outgoing projet montréal councillor off to rwanda on city's dime for bike race
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in the dying days of mayor valérie plante’s administration, the city has sent one of her projet montréal councillors to rwanda to attend an international bike race.
and with plante also in new york city this week, one of the parties vying for power in the nov. 2 municipal election says the twilight travel is inappropriate.
“the city is drowning in debt and projet montréal is embarking on international farewell tours. it’s insulting to montrealers,” ensemble montréal council candidate leslie roberts, his party’s spokesperson on economic development, said. ensemble montréal, led by soraya martinez ferrada, has been the official opposition in the current mandate.
outgoing executive committee member alain vaillancourt, who is not running for re-election as a projet montréal councillor, departed this week for kigali to represent the city of montreal at the 2025 union cycliste internationale (uci) road world championships in the capital city of rwanda. he’s to return on oct. 10.
montreal will host the next uci championships, on mount royal, in september 2026.
“the presence of a political representative of the city in kigali is in line with uci protocol, which provides for an official passing of the flag between the current host city and the next,” states the civil service file authorizing an estimated $5,811 to cover vaillancourt’s travel. of that amount, $2,628 is for airfare.
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“this symbolic gesture, combined with a series of official activities, helps position montreal as a key benchmark for cycling in north america. the event that montreal will host in 2026 is one of the most prestigious in the world and undeniably represents the largest international sporting event held in the city since the olympic games.”
plante spokesperson marikym gaudreault said vaillancourt departed tuesday and was arriving in kigali wednesday evening as part of a delegation that includes sébastien arsenault, president and ceo of the grands prix cyclistes de québec et de montréal, and mylène gagnon, vice-president of tourisme montréal.
“this mission will allow the city to properly integrate the winning conditions to ensure the (2026) event’s success,” gaudreault said in a statement.
“mr. vaillancourt’s presence is appropriate in a context where the city is supporting the event with goods and services, the vast majority of which consists of security services via the spvm. he has played an important role during his tenure, both in the lead-up to and throughout the major sporting events that have taken place in montreal, including f1 and the presidents’ cup.”
vaillancourt’s role also includes promoting montreal as a host city for major sporting events and strengthening ties in the sporting event industry, she said.
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the civil service file says the uci championships are from sept. 23 to oct. 10, 2025. however, the event is from sept. 21 to sept. 28. the file notes that vaillancourt will pay his own expenses from sept. 30 to oct. 10.
gaudreault said vaillancourt decided to extend his stay for personal reasons and will pay all of his expenses for that portion.
vaillancourt’s departure coincides with plante’s trip to new york city during the united nations’ summit of the future this week. on thursday, plante is to take part in the final meeting of an advisory group on local and regional governments.
plante is also not running for re-election.
this is plante’s fourth trip to the big apple as mayor of montreal in four years.
a spokesperson for projet montréal mayoral candidate luc rabouin said it’s for plante’s office to comment.
“since this is the work of elected officials who are not standing for re-election,” projet montréal spokesperson simon charron said, “we will leave the comments to the cabinet.”
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