A tale of 2 cities: Mayoral debate reveals contrasting visions for Montreal

It was a debate marked byinterruptions, barbsand another sexual harassment revelation,but between all that Montreal's two leading mayoral candidates nevertheless managed to get across their vastly different visions of how the city should be governed.

On the one hand, incumbent Denis Coderre defended his four years in office, vauntedMontreal's economic record and refused to apologize for his efforts at centralizingpower.

• Missed the debate? Watch it onCBC Montreal's Facebook page

Projet Montral's Valrie Plante, for her part, presented a vision of a more decentralized city, with expanded public transit and social housing options.

The French-languageshowdown at the downtownSheraton Hotel was the first of two debates between the two candidates (an English debate takes place Monday).

It was also the first timePlanteandCoderrehave squared off against each in this kind of format. There was little disguising their frosty relationship.

Borough-city hall relations

An opening exchange over housing andQuebec's new religious neutrality law, which both oppose, was civil enough, but the tension mountedas they outlinedtheir views on theproper balance of powerbetween city hall and the boroughs.

Coderre's term as mayor has been characterized by limiting the discretion of boroughs when it comes to such municipalservices as snow clearing and parking.

"I have an issue with the ideological approach of the last four years," Plante said, vowing she would offer boroughs more leeway.

ToPlante's criticism,Coderrereplied, "You have the choice between being dogmatic or arranging things so they work."

Throughout the exchange, the two candidates attempted to cut each other off, both running longer than their allotted times.

• ANALYSIS:Round 1 in the Plante vs. Coderre debate: Who's bringing the fight?

Planteat one point suggested that aProjetMontral administration would eliminate red tape to make it easier for boroughs to take local initiatives.

Coderre attempted to counter by invoking Plateau-Mont-Royal mayor Luc Ferrandez, one of his favourite targets for suggesting Projet is ill-prepared to govern the whole city.

"I don't see [Ferrandez] often, I wonder what you're doing with him," Coderre said, prompting a ripple through the crowd.

Planteshot back: "If you want to be the mayor of the Plateau, go ahead and do it. Drop out of the mayoral race and become mayor of the Plateau."

Moneyball

A question about whether the city should finance efforts to return professional baseball to Montreal produced another series of pointed jabs.

Plantestated that aProjetadministration would first hold a referendum before spending public moneyon building a new stadium, which many observers see as a necessary prerequisitebefore Major League Baseball wouldconsider an Exposreturn.

Her rival dodged the question, suggesting such a decision wouldn't be necessary for several more years, and that a teamcouldplay in the Olympic Stadium while money is raised for a new ballpark.

• Projet Montral's Pink line: Pipe dream or election game-changer?

Sensing an opening,Planteinterrupted his explanations several timesto accuse him of failing to provide a clear answer.

Coderreused a similar tactic asPlantedescribed how she expected to pay for the Pink line, her proposal to build a 29-kilometre Metro line between Montreal North andLachine.

"Yes, but who's going to pay for it," he repeated.Plantesaid there was money availablein large infrastructure funds set up by the federal andprovincial governments.

"It's not that we don't want a Metro, but it's not realistic,"Coderresaid. He pegged the cost of the Pink line at $10 billion, whilePlantehas said it will cost $6 billion.

Experts consulted earlier this month by CBC News suggested the truth is somewhere in between.

The cloud of sexual harassment

The segment of the debate dedicated to transit and traffic issues also produced the most startling admission of theevening.

Planteaccused theCoderreadministration of failing tocapitalize on new technology to reduce congestion on Montreal roads. Earlier this year, the cityhad hiredPierreLacasse, a former traffic reporter dubbed"Mr.Fluidity," for such a task.

He abruptly left the administration a few months later for reasons that were never made clear.Lacasse, saidPlante, had failed at his job of improving traffic flow.

• Montreal's new traffic czar no longer working for the city

"You know very well why that person no longer works for Montreal. It's zero tolerance. We wanted to protect our female employees," Coderre replied.

It marked yet another case of a prominent Quebecer to be suspected of sexual improprieties. On Wednesday, Gilbert Rozon resigned from his positions as head of the Just for Laughs festival and the city's 375th celebrations, as several women come forward claiming to be sexually assaulted by him.

• 'He pushed the door and came into the apartment': Another Quebec actress alleges assault by Gilbert Rozon

Two other Quebec entertainersricSalvailandGilles Parent have also stepped away from their public roles thisweekamid similar allegations.HlneDavid, the minister responsible for thestatus of women, said the wave of denunciations in theprovinceamounted "asocialhurricane."

In their opening statements, bothCoderreandPlanteexpressed solidarity with the victims."We as political leaders have to act,"Plantesaid.

Coderreagreed with her when it was his turn to speak.They agreed on little else for the rest of the evening.