The three main candidates for mayor clashed Thursday in a final television debate in English, during which bilingualism, inclusion and public security marked the exchanges, less than 48 hours before the opening of the polling stations by anticipation.
“We can promote the language. French should be the glue, but the rights of anglophones must be protected. This is how Valérie Plante immediately summarized her position on the linguistic issue and Bill 96 modernizing the Charter of the French language.
PHOTO DAVE SIDAWAY, SUPPLIED BY MONTREAL GAZETTE
Valérie Plante, outgoing mayor and head of Projet Montréal
She says she understands that this is a “heated debate” and that some English-speaking Montrealers “are worried” that their rights will not be recognized. “I support Bill 96, but I also went to committee during the campaign to express my expectations,” she said, recalling in particular having asked Quebec to exclude the 311 telephone service from the ‘law application.
Ensemble Montréal conductor Denis Coderre seemed to want to act as a mediator. “I agree with the objective of the law to promote the French language, but as a local government, the question of applicability is going to be essential. We need a common sense approach. My duty will be to make sure that Quebec understands the needs we have to serve our English-speaking community ”, he explained, promising to be the“ mayor of the unit ”and an“ ally ”of the live together.
PHOTO DAVE SIDAWAY, SUPPLIED BY MONTREAL GAZETTE
Denis Coderre, conductor of Ensemble Montréal
At Mouvement Montreal, Balarama Holness once again pleaded for making the city a “multilingual metropolis” which would reflect its “unique” character. “We must make sure to build a house for all Montrealers, where you can feel a sense of security and get any job, seize any opportunity,” he pleaded, recalling that he is “the only candidate who rejects” Bill 21 and Bill 96. Under his administration, “all businesses, all Montrealers will be able to have services and do business in the language of their choice, particularly in English and French ”, also assured Mr. Holness.
Despite clashes, the exchanges were quite cordial, at least more than they had been during the first debate in French. Several English-speaking media (Montreal Gazette, Global News, CBC, CJAD 800, City News and CTC News) helped organize this final debate.
“Underfunded” districts
Public safety has also been a major issue in this debate, as the number of shootings increases in the metropolis. “Our party will bring the SPVM into the XXIe century, with innovative practices such as body cameras from the start, ”Mr. Coderre first asserted, promising to be“ tough on crime and the causes of crime ”. He has already pledged to hire 250 more police officers.
Accused by her main rival of wanting to define the police, Valérie Plante reiterated that she had no intention of doing so.
The solution is certainly not the definition of the police. What we want with the SPVM is to ensure that the police remain in their neighborhood for at least three years, even five ideally. This is the way to make sure they know the realities. And it is very precious, it can prevent several homicides.
Valérie Plante, outgoing mayor and head of Projet Montréal
Balarama Holness, he recalled that the districts where the most violent events occur “are those which have been underfunded for decades”. “To prevent crime, we have to start giving these young people real prospects,” he said, promising a billion-dollar plan to reinvest in recreational, sports and health infrastructure in communities. marginalized.
“We are diversity”
To those who followed him on his desire to do more for diversity, Mr. Coderre replied with a sentence he had already said earlier in the day. “In our party, we don’t do studies. We are diversity, ”he said, listing several candidates from his political party.
Valérie Plante, she argued that she had set up “a very solid plan in terms of hiring” diversity. “Our goal is to reach 33% of people from visible and ethnic minorities working in the police,” she illustrated. Currently, this figure hovers around 10%.
PHOTO DAVE SIDAWAY, SUPPLIED BY MONTREAL GAZETTE
Balarama Holness, head of Mouvement Montréal
“The reality is that the mayor didn’t even want to recognize the systemic racism in the first place. It took 22,000 signatures and 300 community organizations to force her to do so, ”then blasted Mr. Holness, whose political career was launched by his stint at the helm of Montreal in Action, an organization that forced the City – through the right of initiative – to hold a public consultation on systemic racism and, possibly, to recognize it.
“I think our GDP will double over the next 20 years if we really unleash the ethnic power that we have,” Holness concluded.