Denis Coderre consulted for developer, rail company prior to mayoral campaign

In the final week of thecampaign, we're following the race for mayor of Montreal. You can check out the party platforms here and more of our in-depth coverage here.Here's a look at what's happeningtoday.

Denis Coderrewas paid $364,428 during the 2020 fiscal yearfor work he did as a consultant,according to records released by his party, Ensemble Montral.

From 2018 to March of 2021 around the time he declared his intention to run for mayor Coderrehad several contracts that included doing consulting work for a zoo,a large real estate company, a local music streaming serviceand as an administrator with Eurostar, a European high-speed rail transportation company, in connection withthe Caisse de dpt et placement du Qubec.

According to his party's release, Coderre also received$93,835 during the last fiscal year from his pension as a former Member of Parliament, a role he held from 1997 to 2013.

The records also show Coderre paid $187,850 in federal and provincial income taxes in 2020.

Coderrehad initially claimed he could not reveal his list of clients due to confidentiality agreements andinsisted for days he would only divulge that information if he was elected mayor.

The mayoral candidate released the informationfollowing a report inLa Pressethat saidCoderre was employed by Cogir Immobilier, a major real estateplayerthat holds a portfolio of commercial and residential properties, including shopping centres.

Earlier this year, dozens of families in Montreal's Cte-des-Neiges neighbourhood claimed Cogirtried toforce them out of their apartments.

Coderre was not subject to a confidentiality agreement, according to the report.

Here is the full list of companies Coderre has worked for since 2018, as well the functions he carried out:

• Cogir: 2019 to March 2021. Strategic consultation in international development in the United States and Europe.
• Eurostar: November 2018 to March 2021. Administration for the Caisse de dpt et placement du Qubec.
• Fdration Internationale de l'Automobile: 2018-2019. Strategic consultation on urban agenda and smart cities.
• Jewish General Hospital Foundation: May 2018 to March 2021. Ambassador.
• Parc Omega: 2020 to March 2021. Administration and strategic consultation on a project with First Nations in the Outaouais region.
• Stingray: 2018 to March 2021. Strategic consultation on market development.
• Studio Flix & Paul: February 2020 to March 2021. Strategic consultation on economic development.
• Transcontinental: 2020 to March. Providingstrategic economic and investment advice.

Coderre fires back at Projet Montral

Afterreleasinghis list of clients, Coderre accused Projet Montral of sullying his reputation "in order to distract voters from the real issues" of this municipal campaign.

"We must not take our eyes off the real issues of this election: thesecurity crisis, the housing crisis, the climate crisis," the candidate said in a statement.

"The next four years will be crucial for Montreal, which has been weakened by the catastrophic management of the Plante-Dorais administration."

Coderre and Ensemble Montral candidates are holding a public event at about 7:30 p.m.

In recent days, Projet Montral leader Valrie Plante disclosed her own tax returns, a move she saidreflects her team's "integrity and its freedom from conflict of interests."

On Wednesday, Plante criticized Coderre for not revealing the names of all the companies he worked with.

"We're [either] transparent or we're not," she said. "Especially when we aspire to become mayor of a city, we have to show transparency in all aspects."

Key stories to read before voting:

Holness seeks to address environmental inequalities

On Wednesday, Mouvement Montralleader Balarama Holness said his party would commit to creating green spaces across the city, including in lower-income neighbourhoods.

"Access to community green spaces shouldn't be affected by geography or socioeconomic status," Holness said.

He criticized Plante forthe impact of aheat wave on the city in 2018, when66 people died.

He also reiterated his plan to offer free public transit to young people and speed up the electrification of public transportation.