Ample choice of mayoral candidates
Leading up to the Nov. 5 elections, the West Island Gazette will run mayoral profiles from West Island communities. Kathryn Greenaway focuses on Dollard-des-Ormeaux.
Alex Bottausci was born and raised in Dollard-des-Ormeaux. The 47-year-old has been a participant in the political scene for 27 years and has served as District 7 councillor for 12 years. He and wife Kim Singerman have three children.
Q Why are you the right person for the job:
A The citizens of Dollard have placed their trust in me for the past 12 years. My mission has been to look after their best interests and I believe that as mayor, I can do more. I can dedicate the next 10 to 15 years to this community and I have the insight to understand how decisions impact Dollard families like mine. In the years to come, Dollard will be faced with tough choices. My past experience as a business owner and my academic background in business will help get the job done.
Q If you are elected, what would be the first issue at city hall that you would tackle?
A Getting more money into the pockets of our residents. We need to promote new business development in Dollard by creating a technoparc. This will bring in extra revenue and relieve the strain on our overtaxed citizens. New business brings in revenue as well as creating more jobs for residents. A win-win situation.
Q What is the biggest challenge your municipality is facing and how do you plan to address that challenge?
A As mayor, I will be fighting a battle on multiple fronts. We have lost our place as a leader in developing the quality of life for our residents. From it taking seven weeks to get a tree-trimming permit, to our horrendous traffic, to our dated sports facilities, we unfortunately do not have only one challenge on our hands. By facing our challenges now, we can improve our quality of life and ensure that Dollard once again becomes the jewel of the West Island.
Q Hydro- Québec’s refusal to sink the new power lines connected to the expansion of the St-Jean substation has angered residents living in the vicinity. How would you try to convince Hydro-Québec to reconsider its decision?
A I believe that with strong city leadership, led by myself as mayor, we can work with HydroQuébec as well as our elected officials at the provincial and federal levels to bury the hydro lines and not pass the cost on to our residents. I will stand with the affected residents to make sure their voices are heard, their rights respected and that they are compensated properly by Hydro-Québec, if necessary.
Q What is your overall vision for Dollar-des- Ormeaux for the coming mandate?
A Growth and innovation for our community. We need to grow our businesses and tax base. We need to expand and modernize our sports facilities. We need to look at innovative solutions for the Sources and St-Jean bottlenecks. We must remember that first and foremost our city is there to serve our residents. All this requires strong leadership. Ramam Chopra has been involved in election campaigns for all levels of government. Chopra and his wife Shama have lived in Dollard for 27 years. They raised twin boys and have one grandson.
Q Why are you the right person for the job?
A The current council is out of touch with our residents. There exists a stalemate, to the detriment of the citizens of the great city of Dollard-des-Ormeaux. I would work to make a smooth transition following Mayor Ed Janiszewski’s 33 years of service. I would recognize him as Mayor Emeritus. He would continue to have an office to guide me.
Q If you are elected, what would be the first issue at city hall that you would tackle?
A I believe it is essential to attract foreign investment — companies with high-paying jobs for our youth. I would start international outreach initiatives to bring those companies here. If we get a few good companies from China, India, Japan, Ukraine or the Philippines to come to Dollard, they will be able to provide employment for our highly trained workforce so that they will not leave the province. I also intend to open a college for international students. And I propose densification and intensification to get more taxes from businesses to give homeowners a tax break.
Q What is the biggest challenge your municipality is facing and how do you plan to address that challenge?
A The biggest challenge will be to have a smooth transition of power. The mayor has 33 years’ worth of knowledge. He and I need to work together for the sake of the citizens. I will urge the mayor to be my consultant and help me make fiscally responsible decisions. His presence alone would calm nerves at city hall.
Q Hydro-Québec’s refusal to sink the new power lines connected to the expansion of the St-Jean substation has angered residents living in the vicinity. How would you try to convince Hydro-Québec to reconsider its decision?
A After almost 20 years in the real estate business, I have negotiated hundreds of deals. I know how to negotiate and that skill will be a great asset to city hall.
Q What is your overall vision for Dollard-des-Ormeaux for the coming mandate?
A I will support businesses which create high-paying jobs in Dollard. I will give tax breaks to small businesses. It is time for a Little India, perhaps a French Quarter with fresh baguettes, cheeses and classy restaurants. My vision of Dollard is a hardworking force by day and a celebration of fine cuisine and wine and dancing by night.
Ed Janiszewski, the incumbent, was elected to council in 1978 and first elected as mayor in 1984. He has been married to Sylvia Rubin for 55 years. They have four sons and seven grandchildren.
Q Why are you the right person for the job?
A I have 33 years’ experience and believe I am the best qualified of the candidates at this time.
Q If you are elected, what would be the first issue at city hall that you would tackle?
A We have been overcharged by Montreal since our demerger (in 2006). We must obtain changes from our Quebec government. We are being charged for Centre Ville costs because some of our residents work downtown. Laval and South Shore residents work downtown and they aren’t charged. I intend to vote against the upcoming (Montreal Agglomeration Council) budget and announce that I am boycotting future Agglo meetings. I will donate my Agglo salary to the Lakeshore General Hospital.
Q What is the biggest challenge your municipality is facing and how do you plan to address that challenge?
A Our two major problems are crime and traffic. We must reduce speeding in our community and the only solution for traffic congestion during rush hours is to have more people using public transportation and having employers offer flex time so that we can extend the rush hours. Since I moved to the West Island, the number of cars has quadrupled. As for crime, we do not have enough police officers to stop all the crime, so we must involve the population more and have more public and private security cameras.
Q Hydro-Quebec’s refusal to sink the new power lines connected to the expansion of the St-Jean substation has angered residents living in the vicinity. How would you try to convince Hydro-Québec to reconsider its decision?
A The Quebec government has approved the overhead pylon project.
Q What is your overall vision for Dollard-des-Ormeaux for the coming mandate?
A: The large majority of residents are pleased. We must continue to exercise fiscal restraint to keep tax increases below inflation and make changes as they become necessary to provide a continuing high quality of life.
Isabel Maicas’ political experience began at the grassroots level. She helped force a referendum opposing the zoning changes needed to construct a condo development near her home in 2015. She lives with her black Labrador dog and has one god-daughter. Q Why are you the right person for the job?
A I have lived in Dollard for 41 years. I have loved this city and everything that it represents to me since my youth: green spaces, parks, the city library and the community of single-family homes around me. My aim is to preserve and elevate the quality of life in Dollard and to listen to the citizens and their concerns for the city. Q If you are elected, what would be the first issue at city hall that you would tackle?
A The first issue would be related to the most-repeated concerns of the citizens I speak with which is traffic safety: the problem of cars speeding, traffic noise and not respecting traffic signs. I would install soft speed bumps to slow down traffic, install lighted radar speed signs at strategic places and organize (traffic-safety) awareness campaigns with the collaboration of police and public security. Q What is the biggest challenge your municipality is facing and how do you plan to address that challenge?
A The biggest challenge that the municipality of Dollard is facing is the lack of transparency that has increased with each re-election of current mayor Ed Janiszewski. This city is managed by a “king in his castle” and any citizen voicing any concerns is dismissed, sometimes disrespectfully. The citizens of Dollard deserve to be respected as the main “client” of the city. They deserve to be informed of future actions and decisions by way of email campaigns, internet surveys or telephone campaigns. Q Hydro- Québec’s refusal to sink the new power lines connected to the expansion of the St-Jean substation has angered residents living in the vicinity. As mayor, how would you try to convince Hydro-Québec to reconsider its decision?
A Citizens not affected by the power lines told me that if Dollard helped these residents in this situation, they would expect, in turn, that the city helped them with their own concerns. One example is the citizens that saw their house evaluations diminished and overall quality of life reduced by the construction of a four-storey condominium building at the corner of Roger-Pilon St. and Sources Blvd. In other words, citizens are looking for balance and respect for all citizens. My position is that burying power lines is long overdue, in any residential area, period. I would participate in any meetings with Hydro-Québec to add weight to the long overdue good practice of burying any hydro lines in residential areas. Q What is your overall vision for Dollard-des-Ormeaux for the coming mandate?
A To preserve the quality of living in Dollard when it comes to increased security, noise reduction, green spaces and parks. To declare an era of transparency in city decisions ( by) polling citizens on important issues. To limit the densification of the city. To complement current transportation with small electric buses (manned or un-manned) to take seniors, children and students to seniors’ centres, parks and schools.