Mayor Valérie Plante faced more heat over her budget which calls for tax increases that critics say broke her election campaign promise.
About 50 people showed up this morning to protest the tax hikes outside Montreal city hall just before a special council session to adopt the budget.
Business owners and renters are out here saying the tax hikes are abusive, that @Val_Plante fudged her election campaign promise and that she isn't listening to their concerns now. #CJAD #polmtl pic.twitter.com/Kqki9IBhLc
— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) January 24, 2018
The average tax hike is 3.3% for residential property owners and a 3% increase for non-residential property tax rates.
Plante had said she would peg the property tax hikes to the rate of inflation - around 1.9%. But she didn't include an increase in the water tax or the local borough taxes.
The short and peaceful demontration was organized by businessman Peter Sergakis and community activist Rhonda Massad who organized last weekend's similar protest in Pointe Claire. Demerged cities also face increases in what they pay for shared services such as water infrastructure as well as police and fire services.
The group took their beef inside city hall where Sergakis, Massad and others grilled Plante about the tax increases during question period.
Suburban editor Beryl Wajsman asks @Val_Plante if she will listen to citizens who are against the tax hikes. Mayor reiterates they have to adopt this budget, saying it's the responsible thing to do. #CJAD #polmtl pic.twitter.com/uKo68Uqwn8
— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) January 24, 2018
Sergakis promised to dog Plante on the issue for the rest of her mandate, accusing her of saying one thing before the election and another after the election.
Opposition councillors also took Plante to task over the tax increases, saying the budget breaks the link of trust with Montrealers.
Plante continued to defend her budget, saying that they had no choice and that the increases were necessary to deal with problems of the past, citing crumbling water infrastructure.
.@Val_Plante steps out of council chambers to greet and briefly chat with businessmen including Peter Sergakis who urge her administration to go back to the drawing board with the budget and the tax hikes. #CJAD #polmtl pic.twitter.com/wzfo1umauv
— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) January 24, 2018