Ct will not drop out over unauthorized robocalls

Montreal mayoralty candidate, Marcel Ct, said he will not drop out after being sanctioned for unauthorized robocalls, instead suggesting that opponent Richard Bergeron should be answering questions about campaign posters that break election rules.

"They are scared of us because we are punching hard with the real issues of this campaign, which have nothing to do with that issue of last week," said Ct.

"It has to do with day-to-day citizens, their specific needs, which has to do with the nature of our streets, the quality of our streets, the quality of housing, that sort of thing."

Calls to quit race

Opponents have called on the coalition leader to drop out ofthe leadership race after automated callswere madeattackingBergeron.

The province's chief electoral officer said the callsbroke election rules by not identifying Ct's party as being behind the ads.Ctmaintains that this was an honest mistake.

• Montreal candidates spar over illegal robocalls

However, Ct said that Bergeron shouldanswer questions about the thousands of campaign posters around the citythat arent identified as being paid for by Projet Montral.

"The only rule that was broken is that we didn't put 'authorized and paid by the official agent.' The biggest breaker of that rule is Mr. Bergeron who has several thousand posters still in place without that message," said Ct.

"So if we talk about breaking the rules, and the directorgeneral of the election knows about this, we are a minor player inthat game."

• Ctsanctioned for robocalls

A price to pay

Concordia University Political Science professor,Harold Chorney, said that while breaking an election rulemaybe a genuine mistake, itprojects a negative image whenconsidering the city's history of corruption allegations towardspoliticians.

"It's a terrible mistake to use robocalls in an environment like Montreal, after we've had all these allegations of corruption and bad practices. So using them is an error of judgment, using them without actually identifying that they belong to you is actually a violation of the election act." saidChorney.

"[Ct] has a price to pay for that, and that will be a loss of support."

Promises to invest in community

Ct made the comments during an announcement in the Ahunstic-Cartierville borough.

He said if he iselected, hewould invest $18 million fora community centre in theBordeaux-Cartiervillearea, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the city.

The new building would house the neighbourhood library and a number of community groups that haverecentlylost the space where they were operating.

"For 10 years, these organizations have worked to mobilize the community towards integrated urban revitalization. It is time for the city to do something concrete and initiate a real change," saidCtin a statement.