Valérie Plante promises more transparency at city hall
Montreal's newly elected mayor vowed her administration will be transparent and friendly after her executive committee held its first sitting since her council was sworn in last week.
Valérie Plante promised Wednesday that she will make her agenda public. She will also reverse a controversial directive of former mayor Denis Coderre which allowed visitors to the mayor's office to skip signing the city hall registry.
"All invited guests will have to identify themselves in the name of transparency," said Plante.
Benoit Dorais, the chair of the executive committee, also promised that the committee will be "more open" and "friendlier" than it was before.
"We must be guided by the best practices and break silos by working in trios," said Dorais.
He was referring to how various files will be handled by groups of three members working together, with the goals of being better organized, making sure more information is shared and making it easier for experienced councillors to offer support to rookies.
The first city council meeting will be held next Monday.
The Plante administration will also table its first budget on Jan. 10, 2018, said Dorais.
More discussions on the way
Affordable housing, ways to ease traffic congestion and the promised repeal of the city's breed-specific animal control bylaw were also among the issues addressed Wednesday morning.
"There are a still a lot of discussions to be had," said Plante.
On the social housing front, Plante said she is confident her administration will be able to work with the federal government, which was to announce its housing strategy later today.
During the election campaign, Projet Montréal promised to build 12,000 new units of social and affordable housing.
Plante to meet Biden
Plante, for her part, will be busy with one-on-one meetings over the next few weeks, starting with one Thursday with Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume.
She is also expected to meet Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer and federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna in the coming days.
There is also a meeting planned between Plante and former U.S. vice-president Joe Biden, who is to be in Montreal next week for a leadership conference.
"When I heard he asked to meet me, I was very happy about that," said Plante.
"He has been at the White House," said Plante. "I am a person that likes to be inspired."
"I want to get his feedback, his views on the world, how we can move forward, how he sees cities."
