As Quebecers prepare to head to the polls on Oct. 5, a coalition of 21 North Shore mayors is urging the province’s next government to place mobility at the forefront of its agenda. They argue that transportation infrastructure and public transit investment have failed to keep pace with the region’s rapid growth.
The mayors unveiled a Pact for Mobility on the North Shore on Aug. 24, presenting a united front on what they describe as one of the most pressing challenges facing communities across the Laurentides and Lanaudière regions. To underscore their message, the 21 municipal leaders boarded a bus from Sainte-Thérèse and travelled together to downtown Montreal, where they gathered in front of the Ministry of Transport to urge the next provincial government to take action on mobility issues affecting the North Shore. Through the pact, they are calling for greater flexibility in transportation planning, increased transit funding and a stronger voice in decisions that affect mobility in their communities
According to the group, the North Shore’s transportation realities have changed dramatically in recent years, while provincial planning has remained focused on outdated travel patterns.
“The North Shore has changed, but the way mobility is being planned has not,” said Blainville Mayor Liza Poulin, president of the Table des préfets et élus de la couronne Nord. “Three trips out of four now take place within the North Shore, while our public transit network remains largely designed around north-south travel. We are asking the next government to recognize this new reality and act accordingly. Things need to move!”
Municipal leaders argue that transit investments have traditionally centred on travel between the suburbs and Montreal, despite the fact that more residents are now living, working, studying and accessing services within their own region. As a result, travel between neighbouring municipalities often remains difficult by public transit.
Oka Mayor Peter Hardy pointed to the challenges residents face when trying to travel even short distances without a car.
“If Ms. Guindon wanted to go to the dentist in St-Joseph-du-Lac, the neighbouring community, she can’t do that today. She would have to leave at 8 in the morning and get back at 5 at night,” Hardy said.
The coalition says examples like that demonstrate why greater flexibility is needed to develop transit solutions tailored to local realities rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The mayors are also seeking funding formulas that better reflect the North Shore’s population growth and increasing transportation demands.
The push comes as the region continues to see significant growth. Since 2020, the populations of the Laurentides and Lanaudière regions have increased by nearly 10 per cent, placing additional pressure on roads and existing transit networks.
Saint-Eustache Mayor Marc Lamarre warned that the consequences of inaction are already being felt by residents.
“Things need to move because our citizens are tired of being stuck in traffic day after day,” Lamarre said. “Congestion has major impacts, including lost productivity, increased greenhouse gas emissions, a lower quality of life and slower regional economic development.”
The mayors contend that without better transit options, residents will continue to rely on their vehicles, worsening congestion across the North Shore. By signing the pact, they hope to make mobility a key issue during the provincial election campaign and secure commitments from the government elected on Oct. 5.
