Pubdate: Wed, 20 Dec 2017
Source: Montreal Gazette (CN QU)
Copyright: 2017 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.montrealgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/274
Page: A9

PLANTE, PM DISCUSS POT LEGALIZATION, PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Mayor Valerie Plante said she had a 'very good' first meeting with
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with the two discussing pot
legalization and her Pink Line vision.

Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante declared she had a "very good" first
meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday - an opportunity
she used to discuss the imminent legalization of marijuana as well as
public transit.

Speaking to reporters at city hall afterward, Plante said she was
reassured by Trudeau's remarks on the legalization of marijuana,
scheduled for July 1.

"I very much appreciated that Mr. Trudeau reiterated the importance of
cities in this area, that they must be involved not only in the
decision-making process, but that they can also benefit from the
financial resources necessary to properly assist" with the July 1
implementation, she said.

Before the meeting, Trudeau emphasized that his government would
maintain "a lot of flexibility" on the subject so that the
legalization of marijuana does not represent a "burden" for Canadian
municipalities.

Plante noted that the two leaders also spoke about public transit and
the Pink Line metro extension proposed by her party, Projet Montreal,
during the last municipal election campaign.

To build a fifth metro line, Montreal would need the help of the
federal government. The mayor suggested that the funds that Ottawa
wants to spend on green infrastructure in the coming years should be
invested in the Pink Line.

"Mr. Trudeau does see the relevance of the Pink Line," Plante added.
"That being said, it is up to us to refine and present a more complete
project."

The prime minister left city hall quickly after the meeting, but he
said the discussions went smoothly. "We had some nice conversations
about the partnership between the federal, provincial and municipal
levels. We continue to collaborate and it's going well," Trudeau said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt