By Georges Dupras, Director (and Saint-Laurent resident)
It is truly regrettable that some good people in positions of power are undermined by their own pride. Notwithstanding that our Mayor has all the trappings of an old time baby kissing, cigar chomping politician, I believe he is sincere in his efforts to re-invest in Montreal. Regrettably, beyond a media friendly profile, we must ask ourselves; “has Mr. Coderre achieved anything”.
What is truly disappointing is that Mayor Coderre is unable to admit when he has made a mistake. This can be seen in his more recent “shoot from the hip” decisions; the pit-bull bylaw, the caleche horse issue and the rodeo.
Cultural Validity
Regarding the pit-bull bylaw, just about every SPCA and Humane Society opposes species specific legislation as biased and ineffective. As for the NomadFest rodeo some 600 veterinarians and animal technicians, as well as two dozen national and international animal protection organizations oppose this event as dangerous and exploitive while desensitizing our youth. Further, rodeos have no historic nor cultural validity in this city or province. Why then does the Mayor not reconsider his position? Why was the rodeo not dismissed in favour of something that does reflect our city, the province, and the times we live in? The Cirque du Soleil, conceived by a Montreal Street performer, comes to mind.
I was recently told by someone close to the mayor’s office that you had to reach the Mayor early, prior to him making a decision. This was necessary, they said, because the Mayor’s character was better suited to painting himself into a corner, from which he could not extricate himself, than it is to stepping back from a bad decision.
How sad for Montreal.