Montréal Écologique

Montréal Écologique (MÉ) (English: Ecology Montreal) was a municipal political party in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, that existed from 1990 to 1994.

Origins

The party that became Montréal Écologique was started in 1989 through a series of public meetings organized by Dimitri Roussopoulos, a veteran political organizer and publisher in the city. Roussopoulos indicated that his group was intended to become Montreal's first municipal green party and would make environmental issues its top priority.^[1] MÉ was formally registered with city hall in April 1990.^[2]

The party was established at about the same time as the Coalition démocratique de Montréal (CDM), a left-wing breakaway group from the governing Montreal Citizens' Movement (MCM). Roussopoulos held talks with CDM leaders on inter-party co-operation in late 1989, although no agreement was reached at time time.^[3] In October 1990, the parties signed a "non-aggression pact," pledging not to run against one another in most of the city's council wards. As a result of the pact, Montréal Écologique did not field a candidate for mayor.^[4]

1990 election

Montréal Écologique's platform for the 1990 municipal election included calls for reducing automobile use, increasing green space, a full recycling program, proportional representation, and a toll for cars entering the Island of Montreal with fewer than three people.^[5] During the election, Roussopoulos said that Montreal should reduce its garbage output by seventy per cent.^[6] Some party members also pledged to set up a food bank after the election, expressing surprise at the degree of poverty in the city.^[7]

MÉ ran twenty-one candidates in the 1990 election, none of whom were elected. Roussopoulos finished second to an MCM candidate in the Jeanne-Mance ward.^[8]

Merger

Roussopoulos remained as leader of Montréal Écologique until August 1994, when the party was formally merged with the Coalition democratique de Montreal.^[9] Yolande Cohen became leader of the resulting Coalition democratique-Montréal Écologique (CD-MÉ) party for the 1994 election.^[10]

The merged party won two seats on council, both of whom were former members of the Coalition democratique. These councillors used the CD-MÉ name until the 1998 election, at which time the party reverted to the Coalition democratique name.^[11] Montréal Écologique did not re-surface as a separate organization after this time.

References

1. ^ Lewis Harris, "City hall opposition (such as it is) ponders alliances in bid for clout," Montreal Gazette, 11 November 1989, B4; Paul Wells, "He is planning a party to paint city hall green; Introducing...Dimitri Roussopoulos," Montreal Gazette, 24 December 1989, A2.
2. ^ "New party focuses on environment," Montreal Gazette, 22 April 1990, A3.
3. ^ Lewis Harris, "Four ex-MCM rebels form new party," Montreal Gazette, 21 December 1989, A3.
4. ^ Lewis Harris, "Coalition, Ecology parties have `non-aggression pact'," Montreal Gazette, 12 October 1990, A5.
5. ^ James Mennie, "City must think green, party says; Montreal Ecologique targets 20 `serious' ridings," Montreal Gazette, 3 October 1990, A3; "Change our voting," Montreal Gazette, 28 September 1990, B2.
6. ^ Graeme Hamilton, "Environment issues get slight attention; MCM failed to fulfil promises critics and opponents charge," Montreal Gazette, 25 October 1990, A6.
7. ^ "Campaign offers food for thought," Edmonton Journal, 4 November 1990, A4.
8. ^ Marian Scott, "Losing parties vow to keep fighting city hall; Mayoral vote count gives official opposition status to Municipal Party," Montreal Gazette, 6 November 1990, A3.
9. ^ Michelle Lalonde, "New candidates for Choquette; Ten ex-members of defunct Action Montreal Party join municipal-election team of mayoral hopeful," Montreal Gazette, 24 August 1994, A3.
10. ^ Michelle Lalonde, "Up from the grass roots; Cohen has an activist's perspective," Montreal Gazette, 20 October 1994, A1.
11. ^ Peggy Curran, "Something off the top: Democratic Coalition eschews mayoral race," Montreal Gazette, 20 October 1998, A3.