“It's so hard!”: Valerie Plante opens up about her role as mayor and her health

The year 2024 promises to be full of challenges for Valerie Plante, both professionally and personally.

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In an interview with Paul LaRocque, the Montreal mayor returned to the discomfort that forced him to take a break last fall.

“Everything is going great. All the tests have been completed,” she assured.

However, this incident forced Mrs. Plante to change the routine of her life.

“I already have some good mechanisms. I love doing sports, it's part of my life, but I think I can fit more into my schedule and have more time to be with my family and slow down,” she explains. .

Valerie Plante also hopes the episode will encourage other people to slow down at work.

“It shows to what extent a job“, we sometimes have to be able to listen to ourselves and set up mechanisms to say at a certain moment: 'It's time for me to rest'”, Meyer maintains.

“You should never underestimate the importance of taking care of yourself,” she adds.

Impact on his family

The discomfort Valerie Plante experienced on December 5 had a significant impact on those closest to her.

“My mother was very worried,” she said.

“Valery is not the only mayor. It's like my whole family follows Mayor's rhythm. Inevitably, it affects them,” Ms. Plante adds.

The third commandment

However, Valerie Plante has “no doubt” that she will be a candidate in the next municipal elections, even if the socio-political context is considered difficult, especially due to international conflicts and economic conditions.

“It is Tough! You have to manage hard. We are not necessarily involved in big projects. We need to be able to reassure the population and I want to support the people,” Ms Plante said.

Over the next year, the mayor hopes to address the city's sanitation and homelessness, but she worries about the housing crisis.

Valerie Plante, who has refused to call for a reduction in immigration thresholds, believes in accelerating housing projects.

“I wish I had this conversation earlier because the housing crisis, when I was elected in 2017, I was already talking about it. I feel a shame that we are having the same conversation even in 2024,” she expressed.

The mayor of Montreal also wants to see the creation of a “strike team” to join the three levels of government to combine the tools of Montreal, provincial and federal government.

Helping traders

Valerie Plante also promises “fewer orange cones and smaller orange cones.”

One of its priority objectives is to help traders.

“It's hard for the rest of us! We see it. There are restaurants closing, small businesses having to pay back their federal loans, even though we're in a recession,” she declared.

Ms. said the city of Montreal could do more to support its businesses. Plante opined. The latter addresses, among other things, local commercial arteries and pedestrian streets in ways that help merchants.

“The city, we don't have the financial resources like the provincial to provide direct assistance to merchants, but what I can do is rue Sainte-Catherine or Old Montreal are vibrant corners that people want. Go shopping instead of going to Carrefour Laval or Dix30. I want them to come to Montreal and say, : 'Girl, it's so nice here!'' she said.

To watch the full interview, watch the video above.