Montreal Municipal Elex: Less than 2 weeks until voting day

With less than two weeks until Montrealers cast their ballots in the municipal election, the race for the city’s top job is entering its final stretch.

From housing to public safety to bike lanes — CityNews spoke with voters to see what’s driving them to the ballot box.

“Someone more like Rabouin just for realistic reasons, to not have Soraya would be my first choice,” said Samuel Katz, a Montreal resident.

Another Montrealer, Michael Signer, said, “I’ll probably vote for Ensemble Montreal, but that’s about all I really know at the moment.”

Among the many issues on voters’ minds, affordability tops the list.

Many say they’re looking for a mayor who will tackle the everyday pressures hitting their wallets.

“People need housing and not need to pay an arm and a leg for it,” said Katz.

Barry Kenzo, a Côte-Des-Neiges resident, said, “Everyone is noticing that life can become expensive for a lot of people.”

While, Fritz Cleremont, a Parc-Ex resident, said, “We have people living on the street and you know nothing is being done for it.”

Polls show a steady rise for frontrunner Ensemble Montreal leader Soraya Martinez Ferrada — climbing from 18 per cent at the beginning of September to 26 per cent last week according to the latest Segma Research poll.

She’s followed by Projet Montreal leader Luc Rabouin currently sitting at 18 per cent.

Action Montréal’s Gilbert Thibodeau is in third at eight per cent.

Transition Montréal leader Craig Sauvé follows with five per cent, and Futur Montréal’s Jean-François Kacou holds three per cent.

“There’s a wind of change. People want a change because of some of the issues we’ve got,” said Eleni Bakopanos, a political analyst. “When people want to change, the wind is usually on, not the incumbent, but on the opposition.”

That wind of change might be blowing — but many ontrealers still aren’t sure which direction to follow.

Polls show just under two in five voters remain undecided ahead of election day.

Experts say that uncertainty comes down to a campaign that’s failed to catch people’s attention.

“It’s been a dull campaign until now because it’s been the same thing that both parties are saying. We’re going to throw money at this, we’re going to throw infrastructure,” said Bakopanos.

It’s a sentiment shared by many Montrealers — including Parc-Ex resident Necki Kontslakes – who says she’s lost faith in the city’s political class.

“The people they come so bad now I don’t want to vote anymore. Before I used to vote every four years, but now?” said Kontslakes.

She’s just one of the voices among the chorus of Montrealers CityNews spoke to on Monday, who say the ideas on offer this election just don’t line up with the problems they’re facing day to day.

“Im a little bit disappointed in the degree of the candidates,” said Katz.

Cleremont saying, “I dont see any new ideas – I just dont.”

Simon Lee, a Montreal resident saying,” I dont think they have the needs of the city at their heart.”

While Signer says, “For the English community there’s been very little outreach from these candidates.”

Advance voting begins on Sunday starting noon until 8 p.m. – with election day itself taking place on November 2.

Registered voters can visit the City of Montreal website to see where their closest polling station is located.