Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante was invited to meet with Trudeau government ministers Monday morning to explain the measures her administration is taking to tackle the housing crisis, among other things.
The meeting between Mme Plante and the entire Justin Trudeau cabinet comes four days after Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre called Montreal Mayor and Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand “incompetent” due to the fall in housing starts in these two cities.
In a short statement to the media before addressing ministers, Mr.me Plante said she was always willing to work with other levels of government to identify possible solutions to the challenges facing large cities, including the housing crisis.
The office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told The Press that Mayor Plante had been invited before the controversial exit of Pierre Poilievre.
Last Thursday, the Conservative leader provoked an outcry by attacking the elected officials of the two largest cities in Quebec.
“Massive drop in construction in Quebec, while Trudeau pays billions to incompetent mayors, Marchand and Plante, who block construction sites. Federal money for cities will be linked to the number of houses and apartments built when I am PM,” Mr. Poilievre said on his X account.
PHOTO SEAN KILPATRICK, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
The leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Pierre Poilievre
Mayor Plante quickly responded to these attacks, accusing the Conservative leader of not understanding anything about the financing mechanisms that govern federal investments in Quebec.
“Before calling anyone incompetent, Mr. Poilievre should understand that in Quebec, federal housing funding does NOT go through the cities. “Common sense” also means understanding the financing mechanisms specific to each province. »
In Quebec, the federal government cannot directly pay amounts to cities under a law adopted by the National Assembly. Ottawa must therefore negotiate funding agreements with the government of Quebec when it concerns municipalities.
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez, last week, Housing Minister Sean Fraser stepped up to the microphone to denounce Pierre Poilievre’s comments.
“It’s incredible to see a federal politician declare another person, a mayor, as incompetent. This is not appropriate,” Minister Fraser said in French, emphasizing that the Trudeau government can certainly learn lessons and adjust its policies by listening to municipal elected officials, particularly regarding the construction of affordable housing.