Mayor Trudeau won’t seek re-election
Pointe-Claire Mayor Morris Trudeau will not seek re-election. He spoke with Kathryn Greenaway about life before, during and after politics. He has three children and six grandchildren. Grandpa will be kept busy visiting. And playing golf.
Q Why did you decide to not seek re-election?
A The most obvious reason is my age. And I’ve served a good number of years. It’s time to move on. I want to travel with my wife (Marthe St-Denis Trudeau).
Q Where do you plan to travel?
A We have a big, fully equipped truck camper. I’ve already driven it 26,000 km for one trip to Alaska. When I was a police officer I drove eight hours a day. I’ve always loved driving. When I drive my truck camper I feel like I’m in my living room. Our first trip (post-retirement) will be to visit my daughter Caroline and her two boys in Norfolk, Va. It’s a 16-hour drive.
Q Pointe-Claire city councillors share the opinion that one of your biggest strengths as mayor is that you are a good listener. Do you agree?
A Well, I’m not a dictator. As a police officer, I met a lot of people dealing with many different issues. It was important to listen and to make rapid decisions. Because the councillors in Pointe-Claire are all independent councillors, they don’t always agree on every issue, but we are able to sit around the table and come to a consensus. I will miss the members of council and also the excellent staff I worked with.
Q What won’t you miss?
A I won’t miss coming into the office five days a week and receiving telephone calls at home when I’m not working. Receiving complaints goes with the territory, both as a police officer and a politician, but I won’t miss the complaints.
Q Like others before you, you first served as councillor and then ran for mayor. It seems to be a tradition in Pointe-Claire. Do you see that happening again?
A I believe there are excellent people on council who could run for mayor. They have experience. I can’t imagine sitting in this chair without experience.
Q What were the most difficult moments during your four years as mayor?
A I wouldn’t say there were difficult moments. But there were challenging moments. Creating the Special Planning Project for the Pointe-Claire Village was challenging, but now we have a plan which best serves the citizens. We dealt with the PCB spill situation (at the former Reliance Power Equipment site on Hymus Boulevard) for four years and did everything to reassure the citizens they were safe and
that their health was not a risk. Legal proceedings (involving the government and the site’s new owner Juste Investir Inc.) are still underway. The final step will be the decontamination. Q How did your 35 years as a
police officer help prepare you for 19 years in politics?
A As a police officer, I learned to read people very quickly. I can tell what someone has in mind, for example, when they come to council meetings to ask questions.