Le Mouvement lavallois wants to re-establish democracy in Laval

Under the banner of the Mouvement lavallois, the new party led by David De Cotis maintains that "municipal politics are too crucial to leave in the hands of a single political party which has done whatever it wants for the past 30 years."

Nikki Petropoulos, who'll contest the L'Abord-a-Plouffe seat on city council, can't stomach that "every four years the members of this party (Parti du Ralliement Officiel (PRO) des Lavallois) get themselves re-elected, no matter what, as if they are irreplaceable."

No way does he want to relive the 2005 scenario, when 9 of mayor Gilles Vaillancourt's candidates were returned to office by acclamation. "That's close to 50% of the city council returning to power without opposition," emphasized Lydia Aboulian, who'll carry the Mouvement lavallois banner in Sainte-Dorothee.

Mrs. Aboulian pointed to "an immense democratic void" plaguing Laval, citing the fact that "only 30% of Laval voters cast their ballots" in the last municipal election. In the same vein, Mrs. Aboulian also cited a Statistics Canada study conducted in 2005, resulting in the conclusion that the Laval population felt itself the least attached to local communities in a sample of 119 regions surveyed across the country.

"Rare are the occasions for public consultation in Laval. And when there is one (…), we never hear of the findings, nor of any follow-up regarding this public process," said Alexnadre Foisy, candidate in Auteuil. He cites as evidence the consultation on the Development and Management Schemam "conducted more than four years ago, with no results since," and the consultation on cultural policy, "whose report we were never able to read."

Mr. Foisy also deplored the conspicuous absence of city council members at the Forum social de Laval held in late April, attended by 500 Laval residents. "Those in power never give citizens the opportunity to reflect and bring their ideas forward concerning the development of Laval," he specified.

These issues, which he intends to bring to public debate and discussion, include management and development of the region, the quality of urban life, the re-greening of the island, protection of the environment, the make-up of new parks suggested by numerous woodlands, the revitalization of older districts, public transit (particularly in the east), public safety and security, and community life.

Despite limited resources, David De Cotis is resolutely determined to at least give Laval an official opposition if not, in the end, a new administration, calling to mind that mayor Gilles Vaillancourt has exercised absolute power at city hall for the past eight years.

Short of funds, he and his team will devote their energies to an effective campaign of the traditional kind – door-to-door contact with the people.