By Robert Frank
www.thesuburban.com
Mouvement lavallois (ML) released the broad lines of its political platform during a news conference, Sept. 26.
The party’s candidate for mayor, Marc Demers, announced then main themes that it intends to implement if it is elected:
• Integrity. Like all other political parties running for city hall, ML wants to implement measures that would stem the collusion and corruption that has allegedly long been rife in Laval’s civic administration. It would increase competition for contract bids and supervise their implementation to avoid potential conflicts of interest.
• Transparency. Once again tilting at former mayor Gilles Vaillancourt’s party, which no longer exists, ML plans to let Laval citizens express their views by encouraging more citizen participation, publishing municipal debates on the internet and adopting freedom of information policies.
• Environment. Like other political parties, ML intends to declare a moratorium on development in Laval’s marshes and swamps. It has committed to stem “the massive felling of trees” and wants to “return riverfront access to Laval citizens”.
• Community life. ML reiterated its commitment to parks and other public places. It also wants to study how the old St. Vincent de Paul prison could be used to stimulate tourism.
• Urban planning. ML vaunted “clean and healthy” family housing, the protection of heritage sites and the revitalization of Laurentian and Labelle boulevards.
• Fitness and sport. ML said that it will release priority list for sport and recreational facilities in 2014, long after the upcoming election.
• Municipal finances. ML committed to establishing a business incubator, though it did not say whether it would be connected with the city’s existing Laval Technopole.
• Public transit. ML said that, by 2015, it would submit a report outlining what it plans to do. That would include a complete overhaul of the city’s bike paths by 2017, letting senior citizens ride Laval buses free, except during rush hour.
• Building bridges with the community. Though short on specifics, ML said it plans to reconnect with community groups. It also intends to beef up the city’s library network to fight illiteracy.
• Sustainable development. ML said that, by 2020, it intends to reduce Laval’s greenhouse gas production rate to 20 per cent less than the city emitted in 1990.
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