Valérie Plante Reflects on Two Terms as Montreal Mayor, Looks to the Future
As her two terms as mayor come to an end, Valérie Plante is reflecting on her time in office, highlighting accomplishments in areas like the environment, housing, and mobility. Plante, Montreal's first woman mayor, believes she is leaving the city in better shape, though she acknowledges ongoing challenges like homelessness and affordability.
Plante's Accomplishments and Priorities
On Monday, Plante will present a detailed report outlining her administration's achievements. In an interview with CBC Montreal's Debra Arbec, she discussed both the successes and limitations of mayoral power. While proud of advancements made, Plante admitted more work is needed on persistent issues such as housing affordability and homelessness.
Housing and Homelessness: Unfinished Business
Plante acknowledges that efforts to make housing more affordable, including a bylaw aimed at incentivizing developers to build off-market units, did not yield the desired results. Her successor at Projet Montréal, Luc Rabouin, is expected to develop a new approach. "Is it a solved issue? The answer is no," said Plante. She emphasized the need for collaboration between all levels of government to address the housing crisis, calling it "not solved, but definitely moving forward."
Regarding homelessness, Plante stated that the pandemic significantly worsened the situation. Despite government-funded shelters, the problem persists, a reality she finds "very discouraging." She believes homelessness is a challenge that extends beyond Montreal, necessitating a coordinated effort involving all levels of government. Plante further said “The shelters created by the [Quebec] government — because it's their responsibility — filled the needs. But after the COVID, we could see how it really increased".
Mobility and Transportation: Bike Paths and Public Transit
Plante highlighted the expansion of Montreal's bike path network and traffic calming measures as key achievements in improving safety for residents. "Of course, I'm proud because for me it's just a very simple question about deserving to be safe in the city while going from point A to point B," she said. While acknowledging some controversy surrounding bike paths, she emphasized their importance in "saving lives and changing how people move."
She anticipates increased traffic congestion in the future due to the growing number of cars, underscoring the need for continued investment in public transit. The extension of the Blue line, a collaborative project with other levels of government, was cited as a success. However, the Pink line, a campaign promise from her first election, was deemed unworkable due to financial constraints and lack of control over public transit funding. “I don't have the power over public funding for public transit, right? It's more the federal and provincial governments, but I do have the power to work on our streets and how we share public space," she said.
Environment: A Core Legacy
Plante views her environmental policies as central to her legacy. These include encouraging active transportation, implementing sponge parks to mitigate heavy rainfall, and planting trees to combat urban heat. However, she acknowledged the limitations of municipal power in addressing climate change, stating that "some of the more consistent or deeper measures need to come from other levels of government."
Challenges, Misogyny, and Inspiration
Plante described her time as mayor as challenging, particularly in the face of personal attacks. She advocates for the criminalization of online misogyny, comparing it to hate speech. She emphasized the importance of defining societal boundaries regarding acceptable behavior. While not viewing herself as a "perfect" role model, Plante hopes her tenure will inspire young people, especially girls, to envision themselves in leadership positions. "I hope that I was able to show that a woman can be herself: laugh, smile, be wise … having a sense of duty, doing her job, while being herself," she said.
What's Next for Valérie Plante?
Plante intends to take a break before returning to public life. "People will see me again. But there's different ways to change the world," she said. She affirmed her commitment to continuing to contribute to the city and society, stating, "I will continue to change our city and our society, but I just need to find the right [vehicle]."
