The governing party in Montreal elected Luc Rabouin as the party’s new leader on Saturday night.
Rabouin was up against Projet Montréal city councillors Gracia Kasoki Katahwa, Laurence Lavigne Lalonde, and Ericka Alneus and former party president Guedwig Bernier are running to replace party leader Valérie Plante.
Rabouin is the third leader of the party.
“I am deeply pleased and honoured by the confidence shown in me by the members of Projet Montréal,” said Rabouin. “This victory, after a true leadership race where ideas and visions were fully expressed, is not only mine, it is that of our party and of all those who believe in a fairer, greener and more inclusive city.”
The mayor of Plateau-Mont-Royal and City of Montreal chairman of the executive committee won 59.2% of the votes in the fourth round (2778 votes), according to the results of the leadership race released on Saturday evening.
Kasoki Katahwa was the sole remaining candidate in the fourth round and she received 40.8 per cent of the votes (1,911).
Plante, who is Montreal Mayor, will stay on as mayor until the election on Nov. 2.
“I’m passing on the torch, but with great pride, because we’re leaving a party that’s in order, (...) in terms of its finances, its efforts and the renewal of its members,” said Plante in a speech a few minutes before the results were announced.
Advanced voting took place this week and polls close on Saturday at 5 p.m. The party will announce the leader once the votes are tabulated.
According to the party president, around 6,000 people registered to vote, which is a record.
Plante announced in October that she would not seek a third term after winning elections at the head of the party in 2017 and 2021.
Rabouin will lead the Projet Montréal candidates on Nov. 2 against official opposition party Ensemble Montréal.
That party appointed former federal cabinet minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada as that party’s leader. She ran unopposed.
“I would like to congratulate Luc Rabouin on his election as leader of Valérie Plante’s party, Projet Montréal,” said Martinez Ferrada in a statement on Saturday. “There is no doubt that we will have the opportunity to debate the issues that concern and affect Montrealers over the coming months. Montrealers can count on Ensemble Montréal to provide them with an efficient, responsive and collaborative administration.”
Rabouin said he is committed to continuing the work started by Plante, while fending off the rise in conservative politics in Canada and the U.S.
“Montreal is at a pivotal moment, facing enormous challenges - the housing crisis, a difficult budgetary context, a climate emergency, and this conservative wave that is sweeping over us,” said Rabouin. “Right now, I’m reaching out to all Montrealers to work together to build a city that offers an exceptional quality of life, where the right to housing is a reality, where the climate crisis is tackled with determination, where every neighbourhood is dynamic, where the economy serves the community and where culture is accessible. A city on a human scale for everyone.”
With files from The Canadian Press.
