Watch: Borough councillor for Saint-Paul-Émard Alain Vaillancourt talks about about his open letter to Denis Coderre on what’s been dubbed the “Coderre tax”
Dear M. Coderre,
I’m hurting for my borough! I’m a borough councillor for Saint-Paul-Émard in the “Sud-Ouest” borough. I live here, I raised my family here, I was the president of the local aquatic club, I’ve organized races and several fundraising campaigns to help families, children and people in need. I’ve actively participated in the community life of my neighbourhood for more than 20 years. I love my “Sud-Ouest.” A village within a city, as one citizen told me recently.
When I talk about the “Sud-Ouest,” I am proud to say I live here and that I’m proud to represent my fellow citizens as their borough councillor.
One evening this week at supper, my wife tells me, “You’re very quiet tonight, you’re not talking too much.” The truth is, I’m deep in thought, and feeling sad, frustrated, angry and really worried. I tell her that I’m hurting for our borough because of the Coderre reform.
She doesn’t understand. I explain that I attended, for the fifth time, a two-hour meeting for the borough’s budget. I came out of the meeting completely dazed. I tell her about the tax increases, the service cuts, how we’ll have fewer workers, that there will be a loss of expertise, the centralization of powers, the loss of revenues, etc.
She says she doesn’t understand the real impact of this Coderre reform.
At that point, I suddenly realize that’s the secret weapon of this reform! Nobody can wrap their heads around these numbers. Nobody understands the effects of the reform or ideas of centralisation, non-indexation, loss of revenues, who’s responsible for what or when, and what’s the difference between the city centre and the boroughs.
This reform doesn’t make sense to citizens.
So I tell her, “Okay darling, here are some potential effects of the reform in your daily life, and for the next 10 years”:
– When you take a walk to Angrignon Park, a tree branch may fall on your head because we don’t have the personnel any more to cut down dead branches;
– When you go to the pool for free swim, the doors may be closed because there isn’t enough money to pay for the lifeguards;
– When you go to the library on Sunday, the doors may be closed there too, due to reduced staff;
– When you walk to the metro in the morning, you’ll notice the grass reaches your knees in the children’s park, and the garbage cans will be overflowing;
– When you go for a walk in the neighbourhood, those beautiful flowers at the street corner won’t be there any more because there’s less maintenance necessary with gravel;
– When you go to the grocery store, you may have to jump over snow banks in the streets because it’s Mr. Coderre who will decide which streets get cleared first. I worry that the seniors’ residences on small streets will be at risk and have to wait for a longer time;
– Oh, and let’s not forget the cherry on the sundae: when you get your tax bill, you’ll notice an increase!
She asks me to stop. I think I ruined her supper.
“Now I get it,” she says.
“But they can’t do that! That doesn’t make sense! Everyone should know about this! Now I understand why you’re hurting for our “Sud-Ouest.”
Mr. Coderre, rethink your reform and think about our borough, think about our children, our seniors, consider people with limited mobility, our families, people with low incomes, and our workers.
They will be hurting for our borough too when, just like my wife, will soon realize the real impact of your reform in their daily lives.
Please Mr. Coderre, I’m asking you to use your common sense and rethink your reform, make it fair and more equitable, more reflective of our reality, so our citizens can feel confident for the future of our borough.
Otherwise, Mr. Mayor, the citizens of our neighbourhood, and all Montrealers, will be hurting for our “Sud-Ouest.”
Alain Vaillancourt is the borough councillor for the district of Saint-Paul-Émard in Montreal’s Sud-Ouest borough.
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