The leaders of Ensemble Montréal and Projet Montréal shared a stage on Thursday to present their visions for the city. Luc Rabouin and Soraya Martinez Ferrada held more of a discussion than a debate, with no obvious knockout blow. The event was hosted by the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations. For an hour, both leaders talked of Montreal on the international scene, but there was a whole lot of conversation about issues being felt right here at home. “Housing will be my absolute priority number one,” said Rabouin. Martinez Ferrada agreed with him, saying, “you cannot be a country of G7 having people sleeping on a tent on Notre-Dame Street.” However, both leaders appear to present different visions. Martinez Ferrada says Montreal has a lot issues that need to be fixed. Rabouin counters by saying the city is doing well but is facing certain problems. “You cannot give the sense to citizens that Montreal can have the ambition and dream again if you cannot show to citizens that you are taking care of business,” said Martinez Ferrada. But Rabouin, while acknowledging “we have challenges,” insists that “overall, Montreal has a very good reputation, and the city is doing well.” One party leader who was not on the stage was Craig Sauvé, who is running for mayor with a new party called Transition Montréal. “I think this race is wide open. I don’t think the leaders of the two traditional parties are that well-known,” Sauvé said. “I’m someone that’s been in the political scene in Montreal for over 15 years, so people do know me as well. I think it’s a fair race right now.” The debate surrounding key issues in the city has just begun as Friday is the first official day of the municipal campaign. Election day is Nov. 2.
