Montreal municipal candidates debate greener options for Chinatown
Green space and access to recreation was a central issue for residents at Saturday's municipal election debate, where candidates from four parties went head-to-head to gain supporters within the neighbourhood.
The subject of the debate was Chinatown. Specifically, how the parties aim to address anti-Asian racism and new property development that could threaten the neighbourhood’s historic character.
About 60 people attended the debate inside the Chinese Community and Cultural Centre of Montreal.
For those who couldn't attend, a livestreamed version of the debate is available on the organizer's social media page.
Candidates from four parties attended: Balarama Holness of Mouvement Montréal, Robert Beaudry of Projet Montréal, Aref Salem of Ensemble Montreal, and Robert Souvigny of Action Montréal.
Holness, for his part, was the only mayoral candidate to attend the debate.
Each candidate offered their own takes on how to improve access to green space for those living in and around Chinatown.
“We need to address territorial disparities,” said Holness. “What that means is there are fewer green spaces in low-income areas.
“We want to make sure that access to leisure, sports, recreation, and green spaces are put in place,” he said.
Some candidates suggested more creative options to increase green space.
“Maybe closing the Ville-Marie expressway where it is and putting a park on top of it,” said Sevigny.
“We know that we cannot develop the city without having green roofs anymore,” said Salem, who pointed to urban agriculture company Lufa Farms, which has built rooftop farms in Ville Saint-Laurent, as a blueprint to what could be implemented elsewhere in Montreal.
“Every single project that’s going to pass through the city is going to have a climate risk test,” said Baudry.
On the subject of zoning laws and infrustructure, Holness pledged to repair all community buildings and sidewalks that need it. He also vowed to consult all Chinese working groups and community organizations on "anything built here."
"That will be crucial in maintaining the cultural integrity of Chinatown."
Action Montreal's candidate committed to reducing commercial taxes within the next four years, though they could not say by how much.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States, injuring at least three people.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.