Comments on: The audacity of gripe

By: Aubin in the Gazette: Bergeron = French Bogeyman « NEUmontréal

Aubin in the Gazette: Bergeron = French Bogeyman « NEUmontréal — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:12:26 +0000

[...] do with the arrival of Benoît Labonté as head of the opposition (or perhaps his payments). With campaign ads promoting the dubious “audacity” that the former Chamber of Commerce head would bring, all seemed set – they’d chosen their new [...]

By: Fagstein » Vision Montreal: [Insert leader here]

Fagstein » Vision Montreal: [Insert leader here] — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:46:53 +0000

[...] must say I’m surprised by this move. Not only does Labonté have a lot of ambition, but he’s made his campaign for mayor all about him. The Vision Montreal website still links to his blog, which has his face plastered all over it and [...]

By: Jean Naimard

Jean Naimard — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:53:40 +0000

I believe that Tremblay is a complete failure as a mayor.

Not if you compare him to what was there before…

By: NKA

NKA — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:46:14 +0000

Friday May 1st, 2009 Oh My ! What a fine comeback ! Speaking as a Montrealer who actually voted for Tremblay in 2005 I am at a loss for words. Since the last post so much has been said in the media about Tremblay's lack of responsibility and leadership. Today "La Presse" is "asking" for the mayor to resign and to not seek a third mandate. I believe that Tremblay is a complete failure as a mayor. He has plunged our city further down into the abyss. No leadership, integrity and mayoral responsibility in him whatsoever. I and along with many other FORMER supporters are embarrassed to say that we originally supported this mayor. We need change in this city and not more of the same regardless of the candidate/party.

By: Jean Naimard

Jean Naimard — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:56:04 +0000

I can’t even vote because my suburb demerged out of the city (I wanted us to stay). Oh well! Taxation without representation!

The english hate the french much more than they hate “taxation without representation”, so they voted for it in order not to be living in the world’s second largest french city…

By: SMS

SMS — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:15:46 +0000

I can't even vote because my suburb demerged out of the city (I wanted us to stay). Oh well! Taxation without representation!

By: ladyjaye

ladyjaye — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 13:20:22 +0000

Here's who I want for mayor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qULdD_kCK8

And then, we'll party like it's 1990!

By: Jean Naimard

Jean Naimard — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 02:50:15 +0000

Vision Montréal has no credibility whatsoever. Under Bourque, they gutted the consulting apparatus and stuffed city council with little merchants who don’t understand anything beyond running a small shop, and do not grasp that a government cannot be managed like one either.

What is needed is a proper left-wing municipal party that will kick the cars out of Montréal by taxing them to death.

By: Fagstein

Fagstein — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:21:16 +0000

Although it's fairly obvious from your posts that you're close to the Vision Montreal party, don't you think you should disclose your rather obvious conflict of interest here?

By: Nathalie

Nathalie — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:38:20 +0000

Congratulations to M. Labonté for his persistence on shedding some light on the irresponsible behaviour of the current Tremblay administration ! Funny how Zampino left quietly in July 2008 and went on to work for the same company that is currently under investigation for fraud ! The largest city contract ever awarded to a company called GéniEau was under the "watchful" eye of the president of the executive committee of the city of Montreal (Frank Zampino). Zampino was Tremblay's right hand guy. Was Tremblay not aware of this shady deal ? Hello ????? 350 million dollars ??? Before he signed on the dotted line did he due his DD (due diligence) ? Now he "suspended" the contract until further notice awaiting the auditor's report. Had the bids been done appropriately in the first place we would not have to be going through this again ! It is quite worrisome to have a "leader" surrounded by such incompetence. Ethics and integrity are not words that should be lived by after the damage is done.

By: newurbanshapes

newurbanshapes — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:22:54 +0000

If Montreal is supposed to be the "creative" city, or the city of arts, or multimedia, or decent public transportation, or bohemia, or French, maybe the money that had been spent on the F1 will now be able to be put to better use, a use that doesn't contradict directly with all of these larger, better goals.

I was so tired of having the F1 goons take over St-Lo every summer.

By: Fagstein

Fagstein — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:52:54 +0000

How is three levels of government travelling to Europe "weak" negotiations? If merchants agreed that $175 million of public money was too much, what makes you think they would front the money themselves? Broadcast rights to the Olympics don't cost that much.

By: Nathalie

Nathalie — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:47:44 +0000

I cannot speak for M. Labonté however the point is that the CURRENT mayor lacked leadership in mobilizing private entrepreneurs and sponsorships. Forget about using public money. The key issue is to maintain and continue to maintain relationships with those partners that bring these high profile events to Montreal. Negotiations were weak and unfortunately we lost a world class event.

By: Fagstein

Fagstein — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:47:17 +0000

Just how would Labonté have kept the F1 in Montreal? By handing over $175 million? Even local merchants agree that rejecting that huge price tag was the right thing to do.

It's one thing to complain about everything bad that happens, but it's another to walk the line yourself.

By: Nathalie

Nathalie — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:47:30 +0000

As a Ville-Marie borough resident for the last 8 years I am very disappointed in the current Tremblay administration for their lack of transperancy and credibility. Very highly publicized issues such as Park Avenue, The Shriners (almost lost, again!), F1, World Aquatics Championships etc..... All of these situations on the world stage created lost credibility with the public and mismanagement of public funds. I will not gather up any details. If people are curious enough to find out what I am referring to simply search any newspaper archive. All of these events were under the CURRENT Tremblay administration. Benoit Labonté offers an alternative voice and I would like to see him as part of the next administration in November 2009. M. Labonté's voice is beginning to sound louder and clearer as to why he left the Tremblay administration in September 2007. The lack of responsibility and abuse of power in the CURRENT executive committee is all the more apparent today. Mr. Tremblay has to call upon the city's auditor general twice in the last few months (once for the SHDM = still prending and for the awarded contract to GéniEAU = new).

I would like to know what reason is there to re-elect an incompetent administration on November 1st 2009 ?

By: Jean Naimard

Jean Naimard — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:56:35 +0000

How is he a Bourque lackey?

The “Vision Montréal” label. The gang there are the particularly clueless drones that orbited around Géranium Pommier. Whatever qualities he may have (can’t really say anything off-hand, except that he may prompt seamstresses to go “oooh” and “aaah” over his mug plastered on electoral posters) will promptly brought down by the petty hivethink in that reactionary party.

By: Fagstein

Fagstein — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 08:21:26 +0000

Labonté was brought into municipal politics by Tremblay, not Bourque. How is he a Bourque lackey?

By: Jean Naimard

Jean Naimard — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 06:28:44 +0000

Labonté is just a Bourque lackey. Don’t forget that Bourque eliminated the democratic consultation apparatus laid down by Jean Doré, and he gutted transit service. And 8 years after Bourque was booted, the transit service level has not gotten back to where it was before being gutted by Bourque.

* * *

Were you hauled by the cops as a terrorist like that student who took pictures in the Crémazie métro, some years back? Oh, silly me, of course not, you’re not black…

By: Fagstein

Fagstein — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:09:29 +0000

I understand that that's a problem (I've never had it happen with my recycling bin because I'm careful about packing it, but whatever. But I'd like to think a reusable bin can be engineered so it doesn't create waste and doesn't let papers fly around everywhere. In fact, it already has been.

By: Philipppe-A.

Philipppe-A. — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:48:59 +0000

I thaught that that Recycling bag thing was pretty neat. Downtown's much cleaner now that papers aren't blown out of the green bins anytime it's slightly windy.

I use a blue plastic bag at home.