Following a change of government and a 2004 referendum in which the population voted to de-merge by a wide margin, Montreal West was reconstituted as an independent city on January 1, 2006.

The town's various codes and ordinances are upheld by its Public Security Department, consisting of a lieutenant with a team of "By-Law Enforcement Constables" under his supervision.

Annually on June 23 (the day before the actual holiday) there is a picnic at Davies Park, featuring music performed by Québécois musicians.

The Garbage Bowl is a yearly tradition held every January 1 since 1950, where men from Montreal West separate into two teams, the Northern Combines in red longjohns and the Southern Bombers in green longjohns, and play a football game in the frigid weather with proceeds from donations, food, and commemorative pins going to charity.

The town also has an indoor ice skating rink, clay tennis courts, and a public swimming pool.

Until 2010, it consisted exclusively of small, non-franchised businesses, but in a controversial decision,[11] the Pharmaprix drugstore chain was allowed to open a large outlet on the corner of Westminster and Sherbrooke Street.

It was also planned that the Pink Line (Montreal Metro) would be connecting in the Montreat Ouest region in the distant future.

The Town of Montreal West prints a newspaper called The Informer on a monthly basis, excluding the summer.

This newspaper is meant to foster a small-town atmosphere and to keep Montreal West citizens up to date on town information.