Around ten thematic debates have brought together Valérie Plante and Denis Coderre over the past few weeks. But the first real duel took place Thursday evening on an LCN set.
This face-to-face meeting, which also included Balarama Holness, head of Mouvement Montréal, was both captivating and terribly annoying.
The concept was based on two or three exchanges with nuanced and numerous interventions by Pierre Bruneau. For 20 minutes, I thought it was a good formula.
Finally, we were not made to feel the presence of the stopwatch. It served the words and ideas of the three candidates.
But it didn’t last. It quickly became a cacophonous rat race. We were treated to a lot of animosity.
Valérie Plante multiplied her interventions and often spoke above her two interlocutors. The management even had to lower its microphone a few times.
She tended to end her lines with a burst of laughter. “When you laugh, you’re nervous. Stop laughing, housing is too serious, ”Denis Coderre told him during a virulent exchange on the issue of regulation 20-20-20 on social, affordable and family housing.
Ouch! Valérie Plante did not appreciate this comment. As she did not like that the former mayor of Montreal says that she “knew nothing about finances”.
Denis Coderre maintained his calm throughout this debate, which lasted more than an hour. But he failed to win and score goals like he is normally capable of.
He made good use of his favorite phrase about his rival, namely that she is the head of a party that is pitting “against each other”.
He also used his favorite formula when it came time to silence his interlocutors by saying “attention”. For his part, Balarama Holness nailed the beak to Denis Coderre by serving him a “thank you, Coderre”.
During the second half, Pierre Bruneau was in turmoil and seemed eager to get home.
Balarama Holness was the one who had everything to gain and nothing to lose in this debate. He went headlong on all subjects, with or without experience. His two opponents made a point of highlighting his weaknesses in certain cases.
“Mr. Holness, do you really believe that creating an anaerobic digestion center takes two years? A little rigor, please! », Valérie Plante told him.
For his part, Denis Coderre served him a “you must have played in Winnipeg at that time” in response to a criticism of the establishment of electric charging stations under his administration.
On the issue of mobility, the head of Mouvement Montreal said he wanted to apply a regulation to remove orange cones from the streets of Montreal. Uh … But still?
He was embarrassed when, at the end of the debate, the French fact in Montreal was discussed. Valérie Plante and Denis Coderre then joined forces to tell him that this was “unacceptable”.
In short, he was no match for his rivals who both have experience of a mandate as mayor.
This debate was disappointing, because it did not allow the candidates to really exchange and raise their ideas.
It was the festival of “and you, what have you done? “And” and you, what will you do? “. Except there was no answer.
Undoubtedly the CROP – Radio-Canada poll published Thursday, which puts Valérie Plante and Denis Coderre on an equal footing, has contributed to fostering this bellicose climate which is not very constructive and from which no real winner emerges.
Hopefully things will turn out differently Monday night on Radio-Canada.
With 15 days before the poll, the proportion of undecided people is very high (27% according to the CROP – Radio-Canada poll). It was certainly not this evening that helped voters get their bearings.
Boxes that make people talk
Thursday was marked by Projet Montréal’s promise to offer “baby welcome boxes” to all new parents in a future mandate.
Valued at $ 100, these boxes would contain pajamas, a blanket, books, subway tickets and vouchers. This measure is estimated at $ 2 million per year.
Would it be better to use this money differently by targeting families in need and offering them substantial assistance? I think so.
This concept, which can be found elsewhere in the world, has generated its share of ironic comments on social networks. A lot of people don’t think it’s up to a city to offer this kind of box.
Some jokers have offered “gay welcome” and “newly divorced welcome” boxes. I will not tell you what we propose to put there.