The Formula E race is just a few days away, but some critics say they already can't wait for it to be over.
Already, some have expressed outrage at the large taxpayer expense for the project, which is often covered in part or in full by promoters and private sponsorship in other cities that host Formula E races. Many commuters, too, have voiced disapproval over the large-scale traffic interruptions prepartion for the race this weekend has caused throughout major arteries in the downtown core.
Today, some of Mayor Denis Coderre's political opponents joined the chorus of criticism for the urban electric-car race. Opposition Leader Valerie Plante, along with several Projet Montreal city councillors, held an event with a group of Ontario Street merchants to speak out about the traffic closures the leadup to the race has caused. And many continue to speak out about the enormous taxpayer expense of the race.
But at City Hall, Denis Coderre was having none of it. He said Projet Montreal is playing politics with the situation. "I know one thing," he said, "is that they will say I'm in favour of the race, but..." He indicated the city had done its best to be flexible and accomodating to commuters and business-owners who were impacted by the preparations for the race.
He also suggested Valerie Plante was only opposed to Formula E because it was now politically expeident, saying that when they had a meeting with stakeholders about the project months ago, she told him that she supported the plan to hold the race in the city.
Coderre said to expect a post-mortem of how the city handled the race afterwards, but that he thinks the benefits of the race for the whole city will still outweight the inconveinences for some.