderre’s filings were first reported by Le Journal de Montréal.

The documents also include a proposal that would see Coderre pay creditors a total of $240,000 over five years at a rate of $4,000 per month.

The proposal was prepared by Montreal insolvency trustee Groupe Serpone and is expected to be presented to creditors on Jan. 26.

Groupe Serpone says the terms would likely provide creditors with a more favourable settlement than they would get from bankruptcy proceedings.

The documents also indicate Coderre has a monthly net income of $16,959, which includes pension income of $9,213 per month.

Coderre listed $44,000 in assets, including a pending $25,000 payment from Tel Aviv University, a vehicle valued at $12,000, and $7,000 worth of furniture and personal belongings.

He also declared being employed as a special mission ambassador by Résidences Soleil, a company that operates more than a dozen retirement homes in Quebec.

Last year, the Quebec Liberal Party rejected Coderre’s leadership bid in February, after he failed to file the required documents on time, which included tax-related paperwork, a Liberal source told The Canadian Press on condition of anonymity.

At the time, he had five days to appeal but chose not to, stating he had submitted all necessary documents.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 14, 2026.