Bruno Marchand forms its executive committee | Quebec is trying “politics differently”

(Quebec) The new mayor of Quebec had promised to play politics differently. He gave Wednesday an idea of ​​what he had in mind, by unveiling a first executive committee that gives pride of place to elected members of the opposition, except the Transition Quebec party.

Gabriel Beland
Press

The six Quebec strong and proud (QFF) councilors, who left Mr. Marchand, each have a place on the committee. But the new mayor, whose formation is in the minority on the council, went to draw from his ranks to fill four positions.

An elected official from the official opposition, Steeve Verret, has chosen to leave Équipe Marie-Josée Savard (ÉMJS). He will sit as an independent and will be a full member of the executive committee.

The three other elected members of the opposition to receive a promotion will be able to remain in their respective formations, but will sit as an associate member on the committee. This is the case for the former leader of the official opposition, Jean-François Gosselin, who will remain a member of Quebec 21.

“For me today, this is an extraordinary example that other politicians at other levels should take,” said Bruno Marchand.

“This is exactly what citizens are asking us to do. Put water in your wine, be conciliatory. There is a plural city to be built. ”

The town hall offered a place on the committee to all parties. The offer was simple: if you want to stay in your political formation and join the committee, you could have an associate member role.

Associate members only vote on issues that fall within their files. Mr. Gosselin, for example, who will take care of leisure and sports, will not participate in decisions on the tramway, which he has always opposed.

“I’m very happy to see how it all unfolds. There is a lot of respect, of communication. It’s very satisfying to operate like that, ”said Jean-François Gosselin, who resigned from his role as leader of Quebec 21 after a disappointing election for his training.

Mr. Gosselin, who had strained relations with Régis Labeaume, says he was struck in the last days by the new atmosphere that reigns at the town hall.

“When I walked upstairs that I have shared for four years in the opposition with the town hall, the doors are all open, everyone is talking to each other, everyone is smiling. We have the impression that everyone is working together. ”

The story is the same with the official opposition. The new team leader Marie-Josée Savard said he was “very satisfied”. Claude Villeneuve ensures that the departure of Steeve Verret is not a defection.

“I was the one who let Mr. Marchand know that a member of our team would be interested in sitting on his executive and that we were comfortable with that,” he says.

“Our discussions were so frank and so respectful that I have confidence for the future,” adds Mr. Villeneuve.

An absence of size

The left-wing Transition Quebec party is the only one absent from the council. Their leader and only elected, Jackie Smith, would have refused the offer according to what the mayor of Quebec explained.

“The proposal was made to all parties and the parties decided what was best for them,” said Mr. Marchand, who does not rule out appointing Mr.^me Smith on the Board of Directors of the Capital Transportation Network.

The main interested party explains that she would have lost part of her freedom of speech by accepting a role on the executive committee.

“I repeat: I will be the voice for the ecological transition at the town hall”, launches M^me Smith in an interview.

She also submitted demands that were refused by the town hall. For example, she would have agreed to sit on the executive if the administration had adopted flagship measures from Transition Quebec. She cites free public transport or the closure of the incinerator which affects the air quality in Limoilou, district of M^me Smith.

The formation of the executive committee was the first test of the Marchand administration. Overall, the new mayor has played his cards well, believes Philippe Dubois, doctoral student in political science and researcher at Laval University.

“It’s mission accomplished for Mr. Marchand. He had promised to do things differently and that is what he is doing, he judges. There is a culture at City Hall. M. Labeaume had accustomed us to appointing his faithful. ”

The appointment to the committee of an independent and three associate members of the opposition allows the mayor “to rebalance the forces in the city council”. According to Mr. Dubois, the associate members will have a tendency to show solidarity with the town hall and “the informal distribution becomes 11 elected pro-administration and 11 elected from the opposition”.