The bylaw would force billboards including these ones on Parc Avenue to be torn down within one year. The bylaw would force billboards including these ones on Parc Avenue to be torn down within one year. (CBC)

Just weeks after banning the installation of new billboards, the new administration in Montreal's Plateau Mont-Royal borough says it will adopt a bylaw ordering the 45 existing billboards to be torn down.

The members of the Projet Montréal party said they have received a positive response from residents about the decision to ban new billboards and decided to go even further.

"[The] vast majority of Montrealers would prefer not to have to look at this garbage," said Coun. Alex Norris.

He said the companies will be given one year to remove the billboards.

"If the billboard companies want to have a public fight with us, we think that they will end up losing in the court of public opinion."

Norris said he hopes that other boroughs will adopt similar measures.

But, city of Montreal spokesman Darren Becker called the decision short-sighted.

"All they seem to be doing these days is banning things," he said. "They're banning noise in bars, now they're banning the use of billboards, they're banning parking for non-residents."

The borough receives no revenue from the billboards, while the city receives just $40,000 in taxes from them every year, Norris said.