A few days after causing a stir for insulting the mayors of Quebec's major cities, Pierre Poilievre added another layer on Monday by once again denouncing the “incompetence” of Mayor Valérie Plante.
“How incompetent. One day she said that municipal housing had nothing to do with the federal government. Two days later she said the exact opposite,” the Conservative leader said on his X account Monday afternoon.
“After saying there is no connection between municipalities and the federal government, Montreal's mayor attends Trudeau's cabinet meeting. “Another incompetent,” he also wrote.
The mayor of Montreal met with ministers from Justin Trudeau's government on Monday during their cabinet meeting in the metropolis to discuss housing construction.
Last week, Mr. Poilievre launched an attack against Ms. Plante and Bruno Marchand, Quebec's mayor, calling them “incompetent mayors” who are “blocking construction sites” and contributing to a “massive decline in construction activity in Quebec.”
The statement was criticized from left and right in Quebec, with even the Union of Municipalities of Quebec (UMQ) speaking out against the “contemptuous statements of the leader of the Conservative Party.” Justin Trudeau demanded an apology on behalf of the mayors.
The latter responded angrily and forcefully, with Mr Marchand accusing him of making a “political calculation”.
“Before you call someone incompetent, Mr. Poilièvre [sic] should understand that in Quebec, federal funding for housing does NOT go through the cities. “Common sense also means understanding the financing mechanisms of each province,” Mayor Plante responded to X.
The outcry did not stop Pierre Poilievre from shooting new arrows, even if it meant angering the politicians with whom he might have to work if he came to power.
The Conservative leader promises to give bonus funding of 15% to municipalities that exceed their target in terms of project starts and construction work.