As an independent review of art and culture, Rover doesn’t normally pay attention to city politics. This week is an exception.
Nor do we endorse people, products or events on behalf of the ‘royal we’. Rover writers are responsible for their own opinions and comments, although of course our editors may call them on logic and fairness.
So ‘Rover’s endorsement’ is merely a catchy way of introducing the subject of why I believe citizens of Montreal should seriously consider voting for candidates from the new party, Projet Montreal, on November 1.
Richard Bergeron is PM’s candidate for mayor. An urban planner who smokes and hates cars, his enemies made hay with the news that he once flirted with a popular conspiracy theory linking George Bush to the 9/11 disaster. I saw that awesomely convincing documentary, Loose Change. Probably you did too. Pretty scary, but I got over it. So did Bergeron.
What sets Bergeron apart from his rivals is, in fact, a quality deeply rooted in this supposed flaw. He’s a man prepared to believe anything is possible. How long has it been since we had somebody in charge of this city who could say that?
No less an urban guru than Richard Florida said recently that Montreal’s urban political structures, a labyrinth masterminded largely by Louise Harel (also running for mayor), could actually be the best context for real change. Situations of great chaos, he said, can often allow creative people to accomplish a lot.
After tirelessly exposing corruption and lethargy in the Tremblay regime, The Gazette editorial page has endorsed the man (Oct 27). Their main arguments: the other candidates are worse, and Tremblay may change. Yes, there are precedents to suggest Mayor Tremblay can change his mind. Remember how he stonewalled on the renaming of Avenue du Parc after Robert-Bourassa, until this reporter quoted (in The Gazette) François Bourassa, son of the late premier, saying his father would have been appalled by the controversy?
Thousands of Montrealers signed a petition against changing Parc Avenue’s name, and nothing moved. One member of a famous family expressed reserve, and the Mayor pivoted. That kind of willingness to change, we can do without.
As for Mme Harel, her record in provincial politics makes her singularly unsuited for the position of mayor. I was not particularly bothered to hear she doesn’t speak English. An oversight, perhaps, not a big issue in Quebec City. But I was steamed to hear her on TV speaking English as well as I spoke French back when I first declared myself bilingual, some 20 years ago.
Correction: Mme Harel does speak English but she’d rather not. Whether out of timidity, fear of sounding silly, or some other motivation I don’t even like to think about, her decision to nix a debate in English sends the wrong signal to citizens who struggle every single day negotiating the complex and crucial etiquette of language.
This is our common cross, Louise. Enlevez-la et allons-y!
In the election happening November 1, we are not being offered an obviously outstanding candidate for change. I wish I knew more about Richard Bergeron. But I do know many of the people working with him. I trust their instincts, their judgement. Projet Montreal’s platform is incredibly detailed, grass roots, blindingly green. It’s the best chance we’ve got to shake this city out of two decades of paralysis.
If you really want to send Mayor Tremblay a message about change, vote for somebody else. That’s the only language any politician truly understands.
To find out where you vote on November 1, call 514-872-8683 and mention your postal code.
