Harel to stay on as opposition leader
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 | 6:24 PM ET
CBC News
Louise Harel presented the 19 members of her caucus during a news conference on Wednesday. (CBC)Louise Harel says she plans to stick it out as opposition leader.
The Vision Montreal leader has laid relatively low since her defeat in Sunday’s civic election, but brought her whole team out for a news conference Wednesday at City Hall.
Harel smiled and laughed with reporters as she was asked time and time again whether she intended to remain in municipal politics.
"I assume this responsibility with a certain sense of duty," Harel said.
"The advantage is that I will always get to stay at one house," said the former Parti Québécois MNA who travelled between her Montreal-area riding and Quebec during her 27 years at the national assembly.
Asked whether she would stick around for her full four-year mandate, Harel asked the reporter whether he would still be around then.
Harel was quick to take aim at Mayor Gerald Tremblay’s first move following his re-election.
On Monday, Tremblay announced the city would stop handing out non-essential contracts until it could review the tendering process following allegations of corruption and collusion in the construction industry.
Harel questioned why the mayor is no longer reiterating his demand for a public inquiry into the allegations.
And, Harel added, all city contracts should be reviewed by bipartisan committees of councillors before being sent to the executive committee.
"It is allowing elected officials to make very wise and informed decisions," Harel said.
She said that is how contracts are awarded in Toronto.
The opposition leader said she will table a motion calling for the measure at the first meeting of the new council Nov. 16.
