Editorial: You Made Me Promises, Promises

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Every election season brings its share of promises. In municipal politics, they’re often the same for every candidate—keeping taxes low, protecting our green spaces, and listening to residents. Some take things a step further, promising big projects, road safety, or maintaining the status quo. On the surface, these sound like exactly what we want. But voters still need to ask: Is what’s being promised realistic?

The Pointe-Claire Record published a piece in March, outlining the roles and duties of a mayor and city councillors — and their limitations. It is a good starting point to look at who can do what and how these things get accomplished. They can’t rewrite provincial laws. They can’t go up to the administration and demand that their pet projects get done. They can’t spend beyond the budget. And they can’t make every resident happy all the time.

Good elected officials recognize this. They don’t take credit for accomplishments that are not their own or make promises that can’t be kept, but they do take the time to explain what the city is doing. A road may not get fixed within a 4-year mandate, but it may be part of a planned infrastructure project for 2029. A (hypothetical) assessment of recreational needs may be scheduled in a few years, but don’t expect to see a change until the next decade. Traffic calming solutions are wonderful in theory but come with many legal and engineering restrictions and should not be promised willy-nilly.

Pointe-Claire’s professional administration — with decades of experience in finance, policing, engineering, and other fields — ensures the city runs smoothly day to day. The mayor and council listen to a range of perspectives, weigh competing priorities, find workable compromises, and move the city forward.

Municipal elections aren’t popularity contests. They’re a hiring process. The right choice isn’t the person who tells you exactly what you want to hear, but the one who can represent all of Pointe-Claire, work respectfully with those who disagree, and be honest about what can and can’t be achieved. They should be accessible and involved in city life year-round and not just become a voice during the election season.

Many of the candidates running are familiar faces; others are hoping to bring a new voice to the city council, presenting new ideas, and drawing on their different perspectives and diverse backgrounds.

When making your choice, consider if the person you’re thinking of voting for has an understanding of how things get done, has proven themselves to be active in the community, and if they will be there for you when you need them.