Sherbrooke mayoral candidates have competing visions for revamping downtown core

The issue of what will replace a rundownhotelin downtown Sherbrooke could help determine the outcome of Sunday's municipal election in the regional centre of Quebec's Eastern Townships.

Sherbrooke's economy and the revitalization of the citycore have emerged as key issues in the election campaign.

The Wellington Hotel, built in 1928, is set to be demolished by the end of the year.

Incumbent mayor Bernard Svigny is backing a$50-million project called Well Inc. two buildings and a multi-storey car park for 900 vehicles, to be built on the land where the old hotel stands.

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Svigny, who launched the project in 2016,promises to bring it to fruition if he's elected to a third mandate.

"Going door to door, what people want to talk about is employment, jobs, businessesand industries," Svignysaid.

Svigny said Well Inc.will give the downtown districtthe push it needs to regenerate.

"It's a 10-year project. Wellington Sudis a neighbourhood where there havebeen a lot of problems for three decades," Svignysaid.

Controversial vision for downtown

Several candidates running against Svignyare less enthusiastic about Svigny'svision.

Sherbrooke didn'tcall for tenders on the project, signingan agreement with a private consortium made up ofthe FTQ labour federation's real-estate solidarity fund,SherWebandGroupeCusteau.

That prompted outgoingcouncillorJean-FranoisRouleauto file an official complaint withthe Quebec Municipal Commission, alleging a breach of ethics.

Svignywon't comment on the complaint while it's before the commission, but his opponents are questioning the project.

Hlne Pigot, a Universit de Sherbrooke professor running under the banner of Sherbrooke Citoyen, said she's concerned by the planto build nearly 900 parking spaces.

"We do not need that. As a city we pay a lot. So the way things are packaged are not very interesting for the town,"Pigotsaid.

"I totally agree that we need to develop WellingtonSud, she needs love,"Pigotsaid.

However, Pigot said community organizations and residents who live in the area need beincluded in the revitalization process.

New ideasfor Sherbrooke's economy

Independent candidate Steve Lussiersaid he'llimpose a moratorium on Well Inc., if elected.

"I want to look at the numbers and call for tenders. I want citizens to know we've done a good job," said Lussier, a mortgage development advisor andreal estate developer.

He said he wants to bring his experience in finance to develop a major tourist attraction in the city, one that capitalizes on the region's unique characteristics.

"We need to develop sporting events, like mountain biking events on Mont Bellevue, to bring people here," Lussiersuggested.

"Sherbrooke has the capacity of becoming the most prosperous city in Quebec."

Lack of transparency?

Retired industrial engineer Denis Pellerinis running for mayor for a third time.

He accusesSvigny of failingto disclose information onseveral projects, including Well Inc.

Pellerin said the city's lack of transparency made it difficult even to do research forhis campaign.

"I want to have business plans for every project to see where we're going," Pellerin said.

He plans to reorganizeSherbrookeInnopole, the paramunicipal corporation dedicated to economic development, to create more jobs in the city.

New visions of governance

Patrick Ttrault'scampaign has focused on citizen participation, as well aspolitical involvement.

Ttrault, a taxi driver and former missionary,said the city needs to support its local producers by creating buy-localinitiatives and investing in new industries.

"The heart of my proposition is to bring more power to the people, a new form of organization as a citizen."

Ttraultsaid democratic institutions should be more innovative when it comes to citizen participation, for example, by developing online forims.

"If we find new ways of getting togetherand networking we can show the world how things can be done differently."

Make a date withCBCfor election night this Sunday, Nov. 5:

• CBC'sfull coverage of the 2017 municipal election

Online:Get breaking news and live results at cbc.ca/montrealafter polls close at 8 p.m.

OnFacebook:Join host DebraArbecfor a 90-minuteFacebookLive starting at 10 p.m. with results, analysis and reports from across Quebec.

On TV:Watch our live results show from 11 to 11:30 p.m. onCBCTelevision.

On Radio:Listen toCBCRadio One starting at 8 p.m. for a province-wide show hosted by MikeFinnertyin Montreal and Susan Campbell in Quebec City.