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For a metropolitan economic development plan

On the municipal scene, municipal representatives are preparing to give metropolitan Montreal an economic development strategy. This is the first time in the history of Quebec that a body composed of municipal representatives - the Montreal Metropolitan Community (MMC) - will adopt a regional economic development plan whose primary objective is to increase the prosperity of metropolitan Montreal. The MMC is now holding a public consultation on this subject, and the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal will participate in that process. In the coming days, the organization will present a brief in which it will stress the importance of such an economic strategy to ensure greater coherence in our efforts and more cohesion among the various players involved in the economic development of the metropolitan area. It is possible to consult the Draft economic development plan and attend public meetings held as part of the MMC's consultation. For more information, visit the MMC Web site at http://www.cmm.qc.ca/pde/index.html

Still on the municipal scene, we should mention that the entire island of Montreal is currently undergoing an electoral revision. This revision is being carried out both by the transition committee of the Montreal agglomeration, in charge of reorganizing the electoral territory of the 15 municipalities to be reconstituted, and by Montreal's city council. The city council must also present a proposal for reforming the electoral framework of the city's boroughs to Minister Jean-Marc Fournier. This electoral reorganization will be applied to the municipal general elections held on November 1, 2005. Within the context of the revision of the electoral framework on the island of Montreal, the Board of Trade hopes that, whatever the formula for electoral divisions that may be applied, one principle is upheld: that every vote be given equal weight. For the Board of Trade, it is imperative that each borough be fairly represented on city council. As for the reconstituted municipalities, the Board of Trade believes it is important that each one have proportional representation. For example, even though they have very different population sizes, the municipalities of Pointe-Claire and Baie-d'Urfé should enjoy a fair and equitable share of political weight on the metropolis's electoral stage.

On the provincial scene, the Board of Trade welcomed the Quebec government's Action Plan for Regulatory and Administrative Streamlining recently unveiled by Michel Audet, Minister of Economic and Regional Development and Research, and Lawrence S. Bergman, Minister of Revenue. "The Board of Trade believes the measures contained in the Action Plan tabled by the Government of Quebec will make the lives of our companies much easier. They will now be able to focus more on their core mission and direct all their energy and creativity toward becoming more innovative and productive, essential conditions to competitiveness not only on the domestic front but internationally as well," stated Benoit Labonté, president and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.

Finally, Quebec's National Assembly will be called upon to debate two of the government's major challenges: demography and public finance. These two themes were the subject of regional forums and a provincial forum - called the Forum des générations - on October 12, 13, and 14, at Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures.

On the federal scene, a heavy legislative menu awaits MPs, especially given the government's minority status. It's a good bet the adoption of certain bills will be a long, slow process. Already, on October 8, 11 bills had been introduced by the Martin government. By the time parliament adjourns for Christmas, the Liberal government thus plans to present some forty bills. One thing is certain: we can expect some lively debate! Finally, the Board of Trade will keep a close eye on the federal government's urban agenda, particularly with regard to its stated intention to transfer part of the federal gasoline tax to the cities.