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
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.