Vision Montreal - Accomplishments

Accomplishments

Bourque was elected Mayor against incumbent Jean Doré in 1994. 39 of his candidates were elected to City Hall. In 1998, he and his team were re-elected for a second term.

The Bourque administration is credited with:

• the introduction of a balanced city budget, with the help of the provincial government in 1998;
• the revitalization of the Old Montreal Historic District;
• the implementation of neighbourhood programs known as Éco-quartiers; such programs consist of:
  • recycling;
  • adding greenery on public property;
• the reopening of the Lachine Canal in 1997;
• the expansion of diplomatic and commercial relations between Montreal and Shanghai, China;
• a modest reversal of Montreal's suburbanization between 1996 and 2001;
• the merger of Montreal and 27 other surrounding municipalities into one city government that covers the entire island of Montreal in 2001-02 (an idea known as Une île, une ville or One island, one city in English).