Promises are easier to say than to do

Laurence Houde-Roy

Wednesday, 4 October 2017 00:00

UPDATE
Wednesday, 4 October 2017 00:00

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Team Denis Coderre and projet Montréal have made promises to these last days on the free access to public transport for which they have no control.

The decision to set the rates of public transport is no longer in Montreal, but much of the regional Authority of metropolitan transport (ARTM) since the 1st of June, which brings together the 82 municipalities of the Montreal region.

On Monday, the current mayor Denis Coderre has pledged in his election platform to “provide free access to the metro and buses on the weekends of four major events during the year”.

The leader of projet Montréal, Valérie Plante, has promised on Tuesday to offer a 40% discount to low-income people, in addition to offering free public transit at least 12 years of age and 65 years and over.

Negotiations

“The City of Montreal may not decide to impose its own tariffs, accurate, Florence Paulhiac, professor, specialized in urban planning and transportation at the UQAM. She will be able to request or propose to the ARTM, but it is the ARTM which will have the decision.”

Montreal is not the only player in the folder, although the mayor of Montreal and is a member of the board of directors of the ARTM.

ARTM has not wanted to comment directly on these promises, but indicates that there are several elements to consider before granting a gratuity or a change to prices.

The candidates for mayor were very firm on their promise at the press conference, but when asked about the responsibility of the ARTM, they are then shown to be more cautious.

Valérie Plante has promised the arrival of the tariff for the less fortunate, but when questioned on the responsibility of the ARTM eventually she instead promised to “negotiate with the ARTM”. “I’ll be at the bargaining table, and I’ll work on it day and night,” said Ms. Plant.

Denis Coderre has said without restraint that the four weekends free were feasible, at a press conference. Questioned further on the powers to ARTM, the press attaché to the mayor rather said on Tuesday that the party wants to suggest to the ARTM that experts are working on this issue.

Financial Impact

Such measures could, however, have an impact on the other municipalities covered by the ARTM. “There would still be a shortfall in the deal, so it will have to negotiate”, adds Ms. Paulhiac.

The free access of the metro and buses during the weekend of 29 and 30 July had cost$ 1M to the Société de transport de Montréal. The City of Montreal could offer the ARTM to compensate for these losses.

Denis Coderre account on the increase in ridership to subsidize his promise. Valérie Plante, meanwhile, can count on grants from the government.

Interviewed on the record by 24 Hours, the mayor of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Yves Corriveau, and the mayor of Beloeil, Diane Lavoie, hope that the bill will not be shifted.

-With the collaboration of Zechariah Goudreault, 24 Hours