Despite trailing behind in polls, Montreal mayoral candidates are still hopeful

With just four days left before voters head to the polls, lesser-known parties are focusing on face-to-face conversations to win over undecided Montrealers.

In four days, Montreal will have a new mayor.

The underdog candidates in the race are making sure every interaction with potential voters has an impact.

“This is where the battle needs to be, with the voters. And, we are confident that if they believe in our program, they’ll vote for us,” says Futur Montréal leader Jean-François Kacou.

He adds he knows it could be an uphill battle on Sunday, when Montrealers will cast their ballot.

In the weeks leading up to the election, his party has not polled well compared to frontrunners Ensemble Montréal and Projet Montréal.

Kacou says that while the polls are important, “the most important job right now is to talk and speak to Montrealers.”

“We want to also increase the voter turnout,” he adds.

Transition Montréal’s Craig Sauvé has a similar mindset in these final days of campaigning.

Polls show his party is trailing, but, with only a few days left, Sauvé still has hope.

“With so many ‘undecideds’, it’s hard to tell where things are going,” he says. “So I think we have a lot of opportunity. I see a very exciting election night here in Montreal.”

For Futur Montreal, a key focus of the campaign has been to reach the younger generation.

Even if he isn’t elected Sunday, Kacou wants to lay a foundation for 2029.

“We are showing them that the city can do a lot more than they think regarding their future,” he says.

“I’m going to them; I’m talking to them. And I’m saying to them, ‘Hey, you need to pay attention to this because it’s your future.’”

For Sauvé, it’s a different mindset given how close he thinks his party is.

“We’re at a place in our history in Montreal where we need big ideas and we need clear vision. And I don’t think the, the mudslinging, has been something that the voters have appreciated so far,” he says.

“I’m feeling it on the ground. People are coming up to me. They’re coming up to our candidates and talking about us. So I think we’re doing well,” he adds.

CTV News also requested an interview with the leader of Action Montreal – in third place in recent polling – but the request was denied.

Voting will take place from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday.