Bruno Marchand assured that his choice to put forward the theme of the quality of life of families is not an attempt to seduce voters in the suburbs, where he is lagging behind in the polls.
This is what the mayor of Quebec, and leader of Quebec Forte et Fière (QFF), swore Saturday morning during a press briefing held at Chauveau Park, one year to the day of the election on November 2, 2025.
Refusing to launch an electoral pre-campaign, Mr. Marchand still wanted to display an image of unity by being surrounded by several of his municipal elected officials and the leaders of his political party.
DIDIER DEBUSSCHERE/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
“It’s not new. It didn’t come from a poll. We’ve been elected for three years and we’ve been working on this for three years. […] I have spoken to you so often about this way of making the city shine everywhere. […] We didn’t wake up this morning and say that suddenly we have to take care of everyone. We have always done it,” maintained the mayor.
No big projects
The latter, however, recognized that it is not easy to highlight local themes (local culture, commercial streets, tree planting, fight against pollution, etc.) in a context where public debate is generally occupied by two major issues: the tramway and the third link.
One thing is certain, for the last year of his mandate, there is no question for the mayor of embarking on major infrastructure projects. Mr. Marchand insisted that he prefers to make 62 different investment announcements, at $1 million each, rather than a single announcement of $62 million.
The Marchand brand
In Saturday’s edition of Journal, we revealed an advertisement with an electoral flavor in which QFF speaks about its vision for the future using the voice of municipal councilor Maude Mercier Larouche rather than that of the mayor. One of the experts cited hypothesized that “the QFF brand” is stronger than that of Bruno Marchand in the electorate. What is the mayor’s opinion on this?
“It would be good news if that was it,” the mayor contextualized. If the QFF brand is stronger than Bruno Marchand, we will have succeeded. The media issue means that there is a lot of light put on the mayor. But it’s these people [les conseillers municipaux] who do the work. It’s them who ensure that we arrive with this extraordinary record.”
For about thirty minutes, Mr. Marchand listed several achievements of his administration. He notably mentioned the improvement of road safety in neighborhoods, several advances in composting, “the unparalleled development of Quebec’s business ecosystem”, the establishment of social pricing on Network buses. de la Capitale transport network (RTC) as well as the creation of 875 places in Quebec daycare centers since 2021.
Asked about the “less good moves” of his administration over the last three years, Mr. Marchand argued that there have not been that many. “There is no one who was caught in a scandal,” he insisted. It’s certain that no one is going to write an article: “Well done Quebec, there was no scandal. You manage well.”
Is the QFF video an attempt to speed up the electoral calendar and push former Liberal minister Sam Hamad to officially announce his colors? “Whether their name is Sam, Roger, Jacques, Francine or Sylvie, democracy is there so that people can present themselves and that people have a choice,” declared Bruno Marchand. So much the better if they have a choice.”
What they said
“I find that there are a lot of admissions of vulnerability in the operation that the mayor is leading today. The video [de QFF]it’s soft eating. There is nothing concrete. These are vague principles and we have the impression that we are hiding the mayor and elected officials. I think the mayor is not strong and proud.”
-Claude Villeneuve, head of Quebec First
“It is contemptuous that he is launching his campaign here, in a district where he promised to protect the woodlands, when there are, just opposite, hundreds of citizens who are mobilizing to protect the Châtels woodland. »
-Jackie Smith, head of Transition Québec
“We are always a little disappointed that he comes to our district and that he does not talk about the issue that concerns citizens, that is to say the future of the Châtels woodland.”
-Naélie Bouchard-Sylvain, spokesperson for Friends of the Boisé des Châtels
Which candidates for 2025?
A “vast majority” of elected officials from Québec Forte et Fière (QFF), Mayor Marchand’s party, will run again in the 2025 municipal election, revealed the mayor of Québec.
“We gave our elected officials the necessary time so as not to have to say it too far in advance and so that they could think first. Following the informal discussions we’ve had, I think a large majority will show up. Obviously, some will make other choices. Then, it’s correct,” said Bruno Marchand, Saturday morning, at a press briefing.
Although he has already confirmed his candidacy for town hall for several months, Mr. Marchand did not want to say whether he will have a running mate in 2025. The principle of a running mate allows a defeated candidate to town hall to have the possibility of still sitting as a municipal councilor (if the running mate wins victory in his district obviously).
Elsewhere
On the side of the official opposition, Claude Villeneuve, leader of Quebec First, confirmed that the seven municipal elected officials of his party will represent themselves in their respective districts. The only unknown remains whether Mr. Villeneuve will run for mayor or for a position as municipal councilor. His decision is made, but he did not want to communicate it.
At Transition Québec, leader Jackie Smith will once again be a mayoral candidate for her party, while the two elected officials from Équipe Priorité Québec have not yet announced their intentions.
Outside the municipal council, Sam Hamad has been silent for several months, even though his candidacy raises little doubt among observers. His last public outing was two months ago, when he briefly commented on a Léger-The Journal which put him neck and neck with the outgoing mayor. “For a guy who has not announced his candidacy, this is good news which will help his thinking,” he said at that time.
