Richard Bergeron

Richard Bergeron was born in 1955 in Alma, Quebec. He moved to Montreal in 1975 where he acquired a bachelor's degree in Architecture, a master's in Urban Planning, and a doctorate in Regional Planning from Université de Montréal. He has practiced architecture, been an urban planning consultant and taught at l'Institut d'urbanisme. Associated with several research projects concerning urban policy, urban services management and the environment, he has travelled in numerous countries, including Burkina Faso, Haïti and Morocco.{{Cite web|url=http://www.projetmontreal.org/user/4|title=Short Biography of Richard Bergeron, Projet Montreal|access-date=2008-09-23|archive-date=2012-03-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314095235/http://projetmontreal.org/user/4|url-status=dead}}

Bergeron was subsequently president of the Fédération des coopératives d'habitation de l'île de Montréal (Montreal Island Federation of Housing Co-operatives), an invited professor at l'Université Laval and a researcher. From 1996, as a consultant to the Ministère de la Métropole, he produced some ten studies on the redevelopment potential of vacant spaces around Montreal metro stations. Starting in 2000, he was responsible for strategic analysis for l'Agence métropolitaine de transport. As an urban planner and researcher, he has a specialized in transportation, real estate economics and the environment. He favours the return of the tramway to Montreal, an efficient and modern tramway that he calls the "New Tramway".

Bergeron is married to Amina Ouaqouaq (of Moroccan origin), and the father of two children Guillaume and Nadianie.

In the early 1990s, Bergeron converted to Islam out of love for his wife and respect for his Moroccan in-laws. He has stated that neither he, nor his wife, are practicing Islam.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/elections-municipales/200910/05/01-908410-richard-bergeron-le-franc-tireur-de-montreal.php|title=Richard Bergeron: le franc-tireur de Montréal|last=Ouimet|first=Michèle |date=2009-10-05|newspaper=La Presse|language=French|accessdate=2009-10-07|location=Montreal}}

In 2005, Bergeron ran simultaneously for Mayor of Montreal and City Councillor for the district of DeLorimier, located in the Borough of Plateau-Mont-Royal, under the Projet Montréal label. As a Montreal city councilor, Bergeron asked the Quebec transport ministry and the City of Montreal to reconstruct the Turcot Interchange in such a way as to create an urban boulevard with a large capacity for high-quality public transportation. He asked the City of Montreal to preserve remaining green spaces, submitted proposals for improving the quality of snow removal in Montreal and demanded that future scandals be avoided by limiting donations to municipal political parties to $300 per person per year, by having the executive committee hold its meetings in public and by returning the supervision of its projects to the City of Montreal. On May 2, 2009, the Projet Montréal leader lodged a complaint with the Sûreté du Québec concerning the contract for water meters and the apparent link between it and the sale of the Contrecoeur site by the SHDM. He asked the police to investigate the role of certain elected officials, highly placed civil servants or directors of the current administration in these matters.

Projet Montreal is a municipal political party, founded in November 2004. It advocates sustainable urbanism,{{Cite web|url=https://www.planetizen.com/node/14762|title=New Political Party Based On Sustainable Urbanism|website=www.planetizen.com}} a philosophy that emphasizes the need for an administration and an environment that are friendlier to pedestrians.{{cite news |last1=Lejtenyi |first1=Patrick |title=A tramline named desire |url=http://www.montrealmirror.com/2007/020807/news2.html |work=Montreal Mirror |volume=22|issue=33 |date=February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210200556/http://www.montrealmirror.com/2007/020807/news2.html |archive-date=10 February 2012}}

In 2005, Bergeron finished a distant third in the mayoral contest with 8.5% of the vote. Incumbent Gérald Tremblay was re-elected. However, Bergeron was elected to the City Council with 36.5% of the ballots. His closest opponent received 33.7% of the vote.

On August 9, 2009, John H. Gomery announced that he would be the honorary president of the fundraising campaign of Projet Montréal.

On October 2, 2009, Bergeron announced his party's plan to open up the southern water front (now cast unused industrial zoned space) to residents as well as redevelop the eastern tip of Saint Helen's Island, which is now a parking lot.{{Cite web|title=Infoman - Richard Bergeron - Entrée maritime (1er octobre 2009)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J2DRl-WKRo|via=YouTube|access-date=2016-11-26|archive-date=2016-04-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410115329/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J2DRl-WKRo|url-status=dead}}

On October 6, 2009, prior to the debate at the Conseil Régional de l'Environnement,{{Cite web|url=http://www.cremtl.qc.ca/elections-municipales-2009.php#video|title=Les élections municipales à Montréal 2009 - Conseil régional de l'environnement de Montréal|access-date=25 October 2009|archive-date=15 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015033200/http://www.cremtl.qc.ca/elections-municipales-2009.php#video|url-status=dead}} Bergeron released his party's Plan for a Sustainable Montreal, something for which his party, Projet Montreal, is known hold high in its ideals.{{Cite web|url=http://www.projetmontreal.org/communique/128|title=Projet Montréal | Richard Bergeron s'engage à mettre en œuvre un vrai projet de développement urbain durable pour Montréal|publisher=Projet Montréal|date= 6 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726221240/http://www.projetmontreal.org/communique/128|archive-date=26 July 2011}}

On October 8, 2009, Bergeron unveiled his party's plan for public transportation, in which he suggested that the price of STM monthly passes be reduced to $60 for adults and $30 for students.{{Cite web|url=http://www.projetmontreal.org/communique/130|title=Richard Bergeron s'engage à remettre Montréal sur les rails|date=8 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726221208/http://www.projetmontreal.org/communique/130|archive-date=26 July 2011}} Moreover, Bergeron has stated he would ask the government to study the extension of the Line 5 Blue (Montreal Metro) west towards Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and Montreal West train station.{{Cite web|url=https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/projet-montreal-wants-to-extend-metro-to-montreal-west-1.441717|title=Projet Montreal wants to extend Metro to Montreal West|date=October 8, 2009|website=Montreal}}

On October 19, accompanied by his chairman of fundraising, Justice John Gomery, Bergeron demanded a provincial inquiry into the financing of political parties.{{Cite news|url=http://www.journalmetro.com/linfo/article/345343--richard-bergeron-et-john-gomery-demandent-une-commission-d-enquete-elargie|title=Désolé, l'article auquel vous tentez d'accéder n'est plus disponible|work=Métro|url-status=dead|access-date=2009-10-25|archive-date=2011-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727080421/http://www.journalmetro.com/linfo/article/345343--richard-bergeron-et-john-gomery-demandent-une-commission-d-enquete-elargie}}

The poll done between October 14–15, 2009 and published October 19, 2009, had Bergeron at 23%, while his two main opponents were said to be at 37% and 36% (Harel and Tremblay respectively).{{Cite news|url=https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/elections-municipales/200910/18/01-912511-harel-et-tremblay-a-egalite.php|title=Harel et Tremblay à égalité|date=October 19, 2009|website=La Presse|last1=Clément |first1=Éric }}

This poll however was done before the Benoit Labonté{{Cite news|url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/Benoit+Labonte+quits+Louise+Harel+right+hand/2115712/story.html|title=Benoit Labonte quits as Louise Harel's right-hand man|date=17 October 2009|work=The Montreal Gazette|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009143025/https://montrealgazette.com/news/Benoit+Labonte+quits+Louise+Harel+right+hand/2115712/story.html|archive-date=9 October 2012}} and Bernard Trépanier{{cite news |last1=Noël |first1=André |title=Bernard Trépanier, monsieur 3% |url=http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/elections-municipales/montreal/200910/22/01-914147-bernard-trepanier-monsieur-3.php |work=La Presse |date=23 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024044651/http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/elections-municipales/montreal/200910/22/01-914147-bernard-trepanier-monsieur-3.php |archive-date=24 October 2009 |language=fr}} scandals had broken.

The final poll (done over October 28 and 29 and published October 30, Angus Reid) put Bergeron at 32%, with Louise Harel at 34% and incumbent Gérald Tremblay in last place at 30%.{{Cite news|url=https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/elections-municipales/200910/29/01-916548-egalite-dans-la-course-a-la-mairie.php|title=Égalité dans la course à la mairie|date=October 30, 2009|website=La Presse|last1=Clément |first1=Éric }}

Besides Gomery, many notable celebrities came out to support Bergeron in the later stages of the campaign, including the Gazette's Henry Aubin,https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Richard+Bergeron+best/2157015/story.html{{Dead link|date=August 2021}}

world-renowned philosopher and McGill emeritus, Charles Taylor,{{Cite news|url=https://www.lapresse.ca/dossiers/elections-municipales/200910/30/01-916878-charles-taylor-appuie-richard-bergeron.php|title=Charles Taylor appuie Richard Bergeron|date=October 30, 2009|website=La Presse|last1=Clément |first1=Éric }} as well as a group of fifty local artists in their letter 'for the love of Montreal'{{Cite web |url=http://www.fortheloveofmtl.com/ |title=Home Improvement {{!}} Interior Design {{!}} Landscaping |access-date=31 October 2009 |archive-date=2 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091102071440/http://www.fortheloveofmtl.com/ |url-status=dead }}

Despite polling at a statistical tie shortly before the election, Bergeron finished third in the mayoralty race. However, after being the only member of Projet Montréal elected in the previous election, he led his party to the election of two borough mayors, ten seats on city council, and four borough councillors, including control of the borough of Le Plateau-Mont-Royal. Bergeron himself was elected city councillor for the district of Jeanne-Mance via his co-candidate Nimâ Machouf.

On November 17, 2009, Bergeron was appointed by Tremblay to the city's executive committee, becoming responsible for urban planning. He joined Lyn Thériault of Vision Montréal as opposition members on the Council, in a move meant to foster cooperation.[http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/Montreal/2009/11/17/001-executif-mardi.shtml "Hôtel de ville: Une voix « unique et unie »."] Radio-Canada, 17 November 2009

Less than one year later, on November 4, 2010, Tremblay asked Bergeron to step down from the executive committee over his refusal to support a proposal to revamp the aging Turcot interchange.[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/richard-bergeron-forced-to-resign-over-turcot-1.928081#ixzz14QYyo6t9 "Richard Bergeron asked to step down »."] Radio-Canada, 5 November 2010

Bergeron again ran for mayor in 2013, against Denis Coderre, Mélanie Joly and Marcel Côté. He finished third with 25.45% of the popular vote, but retained a seat on council, this time in the district of Saint-Jacques. Coderre was elected the new mayor of Montreal.

On November 18, 2014, Bergeron left Projet Montréal to sit as an independent and join his former rival Denis Coderre's executive committee. His role is to oversee urban development in the downtown core. He will focus on covering the eastern section of the Ville-Marie Expressway and implementing a tram system in the city.{{cite web |url=http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/bergeron-leaves-projet-montreal-joins-coderre-s-executive-committee-1.2108954|title=Bergeron leaves Projet Montreal, joins Coderre's Executive Committee|date=November 19, 2014 |publisher=CTV Montreal|accessdate=December 1, 2014 }}

Bergeron, in his 2005 book, Les Québécois au volant, c'est mortel, wrote a paragraph which raised questions about the events surrounding the September 11 attacks.{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/columnists/story.html?id=c1f98622-cb62-4b4c-8af3-234f26df2c99|title=Bergeron strains credibility|last=Aubin|first=Henry|date=2006-04-22|publisher=The Gazette (Montreal)|accessdate=2009-09-29|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110054315/http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/columnists/story.html?id=c1f98622-cb62-4b4c-8af3-234f26df2c99|archivedate=2012-11-10}}

Direct quote:

No one knows what really happened on Sept. 11, 2001. We have been sated with pictures of two airliners striking the twin towers of the World Trade Centre. This is the only event of which we can be sure. The reasons for this act remain unknown. As for the two other planes that would have crashed — one on the Pentagon, in Washington, and one in Pennsylvania — they resemble a macabre farce, in my opinion. Everyone knows that any airplane crash produces an abundance of debris. Yet no one has seen any debris at all at the Pentagon or Pennsylvania. I personally don't believe 60-tonne planes can simply vanish. It might be that what we witnessed on Sept. 11, 2001, was a simple act of state banditry of titanic proportions. The events of that fateful day provided the mafias surrounding George W. Bush with a pretext for taking over the petroleum reserves of the Persian Gulf.{{cite book|last=Bergeron|first=Richard|title=Les Quebecois au volant, c'est mortel|publisher=Les Éditions des Intouchables|location=Montreal, Quebec, Canada|date=2005-10-26|page=104|isbn=2-89549-193-3|language=French}}

In an interview in 2009 with La Presse Bergeron was quoted as saying,

I am damn proud of that paragraph. I worked really hard on it. I had 10 people read it and they all said "don't do it". Even my editor. My duty as an academic was to incite intellectual questioning. It is a frivolous question to ask whether I agree with it or not.{{Cite news|url=https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/elections-municipales/200910/05/01-908410-richard-bergeron-le-franc-tireur-de-montreal.php|title=Richard Bergeron: le franc-tireur de Montréal|date=October 5, 2009|website=La Presse|last1=Ouimet |first1=Michèle }}

In an October 2013 interview on CBC Radio's Daybreak, he backed away from his comments saying:

I wanted to shock people, because I was a writer, I was writing an essay and our objective when we do that is to shock people just for fun. I'm not in that life anymore — I'm a candidate to run Montreal for the third time. That was in my previous life and I was a bit stupid at that time,{{cite web |title=Candidate Richard Bergeron says 9/11 comments were meant to shock |url=https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.1931197 |website=CBC My Region |publisher=CBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924144841/http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/canada/montreal/story/1.1931197 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live |date=9 October 2013}}

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Category:1955 births

Category:Montreal city councillors

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Category:9/11 conspiracy theorists

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Category:21st-century Canadian municipal councillors

Category:Canadian conspiracy theorists