The mayoral race in Quebec City is gaining momentum as the municipal elections on Nov. 2 draw near. A recent survey by Leger in late September highlighted housing, homelessness, and transportation as key concerns in the provincial capital. Wondering where the city’s candidates stand on these critical issues? Let’s take a look.
**Bruno Marchand, Québec Forte et Fière:**
Bruno Marchand, who became Quebec’s 38th mayor in 2021, is seeking re-election under the Québec Forte et Fière banner. During his first term, a significant milestone was the approval of the Quebec City tramway project, estimated to cost around $7 billion. Marchand aims to construct 100,000 new housing units by 2040 and 5,000 family units by 2030. He has advocated for addressing homelessness issues, echoing calls for a dedicated official responsible for homelessness.
**Sam Hamad, Leadership Québec:**
Sam Hamad, a former Liberal MNA for Louis-Hébert, is now leading the new party Leadership Québec. He has pledged to tackle homelessness problems in the Saint-Roch neighborhood and has proposed an alternative bus system over the tramway project, estimating a cost of $4.2 billion.
**Stéphane Lachance, Respect Citoyens:**
Stéphane Lachance, running with the Respect Citoyens party, criticizes the tramway project for hindering city development. He emphasizes the importance of public transit while also highlighting the need to maintain parking spaces. Lachance’s focus includes prioritizing property ownership for young families and proposing collaborative efforts to address homelessness with increased police presence.
**Jackie Smith, Transition Québec:**
Jackie Smith, leading Transition Québec, advocates for social and family housing in new projects. The party plans to allocate $20 million annually for housing and homelessness initiatives, with a proposal to finance free public transit through increased vehicle registration taxes. Smith supports the tramway project and envisions expanding it to various areas.
**Claude Villeneuve, Québec d’abord:**
Claude Villeneuve, the leader of the Official Opposition, aims to reduce homelessness and improve public transit through the CITÉ Plan, which includes tramways and enhanced transport options. His plan involves constructing new housing units and doubling social housing targets.
**Anne Guérette, Parti du Monde:**
Anne Guérette, from Parti du Monde, proposes a structural public transit project to connect municipalities using a bridge. She emphasizes housing as a fundamental right, promising to support affordable housing projects and optimize existing infrastructure like the third link.
**Yves Laberge and Claudine Martineau, Independent Candidates:**
Yves Laberge opposes the tramway and third link projects, suggesting measures to address housing challenges. Claudine Martineau aims to eliminate waste, supporting local businesses and opposing the tramway project.
The diverse range of candidates in Quebec City’s mayoral race reflects a variety of approaches to key issues, offering voters a spectrum of choices.