Bergeron sets out his goals
Mayoral candidate has three big promises
Projet Montréal kicked off its election campaign Wednesday night during a spirited gathering in Old Montreal where leaders described their party as the only one with integrity.
The election launch at the Montreal Science Centre highlighted the reality that Richard Bergeron’s party is several years beyond its origins eight years ago when most candidates were considered also-rans. Two high profile borough mayors, François William Croteau (Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie) and Luc Ferrandez (Plateau—Mont Royal) delivered speeches to more than 400 supporters in a lead-up that preceded Bergeron, who outlined some of his plans if elected mayor.
Bergeron said he would announce his platform in the coming days and added that will include three promises: retention of the young families who have been leaving the city in droves; creation of a downtown tramway line by 2017; and his proposed $2.5-billion maritime entranceway development project on the banks of the St. Lawrence.
He described them as ambitious projects with a focus on sustainable development.
“If Montreal has a mission, it is to be an example that should inspire (North) America for the next 40 years,” Bergeron said. “That is real destiny of Projet Montréal and the destiny of Montreal.”
Much of Bergeron’s speech focused on public spaces and making neighbourhoods more livable. The former urban planner recalled how he and his former colleagues used to ask each other what their concept of an ideal city was.
Some would dream up futuristic concepts derived from science fiction like in the movie Blade Run- ner, Bergeron said, while adding his concept was much simpler.
“My ideal city is one where a grandmother can walk her 3-yearold grandchild to the daycare and cross the busiest street in Montreal without any fear at all,” he said.
Bergeron didn’t mention any of his competitors by name during a speech that ran more than 35 minutes. That role was left to Guillaume Lavoie, a public affairs consultant and the Projet Montréal candidate in Marie-Victorin. Lavoie took direct aim at mayoral candidate Denis Coderre and said he doesn’t represent change because he recruited “24 recycled Union Montrealers” from former mayor Gérald Tremblay’s Union Montreal party to run as candidates in this election.
“Montrealers don’t need politicians who spend more time having to explain themselves than on governing,” Lavoie said. “We had to endure that for four years and it’s enough.”