OTTAWA — Quebec legislators have denounced a proposal to create a department of urban affairs in Ottawa — after NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair promised Friday to establish a federal minister of urban affairs.
In a speech to party faithful in Montreal, Mulcair said if elected on Oct. 19 he would name a minister of urban affairs to work with the provinces and territories on vital projects such as public transit, infrastructure and social housing.
Mulcair said his plan would ensure that Ottawa isn’t dictating infrastructure terms to the provinces, such as introducing tolls on the new Champlain Bridge that links Montreal with communities on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River.
But Tuesday, politicians in Quebec City unanimously adopted a motion — without debate — from Parti Québécois MNA Stéphane Bergeron denouncing any proposition to establish a department of municipal or urban affairs. Bergeron’s motion stated urban affairs is an area of jurisdiction that belongs exclusively to Quebec.
Reached Wednesday in Ottawa, Mulcair’s spokesman Karl Bélanger told The Huffington Post Canada the Quebec motion dealt specifically with “a department” and that was not what Mulcair was suggesting — he was only suggesting a minister without a department.
“We agree with this motion, obviously,” he said.
But Bergeron told HuffPost it didn’t matter whether a Mulcair government would establish an urban affairs minister with a department or without a department.
“To have a minister whose only responsibility would be to take care of municipal affairs, that is totally unacceptable,” Bergeron said.
“Whether there is a department or there is not a department, to me, that makes no difference.”
He said a cabinet minister would still have political staff assisting him.
16 Signs You've Visited Quebec Too Many Times
You Scoff At Anyone Who's Surprised Montreal's An Island(01 of16)
Open Image Modal (credit:Giphy)
Wisdom Has Taught You To Leave These At Home(02 of16)
Open Image ModalYou won't need them anyway, you're in a province with a winning hockey team. (credit:Getty)
You Know No Matter How Old Your Bridges Are, They're Still More Structurally-Sound Than The Ones In Montreal(03 of16)
Open Image ModalSure, it looks pretty but Champlain Bridge is falling apart. "Shoddy construction, neglected upkeep and jurisdictional squabble," have created a bridge that's slowly crumbling away according to the Globe and Mail. (credit:Getty)
The Fact That The Province Has MINIMUM Speed Limits No Longer Shocks You(04 of16)
Open Image ModalYou Can Go From English To French When It Comes To Fast Food Chains(05 of16)
Open Image ModalPFK = KFC FTW (credit:Flickr)
You're Well Aware That A Trip To A Cabane À Sucre Is Like Dying And Going To Maple Heaven.(06 of16)
Open Image ModalThere are a number of sugar shacks across Quebec, like Au Pieds de Cochon sugar shack in St-Benoit-de-Mirabel, Que. Not only do they serve some great maple syrup but unique dishes like a lobster and smoked meat omelet. (credit:The Canadian Press)
You Know There's A Certain Etiquette When Ordering Schwartz's Smoked Meat(07 of16)
Open Image ModalIf you cut in line, be prepared to deal with some serious cuteye. Doesn't matter if it's a beautiful summer's day or -30 C on Christmas, you always respect the line. (credit:Flickr)
Because Let's Face It, The Food Is Worth It(08 of16)
Open Image Modal (credit:The Canadian Press)
You Know That The Only Logical Thing To Do After Midnight Is Eat Poutine(09 of16)
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You've Learned That Montreal Bagels Are Always Worth The Journey(10 of16)
Open Image ModalSeriously, what kind of person are you if you don't bring back Montreal bagels for your friends back home? (credit:The Canadians Press)
You've Come To Accept That St. Huberts > Swiss Chalet Any Day(11 of16)
Open Image ModalAnd their delivery cars are spiffier too. (credit:Flickr)
You're A Master At Military Time Thanks To Their Street Signs(12 of16)
Open Image Modal (credit:Getty)
The Whole "No Right Turns At A Red Light" No Longer Infuriates You(13 of16)
Open Image ModalOkay, it still bugs you a little bit if you're driving in Montreal. (credit:Wikimedia)
You Save Up All Your Old Aluminium Cans For Your Next Visit(14 of16)
Open Image ModalQuebec is one of the provinces that allows you deposit your old pop cans for a 5 cent return. (credit:Flickr)
You're Now The Master Of Dealing With Reckless And Aggressive Drivers(15 of16)
Open Image ModalLet the insurance companies handle it... (credit:Giphy)
Despite All Of This You'll Keep Coming Back(16 of16)
Open Image ModalRemember: This is "La Belle Province", you'll be back no matter how many listicles you read. (credit:Getty)