Projet Montréal leader Richard Bergeron used the launch of his municipal party’s campaign in Côte des Neiges-NDG last Friday to say they have every intention of using election rules to their full advantage — even if Vision Montreal and Union Montreal aren’t.
“The others are saying they have no intention of putting up posters,” Bergeron told supporters at a Decarie Boulevard restaurant. He was referring to a pledge the two parties made not to erect campaign posters. “Get ready,” he said. “You’re going to see us all over the city.”
While VM and UM cite aesthetic and environmental reasons for not using posters, Bergeron insists the use of political posters is a democratic right the higher levels of government put in place to equalize things between larger and smaller political parties.
Projet Montréal is running a full slate of candidates for the five Côte des Neiges-NDG borough council seats. Carole Dupuis, a marketing and communications consultant, is running for mayor of the borough. Three outspoken critics of the borough council, Cym Gomery, Peter McQueen and Magda Popeanu, are running in the districts of Loyola, NDG and Côte des Neiges respectively. Kamala Jegatheeswaran, a community activist, is running in Darlington. Daniel Grenon, an IT and telecommunications specialist, is out to win the seat in Snowdon.
“I have had bad experiences with the present borough council, which I find extremely arrogant,” said Popeanu. “I’ve had enough of politicians who aren’t capable of coming down off their pedestal to speak to people as they should.” Among other things, Popeanu promises to oversee the covering of the Decarie Expressway if she is elected.
“The current Snowdon administration has had more than enough time to conceive and put forward a plan to make our streets safer for all,” Grenon said, outlining his platform. “They chose instead to paint bicycle signs on pavement without considering overall transportation in the borough and the city.”
Gomery said her first priority as a councillor would be to “truly democratize our community. What we are living right now is label democracy, but it does not effectively resemble in any way the spirit of democracy.” Some of her pledges include a commuter rail stop somewhere on Cavendish Boulevard in NDG and the introduction of articulated buses on the 103 and 104 bus routes.
Citing the reasons behind his decision to run, McQueen referred to the “Tremblay brothers” — Marcel, the councillor for NDG who is running for mayor in another borough, and Gérald, the mayor of Montreal. “Listen, they are originally from this neighbourhood, this parish, Notre Dame de Grâce,” he said. “But what have they done while in power for Notre Dame de Grâce? Nothing …
“Notre Dame de Grâce is neglected by the Tremblay administration. Marcel ‘What Me Worry’ Tremblay, with his jovial insouciance.” Alluding to the stalled Empress Cultural Centre project on Sherbrooke Street, McQueen said he couldn’t “just blame the Tremblay brothers.” He also holds the previous Vision Montreal administration accountable for failing to bring the project to fruition.
Projet Montréal launches campaign in Côte des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grâce
Projet Montréal launches campaign in Côte des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grâce
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- Patrick McDonnell
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:32
What is Mr Bergeron so paranoid about? according to Montreal Gazette:
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- Patrick McDonnell
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:31
"But what have they done while in power for Notre Dame de Grace? Nothing..." I think there are a few people in NDG who might take exception to that statement! Dear Peter, I guess you wear blinders while biking around NDG? I see Sherbrooke street repaved, new park equipment. And of course the Benny Sports Recreation center and now a new library and cultural center. (Read the press release that follows.) I calculate 36 million dollars, plus another 6 million for the new Frazier Hickson Library invested in NDG. That is not "nothing". PRESS RELEASE For immediate release Work Continues on Upgrading and Modernizing Montréal Libraries Montréal, September 25, 2009 – For several months now, work to upgrade and develop Montréal municipal libraries has been ongoing. Following discussions with Christine Saint-Pierre, Minister of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women, an agreement in principle was signed to expand the 2008-2011 agreement on the cultural development of Montréal (Entente sur le développement culturel de Montréal) and allow Montréal to go ahead with more qualifying projects under the library renovation, expansion and construction program (REC). Ms. Saint-Pierre signed a letter of commitment for this purpose on September 10. For example, one project has already been identified and funds earmarked to build a new Benny Library and provide venues for cultural activities in the Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough. A diagnosis of municipal libraries on Montréal Island, produced jointly by the City and the MCCCF in July 2005, identified a number of priority projects aimed at making major improvements to our library network. Since then the municipal administration has made developing libraries a priority, and set up the REC program under the Agreement, with the MCCCF. “Since 2005, consolidating the Montréal library network has been one of our priorities. We are making every effort to offer Montrealers access to library services of similar quality to those in other large Canadian cities. To reach this objective, we have injected $13.5 M since 2006, and are continuing in this direction. Our libraries enhance cultural, educational, community and democratic life in Montréal, and that’s why we want to make sure they are improved, well-used and appreciated,” said Catherine Sévigny, Executive Committee member responsible for culture. About the REC program The diagnosis of municipal libraries on Montréal Island pointed to the need to improve library services in the Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough, with over 169,000 residents – Montréal’s most populous borough. The construction of the new Benny Library will help to meet their needs. The new and expanded library, modern and attractive, functional and open to the community, will be the perfect venue for bringing together culture and information in the borough. In addition, 80,600 new documents will be added to the collection now held in the existing library. It will be located at the corner of Monkland and Benny avenues, across from the future Sports and Community Complex. It will be part of the Benny Area, home to modern cultural, sports and recreational facilities. The project cost is evaluated at $21 million. Library component: $11.5 M, of which 20% will come from the borough, 40% from the city of Montréal, and 40% from the Quebec department of culture, communications and the status of women (MCCCF); basic collection: $4 M, of which 20% will come from the borough and 80% from the city of Montréal. Cultural component: $5.5 M, of which 40% will come from the borough and 60% from the program to support municipal cultural facilities. The new Benny Library will include a number of features relating to ergonomics, universal accessibility and LEED certification. It will also include a multipurpose room with seating for 180 (dance, new artistic practices) and support facilities (dressing rooms, control room, loading docks, storage space, etc.), a convertible room (exhibitions, cultural mediation), specialized spaces (administration offices, space for artists or companies in residence, etc.) and cutting-edge equipment and furniture (sound and light equipment, dance flooring, retractable bleachers, exhibition modules, etc.). Some funding for this aspect, including a multipurpose room and a convertible room for exhibitions and cultural mediation, has come from the Forum des équipements culturels, a body with departmental and municipal representatives, tasked with developing a joint vision of Montréal cultural facilities. “This new library will meet the needs of residents in the Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough with regard to culture and sharing knowledge. They will be able to enjoy a suitable and inviting space with the latest in technology. This new library is just one example of the projects we plan to carry out over the next several years as we modernize our facilities and continue developing a city where knowledge is valued and shared,” said Montréal Mayor Gérald Tremblay. “This new library will be a major component of the Benny Area, a hub of modern recreational and cultural facilities. We have a clear vision of this district’s vocation, and we are doing our utmost to obtain the necessary funding,” noted Michael Applebaum, Mayor of the Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough. Source: Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough
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- Raj Ramtuhol
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:30
Patrick, first of all, it's spelled Fraser-Hickson (we REALLY do need a library). And the Projet Montreal candidates were not involved in the Fraser-Hickson battle. Yes, believe it or not, there are many different activist groups in NDG... because for three VERY long years, Applebaum did *nothing*. And even then, what he DID do was without public consultation. AND, all of these large projects will be seen years from now---not months. So I take it back. Applebaum will have done nothing of significance for at least 6 years! For our kids and seniors, that's FOREVER. In the meantime, Applebaum demolished an outdoor pool, shut down a library and community center, took out more than half of a usable park, kept the Empress out of commission, painted streets with white stripes, calling them "bike paths", giving the impression to our kids that speedings drivers in residential areas will suddenly obey the law and look out for our children. Right. All of this demonstrates quite clearly that Mr. Applebaum (a real estate agent)_has been paying more attention to developer contracts than the needs of our kids and seniors---well in line with his party's boss: Mayor Gerald Tremblay. On November 1st, we MUST change this dreadful situation.
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- Patrick McDonnell
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:29
Make that Frasier Hickson library...
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- Patrick McDonnell
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:27
"“But now that there’s a chance that I could attain power, in some way, my safety is an issue,” Bergeron said on RDI. “I have formally requested the protection of my domicile by the Montreal police.”"
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- Patrick McDonnell
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:26
Remember the concrete projects accomplished by Union Montreal in CDN NDG Bixi bikes in CDN NDG Increased bikes paths in CDN NDG St Raymond center on lower Lachine road New playground equipment in parks A new public library and cultural center Fraser Hickson Library installed in new lodgings A new Sports Recreation center Redone sidewalks and resurfacing of Sherbrooke st. I am sure I can find more to add to this list.. P.S to Raj, I suppose then that Cym Gomery is not getting your endorsement?
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- Patrick McDonnell
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:23
for Magda Popeanu covering the Decarie Expressway sounds like a very expensive project, billions of dollars. What happens if it starts falling down on cars below - as has happened before in Quebec?
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- Raj Ramtuhol
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:22
For Patrick: Mayor Applebaum is very good at "endorsing" projects. He's been doing it for only the last 6 years with great fanfare. Most people call it "posturing for the cameras". The FHL in its current state is not servicing NDG. We are still without adequate library services and have the worst per capita in the entire City. Perhaps it takes very little for you to be satisfied. But the teens and young children of NDG have their lives ahead of them Patrick, and they are hungry for knowledge, figuring out their careers, and simply a quiet place to study. A much smaller FHL, located far away from the core of NDG is not going to fill the void....as a StatsCan study revealed, proximity to a library is directly related to literacy. When my neighbor's brilliant child walked up to me and asked me when the library was going to re-open...because he missed being able to read the many books there, it was heart-breaking to have to tell him that it was in the hands of the politicians. This is the kind of injustice that drives me Mr. McDonnell. I want very much to see the selfish people who allowed this tragedy to happen to be replaced by the likes of Louise Harel, Brenda Paris and David Hanna. Ms. Harel, despite her sovereignist convictions, is a humanist who understands the needs of or society, and has passed numerous laws to that effect. Brenda Paris grew up in parts of NDG that position her well to understand this community's need, and David Hanna actually tabled a proposal along with Benoit Labonte to save Fraser-Hickson by applying for provincial infrastructure funding. But Applebaum rejected the free millions. Many believe he was waiting for some condo developers to make an offer. So please, Mr. Applebaum's "endorsements" are nothing more than cheap lip service ahead of the elections. He failed a long time ago. And it's time to expel.
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- Patrick McDonnell
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:21
For Raj Sept 29 2009 CDN NDG meeting The request for financial support of $1.3 million, submitted by the Fraser-Hickson Institute under the Building Canada program, was endorsed, so that it can carry out the work necessary to recommence its library operations in the Trinity Memorial Church in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. for Peter MONTRÉAL, September 25, 2003 – Russell Copeman, MNA for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, representing Jean-Marc Fournier, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Sports and Recreation, Michael Applebaum, Chairman of the Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (CDN—NDG) borough, Marcel Tremblay, Councillor for the Décarie district, and Nadia Papineau-Couture, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Caisse populaire Desjardins de Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, today announced a $2,858,000 project to transform a building on Upper Lachine Road owned by the Caisse populaire Desjardins de Notre-Dame-de-Grâce into a community and recreation centre. Does Peter McQueen remember the meeting at that new rec center on the plans for the Turcotte exchange? Or is this just another "Nothing" the Union party did for NDG? Shall I go on with what has been accomplished? I was told by the director of the CDN rec center that it would take 10 years to build a new center - but that didn't take into account the anti NDG activist groups - at a urban planning workshop organized by Mr. Applebaum. Again I find it strange that, neither Peter McQueen, nor Cym Gomery, nor Professor Hanna, nor Raj Ramtuhol showed up at this planning meeting for the future of CDN NDG? Can they rail against the democratic process without ever taking part in it?
