MONTREAL—There is a very high-profile job opening in Montreal next November. The city will be looking for a new mayor, and for the first time in its history, the Board of Trade has issued a job posting.
The ad is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but it's also meant to remind people that Montreal has reached a critical point.
Looking for someone “honest, a leader, a person of action, an effective manager,” the Board of Trade said it is important that Montrealers choose the strongest person to lead the city for the next four years when the election rolls around in November.
“They need to reestablish trust between citizens, the mayor and institutions,” said Michel Leblanc, speaking for the Board of Trade for Metropolitan Montreal.
“Secondly, he'll have to reestablish a rapport de force with other governments and with partners. At this moment, the mayorship of Montreal is fragile, weak. Thirdly, we're going to have to start working on the image. Montreal's image has been impaired a little bit.”
The main voice of Montreal’s business community says it's looking for someone with integrity—someone who is honest.
The posting emphasizes that the next mayor will also have to reduce over-governance of the city and respond quickly to situations. The Board of Trade says it published the job posting because with allegations of corruption at city hall, Montrealers need to start thinking about the future, and who the best candidate is to move forward.
The board won’t be endorsing a candidate.
