Tag: politics

News

Protesters against values charter take to the streets

Post author By Laura Marchand
Post date September 17, 2013

Thousands of people flooded Montreal’s streets Saturday, Sept. 14, to protest against the Parti Québécois’ proposed Charter of Quebec Values, which would “prohibit the wearing of overt and conspicuous religious symbols by state personnel.” The route taken spanned over two kilometers down de Maisonneuve Blvd. from Place Émilie Gamelin (UQAM) to Place du Canada.

Protesters donned multiple religious symbols, such as hijabs, kippahs, and crucifixes through the downtown core in a march to voice their opposition to the controversial legislation. The crowd chanted slogans such as “PQ values are racist values” and “No to the charter of hate”.

“We came together in unity to send a strong message to Madame Marois to let her know that there are so many Quebecers opposed to this bad idea,” said Salam Elmenyawi, President of the Muslim Council of Montreal. “She is trying to solve some imaginary problem to divide the country, and making the stupid claim that it is for women’s equality. In fact, it destroys their equality […] in an exclusionary way.”

“I want to be able to live in this province,” said Sybil Riopelle, a convert to Islam who drove to Montreal from Gatineau for the protest. “If [the charter] happens, they’ll tell us we’ll have to live in another province if we want to wear our scarves. Just for the scarves. It doesn’t make any sense.”

Many took to shouting “Quebec is not France”, referring to the 2004 French law that banned veils, crosses and turbans from state schools, in addition to the 2011 law that banned the niqab in public places.

“Quebec is not France but Marois is Sarkozy,” said Mohammed, a masked protester who preferred to remain anonymous. “What France is doing is racist. What has their law done for them? We will not make the same mistakes they did.”

Others agreed that the proposed charter is not only infringing on the rights of religious minorities, but was racist as well.

“Christians are not affected by this law as much as others. It’s obviously pointed at immigrants who have different faiths,” said Sarena Santilly, who moved to Montreal from Toronto. “The Christians and people without faith who are passing the law are failing the population.”

Participants repeatedly took to shouting “Marois: racist”, an accusation that many did not approve of.

“I don’t think we should use such explosive language,” said Ehab Lotayes, who carried a sign criticizing Marois’ stance on the issue. “I think we should focus on the point itself, and not on cheap shots.”

André Lévesque was one of the few seen carrying a crucifix to the protest.

“I don’t want anyone telling me how big I can wear my cross,” said Lévesque.

While opposed to the charter, he saw no reason why the crucifix in the National Assembly should be taken down. “Canada was built on Christianity. This is a Christian civilization, and if they’re not happy, they can move somewhere else.”

Marois has previously said that the crucifix in the National Assembly in Quebec City would not be removed under the new rules. A poll by survey firm SOM places support for the charter at 66 percent, or two-thirds of all Quebecers, according to CBC News.

However, opponents of the charter are willing to fight the legislation, should it pass.

“We will take it to the Supreme Court,” said Elmenyawi. “All the way to the United Nations, if we have to.”

Tags charter of quebec values, politics, PQ, protest, quebec

Opinions

Golden Dawn to bring dark days

Post author By Athena Tacet
Post date November 6, 2012

Greece’s democracy is at risk.

With the European Union and the International Monetary Fund imposing austerity measures in return for a bailout loan, the precarious social conditions in which Greeks now live and the implosion of the country’s political system have led many to think that a civil war could become the next reality.

Greece is in a crisis. Their unemployment rate is higher than ever, which was at 25 per cent in July, with 54.2 per cent of youths unemployed. The situation is dire and people know that the government is to blame.

This is where the newest party in Greece, Golden Dawn, comes in. They have become a central player in Greek politics.

The Golden Dawn, whose name paradoxically conveys a poetic message, has recently been the most striking case of political unease. Portrayed as Neo-Nazi, this violent, far-right political party prefers describing itself as “nationalist.”

“We are not fascists. We are not anti-immigrants. We are Greeks, and we love our country. That’s all,” Golden Dawn’s deputy leader in Montreal, Spiros Macrozonaris, said in a recent interview with the CBC.

Far-right parties like this have succeeded in getting voters in the past by creating an uncertainty as to what their agenda really is about, and therein lies the danger.

With an increasing popularity, Golden Dawn has gained 18 seats at the Greek Parliament since the 2012 elections. Golden Dawn parliamentarian Ilias Panagiotaros believes that Golden Dawn will be the top Greek political party “within one, two or three years.”

Panagiotaros is the same person who held a megaphone in an immigrant-filled neighborhood in Athens, screaming that we need to “fight against foreign invaders.” Greek police say they have made almost 3,000 arrests in a recent campaign to hold and deport illegal immigrants. In September, three Golden Dawn lawmakers led supporters on sweeps through markets in two towns, demanding to see the papers of people who weren’t ethnic Greeks. They smashed the stalls of those they deemed to be operating illegally. This radicalism is not what Greece needs. This isn’t the democracy Greece is so proud to be the father of.

“We have always been a joyful nation,” said Dimitris Manolakis, a Greek student now studying in Germany. “We used to have smiles on our faces no matter what. Times are now dark and sad, but the Golden Dawn is not the solution. The party will not bring back the hopes that we lost. It’s our responsibility to do so.”

History has shown that resorting to radicalism has never been a wise solution but rather an unnecessary and dangerous evil. Golden Dawn definitely falls into this category.

Tags Golden Dawn, Greece, politics, radical political party

Opinions

That’s no way to treat your best friend

Post author By Tiffany Lafleur
Post date November 6, 2012

Quebec came in second to last in a recent ranking of Canadian animal protection laws. Photo via Flickr

Roo’s body was covered in blood. She had been beaten with a lead pipe, stabbed five times with bits of broken ceramic cutting into her body.

She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Doctors didn’t know if she would survive the night. But she did. Her assailant had been caught, and would be prosecuted and sentenced to six months in jail.

After all, Roo is just a three-year-old pug.

This is the biggest sentence regarding animal cruelty in Quebec’s history. Geoffrey Laberge has been accused with five counts of animal cruelty. According to CTV, the crown and the defence are suggesting a sentence prohibiting Laberge from owning an animal for the next 25 years.

In a recent report published by the Animal Legal Defence Fund, Quebec came in second to last in the ranking of Canadian animal protection laws. According to the ALDF, Quebec is “one of the best provinces to be an animal abuser.” How heartwarming.

If this isn’t a wake-up call for the government to enforce stricter rules regarding animal abuse, then what is? Animal abuse is a cruel, violent and an absolutely unnecessary form of aggression.

A society can usually be judged by how well they take care of the weak. This includes the elderly and the young but should also include animals.

Animals don’t talk. They can’t go to the police and ask for protection. They can’t just pack their bags and disappear in the middle of the night. Animals are loyal and are our companions. If Quebec doesn’t adequately defend the weak in our society, then it stands to reason that they do not consider pets to be creatures of value.

Animal abuse is horrible enough on its own. However, it can also be a warning sign of deeper and darker forms of violence.

In an article published by the Humane Society, it states that the National School Safety Council, the U.S. Department of Education, the American Psychological Association, and the National Crime Prevention Council all agree that animal cruelty is a warning sign for at-risk youth.

The article also mentioned that Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Albert DeSalvo and many other confessed murderers and school shooters had committed acts of animal cruelty in the past. Montreal’s Luka Magnotta was also suspected to have been abusive towards animals. And we all know what that led to.

I believe cruelty to any innocent creature is morally wrong. If Roo had been a child, Laberge would have been in prison for a lot longer than six months. But since Roo is ‘just’ a dog, her attacker won’t be locked up for longer. If people can convince themselves that this form of violence and cruelty is acceptable in our society, there’s a problem. Part of the problem is that the government is allowing such violence by being so lax with the punishment.

Just because Roo stands on four legs instead of two does not take away from the fact that Laberge beat an innocent creature with a lead pipe before stabbing it five times.

Why? Maybe because she was barking too loud. Or maybe she gnawed on the wrong chair leg. But if Laberge was okay with administering such violence on a helpless creature, then what’s to say he, or others who have committed such crimes, wouldn’t inflict such pain on a person?

Tags abuse, animal abuse, legislation, politics, quebec, Quebec animal abuse

Opinions

Think hard before you vote PQ

Post author By George Menexis
Post date August 28, 2012
1 Comment on Think hard before you vote PQ

PQ chef Pauline Marois. Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Excitement is growing for the upcoming provincial election.

Concordia has closed its doors, leaving students with one less excuse not to go out and cast their vote. As of September 4, people will be rushing to the polls to decide who will be the next premier of Quebec. Can Jean Charest join a legend like Robert Bourassa and become the premier of Quebec an incredible four times? Only time will tell. I am, however, sure of one thing: we cannot have Pauline Marois and the Parti Quebecois lead Quebec.

“We are a sovereigntist party,” Marois once told reporters.

The PQ wants a sovereign Quebec. It is no secret and Marois has publicly said that she is ready to spend taxpayers’ money to promote her party’s vision of an independent Quebec, should they be elected.

The Liberal candidate for Nelligan, Yolande James, told CBC that she thinks this is absolutely preposterous.
“Not only will they be spending people’s tax money on working toward sovereignty studies, it’s not going to be clear what they will be doing,” said James. “They’re hiding their referendum because they’re afraid of losing the election.”

That being said, the Parti Quebecois has stated that they plan to implement news laws such as extending Bill 101 to apply to small businesses and introducing mandatory French language tests for civil servants. This is the type of legislation that could potentially limit people’s rights and freedoms in this province.

People living in Quebec should have more access to bilingualism, not less. They should be able to send their children to whichever school they want, to be able to open a business without their every move being scrutinized.

Over the course of the year, Marois appeared to be hoping to score many student votes by sporting a red square during her speeches, as well as supporting the student strike over the tuition hikes proposed by the Liberals. Where is the red square now? In late June, she decided to drop it, telling media stations that she will be sporting the fleur-de-lis instead.

Many students didn’t buy it.

“If she doesn’t wear the red square, she’s won the championship of hypocrisy,” said Charest to the Canadian Press when she stopped wearing it.

It seems quite unlikely that Marois will appeal to students much more than Charest in the upcoming election. Taking off her red square is a sign that she could end up taking the same position Charest did on the tuition hikes if elected, despite claiming to support the movement.

It’s no secret that Quebec is bleeding money of late, and at a time when we desperately need our funds to go to more urgent matters, who would choose to have it thrown away to promote a referendum that is so unlikely to pass?

It is clear that the PQ is the wrong choice in this upcoming elections, but far less clear who may be the right one. Whatever the case, don’t take a back seat on election day.

Tags election, Parti Quebecois, Pauline Marois, politics, quebec

News

Students take to streets of Sherbrooke

Post author By The Concordian
Post date April 4, 2012

[singlepic id=131 w=320 h=240 float=right]

Over 5,000 students and citizens attended a demonstration on Wednesday in Quebec Premier Jean Charest’s home riding of Sherbrooke.

Students bused in from across the province representing high schools, CEGEPs and universities which have been protesting the province’s tuition increases.

The Concordia contingent, which was organized by student union VP external Chad Walcott, lost a large number of supporters before the bus even left the Hall building.

Earlier in the day, about 60 students were arrested during a protest which occurred at the Eaton Centre shopping mall as well as the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. Police say that those arrested were involved in “mischief” though it is not completely clear what the students have been charged with.

Walcott confirmed that a number of those arrested were Concordia students who were supposed to be on the bus, which departed at 11 a.m. Ultimately the group leaving from campus was quite small, with only six people travelling to Sherbrooke for the march.

The protesters congregated at the University of Sherbrooke and met up with an even larger group before walking all the way to the premier’s local office. Once there, students continued to cheer and chant as leaders of the movement made speeches.

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Tags CSU, FEUQ, politics, protest, quebec, Sherbrooke, tuition

Opinions

Why is Quebec acting as if it has something to hide?

Post author By The Concordian
Post date February 28, 2012

Quebec has the highest high school dropout rate in Canada, but apparently we shouldn’t know or be concerned about it.

At least, that’s the message that the Ministry of Education is sending to the population by refusing to disclose the graduation data of hundreds of Quebec high schools to QMI Agency.

This data should be made public if we want something to be done to tackle the issue. According to QMI, the Cree School Board in northern Quebec recorded the highest dropout rate in the province in 2009-2010, with 90.1 per cent of students dropping out of high school.

Quebec Education Minister Line Beauchamp says that they will not release the data for “reasons of sensitivity” and students’ self-esteem. Is that really a valid reason? Absolutely not.

Theresa Bianco, undergraduate program director in Concordia’s department of psychology, believes that this reason is only a smokescreen.

“The ministry probably just wants to cover up how bad it is by not releasing the data,” she said. “They want to protect themselves.”

Hiding the dropout rate from the population won’t make it any lower. According to Statistics Canada, the dropout rate in Quebec between 2007 and 2010 was the highest in Canada at 11.7 per cent. The highest numbers were found in Quebec’s First Nations communities.

We must ask ourselves: Why is the dropout rate so high to begin with? In my opinion, the ministry wants to hide the numbers because it’s scared of the population’s reaction, fearing it would get criticized for not putting enough effort into reducing the dropout rate.

I think that the main reason for such a high rate is the lack of help given to students with learning disabilities. Teenagers who struggle to succeed in their classes are more likely to dropout of school when they turn 16, an age at which they are legally allowed to do so. If the government puts a stronger focus on helping students cope with their learning disabilities, the dropout rate would probably fall.

“There definitely is a lot more that can be done at a legislative level,” said Bianco. “Identifying the students at risk of dropping out and helping them succeed is one solution, because their schooling environment is definitely not suitable for their learning needs at the moment.”

Another reason is that there are no consequences for students who do not get a high school degree. Having the most basic level of education is not even a requirement to get certain jobs. However, if employers required that all their employees have a high school degree in order to get the most basic job, I’m sure that a lot more people would actually finish high school.

“Right now, there are no repercussions for students that drop out before they finish high school, with regards to jobs for example,” said Bianco. “But there should be, and I can’t stress enough how important I think it is to finish high school.”

Tags dropout rate, politics, quebec, student

News

Gill says petition to impeach her is ‘rife with misinformation’

Post author By The Concordian
Post date January 25, 2012

“WHEREAS president Lex Gill orchestrated the illegal dismissal of the Chief Electoral Officer;
WHEREAS in an interview to the Link, president Lex Gill publicly attacked the competency of the ASFA executives of the last 3 years;WHEREAS under Lex Gill’s presidency, there was a record number of councillor resignations”
And the list goes on.
Concordia Student Union president Lex Gill addressed, at last Wednesday’s CSU council meeting, the long list of “whereas” clauses on the recently-launched website, www.stoplexgill.com.
The website was made public on Wednesday, the same day former CSU councillor Tomer Shavit, Arts and Science Federation of Associations president Alex Gordon (ASFA), and Commerce and Administration Students’ Association (CASA) president Marianna Luciano announced their intent to release a petition that could lead to Gill’s impeachment.
Gill said that the clauses were “rife with conjecture, misinformation, logical fallacies, defamatory statements and straightforward lies…I stand by my team’s work, dedication, leadership and courage, and implore him not to drag the rest of them into his personal problem with me.”
Gill suggested that Shavit wait until March 1, at which time the new CSU bylaws would allow him to collect signatures for a petition that could trigger a general assembly to remove her from office. The current bylaws would require a petition to impeach the entire executive. She even added that if a petition was made and validated according to the rules, she would be happy to call the general meeting, book the room, and move the motion herself. “That is, after all, how democracy works,” she added.
Shavit responded that he would continue with the petition regardless and that he believed that waiting until March would be “counterproductive,” whereas if it is done now, it would be easier for someone else to replace Gill “and to pick up the pieces.”
The creators of the website cite alleged inappropriate behaviour on Gill’s part, a lack of transparency and professionalism, and the “illegal” firing of CSU CEO Bram Goldstein, as their central complaints.
“Lex Gill’s behaviour brought controversy and shame to the CSU,” reads a section of the website.
Website co-founder Shavit said that “discontent with Lex Gill has been going on for a while.”
He said that the website, which contains a number of documents critical of Gill’s actions and those of her executive, was created so information would be accessible. There is also an interactive component in the form of a Facebook page. “Students need to feel like they are being informed,” he said.
As Wednesday’s CSU council meeting heated up, many members of the executive stepped forward to defend Gill, including VP external Chad Walcott, and CSU councillor and student governor Cameron Monagle.
“She [Gill] is doing an excellent job…we do not need controversy and petty insults, we need a stable student body and we need to deal with serious matters,” said Walcott.
Cameron Monagle called Shavit’s allegations unproductive. “We have bigger fish to fry right now,” he said. Monagle proposed a motion that expressed the council’s support for Gill, which was passed unanimously.More updates to come.

Tags ASFA, CASA, concordia, CSU, Lex Gill, politics, student union, Tomer Shavit

News

The NDP leadership race is coming to Concordia

Post author By The Concordian
Post date January 24, 2012
1 Comment on The NDP leadership race is coming to Concordia

Peggy Nash is one of six candidates confirmed to attend.

The “orange wave” is making a pit stop at Concordia as the New Democratic Party will be holding a leadership debate at Loyola this week.

Organized by Concordia NDP as well as the NDP branches of Pierrefonds-Dollard, Lac-St-Louis, NDG-Lachine and Saint-Laurent-Cartierville, the event is taking place at the Oscar Peterson Concert Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

Candidates who have confirmed their attendance are Niki Ashton, Nathan Cullen, Peggy Nash, Romeo Saganash, Martin Singh, and Brian Topp. After the debate there will be time to ask questions and interact with the candidates who are all vying to fill the gap left in the party following the death of former NDP leader Jack Layton last August.

This same week will see Bob Rae at Concordia. The Political Science Students’ Association and Liberal Concordia have invited the interim Liberal Party of Canada leader to speak at the university on Friday, Jan.27.

The Concordian caught up with NDP candidates Nathan Cullen and Peggy Nash for a sneak preview of what to expect in Wednesday’s debate.

Nathan Cullen was first elected in 2004 in the riding of Skeena-Bulkley Valley in B.C, and has since been re-elected three times. He serves as chair of the House of Commons’ standing committee on privacy, access to information and ethics.

Q. What made you decide to run for the leadership?

A. It was a reflection of what kind of work I was doing in politics, I wanted to do something more generous. We do things a little differently in the community I represent, less partisan, more positive.

Q. What is one of the most important issues in this campaign for you?

A. People need to have their faith restored in voting. We have to give people back a reason to vote. The system is only legitimate if people contribute. They validate our work as politicians.

Q. Do you think it’s important that students get involved?

A. Today’s students are the most engaged and connected generation in the history of the planet. We have to be better as politicians. Young folks’ dreams for a cleaner environment and a better world, politics are a tool for that.

Q. What sets you apart from other candidates?

A. I think politicians need to learn to cooperate with each other more. I have some pretty revolutionary proposals in my platform. Parties sometimes get in the way. They are means to an end, not the end itself.

Q. Why should someone vote for you?

A. My fantastic Hollywood looks and charm. Honestly, I’m different. I believe in manifest change, not just platitude.

Peggy Nash is the MP for Parkdale–High Park in Ontario. A former unions activist and labour official for the Canadian Auto Workers union, Nash served as the Official Opposition’s finance critic in Jack Layton’s Shadow Cabinet.

Q. What made you decide to run for the leadership?

A. I believe strongly in Jack Layton’s vision in uniting progressives across Canada. I want to build our party so that we can continue Jack Layton’s work and win the next federal election.

Q. What is one of the most important issues in this campaign for you?

A. Canada has lost hundreds of jobs, we’re seeing an increasing number of raw materials being shipped out, and we’re turning our back on our environmental promises. We need to start investing in green technology and sustainability.

Q. Do you think it’s important that students get involved?

A. Absolutely, they are the future. I met some really interesting ones through the Occupy movement; people who care about environment, education, and who are worried about having a bleaker life than their parents had. I want to connect people with this passion, through politics.

Q. You have a French language degree, how important is bilingualism for you?

A. It’s a serious priority. I’ve worked very hard to maintain my fluency all my life. We have an opportunity to build our social democratic movement and this means respect for French language and culture.

Q. Why should someone vote for you?

A. I have the economic experience, a proven track record and the ability to bring people together. I know what it takes to build our party; someone who is tenacious and is a strong leader.

Tags debate, ndp, oscar peterson concert hall, politics

News

To strike or not to strike

Post author By Shereen Ahmed Rafea
Post date January 17, 2012

March 7 will be the day that undergraduate students decide on Concordia’s role in the province-wide battle against tuition fee hikes in Quebec.

The Concordia Student Union has passed a motion setting March 7 as a date for a general assembly for a strike mandate expected to last from March 26 to 29.

“This is pretty much, the only card left that the students have in their hands in Quebec,” said CSU president Lex Gill at at last Wednesday’s council meeting. While Gill admitted that a strike will not be easy, she described it as a necessary step against tuition fee increases in the province.

This week, the CSU will renew their campaign against the hikes, launching an information campaign leading up to the assembly in March about the pros and cons of going forth with a strike, including flyers, posters, booklets and speeches.

“It’s really important to us that moving towards March 7, each student is fully aware of what they are going to be voting on and what impacts it will have on them,” said VP external Chad Walcott at the meeting.

Other events in the campaign include a one week sleep-in at the library to raise awareness about the tuition increases, fax and phone jams and F#ck Tuition Tuesdays at Reggie’s Bar in the Hall Building.

“To talk about a strike at this point, frankly if we weren’t I would be really worried,” said Gill, who reminded council that there are other student unions in Quebec planning strikes as early as February.

Walcott said strikes are proven to be effective in putting pressure on the government.

“We’re in a position to have a serious impact on our province,” he added in an interview.

During the meeting, some concerns were raised with regards to international students, and the potential consequences of their participation in long-term demonstrations. The CSU, however, insisted that international students who choose to strike will not run risk of being deported.

Concordia’s Mob Squad is also planning for future demonstrations, and teamed up with McGill to hold a winter training camp for interested activists last weekend.

Concordia students first protested the hikes on Nov.10, joining tens of thousands of students marching against the extra $1625 worth of tuition fees proposed by the Jean Charest government. The province currently plans to increase the cost of university tuition $325 yearly over the next five years.

The next province-wide demonstration is set for March 22.

Tags CSU, politics, protest, quebec, tuition, universities

News

Niki Ashton becomes ninth hopeful to enter NDP leadership race

Post author By Cameron Ahmad
Post date November 8, 2011
1 Comment on Niki Ashton becomes ninth hopeful to enter NDP leadership race

Niki Ashton has officially declared her candidacy for the leadership of the NDP. The Churchill, Manitoba MP made her announcement Monday morning to supporters at an event in Montreal’s Old Port.

“The opinion of Niki’s entire campaign team is that her talents, skills and ability to conduct herself in a new way will win over members and draw in new ones,” said Noah Evanchuk, co-chair of Ashton’s national campaign. “We think she’s the best person suited to be our next prime minister.”

Evanchuk believes Ashton can unite the country, because “she deals with politics differently.” He highlights her “deep roots in the party as an activist and a member,” and thinks she can galvanize voters from the entire country, including Quebec.

Ashton is the ninth person to throw her hat in the ring. She joins Peggy Nash as the second female candidate, and is the youngest person running to lead the Official Opposition.

Brian Topp, former party president, is considered a frontrunner and has received endorsements from prominent figures within the NDP, such as former leader Ed Broadbent and former Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow. Ashton also faces Martin Singh, a Nova Scotia pharmacist, and fellow MPs Thomas Mulcair, Paul Dewar, Robert Chisholm, Romeo Saganash, Nathan Cullen, and Nash.

When Ashton, now 29, defeated incumbent Liberal Tina Keeper in 2008 in her riding of Churchill, she was the youngest woman elected to the House of Commons. She is the daughter of current provincial cabinet minister Steve Ashton, who has had a seat in the Manitoba legislature for 30 years.

Ashton was elected as only one of two NDP MPs in Manitoba, and has long focused on raising the profile of her party in Western Canada. She opposed the Harper government’s plan to end the Canadian Wheat Board, and has sat on five committees since being elected in 2008.

She kicks off her nation-wide campaign tomorrow, but the decision to announce her candidacy in Montreal acknowledged the overwhelming support her party received from Quebec on May 2.

Tags ndp, politics

News

Post author By The Concordian
Post date November 1, 2011

Montrealers don’t think too highly of their mayor, compared to citizens of other big cities in Canada, according to a recent survey.

Tremblay came in last in a poll conducted by Toronto-based firm Forum Research Inc., which surveyed citizens of Canada’s 15 biggest cities on their feelings toward the leaders of their municipal governments.

Only 32 per cent of the 408 Montreal respondents approved of Mayor GÃ©rald Tremblay’s work, while 21 per cent said they would vote for him in the next election.

Why did Montreal citizens rank their mayor so poorly? “He has been mayor for a really long time and now people want something new, they want to see change,” suggested Fady Toban, VP finance of Concordia’s political science student association.

But, Toban said, the results do not necessarily just reflect on the mayor’s performance. “It’s a general trend now, people are fed up of the old institutions.”

Tremblay was first elected in November 2001 and was re-elected in 2005 and 2009.

Concordia political science professor, Everett M. Price, also believed the poll illustrated a pattern of voter disinterest. “In general, people are less interested in politics,” Price said, referring to low voter turnout across Canada.

Still, mayoral spokesperson Darren Becker pointed out that before the 2009 elections, a poll showed that Tremblay only had 20 per cent of voter support and he still won a majority in the election.

“One poll doesn’t reflect the thoughts of the entire population,” Becker said.

Becker confirmed that Montreal’s mayor is still reflecting on whether or not he will attempt another run for mayor in the 2013 election. He added that Tremblay “still has two years left to deliver on his election promises.”

Toban added that if Tremblay wants to regain his voters’ support, “he needs to show his solidarity with citizens.”

“He needs to get out and show his support for the important causes that voters care about,” said Toban. “It’s been done by other politicians before.”

Tremblay narrowly edged out Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who had 37 per cent voter support, for last place. Mississauga, Ont. Mayor Hazel McCallion was ranked the highest with 78 per cent of participants in her city praising her leadership.

Meanwhile, Quebec City Mayor RÃ©gis Labeaume has the highest chance of being re-elected, with 67 per cent of respondents saying they would vote for him.