After starting the campaign without big explosions in the metropolis, tensions finally set a notch during Tuesday night's debate, which brought the four candidates to Montreal City Hall. In the wake of the LCN, the issues of the housing crisis and bicycle routes generated more complete exchanges than during the first clashes. The candidates' positions were also clearer. Here's an overview of the four main topics covered.
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1) live in Montreal
The first subject discussed was clearly the housing crisis. Instead of presenting their plan, the candidates for the first time launched attacks on their opponents.
- Luc Rabuin, Montreal Project Manager
He admits that obtaining building permits through Montreal's project administration is taking too long. He promises to deliver them within 120 days as possible. He also wants more affordable housing.
- Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Montreal Ensemble Chef
He also wants to speed up construction, particularly by using artificial intelligence to reduce permitting timelines. It is sent for 90 days. “Montreal has become a donut hole,” she said, attacking Luc Ravin, the mayor of Plateau-Mont-Royal.
- Craig Sauvé, head of Transitional Montreal
In addition to the affordable housing rates, he wants to ban Airbnb rentals entirely, year-round, everywhere in the metropolitan area. “New luxury apartments, […] Is this a price that is acceptable for young families or students? No, this is unacceptable. “
- Gilbert Thibodeau, Montreal's head of action
He believes Metropolis needs 150,000 new homes.
2) Travel to Montreal
Problems with overloads on the track and especially the path of the cycles undoubtedly ignited the candidates, although their visions are not diametrically opposed.
He is against large orange cones to the point of wanting to ban them. He also suggests putting one person in charge of all sites on the streets. “Why is there so much work in Montreal?” For decades […]Elected officials have brought the issue forward. We are catching up there,” he said.
He also wants to provide bike paths: “I don't want anyone to die because they're walking or cycling.”
She attacked the administration on the ground, which failed to plan wisely and keep citizens informed. Before creating new bike lanes, she wants to take an “inventory” with everyone to continue in a smart and inclusive way.
This is not against cycle paths, but not at the expense of parking spaces for access to shops. “Nobody plans, and it’s always the fault of the past. So let's see, Projet Montréal was there for 8 years,” he said regarding the work.
He believes more work should be done by the city rather than the private sector to better control the sites. “The blue aisles will be paved, sidewalks will be made. It's a way to be more efficient and not waste time running the private sector.”
3) Cleanliness
“Oil changes once every two weeks are terrible,” he said.
According to him, garbage collection operates every two weeks in certain areas where there are single residences. “We tested in denser areas, like in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, […] But the summer was too difficult because of the smells. In the summer we come back in a few weeks,” he said.
She wants to assign a cleanliness officer to the executive committee. “It's not clear who cares about cleanliness,” she says. According to the candidate, garbage collection should be carried out every week.
According to the candidate, we must work with citizens, but he did not offer a specific commitment.
4) Itineus
The candidate was not shown to be in favor of dismantling the itinerant camps.
“We want it to be zero bulldozing, more support.”
Dismantling simply moves the problem elsewhere, she said. She is committed to investing more resources and building transitional housing to help people get off the streets.
He criticized Projet Montréal and Ensemble Montréal for offering more transitional housing, but he didn't actually propose a concrete solution.
He wants to get 1,000 people off the street, thanks in part to modular units. “This is the quickest solution to offer spaces so that people in the tent can have a place of safety,” he said.
