Montreal vs the CAQ

Gazette columnist Allison Hanes writes about Montreal’s problems with the CAQ, but nothing here should be a surprise. We elected only two CAQ MNAs from the far eastern end of the island, one of whom is a nonentity. François Legault is well aware his party’s support doesn’t come from the city, and that’s not likely to change, so why should he?

One thing Hanes does remind me about is Denis Coderre’s supposed big success in having Montreal declared a metropolis. This turned out to be a meaningless gesture, because it came with no additional revenue source, and the current administration sees no benefit in according the city the respect implied by that status. If anything, it buys CAQ approval in the regions if they can be seen to crack down on the pullulating mass of immigrants, anglos and other scruff that populate – nay, besmirch – Quebec’s biggest city.

Historically, it will probably be seen as Valérie Plante’s biggest challenge that she had to pilot Montreal through a period when the provincial government was essentially hostile to its supposed metropolis.