Montreal mayor goes against pothole survey results

MONTREAL – It appears that citizen power might be about to take a hit in Montreal.

Two weeks ago, Mayor Michael Applebaum asked city residents to select between two less-than-inspiring options.

The choices were either having more potholes in their streets or seeing a city contract going to some companies involved in corruption scandals.

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Sixty per cent of some 5,200 people who voted online opted for the contract to not be awarded, compared with 40 per cent who said it should.

Despite the results, Applebaum says he will vote in favour of awarding the contract for safety reasons. A special city council meeting is being held this afternoon on the issue.

The consortium that would be awarded the contract to fill the city’s potholes includes several companies named at Quebec’s corruption inquiry.