City councillors say Trudeau respectful and good listener

Open-minded, respectful and a good listener. The words were used again and again as PointeClaire city councillors responded to Mayor Morris Trudeau’s announcement last week that he will not seek re-election.

Although a few of the councillors who spoke with the Montreal Gazette said they would be running again in their district, no one announced a run for mayor

Coun. Claude Cousineau plans to run again in District 1. He has known Trudeau for more than 45 years and said the mayor was very good at “directing traffic” in caucus. The traffic reference was a nod to an anecdote about Cousineau being stopped for speeding in 1968 by then police officer Trudeau.

“I deserved it,” Cousineau said. “He was so mad at me and gave me a serious talking to. He was genuinely shocked at my behaviour.”

Coun. Cynthia Homan is running again in District 5. She has known the mayor for more than 30 years and described the mayor as a “fair and generous person” whose door was always open for the councillors.

On a personal note, she spoke to Trudeau’s terrific sense of humour and his love of family.

District 4 Coun. Aldo Iermieri was already a councillor 19 years ago when Trudeau was first elected in District 8.

“I’ve gotten to know him personally over the years and can say he has a big heart,” Iermieri said. “He is always ready to help — perhaps he retained that from his 35 years as a police officer.” District 7 Coun. Dennis Smith has known Trudeau for almost 20 years. They joined forces to valiantly fight the forced merger with Montreal in 2000 and then worked together again as members of the Pointe-Claire Demerger Committee leading up to the successful demerger in 2006.

Smith said Trudeau’s 15 years as a city councillor prepared him for the rigours of serving as mayor.

“(He has) a sense of why and how things have happened in the past and what would be a valuable and prudent choice for the future,” Smith said.

District 2 Coun. Paul Bissonnette plans to run for another term. He’s known the mayor for 12 years.

The councillor said one of Trudeau’s strengths was the ability to say no, while at the same time remaining sympathetic and respectful. He said the mayor served during a time when elected officials were called upon to adapt to new realities, webcast council meetings, a social-media presence and the push to embrace sound environmental practices such as reducing the garbage sent to landfills by encouraging composting and responsible recycling.

“He had to be flexible and I’m sure there were good days and bad days,” Bissonnette said. “It was a pleasure working with him.”

Kelly Thorstad-Cullen will be running for re-election in District 3. She got to know Trudeau over the last four years.

“Each of the councillors has a voice around the table,” she said. “Our opinions are valued and respected which is essential for good governance.”