An agglomeration council is a special governance structure created after Quebec allowed some municipalities that were forcibly merged with Montreal in 2002 to demerge in 2006. The agglomeration council brings together the City of Montreal and 15 reconstituted (demerged) municipalities to manage services that remain shared across the island: police, fire, water, wastewater, transit, and assessment. The arrangement ensures island-wide coordination while respecting the autonomy of demerged communities. Montreal holds majority voting power on the agglomeration council, which has caused tensions with smaller municipalities over costs and decision-making. Similar arrangements exist in Quebec City and Longueuil.