Ensemble Montréal Leader Soraya Martinez Ferrada is currently leading her opponents in the mayoral race in Montreal, as per a recent poll conducted by research firm Segma for Radio-Canada. The poll, which surveyed about 1,000 Montreal residents both online and via phone from October 3 to 9, shows Martinez Ferrada with 26% of the vote, a significant eight percentage points ahead of Luc Rabouin from Projet Montréal.
Martinez Ferrada’s lead extends even further to 42% when excluding undecided voters and those who refused to respond, putting her 13 percentage points ahead of Rabouin, who holds 29% in this scenario. The other mayoral candidates, including Gilbert Thibodeau, Craig Sauvè, and Jean-François Kacou, did not reach the 10% mark.
The poll indicates that Martinez Ferrada is particularly favored by voters aged 55 and over, garnering 32% support in this demographic. While both leading candidates are closely contested among francophone voters, Martinez Ferrada holds an advantage among English speakers and allophones.
In terms of satisfaction with the current mayor, Valérie Plante, a majority of respondents (55%) expressed dissatisfaction with her performance, with 33% stating they are extremely unsatisfied. This sentiment is prevalent among supporters of Ensemble Montréal and spans across various age groups and backgrounds.
Key priorities for Montreal voters include infrastructure and addressing homelessness. An overwhelming 83% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with Montreal’s road conditions, significantly higher than the dissatisfaction levels in Laval and Longueuil. Additionally, the majority of respondents believe more investment should be made in reducing cars, particularly among those aged 18 to 45.
When it comes to bike paths, opinions are divided among Montrealers, with 49% expressing satisfaction with their development. Martinez Ferrada has proposed an audit on bike paths if elected, while Rabouin aims to enhance access to Montreal’s Bixi bicycle-sharing service.
Furthermore, the poll revealed that 47% of respondents believe it is important to invest in reducing car presence in the city. The top two priorities selected by voters for the upcoming election are improving the city’s infrastructure (49%) and addressing homelessness (47%).
Additionally, nearly half of respondents believe that investing in social housing and community programs should be a priority, while 82% see sponge parks as crucial investments to prevent further flooding, influenced by recent flooding incidents in the city.
