Westmount wannabes are revolting

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by George Maddux

We can't all move in the same circles as the pinkie-out tea drinkers of Westmount. But we might be inspired by the bold initiative of the Circle Road Association, which figures that if you can't move to Westmount, then move Westmount to you.

A recent petition to join Westmount was circulated on the road that lies west of Victoria between the Boulevard and Queen Mary and received 450 signatures--around 98 per cent of the road's residents. Better snow clearance, lower taxes, a cuter library, more English services and increased home values are roundly cited as the advantages of the plan.

As the province, City of Montreal and various municipalities now jockey for a new regional structure, residents consider this a good time to circle the wagons, says councillor Marvin Rotrand. He sympathizes with the Circle folks, even though the residents are attempting to flee his Montreal riding. "Suburban municipalities have more democratic rights. They can hold referendums, challenge bylaws, and the nearness of the local council ensures much more public awareness," says Rotrand.

But the Circle Road annexation, which Westmount Mayor Peter Trent tentatively supports, could be short-circuited because the area is not geographically connected to Westmount. Indeed, the proposal would create an unprecedented, separate island of Westmountness, a sort of Beemer-driving municipal equivalent of cold-war West Berlin.

Rotrand says new rounds of similar initiatives to redraw island boundaries are undoubtedly forthcoming.

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