Key Party Promises Revealed in Montréal
In Montréal, key party promises have emerged ahead of the upcoming elections. Two main parties, Ensemble Montréal and Projet Montréal, have outlined their commitments across five major themes: housing and homelessness, security, mobility, environment, and public finances.
Housing and Homelessness Initiatives
Ensemble Montréal’s Proposals
Ensemble Montréal, led by Soraya Martinez Ferrada, plans to expedite construction permits by leveraging artificial intelligence. The party aims to replace the current 20-20-20 regulation with financial incentives for social housing.
To combat rising short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, they propose a cap of 90 days for primary residence rentals. Furthermore, they plan to triple the city’s budget for homelessness from $10 million to $30 million annually to create 2,000 transitional and permanent supportive housing units over the next four years.
Projet Montréal’s Vision
Projet Montréal, under Luc Rabouin, targets the creation of 1,000 transitional housing units for the homeless. They pledge to establish 150 modular housing units per year until 2029 and double funding for community organizations within three years.
The party aims to impose a minimum of 20% affordable housing in projects with 200 or more units and to implement a vacant lot tax. They also propose a $100 million guarantee fund to take 5,000 units off the speculative market.
Security Measures
Ensemble Montréal’s Security Plans
Ensemble Montréal intends to invest $34.5 million to install more public space cameras and equip police officers with body cameras. Attention will focus on downtown areas, where they plan to double the number of multidisciplinary teams comprising police and social workers.
Projet Montréal’s Security Enhancements
Projet Montréal proposes an initial investment of $3 million for police body cameras. They plan to install photo radars near all elementary schools by 2029 to enhance child safety. Revenue from these radars will be reinvested into road safety measures.
Mobility Improvements
Ensemble Montréal’s Mobility Enhancements
To improve transit, Ensemble Montréal aims to increase metro train frequency and conduct a city-wide inventory of construction projects in the first 100 days of its mandate. They will also ban repetitive street excavations unless in emergencies and analyze the safety of bike lanes.
Projet Montréal’s Transportation Plans
Projet Montréal proposes nine express bus corridors and more frequent service with fewer stops. They plan to create a dedicated unit for managing city construction projects while introducing social fare pricing to help low-income residents save up to $500 annually on public transit.
Environmental Commitments
Ensemble Montréal’s Environmental Agenda
While environment issues aren’t a main focus for Ensemble Montréal, they promise a $20 million fund to protect homeowners from flooding and to establish an annual $10 million reserve for climate emergencies.
Projet Montréal’s Environmental Initiatives
Projet Montréal plans to double investments in green infrastructure from $15 million to $30 million and allocate $5 million for a new program aiding flood victims. They will push for a massive greening initiative in neighborhoods and connect the eastern areas of Montréal to the river for enhanced ecology.
Public Finances Management
Ensemble Montréal’s Financial Strategy
Ensemble Montréal aims to limit tax increases to the rate of inflation by cutting operational budgets and eliminating at least 1,000 non-essential municipal jobs. They plan to streamline city management to enhance decision-making speed and accountability.
Projet Montréal’s Fiscal Policies
Luc Rabouin has committed to limiting residential tax increases to 2-3% annually and will avoid cutting municipal jobs until 2029. Currently, the city employs approximately 28,000 people, with recent job cuts saving $50 million.
In summary, both parties present bold initiatives to address housing, security, mobility, environment, and financial responsibilities, setting a competitive tone for the upcoming elections in Montréal.
