The mayoral race in Quebec City is intensifying as the municipal elections on Nov. 2 draw near. A recent survey conducted by Leger and published in late September highlighted housing, homelessness, and transportation as the primary concerns in the provincial capital. Where do the candidates in the city stand on these critical issues? Let’s take a look.
Bruno Marchand, Québec Forte et Fière
Bruno Marchand, who became the 38th mayor of Quebec in 2021, is seeking re-election under the banner of Québec Forte et Fière. During his first term, an agreement was finalized for the construction of the Quebec City tramway. This project, with an estimated cost of approximately $7 billion, was given the green light by the Legault government after years of uncertainty. The tramway, initially proposed in 2018 under Régis Labeaume’s administration, aimed to reduce daily road traffic by up to 12,500 cars.
Marchand has set ambitious targets, including constructing 100,000 new housing units by 2040 and 5,000 family housing units by 2030. He has also advocated for the appointment of a dedicated official, similar to Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante’s proposal, to address homelessness effectively.
Sam Hamad, Leadership Québec
Sam Hamad, a long-time figure in provincial politics, is now leading the newly formed party, Leadership Québec. In September, Hamad pledged to tackle homelessness issues in the Saint-Roch neighborhood by collaborating with various stakeholders and implementing community-driven solutions. Leadership Québec opposes the tramway project and instead proposes the establishment of a 28-kilometer dedicated bus system, termed Service rapide par bus (SRB), connecting suburbs to downtown areas and existing public transit lines.
The party estimates the total cost of the SRB system at around $4.2 billion for the entire city.
Stéphane Lachance, Respect Citoyens
Stéphane Lachance, an entrepreneur with four decades of experience and co-founder of the movement Tramway non merci, is running under the Respect Citoyens party. Lachance, who previously ran for the Quebec Conservative party, emphasizes that the tramway project has hindered the city’s progress by monopolizing resources and impeding development.
Respect Citoyens aims to prioritize property ownership for young families, focusing on increasing the housing supply rather than relying on aid programs that drive up demand and prices. Lachance also advocates for enhanced public transit while recognizing the importance of automobiles in the city.
Jackie Smith, Transition Québec
Jackie Smith, the leader of Transition Québec and a city councillor for Limoilou since 2021, has been involved in municipal politics for over a decade. Transition Québec’s platform emphasizes the importance of accessible housing, efficient transportation, and vibrant neighborhoods.
