Mayor Valerie Plante got into a heated exchange during Tuesday's council meeting with an opposition councillor over Plante's supposed lack of a public presence as police and volunteers continue their search for 10-year-old Ariel Jeffrey Kouakou.
Plante, meanwhile, insists she has been on the ground, but didn't make a big show of it — as her predecessor might have.
Francesco Miele, a St. Laurent councillor with the opposition Ensemble Montréal party, took Plante to task in council over that — and over an assertion made by a journalist on the wildly popular Radio-Canada TV show Tout Le Monde En Parle on Sunday night, accusing police of failing to launch its search for Ariel until nearly 24 hours after his disappearance.
“Is it normal that the municipal administration hasn't gone out, hasn't publicly intervened to defend her police force, and especially, to reassure Montrealers?" Miele asked the mayor.
"You know what, I was in the field, but I didn't bring my Kodaks with me." -Montreal mayor Valerie Plante
"Mr. Miele, I find your question, frankly, unacceptable," the mayor shot back. "Because, you know what? I was in the field, but I didn't bring my Kodaks with me. That's the difference."
The last point was a reference to her predecessor, Denis Coderre, and his supposed penchant for photo-ops.
"Do not judge my work. I just have a different way of working than my predecessor," she added.
She then added she has full confidence in the efforts of police — and then, Miele, the assistant opposition leader, followed up, accusing Plante of politicizing the boy's disappearance.
"I simply asked why the mayor didn't intervene when a journalist, during a show that many people watch, asked serious questions on the work of the SPVM," Miele said. "You have neither intervened to defend your police force, nor have you reassured Montrealers...I am not politicizing the fate of a child."
"In fact, that's exactly what you're doing," Plante angrily shot back. "This case is sad for everyone, and it's not the time to bad-mouth on those working on the ground...either the police or the volunteers. I am behind them...and all that counts is that we find Ariel, not have a debate here [in council]."
The 10-year-old boy disappeared from his north-end neighborhood on March 12. Police now believe Ariel went to the Parc des Bateliers, fell into the river, and drowned.
Police enlisted the help of divers last week, and put police boats back on the water on Tuesday.
Ariel is four feet, seven inches tall and weighs about 90 pounds, and was last seen wearing a black winter coat, gray pants and yellow shoes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is being asked to call 9-1-1, or the police Info-Crime line at 514-393-1133.