Montreal's mayoral candidates talk money for the REM and bodycams as campaign heads into final two weeks
Less than two weeks to go before Montreal’s municipal elections, the two front-runners were out making promises Monday morning.
Incumbent mayor, Projet Montreal’s Valerie Plante, was pledging big money for public transit.
Plante promised to spend at least $500 million to ensure the light-rail project, the REM, would be well integrated into the urban landscape. The money would give the city more say in the project.
“For us, we're part of the solution. We're here to say we want to contribute. We have the expertise, we have the knowledge, we want to make this a success,” she said at a news conference.
Plante wants part of light-rail system through the downtown east side to be built underground, something the builder, the Caisse de Depot, is against because would add billions to the price tag.
By helping cover some of the costs, Plante hopes the Caisse would be more inclined listen to her pitch to have some of the tracks below street level, the way they are currently planned for a portion of the downtown area.
She also wants the line to stretch out to Rivieres-des-Prairies, on the eastern tip of the island, instead of ending in Montreal North.
In [Riviere-des-Prairies-Pointe-aux-Trembles], I mean people don't have options there. Of course there's buses, but there has to be more than that,” she said.
Denis Coderre says more is also needed on the public safety front after a spike in gun violence in recent months.
The Ensemble Montreal leader said he'll hire 250 more officers and make them wear body cameras.
“It is not the sole tool, but it is a necessary one. It not only secures the file but it helps to see both sides. Sometimes with social media, they just show part of it and it defines the case,” he said.
Coderre and Plante will face off Monday night in another French-language debate ahead of the only English debate this Thursday evening.
Municipal elections in Quebec will be held on Nov. 8
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
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.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'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.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Trump's lawyers grill ex-tabloid publisher as 1st week of hush money trial testimony nears a close
After prosecutors' lead witness painted a tawdry portrait of “catch-and-kill” tabloid schemes, defence lawyers in Donald Trump's criminal trial on Friday sought to dig into an account of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election.