Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue mayor-elect thinking green for new mandate
Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Mayor Paola Hawa is happy to put the campaign behind her and look forward to what she sees as a green mandate, and not only for her town.
“We now have pro-green people in positions of power to make things happen,” Hawa said of Projet Montréal’s sweep of the municipal elections with leader Valérie Plante elected as Montreal mayor. “This is a huge step forward.”
Closer to home, Hawa said her election for a second mayoral term sent a message to the developers who own land in the town’s north sector and are unhappy with the pro-green special planning program for the sector.
Hawa and the previous council unanimously adopted the SPP which requires the developers build up instead of out. The developers consequently slapped SteAnne with a $35.6-million lawsuit, accusing the town of disguised expropriation. A court date is yet to be announced.
“I think my election for a second term sends a strong message that the fear mongering of the developers didn’t work,” Hawa said.
The developers organized a campaign targeting town residents, saying if the SPP was adopted, the town would have to buy back the land and taxes would skyrocket as a result.
Hawa said the first task is preparing the budget. Then she would like to see the water tower repainted. The tower is the town’s signature structure and has long been in need of repair.
Another priority is the creation of a special planning program for the land ceded to the town by the Quebec government after the Ste. Anne Hospital was transferred from federal to provincial jurisdiction.
And Hawa wants to reintroduce a code of ethics for elected officials. The code was voted down by the previous council.
Hawa said she trusts the new council — which she described as “well-balanced” — will make this happen.