Équipe Montréal
Encyclopedia
Équipe Montréal was a municipal political party that existed from 1998 to 2001 in Montreal
, Quebec
, Canada
. It was founded by Jean Doré
, a former leader of the Montreal Citizens' Movement
(MCM) who served as mayor of Montreal
from 1986 to 1994.
, saying, "I became more of a spokesperson for the apparatus, the bureacracy, rather than for the interests of the citizens." He promised to govern "more from my heart" and to pursue a policy of economic renewal if returned to office. Doré also promised that his party would freeze and eventually reduce municipal taxes, simplify government services, and restore Montreal's cleanliness, while remaining neutral on the issue of Quebec nationalism
. When asked if he still identified as a social democrat, Doré responded that his party would govern from a position of pragmatism.
Two sitting councillors, Pierre Goyer
and Martin Lemay
, were present for the party's official launch. Councillors Helen Fotopulos and Sammy Forcillo
also joined over the following months, as did former councillor Scott McKay and former Coalition Démocratique et Montréal Écologique party leader Yolande Cohen. All were candidates in the 1998 municipal election
.
Doré did not initially plan for Équipe Montréal to release an election platform, and some critics charged that the party was more an electoral vehicle centered around the former mayor's personality than a proper political party. Doré rejected this, saying that the party was "born out of necessity" and was "not a closed political club." Équipe Montréal held a founding convention in June 1998 that was attended by about five hundred people and released a platform after a follow-up convention in August.
for Montreal and other metropolitan centres to receive a percentage of Quebec's sales tax, so as to make the city less dependent on property taxes. He also promised to eliminate Montreal's non-residential property surtax (a policy he had introduced in 1993), reduce residential property tax rates by at least 10 per cent in four years, and consider forming partnerships with private corporations and neighbouring municipalities.
The party was more liberal on social issues. Doré promised that he would eliminate guaranteed permanent employment in the upper levels of Montreal's bureaucracy, so as to create more diversity in the municipal workforce. Saying that Montreal's drug problem required a bold solution, he argued that heroin should be legalized and regulated such that addicts could receive it in a controlled setting while having access to methadone
programs. On heritage issues, he promised to renew the Urban Plan that he first introduced in 1992.
Doré also promised that Équipe Montréal would decentralize the city's municipal services, giving neighbourhoods greater control over recreation and sports facilities.
, Doré made the surprising announcement that he would consider withdrawing from the mayoral contest to support rival candidate Jacques Duchesneau
, leader of the New Montreal
party, in a bid to prevent Bourque's re-election. Doré ultimately chose to remain in the contest, but it was generally accepted that his remarks damaged his campaign.
Doré finished fourth in the mayoral contest with about 10 per cent of the popular vote, as Pierre Bourque was elected to a second term in office. Helen Fotopulos and Sammy Forcillo were the only Équipe Montréal candidates returned to council. In his concession speech, Doré described his defeat as "extremely disappointing."
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was founded by Jean Doré
Jean Doré
Jean Doré is a Canadian politician and former mayor of the City of Montreal, Quebec.-Background:Jean Doré studied law at the Université de Montréal, where he was president of the student union from 1967 to 1968. He received a Master's Degree of Political Science from McGill University...
, a former leader of the Montreal Citizens' Movement
Montreal Citizens' Movement
The Montreal Citizens' Movement was a municipal political party in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It existed from 1973 to 2001.-Origins:...
(MCM) who served as mayor of Montreal
Mayor of Montreal
The Mayor of Montreal is head of the executive branch of Montreal City Council.The Mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and provincial laws within Montreal....
from 1986 to 1994.
Origins
Doré, who resigned from the MCM in 1997, announced Équipe Montréal's formation at a press conference on 27 April 1998. He acknowledged having made mistakes that led to his former party's defeat in the 1994 municipal electionMontreal municipal election, 1994
The 1994 Montreal municipal election took place on November 6, 1994. Pierre Bourque was elected to his first term as mayor, defeating incumbent Jean Doré...
, saying, "I became more of a spokesperson for the apparatus, the bureacracy, rather than for the interests of the citizens." He promised to govern "more from my heart" and to pursue a policy of economic renewal if returned to office. Doré also promised that his party would freeze and eventually reduce municipal taxes, simplify government services, and restore Montreal's cleanliness, while remaining neutral on the issue of Quebec nationalism
Quebec nationalism
Quebec nationalism is a nationalist movement in the Canadian province of Quebec .-1534–1774:Canada was first a french colony. Jacques Cartier claimed it for France in 1534, and permanent French settlement began in 1608. It was part of New France, which constituted all French colonies in North America...
. When asked if he still identified as a social democrat, Doré responded that his party would govern from a position of pragmatism.
Two sitting councillors, Pierre Goyer
Pierre Goyer
Pierre Goyer is a Canadian politician and a City Councillor in Montreal, Quebec. -City Councillor:He was elected to Montreal's City Council as a Montreal Citizens' Movement candidate in the district of Jean-Talon in 1986, defeating Civic incumbent George Savoidakis...
and Martin Lemay
Martin Lemay
Martin Lemay is a politician in Quebec, Canada. He is the Parti Québécois Member of the National Assembly for Sainte-Marie—Saint-Jacques in the National Assembly of Quebec.-Background:...
, were present for the party's official launch. Councillors Helen Fotopulos and Sammy Forcillo
Sammy Forcillo
Savino "Sammy" Forcillo is a Canadian politician and a City Councillor in Montreal, Quebec.-Background:He has Italian ancestry and has a degree from the École nationale d'administration publique .-Civic Party:...
also joined over the following months, as did former councillor Scott McKay and former Coalition Démocratique et Montréal Écologique party leader Yolande Cohen. All were candidates in the 1998 municipal election
Montreal municipal election, 1998
The city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada held municipal elections on November 1, 1998, to elect a mayor and city councillors. Pierre Bourque was returned to a second term as mayor against a divided opposition....
.
Doré did not initially plan for Équipe Montréal to release an election platform, and some critics charged that the party was more an electoral vehicle centered around the former mayor's personality than a proper political party. Doré rejected this, saying that the party was "born out of necessity" and was "not a closed political club." Équipe Montréal held a founding convention in June 1998 that was attended by about five hundred people and released a platform after a follow-up convention in August.
Policies
Many of Équipe Montréal's election promises were focused on tax reform, as Doré sought to position himself as a pro-business candidate. At the party's August convention, Doré promised to lobby the provincial governmentGovernment of Quebec
The Government of Quebec refers to the provincial government of the province of Quebec. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
for Montreal and other metropolitan centres to receive a percentage of Quebec's sales tax, so as to make the city less dependent on property taxes. He also promised to eliminate Montreal's non-residential property surtax (a policy he had introduced in 1993), reduce residential property tax rates by at least 10 per cent in four years, and consider forming partnerships with private corporations and neighbouring municipalities.
The party was more liberal on social issues. Doré promised that he would eliminate guaranteed permanent employment in the upper levels of Montreal's bureaucracy, so as to create more diversity in the municipal workforce. Saying that Montreal's drug problem required a bold solution, he argued that heroin should be legalized and regulated such that addicts could receive it in a controlled setting while having access to methadone
Methadone
Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic and a maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients with opioid dependency. It was developed in Germany in 1937...
programs. On heritage issues, he promised to renew the Urban Plan that he first introduced in 1992.
Doré also promised that Équipe Montréal would decentralize the city's municipal services, giving neighbourhoods greater control over recreation and sports facilities.
The 1998 election
About a week before election day, faced with polls that showed him well behind incumbent mayor Pierre BourquePierre Bourque
Pierre Bourque, CQ is a businessman and politician in Quebec, Canada. He founded the Vision Montreal political party and served as mayor of Montreal from 1994 to 2001.-Background:...
, Doré made the surprising announcement that he would consider withdrawing from the mayoral contest to support rival candidate Jacques Duchesneau
Jacques Duchesneau
Jacques Duchesneau, CM is a French Canadian civil servant and former Chief of Police.He holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the École nationale d'administration publique and a Bachelor of Science degree from the Université de Montréal...
, leader of the New Montreal
Nouveau Montréal
Nouveau Montréal was a municipal political party in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from 1998 to 2001. The party was led by Jacques Duchesneau, who was also its candidate for mayor in the 1998 municipal election.-Origins:...
party, in a bid to prevent Bourque's re-election. Doré ultimately chose to remain in the contest, but it was generally accepted that his remarks damaged his campaign.
Doré finished fourth in the mayoral contest with about 10 per cent of the popular vote, as Pierre Bourque was elected to a second term in office. Helen Fotopulos and Sammy Forcillo were the only Équipe Montréal candidates returned to council. In his concession speech, Doré described his defeat as "extremely disappointing."