Political rivals at Montreal city hall become allies

Watch: Bergeron joins Montreal’s Executive Committee

MONTREAL — Montreal mayor Denis Coderre has named longtime political adversary and founder of Projet Montreal, Richard Bergeron, to his executive committee.

Bergeron stepped down as head of his party last month to sit as an independent.

He will now be in charge of development for the downtown core.

Mayor Coderre called his new ally a man of integrity and said Bergeron’s presence is necessary for Montreal growth.

“This is not parliament,” Coderre told reporters.

“If we have people with great talent who love Montreal, who want to play a role to build up this great metropolis, well, then, we have to address it.”

It is not the first time that Bergeron has been part of the executive committee at City Hall.

Former Mayor Gerald Tremblay named Bergeron as part of his committee in 2010, but that didn’t work out so well.

However, Bergeron said he believes this time a political partnership from across the aisle will be more productive.

“The difference with Denis Coderre is the things that he says he can get done, he can do,” Bergeron told reporters at City Hall on Tuesday.

Bergeron insisted there was no awkwardness with his former party, Project Montreal.

He will take part in the next executive committee meeting as an observer on Wednesday.