From Bill 21 to transit planning to climate change, Quebec is at odds with its biggest city — and imposing its will.

Not so long ago, Montreal was basking in official recognition as a “metropolis” by its political masters in Quebec.

Then-mayor Denis Coderre heralded the new powers he had negotiated for Montreal — like the possibility of prolonging bar hours, managing homelessness, setting standards for housing, cracking down on derelict buildings, offering tax credits to investors and handing out subsidies.

Distroscale

But the pièce de résistance contained in Bill 121, An Act to increase the autonomy and powers of Ville de Montréal, the metropolis of Quebec , was the “Montreal reflex.” The clause requires the provincial government to weigh the city’s interests when putting forth any policy, regulation or legislation that affects the city.

Presumably the Coaliton Avenir Québec endorsed this new leeway for Montreal while in opposition, since the National Assembly adopted the law unanimously. But since Premier François Legault was elected on a wave of suburban support, the “Montreal reflex” seems to have fallen by the wayside.

Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Montreal will bear the brunt of the CAQ’s new secularism bill, which proposes to ban religious dress by public employees like police, court clerks and teachers. Though unanimously opposed by city council — a rare show of unity between Mayor Valérie Plante and Ensemble Montréal opposition leader Lionel Perez — Montreal’s objections have been given short shrift.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or

Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

But transportation policy is the biggest bone of contention by far between Montreal and Quebec, with the CAQ government not only ignoring the city’s needs, but actively undermining them.

On Monday, city representatives pleaded with Quebec not to interfere with taxis , given 60 per cent of the industry is based in the metropolis and it is an important part of its “transport cocktail.” But in fact, Quebec’s taxi reform law seeks to consolidate regulatory power in provincial hands.

The same day, Plante was left reeling over Quebec’s announcement that it will give the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec the green light to fast track study of extending the Réseau express métropolitain to Laval, Chambly and St-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

First of all, it should be the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain leading the way on transit planning, since that is its mandate and it has the political legitimacy to do so. And second, as Plante noted, the extra commuters from the suburbs will further strain Montreal’s overburdened métro system, especially with the Blue Line extension going through.

Legault has always been cold to Plante’s proposed Pink Line to relieve congestion on the overcrowded Orange Line. But worse, the CAQ’s first budget has moved expansion of the Yellow Line to Longueuil up the transit agenda, which will exacerbate the problems, while the sole new project for Montreal is a tramway to the east end.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or

Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Chantal Rouleau, the minister responsible for Montreal and one of two CAQ MNAs on the island, says the government is responding to the dearth of transit options in the eastern part of the city.

But even if a tramway would be useful, focussing on one part of the city to the detriment of the rest shows Rouleau is still thinking like the mayor of Rivières-des-Prairies—Pointe-Aux-Trembles (her previous job), rather than as the cabinet representative of all Montrealers. As a former member of Coderre’s team, she, too, has forgotten the Montreal reflex.

On climate change, the city and province are also at loggerheads. While Plante is taking steps to outlaw single-use plastics and heating oil , the city’s No. 1 need is transit investment to tackle transportation emissions. Legault’s strategy is to put more electric cars on already congested roads.

Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Of course the thing that is missing from Bill 121 is taxation powers . Montreal’s main financial lever is property taxes, which it depends on for nearly 70 per cent of its revenue. For the rest, it must go cap in hand to the provincial or federal governments, making it impossible for the city to dream big without higher level approval.

Canadian cities are constitutionally “creatures of the province.” This parochial relationship is downright dysfunctional in a world where more people than ever are living in cities and municipal governments have increasingly complex and important responsibilities. While cities like Paris and New York wield their clout, Montreal is being treated like an adult child whose parents still call the shots.

Things aren’t much better in Toronto, where Ontario Premier Doug Ford slashed city council in half and announced he will seize control of the subway system. The City of Toronto Act, inaugurated in 2006, offers no more protection from paternalism than Bill 121.

Montreal may have metropolis status — but it seems like the city is on a tighter leash than ever.