Mayor Valérie Plante began her second term on Thursday evening at the swearing-in ceremony, emphasizing priority issues, such as housing, ecological transition and economic development.
“Together, we will do great things,” she told the newly elected officials and guests gathered at the Palais des congrès for the swearing-in ceremony. “We’re going to be listening. We will stay connected to the realities on the ground. “
This protocol event formalizes the entry into office of mayors and councilors for their four-year mandate which begins. There were 97 elected officials since six positions are subject to judicial recounts. The results of the recounts will not be known until next week.
The ceremony opened with an address by Ka’nahsohon Kevin Deer of the Mohawk Trail Longhouse. After the elected officials were sworn in, the mayor took the floor to talk about the major themes that should mark her second term. “The metropolis is going through an absolutely unique period. After going through a global pandemic that no one could have predicted, she is getting back on her feet and envisioning a greener and more inclusive future ”.
Parity and diversity
“Montreal has never been able to count on a group of elected representatives so representative of its population, also like our city,” added the mayor. Remember that the new cohort of mayors and municipal councilors is predominantly female with 61 women and 42 men. This is eight more women than in 2017. It is also more diverse, elected representatives from minorities being more numerous than during the previous mandate.
Valérie Plante is embarking on her second term as the issue of armed violence makes the headlines with the death of young Thomas Trudel in the Saint-Michel district last Sunday. During a press briefing at the end of the ceremony, Valérie Plante reiterated her intention to tackle the issue of public safety. She promised to keep her promise to double funding to community organizations that work in prevention and to hire additional police officers.
However, she considers that the position of the federal government, which says that there is no consensus in Canada on the ban on handguns, is insufficient. “When you’re a political leader in power, sometimes you have to make decisions, even when they are not consensual when it comes to the public interest. […] We are talking about an issue that makes young and old alike afraid to walk in the street. So for me, this is not an acceptable answer. “
The mayor has promised to show boldness in the next four years. “What I want to show in this mandate is courage, as I did in the first mandate by recognizing systemic racism, by moving forward with certain projects that were challenged, but who now are greeted. I am thinking of the REV Saint-Denis, greeted as much not by traders as by cyclists, ”she explained.
The mayor will also have to form her new executive committee, which she plans to do next week. The increased presence of women and visible minorities among elected officials will be reflected in the new administration, she said: issues in this concern to represent the entire population ”.
Regarding the anomalies observed in the compilation of the ballots, Valérie Plante said she was open to additional checks being made. “I think we have to put everything in place to ensure that the democratic process has been done in due form. Going to vote is important. So if Elections Montreal considers that there could be anomalies, we have to go through the process. I’m comfortable with it. “
For his part, the new opposition leader, Aref Salem, has pledged to closely monitor the administration to ensure that it fulfills its electoral promises, particularly with regard to the hiring of 250 additional police officers and assistance to people experiencing homelessness. “I have already said that I will reach out to administration when necessary. We are all elected to provide services to Montrealers and I will work in this direction with my team. “
Majority women
The presence of 61 women among the 103 elected officials rejoices Esther Lapointe, Executive Director of the Women, Politics and Democracy Group. “It has been said for years that women love politics. But it was the systemic obstacles that made their political progress more difficult. “
Ms. Lapointe also notes that the parties had made significant efforts to present female candidates or those from diversity in large numbers during the election campaign. “In municipal politics, there is almost a ballot box bonus for women. Statistically, when a woman runs for municipal office, she is much more likely to win than at the provincial or federal level. “
She also believes that the “Valérie Plante effect” played out this year, not only in Montreal, but also in other big cities. “Social concerns come a lot for women. It’s been a while since women understood that staying at home is not going to solve the problem. “