Ethics dominates municipal debate

Questions of municipal ethics dominated the final televised debate ahead of Montreal's Nov. 1 election, with all three candidates often talking over one another.

The debate came one day after Vision Montreal Leader Louise Harel's lieutenant Benoît Labonté was forced to resign and drop out of the election amid allegations he met with and accepted donations from Tony Accurso — the construction entrepreneur at the centre of the city's water-meter scandal.

Harel used the debate to try to confront Mayor Gérald Tremblay, accusing his party of being responsible for the "leaks" to the media that forced Labonté to resign.

She also alleged that the $355-million water-meter contract has not been cancelled, contrary to previous statements by the mayor.

Harel said such a move would require a vote from council, which has yet to take place.

Replying to Harel's accusations, Tremblay said the city had sent legal notice to the GÉNIeau consortium advising them of the cancellation of the water-meter contract. He said the city had already received a $91-million bill for the cancellation.

Tremblay danced around Harel's insinuations that his team could be responsible for the undoing of Labonté, accusing Harel of trying to "justify the errors of her past" by pointing the finger at others.

While she was municipal affairs minister, Tremblay said Harel did nothing to address questions of municipal ethics.

Asked about Harel's accusations again in a news conference following the debate, Tremblay denied that his party had anything to do with the media reports alleging Labonté had accepted more than $100,000 in donations from Accurso.

Projet Montreal Leader Richard Bergeron also pointed the finger at Tremblay's Union Montreal party for a fundraising event in St-Leonard in May 2008 during which $49,760 in anonymous donations were collected.

"I am the only person here who can guarantee the integrity of the next municipal administration," said Bergeron, who has recruited the head of the inquiry into the federal sponsorship scandal, John Gomery, as an adviser.

Bergeron also pointed out that it was he who asked for a police investigation into the awarding of the water-meter contract.

Tremblay dismissed Bergeron's accusations, saying that there is nothing illegal about accepting anonymous donations under $100.

He said his administration had taken the necessary steps upon learning of concerns regarding the water-meter contract and has taken measures to prevent contractors found guilty of collusion or corruption from bidding on city contracts for the next five years.

Services for citizens

Tremblay defended his record as mayor, pointing to the success of the city's new festival district and the Bixi bike-sharing program launched this year as proof that the city is changing for the better.

"We have to realize there are good things happening in Montreal and that Montreal's future is promising," said Tremblay.

Tremblay said his administration is working to undo the effects of the neglect of the city's roads by previous administrations and will invest $603 million more over the next four years.

"We cannot invest any more," said Tremblay. "Technically, it is impossible."

He said his administration has also improved public transit and if re-elected would implement tolls to help reduce the number of cars in the city.

But Harel said the current system of administration means that different areas of the island are treated differently.

She promised to centralize certain services including snow clearing and road maintenance.

Harel said Vision Montreal would invest another $25 million annually to fill potholes and would freeze public transit rates.

Tremblay dismissed Harel's plan as an attempt to "destabilize the boroughs" that would require thousands of employees to be transferred to the central city.

Bergeron denounced what he called the timidity of both parties' transportation plans.

During four years he said the city was able to prepare for Expo '67 and build the Metro, yet he said Union Montreal says it would more than three years to build a tramway system.

The Projet Montreal leader said his party would also centralize responsibility for snow removal.

Chief electoral officer looking into situation

As the calls for a public inquiry into allegations of collusion and corruption in the construction industry and alleged ties to municipal politicians continued to mount, Premier Jean Charest said he would leave the file in the hands of Quebec's chief electoral officer.

Charest said some cases are already under investigation by provincial police.

Denis Dion, a spokesman for chief electoral officer Marcel Blanchet, said he was looking into whether an investigation into Labonté's case is warranted

"If money was given out, and the money was given to a candidate for the leadership of a political party, the chief electoral officer cannot intervene, it isn't our business," said Dion.

"If the money was given [directly] to a political party, then the rules for municipal elections and referendums must apply," Dion said.