Valrie Plante promises to move Formula E race out of downtown

In her second appearance on the popular Radio-Canada talk show Tout lemondeenparle, Montreal's mayor-elect ValriePlante was steadfast in her promise to move the Formula E car race out of the downtown area.

"[The goal] is really to repatriate the race to theCircuitGilles Villeneuve," she said onSunday night's show.

It was less than a month ago thatPlanteand former mayor DenisCoderresparred over the race's success andCoderre'sinitial withholding of ticket sales.

The organizer,Montral,c'estlectrique, released the numbersshortly before last Sunday's municipal election. Of the45,000 people who attended the publicly financed race,20,000 tickets more than 40 per cent were given away for free.

Plante, who will be sworn in on Thursday, said other cities had used existing race circuits to host the Formula E but did notnameany.

"I was elected in Ville-Marie, so I experienced up close the race and its inconveniences, its impacts, which were very difficult for residents and business owners," said Plante, who was a city councillor for the district the race was held in.

She said the city would have to look into upgrades to the racetrackonle Notre-Dame in order to hold the electric car race, but that "for me, it's definitely a commitment."

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Plante traded in the casual leather jacket and white T-shirt she was wearing in her first appearance on the show last monthfor a plum dress with a bow on the collarlast night.

'I want the return of the Expos'

As for a new baseball stadium, Plantesaid she's making a pledge to continue whatever negotiations the past administration had begun, which were mainly behind closed doors, she noted.

But, ultimately, Plante says she's maintaining her position that it should be up to Montrealers to decide how to spend their money.

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"If they tell me, yes, I will respect that decision," she said, adding she'd provide the pros and cons without taking sides.

"I want the return of the Expos," Plantesaid. "I like baseball.... I'm more of a soccer girl, I'm more Impact, but I mean, I like baseball."

"What about the Canadiens!" said TLMEP'sco-hostDany Turcotte.

"In fact, the Canadienshaven't lost since I was elected," Plantereplied to laughs from the audience and fellow guests.