The mayor of Anjou wants his borough to demerge from the city of Montreal.
Luis Miranda says he's upset with the recently announced cuts to the budget, and having to increase taxes and cut services in order to keep Anjou running.
"We've always been saying the problem's going to go away. It's not going away it's getting worse and worse," said Miranda.
Next week, he says he plans to launch a petition and hopes to get about 25,000 signatures from Anjou residents in favour of demerging from the city of Montreal.
About 38,000 people live in Anjou.
His reaction comes after Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre announced budget restructuring for the boroughs.
"In 2010 I had $25 million. Now they give me $23 million. How can I do this? I can't and we're talking about reducing services," said Miranda.
Under the plan, Anjou would see its funds decreased while ten other boroughs would receive an increase, and Miranda says that isn’t fair.
Anjou had tried to demerge in 2004 but did not get enough voters casting ballots to meet quorum. Miranda thinks this time around it could be different.
“The provincial government … is the only ones that control (demergers). Coderre has (no) say. Of course he’s going to be against. It's normal for him to be against, but the last word is the provincial government. So I guess the population will have to put pressure on the government,” he said.
The borough mayor for the Plateau supports Miranda, saying the central city abuses its power.
"We have to talk about these things," said Luc Ferrandez. "[Coderre] imposes it without discussion to the point some boroughs are thinking 'I have to get out of here."
Premier Philippe Couillard was asked Thursday what he thought about the whole debate, and said he is not willing to revisit the issue.
