Three candidates running for mayor in Montreal outlined their distinct visions for the city in a recent debate hosted by CBC. Soraya Martinez Ferrada of Ensemble Montréal, Luc Rabouin of Projet Montréal, and Craig Sauvé of Transition Montréal engaged in discussions regarding the pressing issues of the housing crisis, homelessness, and affordability.
While all three candidates acknowledged the challenges facing Montreal, they presented differing approaches to address them. Martinez Ferrada emphasized the need to enhance the city’s cleanliness, improve housing accessibility, tackle encampments, retain families in Montreal, and ensure effective resource allocation.
Sauvé advocated for Montreal to become the most affordable city in North America by prioritizing public housing initiatives and democratic reforms to amplify community voices in decision-making processes. Rabouin focused on combating climate change by promoting greener neighborhoods, enhancing operational efficiency in Montreal, and fostering a vibrant economic and cultural landscape.
In terms of housing affordability, Martinez Ferrada criticized Projet Montréal’s housing bylaw for deterring developers with stringent inclusion requirements. She proposed incentivizing collaborations with non-profits for housing development instead. Rabouin sought to strengthen the bylaw by mandating social and affordable housing without allowing developers to opt-out through fines. Despite some criticisms, the bylaw generated significant funds reinvested in social and affordable housing projects.
Addressing homelessness, Sauvé proposed taxing affluent homeowners to boost investments in essential services for vulnerable populations. He emphasized the urgency of providing modular housing, shelters, and comprehensive support services instead of displacing encampments. Martinez Ferrada called for decentralized, smaller shelters across all boroughs to better support unhoused individuals without relocating them extensively. Rabouin pledged to increase funding for community organizations aiding the homeless and expand modular housing initiatives.
Regarding city infrastructure and roadwork, Sauvé advocated for increased municipal supervision over infrastructure projects to enhance citizen welfare and project efficiency. Rabouin proposed centralizing coordination of street repairs to streamline operations and accountability. Martinez Ferrada stressed the need for improved coordination of construction sites using modern technology to minimize traffic disruptions.
In terms of bike paths, Rabouin highlighted the success of express bike lanes and expressed the need for further expansion to accommodate growing demand. Sauvé emphasized extending bike networks to promote safe cycling spaces for all residents, enhancing road safety and accessibility. Martinez Ferrada underscored the importance of inclusive, well-planned bike paths that cater to diverse transportation needs and facilitate urban mobility.
On public transportation, Martinez Ferrada emphasized enhancing Metro safety and scheduling, emphasizing regional planning to secure funding from higher government levels. Sauvé proposed making public transit more affordable, expanding bus frequency, and planning for future Metro extensions. Rabouin supported increasing bus services and constructing additional bus lanes independently to improve public transit efficiency.
All three candidates met CBC’s participation criteria for the debate, with the municipal election scheduled for November 2, 2025.