The mayor of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension, Laurence Lavigne Lalonde, is in turn jumping into the race for leadership of Projet Montréal. To fight the housing crisis, she is committed to banning rentals through Airbnb once in power.
Posted at 2:41 p.m.
“We must protect our rental stock. In the first 100 days of my administration, I will ban Airbnb in Montreal, as long as the housing crisis is not resolved,” insisted the main interested party on Tuesday during a press conference held in a café. from the Villeray district, with relatives.
More precisely, it promises to ban “certain uses” of tourist accommodation, through a municipal regulation yet to be defined. “We have other ways of attracting tourists, of developing this offer,” argued the candidate, emphasizing that the announced advancement of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, which will be held in May from 2026, “ will, for example, extend the tourist period in Montreal.
The elected official also wants to “accelerate” the delivery of public transport projects that are done “quickly”, such as reserved lanes.
“I will not be the mayor of major projects, because I think that it takes a lot of time, a lot of energy, and that people are a little cynical,” said Ms.me Lavigne Lalonde, who believes that there is “a lot to gain in terms of efficiency within the Société de transport de Montréal (STM)”.
Elected for the first time in 2013, as councilor for the Maisonneuve district, Mme Lavigne Lalonde has been a member of the executive committee for several years, having occupied the roles of ecological transition and large parks throughout her career.
PHOTO DENIS GERMAIN, THE PRESS
Laurence Lavigne Lalonde
Since 2021, she has been mayor of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension. Before her political career, she worked as a mental health worker, then as a project manager for several international NGOs.
A tax holiday for NPOs
“These are difficult times for progressives here and elsewhere. It’s possible to do more,” said M on Tuesday.me Lavigne Lalonde, who makes no secret of being part of the more left-wing base of Projet Montréal.
The one who presents herself as “the candidate of transformation” – and not of “continuity” – also promises the establishment of a “tax holiday” for housing NPOs, in order to maximize their budgets.
Its objective is in direct line with a measure recently taken by the City of Montreal. Next year, the municipality will offer a financial respite of 10.5 million to approximately 700 community, cultural and sports organizations, which will no longer have to pay compensation that took the place of municipal taxes.
Saying she was convinced that “the future of Montreal lies in the East”, the candidate finally promised to appoint a person responsible for the development of this portion of the island “too often neglected”, with a portfolio and resources. dedicated to accelerating, among other things, housing and transport projects.
Several mayors and councilors from Projet Montréal offered their support on Tuesday to Mme Lavigne Lalonde, including the mayor of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Pierre Lessard-Blais, as well as councilors Sylvain Ouellet, Virginie Journeau and Éric Alan Caldwell, the latter also being president of the STM.
Five in the running
In the last few days, announcements of candidates to succeed Mayor Valérie Plante have followed one another. Mme Lavigne Lalonde is to date the fifth candidate to join the race since applications opened on December 9. The same day, the first to enter the fray was the former president of the Projet Montréal party, Guedwig Bernier. Then, in quick succession, there was the mayor of Plateau-Mont-Royal, Luc Rabouin, the mayor of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Gracia Kasoki Katahwa, and the mayor of Lachine, Maja Vodanovic . This leadership race will officially begin on February 3, which means that debates could then be organized and that leadership aspirants will be able to hold mobilization activities. The electoral period will last nearly a month and a half, culminating in polling day, March 15.
