Quebec premier and Montreal mayor meet for first time since Fréchette took office
Posted April 22, 2026 3:40 pm.
Last Updated April 23, 2026 12:35 am.
Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette was in Montreal on Wednesday afternoon, meeting with Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada at city hall for the first time since taking office last week.
Both clad in Canadiens jerseys, the two leaders showed their support for the team amid its playoff run, setting a collaborative tone for their first official meeting.
Once inside, discussions focused on key issues affecting the city and province, including homelessness, infrastructure and the future of Montreal’s east end. The mayor emphasized the importance of provincial support, particularly as the city prepares for potential spring flooding, and highlighted the need for stronger cooperation between all levels of government, including efforts to secure additional federal funding for public transit.
The mayor of Montreal used the opportunity to praise the new leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec’s approach to municipal affairs.
“I want to start with her a narrative and the way that she spoke around the way that the regions and the metropolis and Montreal need to work together. Too long, that conversation has been polarized between Montreal and the regions. The conflict and the economic conflict, it’s not in the province, it’s outside, and we need to stick together and work together to be a leverage to each other. And I want to settle that conversation is refreshing in terms of how to address the whole economy in the province of Quebec.”
Fréchette echoed the importance of collaboration, pointing to shared priorities and the need for tangible progress in the near term.
“We’ve been discussing different important issues, issues for Montreal, but for Quebec as well. Homelessness, for example, was a topic that we discussed because we need to work closer together and I talked yesterday about the partnership we need to have as a government and closer collaboration we need to establish and I think that homelessness is one of the topics we should put forward in order to get results in the short term. We also discussed the development of Eastern part of Montreal. We share a common vision.”
Both leaders say they plan to work more closely together in the coming months, with Fréchette emphasizing a desire to deliver results quickly.
“I’m very glad we were able to meet because we have big plans for the city—and, by extension, for Quebec as a whole—since what happens in the city also has an impact on the rest of Quebec,” she added.
Standing near them was Chantal Rouleau, the minister responsible for the Metropolis and the Montreal region. The three politicians have known each other for a long time, Fréchette noted.
“It brings back fond memories because back in 2009, all three of us were already active in an election campaign in Montreal. I’m very happy that we can come together like this today in 2026,” she said at the start of her speech.
Martinez Ferrada and Fréchette were both wearing Canadiens jerseys.
The Sanguinet MNA wore the number 26, and her last name was printed on the back of her jersey. Pointing to the CH logo, she exclaimed, “This is for the playoff games,” and then turned around to add, “This is for next fall’s game,” referring to the upcoming elections on Oct. 5.
‘A boost’ for Montreal’s east end
The two elected officials also agree that the eastern part of the city needs further development.
“We share a vision and a commitment to raising the level of development in East Montreal, to steering this area toward its future growth sectors. I’m glad we share this ambition because we’ll be able to give a boost to various projects that will propel East Montreal forward,” Fréchette promised.
The mayor of Montreal expressed her delight at this commitment. “We are both deeply invested in eastern Montreal. We believe in the area’s development potential, so I am also very eager to work with her government on eastern Montreal.”
— With files from La Presse Canadienne
