No visible minorities were chosen to be part of Montreal mayor Valérie Plante‘s executive committee Monday.
READ MORE: Valérie Plante sworn in as Montreal’s first female mayor
“Having to choose an executive committee is a tricky exercise, it’s a puzzle and so, it was important to find a balance — as I said, parity was priority Number 1,” Plante said.
Plante said she plans to work harder to increase the number of minorities in the coming years.
“We need to do better because right now, 30 per cent of the population is from diverse backgrounds and this is not being represented at city hall,” she admitted.
Municipal politics analyst Karim Boulos points out a greater issue is finding people who come from ethnic backgrounds to run for office.
READ MORE: Valérie Plante elected first female mayor of Montreal
“We respect, we welcome people, but the reality is no one is working hard to integrate them into society.”
The 13-person committee was revealed Monday which includes seven men and six women, including the mayor.
WATCH BELOW: Valérie Plante addresses lack of minorities in executive committee
“It was important for me to find the right balance between men and women, between experienced politicians and experienced professionals,” Plante said.
“We promised an inclusive and balanced executive committee, and that is what we delivered.”
Sud-Ouest borough Mayor Benoit Dorais was appointed president — something Plante announced during the campaign ahead of the Nov. 5 elections.
READ MORE: Meet Projet Montréal mayoral candidate Valérie Plante
Outspoken Plateau-Mont-Royal borough Mayor Luc Ferrandez was assigned the parks, sustainable development and major projects file.
WATCH BELOW: Valérie Plante promised gender parity in her committee
Verdun borough Mayor Jean-François Parenteau is now responsible for services to residents.
Parenteau ran with Équipe Coderre, but left the party to sit as an independent in order to sit on the committee.
READ MORE: Denis Coderre ‘quitting political life’ after losing Montreal mayoral race to Valérie Plante
“What we’ve been asking people is to recuse themselves from their caucus if they wanted to sit on the executive committee. That was the ask that we’ve been making,” Plante said, though she denies that she asked people to leave their parties and says it was the individual’s decision to do so.
In addition, city councillors Craig Sauvé and Alex Norris will form a five-person associate team charged with assisting the committee.
However, they will hold no official seat.
READ MORE: Pink Jacques Cartier Bridge a ‘coincidence’ to Valérie Plante’s historic win
“We have to work together and I’m confident that we will since we all share the same goal objectives, which is to get Montreal moving again,” Plante said, reiterating her promise to improve public transit, services and housing.
WATCH: Montreal’s new mayor Valérie Plante said she struggled to find people from diverse backgrounds to be part of her executive committee. Municipal politics analyst Karim Boulos explores why that might be with Global News Montreal Senior Anchor Jamie Orchard.
Members of Plante’s executive committee:
- Valérie Plante, Montreal mayor; Mount Royal, downtown, international relations
- Benoit Dorais, Sud-Ouest borough mayor: Chair of the executive committee; Finance, human resources, legal affairs
- Magda Popeanu, Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce councillor: Vice-chair of the executive committee; Housing, property planning management
- Sylvain Ouellet, Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension councillor: Vice-chair of the executive committee; Water, infrastructure
- Éric Alan Caldwell, Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve councillor: Transportation, office de consultation publique de Montréal
- Christine Gosselin, Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie councillor: Culture and heritage
- Luc Ferrandez, Plateau-Mont-Royal borough mayor: Environment and major parks
- Nathalie Goulet, Ahuntsic-Cartierville councillor: Public safety
- Robert Beaudry, Ville-Marie councillor: Economy and businesses
- Rosannie Filato, Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension councillor: Social development, homelessness, recreation and sports
- François Croteau, Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie borough mayor: Smart city
- Laurence Lavigne Lalonde, Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve councillor: Transparency, democracy, citizen life, Space for Life
- Jean-François Parenteau, Verdun borough mayor: Citizen services and purchasing
Associate members:
- Sophie Mauzerolle, Ville-Marie councillor: Associate councillor for the mayor
- Alex Norris, Plateau-Mont-Royal councillor: Public safety
- Marianne Giguère, Plateau-Mont-Royal councillor: Vice-chair of the executive committee; Housing, property planning management
- Craig Sauvé, Sud-Ouest councillor: Mobility and citizen services
- Suzie Miron, Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve councillor: Infrastructure
Plante’s team will meet for the first time on Wednesday.
rachel.lau@globalnews.ca
Follow @rachel_lau