Vision Montreal leader Louise Harel is greeted by Black Coalition president Dan Philip. (CBC)Montreal mayoralty candidate Louise Harel has received a boost thanks to the support of some well-known members of Montreal's English-speaking community on Friday.

However a decision to speak out in favour of the Vision Montreal leader by Quebec Black Coalition president Dan Philip has angered some.

Philip and respected constitutional lawyer Julius Grey have joined a group calling themselves the Friends of Louise Harel, and have launched a website to support her.

Harel has been the subject of criticism because of her past as a minister with the sovereignist Parti Quebecois and because of her limited ability in English.

Philip said Harel also fought for issues of deep concern to the black community during her time as an MNA.

Philip said Harel fought for the government to cover legal costs for the family of 18-year-old Fredy Villanueva in an upcoming inquest that will examine his shooting death by the Montreal police.

He said Harel also pushed for a moratorium on the use of stun guns by police.

"I don't know someone who has advocated more for the less fortunate than Louise Harel," said Philip.

Philip also dismissed criticism about Harel's language skills.

"When we get caught up in if she peaks enough English, enough French, we deviate from the fundamental issues," he said.

The Vision Montreal leader welcomed the support.

"Some newspapers, they depicted me as a witch," said Harel.Noel Alexander, president of Montreal's Jamaica Association, says Philip's backing of Harel will anger many members of the black community. (CBC)

Controversial backing

Members of the Mayor Gérald Tremblay's Union Montreal party seemed unconcerned about the potential impact of the website.

"I think that it is going to take a lot more than a few people setting up a website for Louise Harel to change people's minds on multiculturalism and diversity," said Snowdon Councilor Marvin Rotrand.

Some members of Montreal's black community agreed with Rotrand's perception.

"A lot of people are going to be mad," said Noel Alexander, president of Montreal's Jamaica Association, about Philip's decision to back Harel.

Alexander acknowledges he is disappointed Union Montreal did not offer a seat to its former president Brenda Paris.

After her request to run in the Côte-des-Neiges – Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough was turned down, Paris quit Union Montreal to run for Vision Montreal instead.

Alexander said that move was a mistake.

"People still see [Harel] as a separatist, and they still remember she is part of the people who create the one island, one city. And look at the damned stupidness that caused," said Alexander.

Kéder Hippolyte, president of the National Council of Citizens of Haitian Origin, who has provided financial backing for Louise Harel's political campaigns in the past, said he won't support her this time around.

Hippolyte said he is still angry about comments Harel made in March, referring to the city as a series of ethnic enclaves. Harel said those comments were blown out of proportion.

"I am very able this morning to build bridges with many communities," Harel said.

Montrealers go to the polls on Nov. 1.