Gazette May 13, 2002 by Peter F. Trent O.W.N.
Story on Mayor Gérald Tremblay
The media – especially the French media - have not been kind to him. He has been pilloried
2001
5 nov 2001 TREMBLAY SAYS HIS TEAM WILL MAKE MEGA-CITY WORK
The mayor-elect of mega-Montreal says he's getting to work right away.
5 nov 2001
Don't look for the new mayor of mega montreal to push for a reversal of bill 170.
Monday, November 05, 2001
New city, new mayor
It's goodbye to the gardener and hello to the lawyer. In the first municipal election of Canada's newest and second-largest megacity, Harvard-educated business lawyer Gérald Tremblay led his Montreal Island Citizens Union party to victory Sunday. Tremblay won 49.3% of the vote and Bourque garnered 43.8%.
Don't miss our W-N new Montréal page
18/Oct/2001 Burbs out in force Montreal apathy helps Tremblay
Tremblay and his Montreal Island Citizens Movement surged to victory on a tidal wave of support from anti-merger suburbanites who came out in force and handed them control of the Montreal megacity.
At the same time, they turfed the author of one island, one city: current Montreal Mayor Pierre Bourque
1. Mega-mayor: Tonight, Gérald Tremblay = mayor of mega-Montreal. Westmount rejected Bourque by a vote of 7,490 (89.9%) to 593 (7.1%). T
2. Mega-council: Westmount's representative will be Karin Marks, with 7,303 votes (87.7%), topping Richard McConomy, who gained 630 votes (7.6%).
3. District council: John de Castell (north of Sherbrooke St) was not opposed. He will be joined by Cynthia Lulham southern sector with 3,512 votes (86.4 %) vs Pat Donnelly's 371 votes (9.1%).
4. Turnout: 51.7% of eligible voters took part in the election, about 7% voting in the advance poll last weekend.
October 18, 2001 Tempers flare at candidates meeting Megacity mayoral candidate Gérald Tremblay greets Westmount Mayor Peter Trent at the opening of Tremblay's campaign office in Westmount last Wednesday. by Martin C. Barry
If a picture is worth a thousand words, the photo of Westmount Mayor Peter Trent shaking hands with megacity mayoral candidate Gérald Tremblay would say it all.
18/Oct/2001>
Montreal mayoralty candidate Gerald Tremblay says he'll ban the use of
pesticides for aesthetic purposes if he's elected. But current mayor,
Pierre Bourque, says he's not ready to do that.
FULL STORY
10/Oct/2001'INFIDELS' TREMBLAY CANDIDATES UPSET OVER UNILINGUAL BILLS
Candidates running with Gérald Tremblay's election team are accusing the transition committee of cutting English services in the merged city of Montreal.
Sat 9/22/01
TREMBLAY KICKS OFF CAMPAIGN
Gerald Tremblay has begun his official campaign to become the first mayor of the megacity of Montreal. .. Trembaly's campaign slogan is 'It's Going to Work'. He says his slogan can mean a lot of things.
Tuesday, September 18, 2001 Candidates elbow for position
Bourque, Tremblay show up in St. Laurent as megacity mayoral campaign set to open
by
LINDA GYULAI Paul-Jean Charest, a spokesman for Quebec's chief electoral officer, said mayoral hopeful Gérald Tremblay has asked to rename his party the Montreal Island Citizens Union-Team Tremblay. The chief electoral officer, who received the request yesterday, has not responded, Charest added.
Mon 8/27/01 New era, Tremblay vows
By: DARREN BECKER
Quebec's second Quiet Revolution is on the horizon if megacity mayoral candidate Gerald Tremblay is elected, more than 2,000 supporters of the Montreal Island Citizens Union were told yesterday at the party's founding convention.
Buoyed by poll results showing he's running neck-and-neck with Mayor Pierre Bourque, an upbeat Tremblay vowed to usher in a new democratic era at Montreal city hall following the Nov. 4 megacity election.
Sat Aug 25 TREMBLAY GAINS SUPPORT
The municipal mergers on the island of Montreal are continuing to
provoke political mergers. Members of the Democratic Coalition have
voted to join Gerald Tremblay's Montreal Island Citizens Union.
![[Version en français]](images/fr.gif)
Wed 8/22/01 TREMBLAY SEEKS YOUTH VIEWS
Montreal mayoral candidate Gerald Tremblay is seeking to attract more
young people into his political movement. He held a youth forum for
delegates between the ages of 16 and 35 from across the island to
contribute their ideas to his party's platform.
Wed 8/22/01 TREMBLAY GAINS SUPPORT
The municipal mergers on the island of Montreal are continuing to
provoke political mergers. Members of the Democratic Coalition have
voted to join Gerald Tremblay's Montreal Island Citizens Union.
Dear Friends,
The election for the team that will define the destiny of the new mega-city is imminent. As you know, since the beginning I have been part of the team led by Gérald Tremblay, who shares my concerns for participatory democracy and transparency in public affairs.
Despite limited time, we have worked together to establish a new political party, create a constitution and define the orientations of our policy program. This program will be discussed, enriched and ratified by our members at the founding convention of the Montreal Island Citizens Union on Sunday, the 26th of August, at the University of Montreal Sports Complex.
To participate as a delegate, you should be a member of the MICU (at a cost of 5$ for two years). You still have time to register as a delegate for the different morning workshops. If you are interested, please get in touch with me as soon as possible. For easy access and consultation, at the end of this message, I have included the web site address of the Political Orientation program discussion paper made public yesterday.
The afternoon session, from 2:30-4:00 p.m., is open to everyone, and I invite you to join us with your family and friends. Our strong turn out will show how serious we are to affect change in the political philosophy of our city. As this will be a key moment in the campaign, I would greatly appreciate your support.
My friends, here is a unique opportunity to implement a new model for our city, a model offering a quality of life that corresponds to citizens’ expectations, and that addresses with enthusiasm and originality the new challenges that the 21st century presents for every large metropolis. I’m counting on your presence so that the voice of Montrealers be heard loud and strong at this very special event!
Thanks in advance for your support.
Helen Fotopulos Mile-End City Councillor
For program : english
Pour consulter le programme :
francais
DémocraCité rejects Tremblay plan, mayors' support and Bourque's scepticism
Montreal, August 16 - DémocraCité, the citizens' coalition opposed to forced mergers, has the following comments following the political platform outline released by Gérald Tremblay today:
Missing is any commitment to facilitate de-merger, despite it being the clear view of the Quebec population that the forced mergers are undemocratic and undesirable. Tremblay is as keen on the mega-city as is Pierre Bourque.
We are disappointed that so many mayors have aligned themselves with Tremblay despite the legal appeal against the forced merger law 170, which is to be heard in less than three weeks.
DémocraCité views with scepticism Pierre Bourque's remarks concerning Tremblay's proposals for enhancing democracy in Montreal. Bourque commented that there were similar provisions in the law. In fact, Bourque undid many earlier steps towards enhanced public participation when he assumed the mayoralty.
Personne ressource/contact: Kell Warshaw, DémocraCité, 488-2820
info@ decmocracite.org www.democracite.org
Thu 8/16/01 MAYORAL CANDIDATE UNVEILS HIS PARTY'S PLATFORM
If Gerald Tremblay is elected mayor of the new Montreal mega-city, he
says he'll try to keep taxes down. But he admits some people on the
island will face an increase.
...Tremblay says his campaign will focus on de-centralizing the power held by city hall.
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Tremblay says if elected, he will try to limit Montrealers' tax burden and also give more power to borough councils.
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He says he wants the councils of the proposed boroughs to have enough power to ensure the needs of all citizens are met.
montreal.cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?/news/2001/08/16/010816tremblay
Natalie Fotopulos (my sister) at 514-957-1351 or mailto:nfoto@videotron.ca Natty is also compiling a volunteer list. Please, do get in touch with her!
Helen Fotopulos Candidate Mile-End City Councillor
Mega-Montreal’s Transition Committee is deluding itself -- Tremblay and citizens, too!
Montreal, Monday August 13 Mega-mayor candidate Gérald Tremblay is fooling himself and the people over the effectiveness of the Montreal Transition Committee creating the proposed new city, according to the citizens’ advocacy group DémocraCité.
Tremblay told Pulse News on Friday that citizens should not worry about the plans for the new mega-city, because an advisory group of mayors was watching over their interests at the Transition Committee the government agents tasked with implementing the forced mergers.
“These are the same mayors who were led down the garden path last year when the government forced through its merger plan without any consultation,” said Raymond Proulx, president of DémocraCité. “Many have now rushed to the side of Tremblay who wants the mega-city as badly as does Pierre Bourque.”
Proulx speaks from experience of the Transition Committee. He led a DémocraCité group to meet members Monique Lefebvre (president), Patrick Kenniff (vice-president) and Sam Elkas for 90-minutes on Friday (August 10).
“We were dazzled by their outstanding politeness,” Proulx recalled, “but they declined to answer most of our questions -- which were provided in advance -- saying either they were premature, they did not know the answers or it was not in their mandate,” added Proulx. “Specific questions on how the budget would be shared by the boroughs were dismissed outright.”
Most of the citizens’ questions concerned democracy, the budget, and control of the unions. For example, each borough would elect councillors to the mega-council and the former suburbs would also have mini-councils for each borough. But the boroughs in the present Montreal would have no mini-councillors.
“There is clear democratic deficit! What is the committee doing about it?” asked Proulx.
“Despite repeated questioning we still could not determine whether it was the committee’s intention to apply standardized funding for services across the island, or whether the boroughs would be receiving additional funding to finance their existing programs.”
“So much for democracy and equity! Mme Lefebvre told us that the mergers were necessary so that Montreal could compete on the world stage. We didn’t bother to remind her that that theory had been discredited by every reputable study and by the diversified municipal structures of the world’s most successful economic zones like Boston and Silicon Valley.
“It has always been difficult to find anyone in the government or elsewhere who could explain why the forced mergers were a good idea. Now we can add the Transition Committee to the list!” said Proulx.
“We had a lot of trouble accepting the committee’s estimate of the transition cost at about $100 million. It is way too low. They expect that the government will pick up some, but we can be sure that the rest will be left to the citizens of the mega-city.
“How much would be borne by the new city? Would that amount be paid off next year or spread over several budgets? The Transition Committee couldn’t say. Whatever method will be chosen, all these extra costs and a fixed budget can only result in reduced services sooner or later.
“Mme Lefebvre talked of a general principle that the first year’s global budget would be the same as this year’s. But there will be higher costs due to inflation, particularly of fuel and labour, that don’t seem to have been considered” Proulx noted, “and there is apparently no thought being given to the affects of the budget beyond next year, since the mandate of the committee ends December 31.
Proulx believes that the Transition Committee is deluding itself about future labour costs. Under the forced merger laws, jobs are protected and pay frozen until next May. “Afterwards the unions are free to demand more and to establish wage parity throughout the island,” Proulx recalled.
“We challenged the committee to explain why this situation would not lead to more costs or reduced services.
“Mme Lefebvre explained that they had already recruited 500 managers who were keen to make the new city a success. She claimed that this would lead to a new culture which would in turn mean modest labour demands,” reported the incredulous Proulx.
“Imagine! Montreal’s union workers, now strengthened by island-wide membership, becoming modest in their demands!”
“When we arranged the meeting, we were worried about the lack of transparency and information from the Transition Committee
“We left with a feeling of impending disaster for the three million people in the region and by extension the province itself. The Transition Committee may be hardworking and well intentioned, but it is ignoring the enormous problems the merger creates and which cannot be settled by drafting a budget for one year,” Proulx concluded. “It is hard to imagine why Gérald Tremblay is so reassuring.”
July 2001
Jul 26 2001 CBC Dorval mayor Peter Yeomans and Pointe Claire mayor Bill McMurchie will both run for the Montreal Island Citizens Union.
The two mayors are still opposed to the megacity, and are fighting the provincial government's merger law in court.
However, Yeomans says it's time to move forward. He says Tremblay's platform represents the best hopes for people in Dorval.
Thu 7/26/01 7:57 AM More mayors join the team
Megacity mayoral hopeful Gerald Tremblay has added several high-profile candidates to his party, including two more suburban mayors and a former Quebec MNA.
Mayors Bill McMurchie of Pointe Claire and Peter Yeomans of Dorval are to announce today that they will run with Tremblay's Montreal Island Citizens' Union in the Nov. 4 Montreal megacity election.
Thu 7/26/01 7:57 AM Counting the poor
In March this year, 164,000 Montrealers turned to food banks to eat. They included the elderly, children in schools, women in emergency shelters. The volunteers who run the food banks were shocked this week to learn from the Fraser Institute that poverty across the country was just 8 per cent and that only one in 10 children should be classified as living in poverty.
For the second time in less than a decade, the Fraser Institute, which describes its aim as highlighting the role markets can play in the well-being of Canadians, has come out with figures that suggest that Canada's poverty rate is much lower - at 8 per cent - than the commonly used low-income cut-off lines published annually by Statistics Canada. Even though the government statistics-gathering agency insists that its income lines were not designed as poverty measures, they have been used as such in the absence of more accurate methods of calculation. By this standard, the poverty rate across the country is 17 per cent, and one in every five children lives in poverty.
Thu 7/19/01 8:27 AM Tremblay narrows down list
By: LINDA GYULAI
Gérald Tremblay hasn't placed any Help Wanted newspaper ads, but veteran and would-be municipal politicians are going through all of the usual job-seeking rigmarole to become megacity council candidates.
They must submit a curriculum vitae. Some, but not all, are invited to an interview with a selection committee. Sometimes they're called back for another.
Thu 7/19/01 8:27 AM Vathilakis joins Tremblay team
By: ALLISON LAMPERT
The chairman of the English Montreal School Board is stepping down to run for city council on mayoral candidate Gérald Tremblay's team.
George Vathilakis, 61, the outspoken leader of an often polarized board, is calling it quits after nearly two decades in school politics, his son confirmed yesterday.
Monday 16 July 2001 A dearth of democracy by HENRY AUBIN
New party's opaque nomination process leaves much to be desired
So far, Gérald Tremblay's party, the Montreal Island Citizens' Union, nominated candidates for 52 of the 104 seats up for grabs in the megacity election that Bill 170 has set for November.
From the outside, the process of choosing these people might seem plodding, antiseptic and uninteresting. Behind the scenes, this selection process is the stuff of high drama and low democratic ethics. Abysmally low.
Tue 7/10/01 6:58 AM Mayoral rivals team up
By: DARREN BECKER
Opponents of Montreal Mayor Pierre Bourque have banded together to try to ensure he doesn't become the first megacity mayor.
A new era in the city's political scene began yesterday with the creation of the Montreal Island Citizens Union, a merger of the Montreal Citizens Movement, which has existed for 27 years, and the United Island of Montreal Party, recently formed by megacity mayoral candidate Gérald Tremblay.
Does supporting Democracy Montreal at this time hurt the court cases?
You can’t put the genie back in the bottle. Several mayors fighting the court cases have thrown their support to Gerald Tremblay who accepts Bill 170. If this weakens the court cases the damage has already been done. In fact, support for our party cannot hurt the court cases because our platform is to totally circumvent Bill 170 and that is perfectly consistent with the court challenges. If we wait till the courts rule, it will be too late to get a party going. www.democratiemontreal.org/Questions_asked.htm
Tue 3/01/01 Shooting for mega-city mayor
By: Peter Black
LOG CABIN CHRONICLES
Should Gérald Tremblay become mayor of the "unified" City of Montreal next November, he would be the first in nearly fifty years to have been elected to another level of government. . www.tomifobia.com/black/gerald_tremblay.shtml
Sat 6/30/01 8:58 AM Taking on Mayor Bourque
The legal verdict is in on Bill 170, but the jury's still out on Montreal mayoral candidate Gérald Tremblay. Now that the merger law has been upheld in court, it's incumbent on Mr. Tremblay to spell out just how he would help island suburbs preserve their autonomy as districts in a new megacity.
So far, he represents the only serious challenge to Mayor Bourque's centralizing vision of the city. How strange then that this intelligent and apparently experienced political candidate has spent the past four months of the most crucial municipal election campaign in the city's history doing such a poor job getting onto the public's radar screen.
Mayoral hopeful Michel Prescott
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Sun 6/17/01 8:58 AM Prescott aims for mayoralty
By: DARREN BECKER
The Montreal Citizens' Movement yesterday selected Michel Prescott as its mayoral candidate for the megacity election amid repeated calls for a coalition to topple Mayor Pierre Bourque.
"Residents living in Montreal Island's suburbs have a lot to worry about if (Bourque) wins the election because as he's proved, his party isn't capable of running the city democratically," said Prescott, who was selected as mayoral candidate at the party's leadership convention by acclamation.
Fri 6/15/01 6:59 AM Danyluk is invited aboard
By: DARREN BECKER
Megacity mayoral candidate Gérald Tremblay says his United Island of Montreal party is big enough for him and Vera Danyluk.
Yesterday he invited Danyluk, chairman of the Montreal Urban Community, to join his party for the election on Nov. 4.
page 2 Archives
Tremblay during the first debate with Bourque (La Presse 2001/10/11)
NB There are two ME Gerald Tremblays
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