(Quebec) Former opposition figurehead to Quebec City Hall and former bitter opponent of Régis Labeaume and his streetcar project, Jean-François Gosselin does not rule out the idea of being on Bruno Marchand’s team in the next municipal elections if there was an opening by the mayor.
Posted at 6:00 am
“The door is not closed in 2025 […]. Of course we would have to discuss. I don’t insinuate on any of them the desire to have me on their team,” Jean-François Gosselin said in an interview requested by La Presse.
The 47-year-old councilman says he has not yet decided whether he will stand for re-election. A third mayoral candidacy or an independent is out of the question for him. If he starts, then in a team.
“It is certain that the door is not closed. We have known each other for a year and a half. I have a good relationship with the mayor, his chief of staff and his advisers,” adds Mr. Gosselin.
Mr Gosselin’s passage into a pro-tram party defending active transport would be quite a reversal. This would not be the first shockwave at Quebec City Hall since Bruno Marchand was elected in November 2021.
First renamed Quebec, Régis Labeaume’s former party became the official opposition and is still trying to distinguish itself under the aegis of its leader Claude Villeneuve.
Quebec 21, the former official opposition under Régis Labeaume, imploded in internal tensions. Mr. Gosselin and a counselor slammed the door. The party was renamed Team Prioritize Quebec (EPQ) and maintains its opposition to the streetcar project.
Jean-François Gosselin has been an independent consultant ever since. Bruno Marchand appointed him to his board, responsible for leisure and sport. A recent seat reshuffle on the city council saw the city council align with the ruling Quebec Strong and Pride (QFF) party. The image is strong.
Would QFF be willing to add Mr. Gosselin to their ranks? La Presse reached out to the mayor’s press secretary on Monday afternoon, but Mr Marchand, who is on a mission in Europe, was too late to seek comment.
A man in evolution
In an interview, Mr. Gosselin is full of praise for the mayor. He speaks of “great leadership,” showing that he feels “respected,” even when they don’t always agree.
I tried to convince him [Bruno Marchand] After the election to stop the tram, I tried several times.
Jean-François Gosselin, Independent Councilor of the Hôtel de Ville de Québec
“It was an open discussion. And at one point he said: “It’s my decision, you have the right not to agree, but I’m going there”. I respect that. It’s clear. He never made me feel like an idiot or a nobody because I didn’t think like him. »
Jean-François Gosselin believes that the tone of the administration has changed completely since the Labeaume era. But the changes to the town hall do not explain everything. The chosen one also changes. “I’ve evolved, I think that’s the right word,” said the man who has previously accused the city of Quebec of waging a “war on the car.”
“When I ran in 2017, I didn’t have a really clear public transport project. In 2021 I’ve arrived with a light subway project, it shows an evolution in my thinking,” says the man, who also cites his support for bike sharing, shared roads, etc.
Change to the side of the tram?
Jean-François Gosselin also limited his support for the third link. He defends a cautious position today, very similar to that of Bruno Marchand: let’s wait and see the project before judging.
As for the tram, this staunch opponent believes it’s time to move to a more constructive approach.
“Right now I have a great reflection and it will continue,” he said. In short, he notes that Quebec voters elected a mayor in favor of the streetcar. All state parties and all federal parties – “including the conservatives” – support the project.
I am not for the project [de tramway]. But once the project is on track, as a Quebec citizen I hope it will work, I hope I would have been wrong in saying it wasn’t the right project.
Jean-François Gosselin, Independent Councilor of the Hôtel de Ville de Québec
“People didn’t vote for us [à la mairie]. From there you need to move on. That’s what I do. There I look at the project from a different perspective. I’ll get to a point where I’ll say to myself: It has to work. »
He therefore sees himself in a position to change his approach and work to ensure that “the citizens of North Beauport get their money’s worth there”.
Philippe Dubois, assistant professor of public communications at the National School of Public Administration (ENAP), believes Mr Gosselin’s hypothetical move to the mayor’s party could be a win-win scenario.
“One of the advantages for Mr. Marchand is that he would probably find an elected representative in Beauport, in the heart of Beauport. It can be positive for Mayor Marchand to have an elected official in this part of the city,” said Philippe Dubois.
“On the other hand, Beauport has often felt neglected in the city’s development. So it could also be interesting for the people of Beauport to have someone in power in the party. »