Montreal mayor hopeful Marcel Ct wants to attract families to city

Montreal mayoral candidate Marcel Ct unveiled his platform on Saturday, pledging to attract more young families to the Island of Montreal.

Ct's candidacy is backed by Vision Montral and he outlined his platform while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Vision Montral leader Louise Harel.

Harelannounced in Julythat she would drop out of the race to support Ct.

Ct is runningon a coalition government, which would replace Montreals historically partisan governance structure.

• Montreal mayoral candidate Ct unveils coalition

Ct says that while Montreal is a primarily French city, everyone should feel welcome here.

"Probably all of us switch from one language to another one," he said to a room full of reporters. "Thats the beauty of Montreal and thats also the richness of Montreal."

One of Cts proposals is improving access to housing in the city. He is promising to create2,000 three-room housing units and reservingvacant municipal property for the construction of co-operative family housing.

Ctalso proposes reducing speed limits in residential areas and more green spaces.

Another cornerstone of his candidacy deals with collusion in the citys construction industry.

• Special Report: Quebec Corruption Inquiry

He says prosecuting construction firms accused ofcollusion will only tie up the court system and create a shortage of bidders for city contracts.

Instead, Ct says the city should deal directly with the firms linked to corruption.

"Offending companies must repay the amounts the City has overpaid. We should establish a negotiating mechanismwith an independent mediation body to help determine the amounts to be repaid," Ct said.

Voters will go to the pollsNov. 3, 2013.