Paul Arcand is not only a radio titan who left his mark on Quebec.
He has now become an almost mythological figure in the public sphere.
After saving the Montreal Grand Prix by exposing the flaws in Valérie Plante’s administration, he continues to make headlines, but this time, from the pages of the Press.
Indeed, Arcand, now a columnist, chose to write a paper on Denis Coderre, Plante’s sworn enemy, thus adding a layer of irony to a political saga that seems endless.
Let us remember that it all started when Paul Arcand delivered a fatal blow to Valérie Plante by sarcastically highlighting the absurdity of certain municipal measures, notably the closure of the terraces during the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
From then on, Plante saw his popularity collapse at dizzying speed. This day became that of the public humiliation of Valérie Plante. And that was the day the Montreal Grand Prix was saved.
Because F1 would never have agreed to return in the long term with the “green mayor” as mayor.
The controversy surrounding the Grand Prix was just the tip of the iceberg: chronic traffic jams, controversial cycle paths and a growing disconnect with the needs of traders ultimately dampened his ambitions for a third term.
While Valérie Plante announces that she will not run again in 2025, Arcand, who has become a columnist, drives the point home by publishing a detailed analysis on Denis Coderre, the former mayor of Montreal and historic rival of Plante.
Coderre, often perceived as a tenacious politician, returned to the forefront of the political scene, this time with provincial ambitions.
In his article, Arcand describes a Denis Coderre who refuses to wait for anyone to think about him.
“When I made calls, I asked three questions. The first: “Do you see me as Prime Minister?” Second, “Do I have the credibility and experience?” And third, “Have I missed a date?” »relates Coderre.
The latter, who is now running for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Quebec, does not let himself be defeated by criticism or obstacles.
Despite his defeats as mayor of Montreal against Valérie Plante, Denis Coderre remains a formidable political animal. Arcand, in his paper, depicts a man who never gives up.
He recognizes the doubts surrounding Coderre, notably from anonymous liberals who consider him a politician from another era.
But Coderre brushes aside these criticisms:
“There is an establishment in the PLQ that thinks more about its interests than the interests of Quebec. »
Arcand does not hesitate to highlight Coderre’s weak points, but he also highlights his exceptional resilience.
The former mayor speaks openly about his health, saying he has fully recovered from his stroke:
“I have the green light from my doctors. Sometimes I sound weird, but it’s okay. »
This transparency, combined with a fierce campaign on the ground, makes Coderre a candidate that it would be unwise to underestimate.
For Valérie Plante, this publication in the Press is an ultimate humiliation. Seeing Arcand, who has already undermined his radio career, now showing interest in his rival Denis Coderre is a hard blow.
Especially since everyone realizes that Coderre did not destroy Montreal like her. And that sports would be much better in Quebec.
It is difficult to ignore the symbolism that emerges from the strange media complicity between Arcand and Coderre.
The one who made the resurrection of the Expos a personal mission and considered the Grand Prix as an essential jewel for the economic and cultural vitality of Montreal finds himself complimented today by Paul Arcand who does not miss an opportunity to highlight the failures of Valérie Plante.
The contrast is striking. Denis Coderre, despite his successive electoral defeats, remains a symbol of excessive ambition and resilience.
He always put forward grandiose projects, sometimes controversial, but often carrying a long-term vision for Montreal.
Bringing a professional baseball team to the metropolis was for him much more than a sporting dream: it was an economic strategy to reaffirm Montreal’s position on the international scene.
When Arcand lists Valérie Plante’s errors – from traffic jams strangling neighborhoods to administrative boondoggles like that of the Presidents Cup – he implicitly highlights what distinguished Denis Coderre: careful preparation and a pragmatic approach, even if sometimes tainted of egos and heated public debates.
Coderre, moreover, has never hidden his attachment to F1. The event wasn’t just a party for him; it was a cornerstone of Montreal’s tourism and economic strategy.
Seeing him mentioned with respect in Arcand’s writings reinforces this idea that, despite his past errors, Coderre was a man of action and vision – everything that Valérie Plante seemed to embody at the start of her mandate, before losing herself in initiatives poorly received by the population.
There is also something surprisingly ironic in the fact that Arcand, who helped demolish Plante’s political legacy, is providing a positive platform for his greatest rival.
By detailing Coderre’s initiatives and strategy, he gives the latter renewed legitimacy, a political breath that could well propel him back to the forefront.
Without overwhelming him for his setbacks. Because Coderre does not hide his financial woes either. His problems with the Canada Revenue Agency and Revenu Québec, while embarrassing, are addressed with equal aplomb:
“I don’t care if anyone likes me or doesn’t like me. But I found it cheap. »
He promises that the impending sale of his house will resolve these issues, but the mere fact that he is speaking openly about them is a rare act in politics.
Denis Coderre’s personal history cannot be ignored when evaluating his return to politics. His stroke in 2017 left its mark, but he speaks about it with disarming frankness.
This transparency about his health, combined with his spiritual journey – he attributes his recovery to divine intervention – helps to humanize a figure often perceived as arrogant.
For Valérie Plante, this turnaround must be particularly bitter: not only does she see her past criticized, but she witnesses the rebirth of the man she thought she had definitively beaten.
Thus, Paul Arcand is not content to play the role of neutral observer. Through his analyses, he shapes political discourse and repositions Denis Coderre as an essential figure in Quebec politics.
Despite his confidence and charisma, Denis Coderre still receives criticism of his leadership style. Some consider him “past date”, a politician from a bygone era.
Her successive defeats as mayor of Montreal against Valérie Plante, the worst mayor in Montreal’s history, are used as proof of her inability to adapt to voters’ new expectations.
However, his allies (including Arcand) insist that he is the only candidate with the experience and notoriety necessary to meet the current challenges.
Denis Coderre remains an enigma for his opponents. While many saw him as weakened and overwhelmed, he worked tirelessly to rebuild his political network.
“The presidents of associations, the mayors, the chambers of commerce… it’s a machine! “, confides an influential liberal.
Meanwhile, Valérie Plante, dispossessed of her political future, continues to see her past dissected and criticized by the man who, undeniably, will remain one of her greatest detractors.
From now on, Paul Arcand is everywhere: he writes, he analyzes, he influences. For Plante, he becomes a ghost who haunts her, constantly reminding her of the bitter failure of her political ambitions.
In the end, Paul Arcand is not content to bow out; it redefines its role in public space.
Not content with having saved the Montreal Grand Prix and having accelerated the fall of Valérie Plante, he is now attacking decisive political figures like Denis Coderre.
With every word, every article, he continues to shape discussions and remind us that he is, undeniably, a force that cannot be escaped.
For Valérie Plante, the story is sealed: Arcand not only shattered his career, but he continues to mark the Montreal political landscape with a relevance and influence that nothing seems to shake.
In this saga, the last word always goes to Paul Arcand.
