I had the chance to visit several big cities. I have never seen a situation like the one in Montreal with so many public worksites. Is there no way to better manage public works in this city?
Marc André Sabourin
Balarama Holness : 75% of the projects are not from the City of Montreal, but from the federal, provincial or private sectors. We need better coordination. It is important to establish regulations to ensure that we control the construction time and that sanctions are imposed if it exceeds the time. And we should be able to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That’s something a lot of cities are already doing. And I think Montreal is late in that regard.
An incalculable number of heritage buildings are in an advanced state of degradation in Greater Montreal. What concrete measures will you take to preserve this built heritage?
Michel Marsolais
B. H. : There must be a heritage reflex. Right now, very close to here, at Pigeon Hole Park (Editor’s note: in Old Montreal), there are condo towers that will overtake a historic heritage building, in addition to eliminating a park. The people who are responsible within the executive committee must approve projects with this heritage reflex.
What will the City do to protect our French language? I think Montreal has its role to play.
Martin Lachance
BH : Absoutely ! We must ensure that all Montrealers feel at home. That we invest in culture and the Francophonie. That we include newcomers, immigrants, people from all walks of life in this culture. And therefore, that the French language belongs to everyone, so that no one feels excluded. By creating a mosaic of people who consume culture and the Francophonie, we will protect it. On the other hand, we must reduce the rate of evaluation of French to return to work, so that people can improve and learn French at work. Even I could take a French test to get back to the City of Montreal and my French is impeccable… or almost.
Considering the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, what concrete measures do you plan to put in place to achieve this very imposing objective?
Louka Methot
BH : Good question. Cities have an important role to play. We must ensure that we have parks and green spaces in disadvantaged districts, to eliminate heat islands when we have heat waves. We know that in 2018, 66 people died during [la canicule qui a sévi entre le 30 juin et le 5 juillet]. We have to protect these people. These green spaces will absorb greenhouse gases.
We must make sure to make a real ecological transition. Me, I believe that it is six billion to arrive at the electrification of public transport.
Do you solemnly undertake not to invest any taxpayer money for the return of baseball to Montreal?
Réjean Durocher
BH : We are the only party, long before the NDP, that said we wanted to reserve the Peel Basin for social, affordable, family housing and for child care. So not only are we not going to use taxpayers’ money, but the Peel Basin must be for our communities. If we bring back the Rays or the Expos, whatever we want to call them, I think that the groups which want to invest in it must build their own stadium.
What is your concrete plan to revitalize downtown Montreal?
Pierre Coutu
BH : Number 1: Ville-Marie (the borough) needs its own mayor. Number 2: construction sites must be 24 hours a day. Number 3: At the moment, many owners keep their premises off the market, only to rent it out at X or Y price. So there must be a tax on vacant premises to encourage owners to rent.
What’s your best idea for a “unique and spectacular” project that would put Montreal even more on the tourist map?
Jacques Haket
BH : We are not going to advance a kind of big project that will put us on the map. What we are saying is that we have to create a city on a human scale. You have to manage the Town Hall and the 28,000 employees who take 40% of the city’s $ 6 billion budget. We must ensure that there are green spaces, leisure, recreation and sport spaces. Ensure that our small businesses are well supervised and financed. It is important to close the exit door of the 20-20-20 by-law to ensure that developers (Editor’s note: who can pay fees to avoid complying with it) really create social, affordable, family housing. This is what will make Montreal attractive. It’s not $ 900 million at Parc Jean-Drapeau or covering the Décarie interchange that makes Microsoft want to come to Montreal. It is: can their employees have an affordable home? Have public transport that is suitable?
Interview by Stéphanie Grammond
Note: The questions and answers have been slightly edited for ease of reading.