Coderre, Plante, Holness square off on transportation, public safety in English debate
Posted October 28, 2021 9:43 pm.
Last Updated October 29, 2021 1:05 pm.
Montreal’s three mayoral candidates squared off at an English-language debate Thursday night, sparring on topics such as police racial profiling, pedestrian safety, taxes and social housing.
Valérie Plante of Projet Montreal, former mayor Denis Coderre of Ensemble Montreal and Balarama Holness of Mouvement Montreal debated for 90 minutes – the first and only English debate ahead of the Nov. 7 municipal election.
There were memorable exchanges throughout, with Holness taking shots at Plante on several occasions in an attempt to attract more English voters to Mouvement Montreal.
WATCH: Full Montreal mayor English debate & CityNews post-debate analysis
A recent Leger poll suggested Holness is a distant third (12 per cent) while Plante and Coderre and neck and neck (36 per cent each).
Perhaps the most memorable exchange was between incumbent mayor Plante and former mayor Coderre – the two veterans of Montreal’s political scene.
#WATCH: "You promise the world and you deliver nothing," says Coderre about Plante on bike and pedestrian safety. #mtlpoli #montrealdebate pic.twitter.com/UBdGCrTi1f
— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) October 28, 2021
Transportation
On the issue of cars, bike paths and public transit, Coderre accused Plante of being anti-car.
“You promise the world and you deliver nothing,” said the former mayor. “For three years and a half, nothing happened. People lost that attractivity and people are leaving. Why do you think people are leaving Montreal?”
“People are dying on our streets as pedestrians and cyclists, and you’re saying that I should be doing nothing,” responded Plante. “I will always protect the most vulnerable. These are our kids, our elders walking down. I don’t know why you’re saying this. This is awful to say.”
#WATCH: "Can I please end my phrase?" The candidates go back and forth on racial profiling and inclusion. #montrealdebate #mtlpoli pic.twitter.com/0tlISF2hqY
— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) October 28, 2021
Public security
On the topic of police racial profiling and body cameras, it was Holness and Plante going at it, with the former Montreal Alouettes player attacking the mayor’s track record.
“You need to have more transparency, whether that’s through body cams…” said Plante.
“You voted against body cameras the last four years,” interjected Holness.
“Can I please end my phrase?” replied Plante.
“Yes but don’t lie the public, we’re on national TV here.”
Coderre made it clear he was the only candidate with no interest in defunding the police as a solution to Montreal’s public-security woes, which include a rise of gun violence in the city.
“The reality is, you (Plante) are for defunding,” said Coderre, who proposed the hiring of 250 new officers. “The same with you Balarama.”
“You are the one doing the defunding Mr. Coderre,” Plante retorted, who touted her newly created anti-gun trafficking squad.
Holness called for a decreasing of police services, saying the “SPVM (is) accountable” for an “epicentre of violence.”
“We have a more compassionate, inclusive, and peaceful way at solving crimes at Movement Montreal,” said Holness.
Inclusion and representation
The differences between the candidates were again highlighted when the discussion turned to inclusion, representation and language.
Holness reiterated he wants bilingual city status for Montreal.
“Montreal is a multicultural, multilingual, metropolis,” he said. “It is the most beautiful city in the world with over two hundred cultural communities. Montreal is unique. We need to ensure that we build a home for all Montrealers where you can really feel a sense of security, and that you can get and job that you want, any opportunity that you like.”
“I am the only candidate on this stage that supports that ideology, and rejects Bill 21 and Bill 96.”
The other two candidates made it clear there’s only one official language in the city.
“I want to make sure every Montrealer, every language they talk, whoever they are, they need to have the services they deserve,” said Plante. “That’s what a city does is giving services. We can valorize the language, French should be the glue. But for sure, we also need to protect the rights of the anglophones, and also the Indigenous.”
Added Coderre: “Let me be clear, Montreal is a francophone city consisting of a diverse cultural mosaic, including a vibrant anglophone community. They all deserve services, and we are going to provide it to them. … I am going to be the mayor of unity.”
#WATCH: “A vote for Balarama is a vote for Valérie Plante,” Denis Coderre told reporters after the Montreal mayor English-language debate. #mtlpoli #montrealdebate pic.twitter.com/x5PTLnxI1P
— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) October 29, 2021
Economy
On to the economy, both Coderre and Plante promised they wouldn’t raise property taxes by more than two per cent, while Holness said he would request a city-state status for Montreal to have better taxation powers and increase the city’s budget.
Plante said the city currently has the best economic recovery in Canada and the second-best in North America.
The candidates also outlined their vision for decreasing greenhouse emissions and protect green spaces.
The debate was moderated by Mutsumi Takahashi (CTV News Montreal) and Debra Arbec (CBC Montreal), and hosted by Laura Casella (Global News Montreal). Alyssia Rubertucci (CityNews Montreal) presented questions to the candidates throughout the debate.
#WATCH: “Well will openly reject it,” Balarama Holness told reporters about Bill 21 after the Montreal mayor English-language debate. #mtlpoli #montrealdebate pic.twitter.com/swRDQzslVg
— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) October 29, 2021
#WATCH: “We went through the pandemic together and didn’t leave anyone behind,” Valérie Plante told reporters after the Montreal mayor English-language debate. #mtlpoli #montrealdebate pic.twitter.com/IJ4DvtImAi
— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) October 29, 2021
