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Residents and politicians in Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce are mobilizing against a proposed bill that will strip citizens of their referendum power.

A component in Bill 122, which is being debated by the National Assembly, would remove citizens’ right to force local referendums on a council’s urban planning decisions.

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The bill “would actually give more power to the city and reduce transparency and local accountability,” said N.D.G. resident Larry Karass of the Vendôme Village Association. “How the province could even consider this, given the recent events here in Quebec, defies logic. More importantly, how is it that people who are democratically elected can propose laws that would reduce democracy in our society?”

During the April 3 borough meeting, Projet Montréalcouncillor Magda Popeanu proposed a motion that demands Quebec reconsider the bill, which seeks to give municipalities more autonomy. With fellow councillor Peter McQueen seconding, the motion passed four to two.