Press releases published by Projet Montréal

“Louise Harel and Gérald Tremblay are deceiving Montrealers,” said Montreal mayoral candidate Richard Bergeron, at a press conference. “Gérald Tremblay says that all is fine in Montreal, while Louise Harel claims that everything is going wrong, thanks to the excessive powers the boroughs are endowed with. Nothing could be further from the truth: the reason behind Montreal’s 20 year decline is the Harel-Tremblay legacy.”

Reminding reporters that the powers, operating systems and vigour of Montreal and its suburbs rely heavily on laws and policies adopted in Quebec City, the Projet Montréal leader noted that, for the past 20 years, Gérald Tremblay and Louise Harel have been one after the other—and without interruption—prominent members of the Cabinet, that is until Gérald Tremblay became Montreal mayor in 2002. “For 20 years, the Harel-Tremblay regime has been at the helm, M. Bergeron pointed out. One can only conclude that it has not set Montreal on the path to prosperity. The time has come to change course.”

Excessive powers of the boroughs: smoke and mirrors

Richard Bergeron concedes that some management practices must be reviewed. “Among others, Projet Montréal has vowed to eliminate the borough’s mayoral function,” he reiterated. But this is nothing compared to the real issues Montreal faces, far greater and bearing dire consequences. Louise Harel is just setting up smoke and mirrors.”

According to M. Bergeron, the city’s real problems pertain to what he calls “the Harel-Tremblay legacy, i.e. the decay of political morals, the concentration of power in the hands of 12 individuals talking behind closed doors and the ever waning state of the city.”

“What did Louise Harel achieve as Minister of Labor and Municipal Affairs? She worked on structures, battled against Ottawa to merge towns and cities. But what has she done to turn Montreal’s demographic deficit around? What has she done to force City Hall to more transparency? When the “Turn-key elections” scandal emerged, and she was notified of the corruption issues, what did she do? Did she ask that a commissioner on ethics position be created? Not once. As for Gérald Tremblay, while Minister of Industry and Commerce, what actions did he take to revitalise Quebec’s economic centre? And what has he done in Montreal for the past 8 years? The track record of the Harel-Tremblay legacy isn’t impressive.” explained M. Bergeron

The Harel-Tremblay legacy: 100,000 less Montrealers

“During the Harel-Tremblay years, middle-class families have steadily left the Island, to such an extent that the Montreal population has dropped by a 100,000 since 1971. Those who have benefited from this exodus are the surrounding municipalities that have seen a population increase of over a million residents. And so, while in 1971, 72% of the Greater Montreal Area (GMA) population resided on the Island of Montreal, compared to 28% in the suburbs, the proportion is now 50/50. “Political power follows demographics.” noted the Projet Montréal leader. “Economy follows suit. In 2007, 81% of residential building permits and 60% of commercial, industrial, and institutional building permits were delivered in the suburbs. Montreal is being drained of its substance.”

The Harel-Tremblay legacy: cars across Canada

Moreover, suburbs mean cars: one, two, three cars per dwelling that come and poison the air, and destroy the quality of life in Montreal. “For 20 years now, the Harel-Tremblay legacy has translated in 750,000 more cars in the GMA. Put all these cars one behind the other and you end up with a 4,500 km line, which is equal to Canada’s breadth, from coast to coast. And yet, we are astonished to see traffic jams and parking problems in Montreal.”

An ambitious program to deal with real issues

“Living another 4 years of Gerald Tremblay’s failure to act, shady dealings and an unhealthy political climate, or devoting our best resources of the coming 4 years to mend the wounds of an ex-minister whose structural ideals have been rocked: no way.” concluded Richard Bergeron.

All the way to November 1^st, Projet Montréal will be calling on Montrealers’ intelligence, by presenting them with a set of measures that deal with each of the serious issues that Montreal is faced with, and that ensures a sustainable revival of Montreal. “The Harel-Tremblay pair is copying our words, but the ideas remain ours. Only Projet Montréal has the skills and determination needed to turn them into reality.”