'Happy warrior' Valrie Plante sets sights on Denis Coderre

A steady stream of ProjetMontralsupporters, many of them young parents pushing strollers, others who braved the December chill on their bikes, filed into Olympia Theatreon Sunday to cast their vote in theparty's leadership race.

In the end, Valrie Plante wonby fewerthan 100 votes.

• ProjetMontralelects Valrie Plante as new leader

Now, the 42-year-old with a background in museum studies faces a monumental challenge: takingdownpolitical heavyweight Denis Coderre.

Even the party's longtime interim leader, Luc Ferrandez, has expressed skepticism Projet can beatTeam Coderreon Nov. 5, 2017.

But in a series of interviews the morning after her victory, Plantemaintainedshe has a shot.

"I'm often called the happy warrior," she told Radio-Canada's Gravel le Matin.

"I'm ready to go to the front, but at the same time I have an easy smile."

Beyond the Plateau

ProjetMontralhas traditionally done well in the densest, central parts of the city, where its emphasis on public transportation and cycling tends to resonate.

The goalnow is for Plante to recruit a roster of attractivecandidates and develop policy proposals that appeal to Montrealersliving east, west and north of the party's traditional base.

"We need to find a way to connect with all the citizens, wherever they are on the island," she said Monday onDaybreak.

"The idea is to go on the ground and find out what people want.... If there are good ideas on the Plateau, we will take them;if there are good ideas from China, we'll take them, same if they come from Paris."

Plantewas upagainstGuillaumeLavoie, a fellow citycouncillor, in the leadership race.

Both have been with the party since 2013.

Plantecampaigned on the idea (it's not a promise, at this point, she says) ofbuilding a new, $6-billion Metro line that would cutdiagonally through the city, of devoting more money toward social housing and improvingenergy efficiency for buildings owned and operated by the City of Montreal.

The vote was close, with Plante winningby a count of998 to919.

'One-man show'

Plante, who was first elected in 2013 as the councillor for the Ville-Marie borough'sSainte-Marie district, said she won the leadership by speaking directly to voters, going door to door and holding kitchen parties.

She plans to take on Coderre the same way, by emphasizing her party's team of councillors and its grassroots approach.

"We don't see his team. It's a one-man show," Plante said of the mayor.

Coderrecongratulated Plante on her victory on Sunday and said they both shared the same objective improving the lives of Montrealers even if they don't agree on the approach.

With less than a year before the vote, however, little co-operation can be expected.

Valrie Plante says Montreal's pit bull bylaw needs revision

8 years ago

Duration 0:59

Valrie Plante, the new leader of Projet Montral, says Montreal's pit bull bylaw gives a false sense of security.

Plante, who would become the city's first elected female mayor, said in her victory speech that Montrealers are "thirsty for change," and a mayor that listens to them.

Despite Coderre's recent controversiesover his pit bull bylawandspending for the 375th anniversary, however, the mayor remains a popular figure with a reputation for quick action.

To have a shot, Plante will need to persuade more Montrealers not just those with strollers and on bikes that Projet Montral can make a difference for the better next November.

• Will Montreal's 375th celebrations cement Denis Coderre's legacy or be his undoing?