Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre told Global News Tuesday there are no hard feelings between him and Marvin Rotrand.
This despite the abrupt removal of Rotrand as vice chair of the Société de transport de Montreal (STM) — the city’s transit authority.
The mayor said it’s no longer possible to have Rotrand representing the city on the board of the STM, adding Rotrand sealed his own fate when he decided to become leader of an opposing political party.
“Since the beginning of the year, when he made a choice to become leader of his party, there was kind of a malaise,” Coderre said.
Upon learning of his dismissal Monday evening, Rotrand expressed his surprise.
“I talked to Coderre about it in December, and said that I still supported his transit plan,” Rotrand said. “He didn’t say anything so I thought everything was fine.”
Some councillors view the removal of Rotrand as a political move heading into a November election.
WATCH BELOW: Mayor Denis Coderre has fired longtime city councillor Marvin Rotrand from his job as vice-chair of Montreal’s transit authority.
Another opposing councillor –Benoît Dorais — was also removed as chair of the agglomeration committee.
Coderre said this is not a case of him trying to clean house.
Rotrand for his part told Global News he would not fight the decision but did have a warning for Montrealers.
“This comes as a surprise to me and it is an indication of what the population can expect if Denis Coderre wins a majority in the next election,” he said.
Coderre announced Elsie Lefebvre — a city councillor for Villeray– will be taking over Rotrand’s position as vice-chair of the STM.