Alex Norris named interim mayor of Plateau-Mont-Royal

Alex Norris is taking over as interim mayor of Montreal's Plateau-Mont-Royal borough following the resignation of Luc Ferrandez.

Norris, acity councillor for the borough's Jeanne-Mance district,was first elected in 2009 as a member ofProjet Montral.

He said thata decade ago, people cast their votes for Projetbecause they wanted to see real change.

"We recognize that we're in a climate emergency, that we can't move tentatively and take half-measures," he said Wednesday.

"We are facing a climate crisis, and we need to act with vigour and determination."

Ferrandezannounced his resignationTuesday, saying he had grown frustrated with what he said was MayorValrie Plante'sinaction on climate change.

Ferrandez, a divisive and prominent figure in municipal politics,hadserved as thePlateau-Mont-Royal borough mayor since 2009.

Norris commended Ferrandez for being able to enact change in his borough, "voterby voter, citizen by citizen."

"The ecologist vision of Plateau-Mont-Royal is still held by our team," he said.

Before entering politics, Norriswas a journalist at the Montreal Gazette.

Abyelection to replace Ferrandez as mayorwill be held in October.