Should the city keep bars open until 6 a.m.?

That was the issue up for debate in two days of public hearings in court this week to come to a decision on whether or not to allow the city to begin a pilot project, allowing some bars on Crescent and St-Denis Sts. to stay open all night.

The idea is pump up the city's nightlife, and maybe strengthen Montreal's reputation as a party town. The trial will run from June 12 to July 5, during weekends only.

“There is a nightlife in Montreal,” said Denis Coderre in an news conference on April 25, where he discussed his proposal. “The only reason there's one in Toronto is because there are half a million Montrealers who moved there in the past.”

At the liquor board hearings Thursday and Friday, the city was grilled on such matters as why they didn’t consult Laval and Longueil and why area residents were not consulted.

“There's enough ruckus and trouble going on the street as it is,” said Ricky Gandhi runs Hotel Quarter Latin on St-Denis St. “Now if we allow people to stay until six and serve alcohol, we're just making the problem even bigger.”

At the hearing, there were questions about how the City of Montreal would keep track of complaints.

Gandhi thinks those complaints may fall on deaf ears.

“Our opinion on this project wasn't asked, and we are implicated by this,” he said.

Gandhi said he contacted the city with his concerns weeks ago, but so far has gotten no response.

One bar owner said problems only start when bars close in the middle of the night."

“People at 3 o'clock, they're on the street, and thats where there's violence and stuff like that they have nowhere to go, they wait for taxis which is hard to get," said Michel Lavallee of L’Ile Noir Pub.

He says staying open would solve security problems.

“We're going to close when the subway opens at 5:30 in the morning so roughly it's going help us,” said Lavallee.

On the streets of Montreal, opinion is also mixed.

“My mum told me once nothing good happens after 2 am, and I stay by that,” said Nick Vallelunga. “I don't think it's going to be a huge benefit to the city to have them open until 6 p.m.

“It'd be good for business and it makes sense to wait around for the buses and metros to open up again so that way it would be good for getting drunks home,” said Brian Mabe. “Not everybody wants to pay for a cab home.”

The liquor board is expected to make a decision on the pilot project this week.