Soraya Martinez Ferrada, the frontrunner in the Montreal mayoral race, has unveiled her plans to address flooding issues in the city. With a focus on preventive measures, she has committed to investing $20 million in the RénoPlex program for homeowners and establishing a Climate Emergency Reserve Fund of $10 million annually for boroughs to manage extreme weather events. Additionally, her platform includes initiatives such as land purchases for stormwater absorption and expediting the Langelier collector project.
Ferrada empathized with Montrealers affected by flooding, expressing the need to provide solutions for a better quality of life without constant fear. Alongside this announcement, her party introduced candidates for Saint-Laurent, including Alan DeSousa for borough mayor and councilor candidates Vana Nazarian, Jacques Cohen, Aref Salem, and Annie Gagner.
Leading the polls with 18%, Ferrada faces competition from Projet Montréal Leader Luc Rabouin, who follows closely at 15%. Rabouin, focusing on housing issues, pledged to hold negligent landlords accountable for substandard living conditions. His party aims to conduct repairs on behalf of unresponsive landlords and increase fines for those failing to maintain sanitary housing for tenants.
With the election approaching on Nov. 2, Montreal residents can anticipate a competitive race between Ferrada and Rabouin, each offering distinct approaches to crucial city matters.
