The newly elected Plante administration at Montreal City Hall is already hinting that it may not be able to keep some of its election promises, at least not right away.
Incoming executive committee chairman Benoit Dorais says when he got a first look at the books this week, he was startled to discover a $358-million shortfall in the city's finances.
He is blasting the Coderre administration for not being upfront about the fiscal hole.
Dorais tells La Presse that to stick to Projet Montreal's promise to keep tax increases at the inflation rate, some election promises may have to wait.
He insists this isn't a ploy, although several previous administrations also announced finding unexpected shortfalls after they took power. Most recently, Denis Coderre's administration reported a $150-million hole four years ago. There were similar claims in the first term of the Tremblay administration, and when Pierre Bourque became mayor following the tenure of Jean Dore.