How a third party came to an end

La Presse looks at how a third municipal party very nearly came together then fell apart before the four principals could achieve any unity of action.

Criticism has been made of Plante and Projet for trying to enforce some kind of overall party discipline, but this story is a counterexample of how parties are not made. Parties at the federal and provincial level literally have an official called a whip who ensures that elected members toe the party line. Municipally, I don’t believe the same role exists, and it’s only peer pressure and the strength of character of the leader that binds people of varying opinions into something called a party – which is one reason municipal parties don’t last long, and often crumble once the initial, charismatic leadership is gone.