Urban Expansion | According to Bruno Marchand, Quebec should change its “misleading” speech

(Quebec) The Legal government needs to change its “misleading”, “popular” and “dangerous” discourse on the fight against urban expansion and decentralization, urging Quebec Mayor Bruno Marchand not to hesitate if necessary. Play the role of opposition.

Charles Lecavalier
Press

When we are told that it is a fad, “Who are we to tell people where to live?” That being said, and especially when we confuse land occupation and density… the government will not go and play on this populist‌. On Wednesday at a press conference for the Asis 2022 exhibition of the Union of Quebec Municipalities to be held in Quebec City on Thursday and Friday, Mr. Denied the march, which is really dangerous.

Mr. Marchand, as Several other newly elected mayors made the fight against climate change one of the priorities of his administration last November. And for cities, it requires land use planning and urban density, he recalled. He opposed the development model of people settling tens of kilometers away from their place of work and traveling in auto-solo.

He replied to “some ministers” last month, including Transport Minister Franకోois Bonnardell: “I mean to a young family: for fashion densification, you’re going to live to be 12 years old. -Stairs tower?”. He reiterated this argument Monday.

TuesdayMunicipal Affairs Minister Andre LaForrest also confirmed the need to avoid the confusion of “urban expansion” and “regional development” and accused Premier Franకోois Legalt of wanting a “moratorium” on development in favor of urban density in Quebec Solidire. Regions

“Densification is not against the occupation of territory. When I hear that the government is using this argument against us, I think it is wrong,” he denied.

The housing crisis

At its meeting, the Union of Municipalities explores two main themes: the fight against the housing crisis and climate change. She estimates there is a shortage of between 40,000 and 60,000 dwellings to find balance in Quebec. The Quebec mayor sees a direct connection between the two things.

“How can we increase density if we cannot have social and affordable housing in urban centers? If you can not restore balance, how do you tell people to “come live in city centers”? All municipalities are facing problems with social and affordable housing, ”he said.

He said the Legalt government would “seize the urgency” and he hoped his speech would meet this need. Its actions must be “powerful” so that cities can function now and not “in four years, eight years or twelve”.

Such clashes between the Quebec government and the mayor of a large city are rare. Will Mr. Marchand or other mayors replace the opposition parties?

“Depending on the election results, mayors may have to press their feet further. […] If necessary, we will. We do not respond to personal interest, we respond to the interest of citizens and the problems they experience on a daily basis, and without the support of the Quebec government the municipal world would not be able to move so fast. And as long as the citizens want it, “he said.

Election Commitments

Gaspay Mayor and UMQ President Daniel Cote confirms that denationalization must take place everywhere in the world, although not in Gaspay, Quebec or Montreal. “This is a huge, global trend,” he said.

Prime Minister Franois Legalt will address the mayors on Thursday and opposition leaders will do the same on Friday. Mr. Kot expects commitments for the election campaign. As for the Prime Minister, he confirms that UMQ has made its political staff aware that they understand that the UMQ has agreements on the two main themes of the 2022 Conference, climate change and the fight and adaptation to the housing crisis.