Survey finds dissatisfaction with mayor on the upswing

Montrealers, especially anglophones, are increasingly dissatisfied with incumbent mayor Denis Coderre and use words like “arrogant” and “pretentious” to describe him.

They think Projet Montréal’s Valérie Plante is doing better in the election campaign and use words like “sympathetic” and “straightforward” to describe her — but many still don’t know who she is.

Anglophones are more likely to say they were dissatisfied with Montreal’s 375th party, but on Formula E, there is no linguistic split — neither anglophones nor francophones liked it.

Those are among the findings of a new Léger Marketing poll, obtained by the Montreal Gazette.

Commissioned by Projet Montréal, Léger surveyed 500 people online between Oct. 20 and Oct. 22.

Another section of the same poll, obtained by the Qc125 blog, found Coderre and Plante are neck and neck, with each polling at 38 per cent.

SATISFIED WITH CODERRE?

Just under half of those polled — 48 per cent — are satisfied with Coderre’s work as mayor, down from 53 per cent in June. Forty per cent said they are unsatisfied with Coderre.

Dissatisfaction was highest among anglophones, with 54 per cent unhappy with him.

Overall, 54 per cent said they want a new mayor at Montreal city hall. Among anglophones, it was 61 per cent.

HOW TAXES ARE SPENT

Thirty-seven per cent said Coderre has managed tax dollars well, 45 per cent said he has badly managed spending, and 18 per cent said they did not know or would not answer.

A majority of anglophones — 58 per cent — said he has not managed tax revenue well.

CODERRE SINCE BECOMING MAYOR

Twelve per cent said their opinion of Coderre has improved since he was elected mayor, 40 per cent said it stayed the same, and 38 per cent said it has gone down.

Among anglophones, 54 per cent said they have a worse opinion of Coderre now than when he became mayor in 2013.

PERSONALITY

Respondents were given a series of attributes and asked whether they apply to Coderre and Plante.

Coderre was more likely to be described as arrogant, pretentious, sympathetic, and visionary.

Among anglophones, a majority said Coderre was arrogant and pretentious.

Plante was more likely to be described as sympathetic, straightforward, visionary, and inspiring.

Among anglophones, a majority said Plante was straightforward, inspiring, sympathetic, and visionary.

OPINION OF THE CANDIDATES

Forty-four per cent said they have a positive opinion of Coderre, and 40 per cent said negative. Among anglophones, 51 per cent said they had a negative opinion.

For Plante, 45 per cent said positive and only 10 per cent said negative. However, a large number of those polled — 37 per cent — said they did not know Plante.

BEST CAMPAIGN

Thirty-nine per cent said Plante is conducting the best mayoral campaign, compared with 24 per cent who opted for Coderre, with a large contingent — 36 per cent — saying they didn’t know or would not say.

375TH BIRTHDAY

More than half were satisfied with Montreal’s 375th festivities — 55 per cent — while 33 per cent were not satisfied, and 12 per cent did not know or would not answer.

There was a linguistic split. Among francophones, 61 per cent were satisfied and 29 per cent dissatisfied.

Among anglophones, 41 per cent were satisfied and 50 per cent were dissatisfied.

FORMULA E

A majority — 54 per cent — were not happy with the Formula E car race, with only 24 per cent satisfied and 22 per cent not answering.

There was no English-French split here: Sixty per cent of francophones and 58 per cent of anglophones were unhappy about the race.

MAYOR’S AGENDA AND MEETINGS

Eighty-three per cent said the mayor’s agenda should be public, and eight per cent said secret.

Seventy-three per cent said the names of people who visit the mayor should be public, and 15 per cent said secret.

This month, the Métro newspaper revealed that since March 2014, city hall visitors no longer must sign in when visiting the mayor. The report said that has allowed contractors, businesspeople and lobbyists to meet the mayor without leaving a trace.

MÉTRO EXPANSION

Ninety per cent said Montreal’s subway network should be expanded, with only six per cent saying it should not be, and three per cent not answering.