Action Montreal’s Gilbert Thibodeau wants to check all the numbers

Action Montreal puts emphasis on business and industry, says leader Gilbert Thibodeau.

CTV News anchor Mutsumi Takahashi spoke to the five main candidates for Montreal’s next mayor.

Action Montreal is led by entrepreneur Gilbert Thibodeau.

Mutsumi Takahashi:

“Action Montreal puts emphasis on business and industry, founded, it’s said, by people who say they want the city to have a sound financial management; how exactly do you plan to do that?”

Gilbert Thibodeau:

“The first thing we have to do is to check all the numbers in Montreal. It looks like nobody takes care of how much the public pays. It’s a lot of taxes, a lot of different places that you spend, you spend, you spend, and you never know what is the new service for what I pay. So, the first 100 days, I always say, I’m going to check all the numbers because we have to serve the public. And this is not exactly what’s happening in the last 10, 12, 15, years.”

Mutsumi Takahashi:

“The issue of linguistic rights is very important to the English community. What is your commitment to them under your administration? Will they always be guaranteed essential services in English?”

Gilbert Thibodeau:

“Yeah, that’s for sure. I don’t know if somebody said that it is not important. I think it is one of the most important things is to take care of all the people in Montreal, for sure. And I hope you agree with me, Montreal is a French city. It’s in the constitution of Montreal, but everybody in Montreal has to be well served, especially people who speak English. They did help to develop Montreal, and everybody knows that.”

Mutsumi Takahashi:

“What do you think Montreal’s biggest problem is right now? And how would you fix it?”

Gilbert Thibodeau:

“There are 103 elected people in Montreal, believe it or not. If you take New York, there are 51 elected people, Toronto, 25, and Quebec City, 21. Those three cities together have less than the 103 elected people in Montreal. It’s amazing, nobody knows what to do, and the only answer you hear from them is, ‘it’s not my fault. It’s somebody else.’ Something is wrong. We have to serve, and I will always repeat that: serve the public. Now, nobody knows what’s happening in Montreal. There are too many people, and nobody makes any decision for a long time.”

Mutsumi Takahashi:

“If there is one single most important thing your party is offering that the other parties are not, that would improve the lives of Montrealers. What is it?”

Gilbert Thibodeau:

“Property, cleaning the house, cleaning the city, all the way. And second, cut different prices.

I’m going to give you a few examples: First, we have to cut the price of the parking meters. And second, we have to cut the price of the vignettes for cars. This is not a lot, but it is a beginning. We want to prove to the citizens that we are there for them, and we’re going to try to cut different prices, too expensive, and you said something that nobody said, yet, I want to reopen the ski centre Le Mont Royal to make Montreal families have fun during the winter. So this is three points. Nobody else talks about that."

Mutsumi Takahashi:

“There are always many promises during election campaigns. What assurances do we have that you will keep your promise?”

Gilbert Thibodeau:

“Try me? It took 12 to 14 years, the people are getting and I’m sorry if I say it, but they are pissed off. They know nobody says what they’re going to do, and if it is true, just try me. Give me four years, you’ll see a difference. And I’m sure people will say, finally! Finally, somebody did what he said.”