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This week on ‘Focus Montreal’: Candidates discuss mobility, transportation as election nears

A file photo of Montreal traffic. Global News

Focus Montreal introduces Montrealers to people who are shaping our community by bringing their stories into focus.

The program airs Saturday at 5:30 p.m. as well as Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and midnight.

Take a look at who we’re meeting this week:

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Decision Quebec: Transportation

As the Quebec election campaign continues, Global News is holding a series of debates looking at issues that matter to Montrealers.

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With construction everywhere and public transit options few and far between in some areas, getting people around — especially in Montreal — is critical..

READ MORE: Candidates discuss education in lead-up to Quebec election

Some of the highlights of party promises on mobility include the Quebec Liberal Party’s proposal this week for free bus and metro rides for students and seniors and, of course, Montreal’s electric train project known as REM.

READ MORE: Quebec pension fund president hopes to ‘revolutionize mass transit’ with electric train project

The Parti Québécois (PQ) for its part is proposing a “Grand déblocage” to free up traffic congestion. The party’s vision includes scrapping the REM, in favour of expanding farther north and east.

The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) is suggesting extending light rail further north and south rather than west as a priority , while Québec Solidaire has presented an ambitious and expensive plan proposing 38 new metro stations by 2030.

READ MORE: Record number of Montreal road construction projects causes traffic headaches

Representatives from three of the four main political parties joined senior anchor Jamie Orchard to hash out some of the details of their platforms and debate their positions.

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The candidates who joined Focus Montreal are as follows:

  • Alejandra Mendez candidate for Québec Solidaire in the riding of Bourassa-Sauvé
  • David Birnbaum, Liberal candidate in D’Arcy-McGee
  • Frédéric Lapointe, PQ candidate for Maurice-Richard

WATCH BELOW: Following the candidates’ debate on transportation, Orchard was joined by Ipsos Canada senior vice-president and general manager for Quebec, Sébastien Dallaire and political commentator Dan Delmar who offered some perspective on the discussions.

Click to play video: 'Decision Quebec: What are the parties promising to do to improve transportation?'
Decision Quebec: What are the parties promising to do to improve transportation?

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