The merger delusion : how swallowing its suburbs made an even bigger mess of Montreal / Peter F. Trent.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Trent, Peter F.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Annexation (Municipal government)--Québec (Province)--Montréal.

Annexation (Municipal government).

Montréal (Québec)--Politics and government.

Montréal (Québec).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (699 pages)

Place of Publication:

Montreal : McGill-Queen's University Press, 2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Powerless under the country's constitution, Canadian municipal governments often find themselves in conflict with their provincial masters. In 2002, the Province of Quebec forcibly merged all cities on the Island of Montreal into a single municipality - a decision that was partially reversed in 2006. The first book-length study of the series of mergers imposed by the Parti Québécois government, The Merger Delusion is a sharp and insightful critique by a key player in anti-merger politics. Peter Trent, mayor of the City of Westmount, Quebec, foresaw the numerous financial and institutional problems posed by amalgamating municipalities into megacities. Here, he presents a stirring and detailed account of the battle he led against the provincial government, the City of Montreal, the Board of Trade, and many of his former colleagues. Describing how he took the struggle all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, Trent demonstrates the ways in which de-mergers resonated with voters and eventually helped the Quebec Liberal Party win the 2003 provincial election. As the cost and pitfalls of forced mergers become clearer in hindsight, The Merger Delusion recounts a compelling case study with broad implications for cities across the globe.

Contents:

Introduction. Synopsis : the cult of giantism; Language : Quebec's necessary obsession; Westmount then and now

The story. Political eunuchs and fiscal footmen (1663-1993); Metropolitan Montreal : suffocated by structurs (1994-1995); Merger plans, the MUC, and a metropolitan miscarriage (1996); A Quebec divided : partition and downloading (1997); The seduction of simplicity : turn the MUC into a city (1998); Montreal's disease : suburban parasites or chronic maladministraton? (1999); Quebec's remedy : a huge new government or a huge new city (1999); Walking into a trap (2000); Hope and betrayal : Bernard proposes, Bouchard disposes (2000); If you can't ride two horses, you shouldn't be in the circus (2001); Forced to play the language card (2001); A fight to the finish (2001); The Poitras Report and a liberal victory (2002-2003); A megacity legitimized by the indfferenct and the absent (2003-2004); Rebirth for some, complexity for all (2004-2009); Scandals, a swollen payroll, and an uncelebrated tenth birthday (2009-2011); Conclusion : making good : rebuilding Montreal's local and regional government.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780773587564

077358756X

9781283834858

1283834855

9780773587557

0773587551

OCLC:

820123066