Minister of Economic Development and Tourism

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

Earlier this month Soraya Martinez Ferrada announced her intention to run for the leadership of Ensemble Montréal. Last Wednesday she made it official.

Ferrada is so far the only declared candidate. There may well be others who might step forward. But with just over a week to go before the nomination period closes, it is unlikely. Which means that she will most probably be elected party leader at their next convention in April, and, come next November, will be the party’s candidate for mayor.

She already has the support of several members of the party, including several key borough mayors, such as Christine Black of Montréal-Nord, Jim Beis of Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Laurent Desbois of Outremont, and Doug Hurley of Île-Bizard-Sainte-Geneviève. She also has the support of three city councillors – Pierrefonds‘ Benoit Langevin, Stephanie Valenzuela (Darlington) and Julien Henault-Ratelle (Tetreaultville), and of the party’s interim leader Aref Salem who praised Ferrada’s “flawless record.”

“She has all the qualities and experience needed to lead this metropolis,” Salem said, “and meet the challenges that lie ahead.”

Most recently Ferrada was a Liberal Member of Parliament for Hochelaga and Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. She had also been a city councillor for both Vision Montreal and Union Montreal, so she is no stranger to municipal politics. In her video announcing her intention to seek the party leadership, she assured her constituents “I’m not going anywhere. I’m actually coming back home, coming back to Montreal, because I choose Montreal.”

As to where she hopes to succeed where Projet Montréal has failed, she highlighted housing. Ferrada points out that Montreal is the only city in Canada that has decreased construction. “Having more housing requires a new sense of priorities, for one, working with boroughs, working with the private sector, working with the community organizations to really make it happen.”

Homelessness has also been a priority for Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who has called on the provincial government to do more to solve the problem. However, Ferrada says that pointing the fingers won’t do anything. “We have to be partners, everybody at the table, to really concretely work collaboratively with all (levels of) governments in place. But it’s not one government’s fault; everybody has their own role to play.”

Ferrada characterizes Ensemble Montréal as a party that listens to Montrealers. “We’re pragmatic, not dogmatic,” she says. “We want to make sure that Montrealers will see an alternative in our party in terms of…social and economic development.”

She appears confident that, with the coming months, Ensemble Montréal will be able to win over Montrealers under her leadership. “Campaigns matter, and I’m a really good campaigner,” adding that it will come down to “a contest of who is the best to serve Montrealers, and I think we’re the best team to do that.”

“Together,” she said, “we are building a strong vision for our city.” n