Valérie Plante

Valérie Plante
Name	Valérie Plante
Birth date	14 June 1974
Birth place	Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge, Quebec City, Quebec
Nationality	Canadian
Occupation	Politician
Title	48th Mayor of Montreal
Term start	November 16, 2017
Predecessor	Denis Coderre
Party	Projet Montréal

Valérie Plante is a Canadian politician who has served as the 48th Mayor of Montreal since 2017. Born in Quebec City, she rose through municipal politics as a member of Projet Montréal and defeated incumbent Denis Coderre in a high-profile contest. Her tenure has involved major initiatives on public transit, housing, active transportation, and cultural affairs in Montreal.

Early life and education

Plante was born in Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge, Quebec, and raised in the Laval and Charlevoix regions. She attended institutions including Université de Montréal and completed programs associated with Université du Québec à Montréal and local community colleges such as Cégep de Sainte-Foy. Influences in her youth included figures connected to Jean Lesage, René Lévesque, and the political culture of Quebec sovereignty movement debates. Her early education intersected with organizations like YMCA, Centraide, and community agencies in Saint-Laurent and Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie.

Political beginnings and municipal involvement

Plante began municipal involvement through neighborhood associations and non-profit boards linked to Ville-Marie, Plateau-Mont-Royal, and Outremont. She joined Projet Montréal, a party founded by municipal actors including Richard Bergeron and Nicolas Montmorency, and ran in local advisory roles alongside figures such as Jane Cowell-Poitras and Laurent Blanchard. Her early political work intersected with debates involving Société de transport de Montréal, Agence métropolitaine de transport, and environmental organizations like Équiterre and Greenpeace Canada.

2017 Montreal mayoral campaign

Plante won the Projet Montréal leadership and led a campaign challenging Denis Coderre in the 2017 municipal election. The campaign engaged media outlets including La Presse, Le Devoir, Montreal Gazette, and broadcasters such as Radio-Canada and CBC News. High-profile endorsements came from municipal actors and municipal unions connected to CSN, FTQ, and cultural figures linked to Cirque du Soleil and the Montreal Jazz Festival. The platform addressed conflicts involving Autoroute 15, the REM project by CDPQ Infra, and transit controversies with STM leadership. The race involved debates with personalities like other mayors and attracted visits from provincial leaders including Philippe Couillard and François Legault.

Mayor of Montreal (2017–present)

Plante assumed office on November 16, 2017, succeeding Denis Coderre and working with borough mayors including local councillors across boroughs such as Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Anjou, and Lachine. Her administration has navigated crises involving public safety with coordination with SPVM and emergency response with CIUSSS agencies. She has represented Montreal at national and international events including United Cities and Local Governments, meetings with Justin Trudeau, interactions with François Legault, and summits like the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.

Policies and initiatives

Her administration prioritized active transportation projects linking to Bixi, expansion of protected bicycle lanes in districts such as Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie and Ville-Marie, and collaborations with Société de transport de Montréal on bus rapid transit planning. Housing initiatives addressed partnerships with CMHC and provincial schemes under Québec programs, and involved negotiations with developers tied to projects like those in Old Port of Montreal and Griffintown. Cultural policy engaged institutions including Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, Place des Arts, and festivals such as the Just for Laughs festival and the FrancoFolies de Montréal. Environmental measures aligned with commitments to Paris Agreement targets and programs under C40, and involved urban forestry efforts with Arboriculture Montreal and stormwater management linked to projects in Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles.

Political positions and public image

Plante's political positions emphasize sustainable mobility, affordable housing, and cultural promotion, situating her within municipal progressive circles alongside figures like Denis Coderre predecessors and contrasts with Christiane Gagnon and provincial actors such as François Legault. Her public image has been shaped by media coverage from La Presse, Le Devoir, The Globe and Mail, and commentary from think tanks like Institut de recherche en politiques publiques and Concordia Institute for Public Policy. She has faced scrutiny over budgetary decisions involving the Ville de Montréal budget, negotiations with unions including CSN and CUPE, and infrastructure controversies related to REM and roadway projects near Turcot Interchange.

Electoral record

Plante was elected to Montreal City Council representing a district in Viau and later elected mayor in 2017, defeating Denis Coderre. She was re-elected in subsequent municipal contests, competing against candidates from parties including Ensemble Montréal and independents. Her electoral performance has been reported by agencies like Elections Montreal, covered in electoral analyses by Institut de la statistique du Québec and national outlets such as CBC News and CTV News.

Category:Mayors of Montreal Category:People from Quebec City Category:1974 births Category:Living people