Parti Québécois Leader André Boisclair said he's prepared to offer new powers to the City of Montreal if his party forms the next provincial government.
Boisclair said a PQ government would allow Montreal to charge new fees and offer new incentives to businesses that are not permitted under current municipal-provincial structures.
"I'm ready to give Montreal all it needs in power to ensure the well-being of the economy, the people and the environment. I feel Montreal has the ability, the competence and the knowledge [to make decisions] without getting the approval of the Quebec government to proceed."
A PQ government would even consider granting Montreal additional taxation powers, in a pledge Mayor Gérald Tremblay called "courageous."
Tremblay has complained about the absence of urban issues and Montreal's future from the 2007 Quebec election campaign.
The city of Montreal has been hammering away at a deal with the current Liberal government for the last five years, Tremblay said.
Liberal Leader and current Premier Jean Charest said his party is aware of Montreal's challenges, and granted the city more than $100 million in the last provincial budget to tackle some of the issues.
Related
| Party | Elected | Leading | Total | Vote Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIB | 48 | 0 | 48 | 33.08% |
| ADQ | 41 | 0 | 41 | 30.80% |
| PQ | 36 | 0 | 36 | 28.32% |
| QS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.65% |
| GRN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.89% |
| OTH | 0 | 0 | 0 | .26% |
| Last Update:March 27, 12:52:21 AM EDT | ||||
Quebec Votes 2007 Headlines »
- Que. Liberals take minority win with grain of salt
- Quebec Premier Jean Charest said he'll build bridges with the Parti Québécois and the Action Démocratique du Québec to ensure a stable minority government.
- Dumont will work with Quebec Premier Charest
- Quebec's new Opposition Leader Mario Dumont said he wants stability at the national assembly and pledged to work with the Liberal minority government on a case-by-case basis.
- Boisclair remains at helm after PQ finishes 3rd
- André Boisclair is staying on as leader of the Parti Québécois and vowed to help rebuild the fractured party after it suffered major losses in Monday's provincial election.
- Quebec election result 'good news' for Canada: PM
- Stephen Harper says voters in the Quebec election have used their ballots to reject calls for another referendum in a "great result" for Canada.
- Charest keeps seat as Liberals cling to power in Quebec
- Quebecers are waking up to a minority Liberal government — the first minority in the province in 130 years — and a new official Opposition.