The Official Opposition unveils its spokespersons
Montreal, November 29, 2021 – The Leader of the Official Opposition at Montreal City Hall, Mr. Aref Salem, today announced the members of his caucus who will act as spokespersons, as well as the responsibilities assigned to the elected members of his party.
With 12 years of experience in municipal politics, Chantal Rossi will assume the role of party leader in council. She will be assisted by Ms. Alba Stella Zúñiga Ramos, a lawyer by training and City Councillor for Louis-Riel District, who will act as Deputy Leader. Regarding the party, Mr. Benoit Langevin, City Councillor for the District of Bois-de-Liesse since 2017, will chair the Ensemble Montréal caucus while Ms. Stéphanie Valenzuela, elected City Councillor for the District of Darlington, will serve as Vice-Chair.
“I am very proud to see a mix of experience and youth at the helm of the Official Opposition and the Ensemble Montréal caucus. Chantal, Alba, Benoit and Stéphanie have an excellent grasp of municipal issues and are not afraid to take the lead in defending the interests of Montrealers. With them, both the caucus and the party will be in good hands,” Salem said.
While Montreal is faced with several major challenges, Ensemble Montréal expects the Plante administration to live up to its responsibilities regarding public security, housing, and homelessness as well as rigorously manage the finances of the City of Montreal in order to give it the means to meet its ambitions. In recent years, Projet Montréal has repeatedly blamed other levels of government. The Official Opposition will make sure that the ruling party assumes its leadership role, implements its commitments and seriously considers the proposals by elected officials of Ensemble Montréal in order to advance municipal matters.
“Gaining the trust of Montrealers is one thing and knowing how to represent them with dignity is another. Our political party, made up of experienced, attentive, pragmatic, hard-working and empathetic elected representatives, will be equal to the mandate it has been given. I have full confidence in their ability to collaborate with the administration while taking it to task when necessary to better respond to citizens’ concerns,” added Aref Salem.
Members of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet and their respective responsibilities include:
| Aref Salem | Official Opposition Leader |
| Chantal Rossi | Leader, Universal Accessibility, French language, Culture, Design, Space for Life and Heritage |
| Alba Zúñiga Ramos | Deputy Leader, Active Transportation, BIXI, Self-Service Vehicles (SSV), Youth and Legal Affairs |
| Benoit Langevin | Caucus Chair, Combating Poverty and Homelessness, Family Policy, and Reconciliation |
| Stéphanie Valenzuela | Caucus Vice-Chair, Environment, Sustainable Development, Diversity and Equality |
| Abdelhaq Sari | Public Safety, Combating Racism and Systemic Discrimination, and Information Technology |
| Alan DeSousa | Finance and Human Resources |
| Angela Gentile | Business Development |
| Catherine Clément-Talbot | Seniors |
| Christine Black | Public Transit and Mobility |
| Dimitrios (Jim) Beis | Urban Planning, Sports and Physical Activity, 311/Customer Experience, Snow Removal and Procurement |
| Dominic Perri | Water and Road Infrastructures, Electrical Services Commission, Rolling Stock |
| Effie Giannou | Council Vice-Chair |
| Giovanni Rapanà | International Relations |
| Josué Corvil | Libraries and Intercultural Relations |
| Julien Hénault-Ratelle | Economic Development |
| Laurent Desbois | Animal Control and Cleanliness, Co-spokesperson, Finance and Human Resources |
| Mary Deros | Integration of Newcomers |
| Michel Bissonnet | Government Relations |
| Sonny Moroz | Housing, Participatory Democracy and Organizational Evaluation |
| Stéphane Côté | Large Parks and Greening |
| Vana Nazarian | Work-life/remote working balance and Communications |
| Alain Wilson | Co-spokesperson, Sports and Physical Activity |
| Annie Gagnier | Co-spokesperson, Housing and Urban Planning |
| Arij El Korbi | Co-spokesperson, Combating Racism and Systemic Discrimination, Water and Road Infrastructures , and Rolling Stock |
| Caroline Braun | Co-spokesperson, Reconciliation, Legal Affairs, Procurement, Participatory Democracy, International and Government Relations, Work-family/remote working balance and Organizational Evaluation |
| Chahi Tarakjian | Co-spokesperson, Business Development |
| Danielle Myrand | Co-spokesperson, Family Policy, Gender Diversity and Equality |
| Jacques Cohen | Co-spokesperson, 311/Customer Experience, Snow Removal, Animal Control and Cleanliness |
| Jean-Marc Poirier | Co-spokesperson, Economic Development |
| Louise Leroux | Co-spokesperson, Public Transit, Mobility and Homelessness |
| Marie Potvin | Co-spokesperson, Libraries, Design and Space for Life |
| Nathalie Pierre-Antoine | Co-spokesperson, Contaminated Soil Management, Waste, and Air Quality |
| Philippe Thermidor | Co-spokesperson, Youth, French language, Integration of Newcomers and Intercultural Relations |
| Richard Bélanger | Co-spokesperson, Bureau of Ecological Transition and Resilience, Climate Change, Large Parks and Greening |
| Suzanne De Larochellière | Co-spokesperson, Public Safety, Heritage, Communications, and Information Technology |
| Suzanne Marceau | Co-spokesperson, Universal Accessibility and Seniors |
