As far as debates go, Sunday’s Projet Montréal leadership debate, was a cordial one.
While the debate between candidates Valérie Plante, François Limoges and Guillaume Lavoie was was held in French, Lavoie extended an olive branch to the anglophone community by speaking in English.
“I believe very deeply that this is your city as well,” Lavoie said. “It always has been and always will be, and I believe very deeply that it makes Montreal all the richer for it.”
The debate was also a chance to let the candidates tell Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre what they think of him.
“He’s very good in his role of lead cheerleader,” Lavoie said in French. “The problem isn’t that he’s not a good cheerleader, the problem is he wants to be the mayor of the city.”
The candidates sparred over who was best to take on Coderre in the municipal election, which will be held in November 2017.
READ MORE: ‘We are the alternative to Denis Coderre’: Projet Montréal launches leadership race
Projet Montréal is the main opposition taking on Coderre’s and has been without a leader since its founder Richard Bergeron quit the party to join the mayor’s executive committee.
Plante dethroned long-serving councillor Louise Harel in the Sainte-Marie district.
“I work with the Denis Coderre on a monthly basis,” Plante said. “I am not afraid of him because I see his style. The daddy is always right style, people don’t like that so much.”
Projet Montréal faces an uphill battle as the mayor still enjoys strong approval ratings despite recent spending and breed-specific legislation controversies.
But Limoges challenges the conclusion of the poll and wants to see their methodology.
“The participation rate in municipal elections is kind of weak,” Limoges said. “It’s the most motivated that go vote and I am not sure the most motivated are the ones supporting Coderre.”
Projet Montréal currently has 25 councillors in city hall, but their base is mostly in the inner city.
Lavoie appealed to suburban voters at the debate, saying their challenges are the same.
“No matter if you are in Rosemont or in Pierrefonds-Roxboro we’re all suffering from the mismanagement of the road works, from the forests of orange cones,” Lavoie said.
Transportation and cultural diversity was a major talking point at the debate.
READ MORE: Two Montreal opposition parties to merge, but can they beat Mayor Denis Coderre?
The candidates often agreed with each other with only one big difference being the ways of going about implementing their visions.
“My approach is actually to talk to people,” Plante said. “It’s always been part of my leadership style and I truly believe that people want to be considered as experts in their own lives.”
Projet Montreal members will vote for their new leader on Dec. 4 and some councillors, like Craig Sauvé from the Sud-Ouest borough, have already given their endorsements.
Sauvé endorsed Plante ahead of the debate.
“I think Valérie has a great warmth, a great human character, a great ability to connect with people,” Sauvé said.
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