Véronique Fournier

Véronique Fournier is a politician in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She has served on the Montreal city council since 2009, representing Saint-Henri–La Petite-Bourgogne–Pointe-Saint-Charles as a member of Vision Montreal.

Early life and career

Fournier has a bachelor's degree in social work and community organization and a master's degree in social economy. She has taught democratic practices for community organizations at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and, as of 2013, is pursuing a graduate degree in public administration from the École nationale d'administration publique (ENAP).^[1]

City councillor

Fournier was elected to Montreal city council in the 2009 municipal election, winning a narrow victory over Union Montreal and Projet Montréal candidates. Union Montreal won a council majority and formed government, initially with the two other parties as junior coalition partners and subsequently on its own.

Fournier was appointed as vice-chair of Montreal's finance committee in March 2012.^[2] Later in the same year, she accused the municipal government of being "far too timid" in its negotiations with city employees on pension changes.^[3] She also argued that the city should directly oversee construction of the Bonaventure Expressway, rather than contracting the work out to the Société du Havre de Montréal (SHM).^[4]

By virtue of holding her position on city council, Fournier also serves on the Sud-Ouest borough council, where she has served as chair of the urban planning and advisory committee. In 2011, the borough council voted to close the historical Bain Emard indoor pool due to a budgetary shortfall; Fournier described this as "a heartbreaking choice, but at this point the responsible choice."^[5] On other occasions, she has championed the preservation of heritage buildings.^[6] In 2012, she accused Transports Québec of having ignored the concerns of local residents in its plan to rebuild Montreal's Turcot Interchange.^[7]

Montreal mayor Gérald Tremblay resigned in late 2012 and was replaced by Michael Applebaum, who formed a new administration with representation from all parties on council and some independents. Shortly thereafter, Applebaum chose Fournier as one of two of his appointed representatives on the Ville-Marie borough council.^[8] In January 2013, Fournier welcomed Applebaum's announcement that the city would take control of the Bonaventure Expressway from the SHM.^[9]

Electoral record

References

1. ↑ Véronique Fournier, Vision Montreal biography, accessed 29 April 2013.
2. ↑ "Véronique Fournier est nommée à la vice-présidence de la Commission sur les finances et l’administration", La Voix Pop, 9 March 2013.
3. ↑ Michelle Lalonde, "Applebaum defends size of tax hike; Stands by promise even as water levies top inflation rate," Montreal Gazette, 15 September 2012, A4.
4. ↑ Linda Gyulai, "More funding for harbour agency angers opposition; Parties question value city will get for its $700,000," Montreal Gazette, 26 October 2012, A4.
5. ↑ Anne Sutherland, "Ville Emard indoor pool to close; Economics forces 'heartbreaking choice'," Montreal Gazette, 21 September 2011, A8.
6. ↑ Allison Lampert, "Heritage battle raging in Sud-Ouest; Borough seeks help to protect buildings," Montreal Gazette, 27 April 2012, B1.
7. ↑ Marian Scott, "Critics attack '1950s-style' car-focused approach; Will set back sustainable transportation in city by a century," Montreal Gazette, 5 May 2012, A7.
8. ↑ "Les conseillers Jocelyn Ann Campbell et Richard Deschamps éjectés du conseil de Ville-Marie", Montreal Express, 5 December 2012, accessed 15 January 2013.
9. ↑ Christopher Curtis, "City to run Bonaventure project; Societe du havre stripped of its duty," Montreal Gazette, 25 January 2013, A7.

External links

• City of Montreal biography (in French)
• Vision Montreal biography (in French)