Valrie Plante says housing a top priority to kick off 2nd term

After scoring a decisive victory to keep her job as Montrealmayor, Valrie Plantesays dealing with the city's housing crunch will be a top priority during thefirst 100 days of her second term.

Plante, the leader of Projet Montral, racked up 52 per cent of the votes and defeated Ensemble Montral leader Denis Coderreby 14 percentage pointsan even wider margin than during their first showdown in 2017.

"[The issue of] housing is huge," Plante said,flanked by several elected members of her party during a news conference on Monday. "Not only is it [important]for the next four years, but also in our first 100 days. There's going to be very concrete action being done."

During the campaign, Plante promised to create60,000 affordable housing units over 10 years.

To get there, shesaid, the city will adopta bylaw similar to one that was passed last year regarding its right of first refusal on properties going up for sale.

That bylawallowed it to purchase properties for the purpose of creating social housing units. Plante says a similar bylawfor affordable housing units is in the works.

"We saw how much [housing] is an issue, something that worries people in every neighbourhood," the mayorsaid. "Everyone wants to make sure we preserve a social, economic, cultural and generational mix in neighbourhoods."

Plantealso reiterated her plan to implementan "owner certificate" for landlords withbuildings of eight or more units, to protect tenants from"renovictions"and illegal rent increases.

She also listed the city's economic recovery, the fight against climate change and public security among her administration'spriorities.

"We are honoured by this mandate that Montrealers have given us," she said. "We take it very seriously."

'I don't want to disappoint'

During the news conference, Plante described her few years as mayor as "an amazing, crazy, learning curve,"and said she feels readier to be mayor this time around, while acknowledging there is pressure to deliver on her lofty promises.

"The pressure is different. There's less pressure because, of course, I know the job," she said. "But it's true that the fact that Montrealers chose me again with a big number and it's a great victoryI don't want to disappoint them."

Plante also vowed to "continue being the mayor for all Montrealers,"including those living in boroughs that did not elect Projet Montral candidates.

"Although we all have the same big objectives, like, for example, fighting climate change, we understand that it may not be the same way to achieve that in a borough like Ville-Marie [compared to] Rivire-des-Prairies or Pierrefonds-Roxboro," she said.

"We need to adapt, based on the reality of the different boroughs."

Projet Montral increased its majority at city council by grabbing 37 of the 65 seats four more than what it started the campaign with.

Coderre's Ensemble Montralpartywill hold 23 seats on council.

'It was not a good campaign for Denis Coderre'

Coderre's second consecutive loss to Plante may put an end to attempts at a political comeback.

During the campaign, Coderre portrayed himself as a pragmatic and experienced politicianwho had evolved since his defeat in 2017.

According to Daniel Bland, a political science professor at McGill University and the director for the Institute of the Study of Canada, the last week of the campaign was damaging for Coderre.

Blanddescribed the Ensemble Montral leader's initial refusal to reveal his financial records and the list of companies who employed him recent years as "the final straw."

"If he had revealed this information early on, even before the beginning of the campaign, this wouldn't be an issue," Beland said.

"It was not a good campaign for Denis Coderre."

During his concession speech on Sunday, Coderre did not say whether he would stay on as the leader of opposition at city hall.

His spokesperson said he would not speak publicly on Monday. Bland expects Coderre to quit municipal politics again instead of staying on as the leader of the opposition at city hall.

"I would be surprised if he decided to stay because he lost badly," Bland said.

WATCH|Valrie Plante outlines priorities for 2ndterm during Sunday's victory speech:

Valrie Plante celebrates re-election in Montreal

3 years ago

Duration 3:35