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Election notebook
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Latest lowdown on local scraps and screaming matches in Megamayormania
by PATRICK LEJTENYI
The upscale, heavily anglo-Jewish riding of Côte-St-Luc/Hampstead/Montreal-West faces some big questions. Number one: whatever became of the endlessly discussed extension of Cavendish? The mayor wants a direct extension, and is relying on sporting-goods-vendor-turned-rookie pol Harvey Liverman to sell the idea to the locals. "It'll definitely build up the local economy, especially the Cavendish Mall, which is really suffering," says the former Concordia basketball coach. His borough-level opponents, Union man and 31-year-old overachiever Anthony Housefather and independent Ruth Kovac, both favour an indirect extension. Meanwhile, no one knows who'll pay for it or how much it'll cost. Number two: what about the Meadowbrook golf course, which faces looming development? Housefather and Liverman are for keeping the course green, but Kovac believes the owners can do as they please. And if that means more condos, so be it.
Another leafy, upscale suburb also has development debates. Nuns' Island residents, until January 1, 2002 a part of Verdun, have been long worried about the future of their much-diminished forest. A good chunk of it has already been levelled and developed, and the 31-hectare rump is in limbo. Team Bourque's man, independent Verdun city councillor Robert Isabelle, says the mayor has earmarked $5-million for preservation purposes. "We will use that $5-million to acquire and preserve greenspace on the southern tip of the island," Isabelle says. "With the remaining funds, we would buy and preserve other property for citizens' recreation and for natural habitat for flora and fauna." Stuff and nonsense, says Tremblay candidate and Verdun mayor George Bossé. After years of wrangling, he says, an agreeable solution has been agreed upon that will not only preserve 26 hectares, but also includes plans for a new forest, low-rise development only, and more greenspace. "If we decide to expropriate the remaining forest from [the landowners]," Bossé says, "it will ruin all the other agreements we made with the other developers." A complex land-swap deal will sink if the city reneges on existing deals.
In yet one more green, anglo and rich town, this time Westmount, independent councillor John de Castell won the megarace's first seat by acclamation. The Union party fielded no candidates there, and Team Bourque couldn't fill all three spots. Asked if running unopposed was truly democratic, de Castell says, "I ran unopposed because Westmounters are so unanimously opposed to the megacity and this assault on democracy, which are inherent in the draconian measures by [Municipal Affairs minister] Louise Harel and the PQ."
Monday's debate between Pierre Bourque and Gérald Tremblay was a lulu. The all-English debate, held in Pointe-Claire, saw Tremblay wipe the floor with the mayor in front of a vocal, intensely anti-Bourque crowd. "Mr. Bourque, look me in the eye! Look me in the eye!" Tremblay urged him, questioning his honesty, to hoots and laughter. The mayor managed to keep his cool, resigned to getting pasted. His reassurances that anglos would have a voice in the new megacity were greeted with jeers, while Tremblay enjoyed several standing ovations. The debate was more lively than others, beginning with the forced expulsion of unruly (and uninvited) White Elephant party mayoral candidate Michel Bédard. He was forcefully escorted out, screaming, "This is a manipulation of public opinion!"
Finally, a word on salaries. The Montreal Transition Committee released these figures on Oct. 12. This is how much your elected representatives will earn while working for you, the voter:
Mayor: $130,235
President of the executive committee: $103,135
Vice-president: $94,700
Executive committee members and head of the opposition: $80,500
City councillors: $45,000
Borough councillors: $23,700
Borough presidents: Depending on population, between $52,000 and $66,000
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