Three candidates running for Montreal mayor shared their differing visions for the city in a recent debate hosted by CBC. The candidates, Soraya Martinez Ferrada from Ensemble Montréal, Luc Rabouin from Projet Montréal, and Craig Sauvé from Transition Montréal, discussed key issues such as the housing crisis, homelessness, and affordability.
While all candidates acknowledged the challenges facing Montreal, they presented distinct approaches to addressing them. Martinez Ferrada emphasized the need to enhance the city’s cleanliness, increase housing accessibility, tackle encampments, retain families in Montreal, and ensure better value for public spending.
Sauvé advocated for making Montreal the most affordable city in North America by prioritizing public housing initiatives and implementing democratic reforms to amplify community voices in decision-making processes.
Rabouin focused on combating climate change through the creation of greener neighborhoods and sponge parks, alongside efforts to enhance the city’s operational efficiency and foster a vibrant economy and cultural scene.
In terms of housing affordability, Martinez Ferrada criticized Projet Montréal’s housing bylaw, suggesting that it deters developers by imposing fines for not including social and affordable housing units in new projects. She proposed incentivizing collaboration with non-profits to develop housing solutions.
Rabouin, on the other hand, advocated for stricter requirements mandating social and affordable housing in developments, noting the positive impact of the existing bylaw in generating funds for social housing investments.
Sauvé called for obligatory social housing in future bylaws, emphasizing the city’s role in driving real affordable housing solutions through zoning regulations and prioritizing public interests over private market dynamics.
Regarding homelessness, Sauvé proposed taxing wealthy homeowners to boost investments in support services, prioritize modular housing construction, and enhance resources for those experiencing homelessness.
Martinez Ferrada and Rabouin underscored the need for improved support for encampments and unhoused individuals, emphasizing the importance of decentralized shelters and increased funding for community organizations.
On city infrastructure and roadwork, Sauvé highlighted the potential for city staff to undertake infrastructure projects, aiming to establish a municipal agency for efficient project management. Rabouin suggested centralizing street repair coordination to streamline operations and enhance accountability.
In terms of bike paths, Rabouin praised the success of existing bike lanes and emphasized the demand for further expansions. Sauvé advocated for extended bike networks to ensure safe cycling spaces for residents, promoting both mobility and road safety.
Addressing public transportation, Martinez Ferrada called for improved Metro safety and regional planning for enhanced funding. Sauvé proposed making public transit more affordable, increasing service frequency, and planning future Metro extensions to optimize existing resources efficiently.
The three candidates met CBC’s participation criteria based on polling data and party representation, with Montreal’s municipal election scheduled for November 2, 2025.
