Press releases published by Projet Montréal

According to Richard Bergeron, city councillor for the De Lorimier district and leader of Projet Montréal, the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough's participatory budget process has failed to live up to expectations. "Considering the severe restrictions under which this exercise was conducted, along with the fact that the information that was withheld from citizens supersedes the information that was given, and finally, that the 2008 edition culminated in a summit of partisan political recuperation, the obvious conclusion is that the people have been misled", underlined Bergeron.

According to the Projet Montréal leader, the restrictive political boundaries imposed upon the process prevented any fundamental debate. "Given the division of powers between the boroughs, the City and the agglomeration, the participatory budget only makes sense if it is gradually applied at each level. However, the elected officials within the Tremblay-Fotopulos team have clearly demonstrated that they have no intention of proceeding in that direction," explained Bergeron.

An election year marks the end of the participatory budget

Borough Mayor Helen Fotopulos and her team have used the participatory budget for 2009, an election year, to double the borough's investments, meaning there will be less money left over for 2010 and 2011. "Through this short-term strategy centered upon the 2009 budget, Fotopulos and her team are perpetuating the despicable practice of planning government spending to fit electoral cycles. What's even worse is that this practice threatens the survival of the participatory budget itself for the following two years," noted Bergeron.

Richard Bergeron continues to favour increased citizen participation in municipal affairs. "One thing I've learned from the participatory budget experience is that an appreciable number of citizens would like to contribute to the renewal of democracy in Montreal. In every respect, our elected officials must give them all the necessary information so that they can truly debate and decide what they want for their neighbourhood and city," concluded Bergeron.