Montreal mayoral candidates promise cash for local business communities
The day after a debate before the Chamber of Commerce, Montreal’s top mayoral candidates continued on an economic theme, making promises to local business communities.
If re-elected, incumbent mayor Valerie Plante said Tuesday, Projet Montreal plans on improving the experience in the Village by providing funding for pop-up shops and creating meeting spaces for citizens.
“We can definitely think outside of the box -- that’s what we want,” said Plante.
The local merchants’ association, SDC du Village Montreal, said the Village is back to thriving like it was before COVID-19 hit.
“We have the same amount of empty premises [as] before the pandemic. A lot of new shops opened during the pandemic,” said Gabrielle Rondy, interim director general of the merchants’ group.
The neighbourhood attracts hundreds of thousands of pedestrians in the summer and could use some sprucing up, said Rondy.
“The Village needs, definitely, love – lots of love, and money, of course,” she said.
Plante said her team is pledging $16.7 million extra for that sector.
“For me, this is very serious,” she said.
In the meantime, the city will be digging up that part of on Ste. Catherine St. East in two years.
“We’re thinking about six months of work. So we’re going to start in winter 2023 and it’s probably going to go over the summer,” she said.
Plante’s main competitor, Denis Coderre, is also promising investments for the business sector.
He plans on setting aside $50 million for merchants’ associations and community groups.
“Local business is key for us,” said the Ensemble Montreal leader.
“Not only will we determine the way that we manage the quality of life in our district, but at the same time we need to make sure that we enhance the attractiveness to make sure that people are coming here.”
Mayoral candidate Balarama Holness said not enough is being done to help business communities in outlying boroughs.
“What’s happening is in St-Michel, LaSalle, Montreal North, St-Laurent, we do not see the same economic activity in these boroughs on the periphery. We want to decentralize it,” said the Mouvement Montreal candidate.
“More importantly we provide tax incentives for small businesses to establish themselves in these boroughs on the periphery.”
All three will square off at the English debate on Oct. 28. The municipal election is on Nov. 7.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Ontario coroner to investigate death of man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting in ER
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Federal government bans watercraft from Manitoba lake popular with tourists
The threat of zebra mussels has prompted the federal government to temporarily ban watercraft from a Manitoba lake popular with tourists.
Her SUV was stolen in Montreal. A Good Samaritan on Facebook helped her get it back
Just as she had feared, a restaurant owner from eastern Quebec who visited Montreal had her SUV stolen, but says it was all thanks to the kindness of strangers on the internet — not the police — that she got it back.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.