Cathy Wong, the first woman to be named Speaker of Montreal’s city council, announced Tuesday that she will sit as an independent councillor, effective immediately.
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She says she is leaving Ensemble Montréal — the party of former mayor Denis Coderre, previously known as Équipe Denis Coderre — in order to stay impartial in her role.
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“I decided to become an independent councillor so I can work more effectively with the borough of Ville-Marie on issues that are particularly important to me,” Wong said.
She notes that one of her priorities is to focus on the Peter-McGill Centre, which will include a public library and cultural spaces and is scheduled to open in 2023 on the site of the former Montreal Children’s Hospital.
https://twitter.com/cathywongcw/status/1115577279151788032
Wong was first elected in November 2017 in the Peter-McGill district and is the first opposition party member to sit as the council’s chair.
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“My priorities also include plans to have new primary schools and improve green spaces in Peter-McGill, as they help make the downtown area a more friendly place for families and newcomers,” she added.
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Before being elected, Wong was president of the Conseil des Montréalaises and a columnist for Le Devoir and Radio-Canada.
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