Canada, Cause Commune #34 - The anarchists and the mayor (fr)

November 28, Quebec City consulted the public on the future of the Saint-Roch district. 
The vision of the City, any height and condos, has been criticized by many groups, 
including the Anarchist Collective 's (A) telier, who took the opportunity to distribute a 
leaflet, without suspecting that provoke reactions ... At the meeting, dozens of people 
have intervened at the microphone, with an anarchist "famous" after a stampede at the town 
hall last summer. Equal to itself, the Mayor Labeaume brushed aside criticism of the hand, 
implied that people were manipulated and that it was "the fault of the anarchist." -- As 
most participants are consultations, we found that a majority of support (more than 300 
people on an area of ??over 7,000 resident-es) was very critical of some, but not all, 
project administration Labeaume.

We also observed that the whole process was predetermined. Short consultation, it was 
concluded after a single session conducted at the race. Two months later, the City of 
Qu?bec released its final draft. This document does not absolutely critical to resident-es 
presented at the consultation. Worse, it goes in the opposite direction of several popular 
demands further increasing the regulation height of some buildings. Among the few positive 
changes proposed are the establishment of a consultation can more or less, a change in the 
network path and the removal of parking.

In addition, the Mayor is still allowed to insult his opponents. He referred in the press 
a new Committee activist citizen of Saint-Roch, announcing: "I think it is our friend that 
the anarchist leading [the protest]. Mr. Gagnon is the anarchist before all this. " Note 
in passing that Mr. Gagnon is not related to the collective 's (A) telier, and that to 
oppose projects Labeaume is not specifically anarchism. Moreover, it is as a resident es 
critical that we intervened in this debate, in respect for the autonomy and empowerment of 
grassroots groups targeted neighborhoods.

In the leaflet we distributed were opposed to the vision of the Mayor of Quebec a "popular 
democracy and fighting in committees citizens democratic, independent and sensitive to 
direct action." We are therefore very pleased to see that the Citizens' Committee of 
Saint-Roch has raised voice against the planned developments in the area. If, one day, the 
Mayor of Quebec City breaks teeth on a project dear to his heart (which holds the 
portfolio of bourgeois Quebec), will probably not be a handful of anarchists who will 
decline, but rather Resident of're angry contempt against the mayor and project developers.

Anarchism and Democracy

Between anarchism and democracy, there is a history of m?samour. Firstly, anarchists 
criticize representative democracy and its main features: universal suffrage, 
representation, parliamentary, party system, corruption of power, etc.. - In short, the 
freedom to choose his masters. Anarchists advocate a different conception of democracy, 
they and they alone recognize as direct democracy. Specifically, direct democracy is 
reflected in sovereign general assemblies, open and transparent debate, a delegation 
principle revocable mandates requirements and a desire for autonomy. By cons, we must 
emphasize what distinguishes anarchism and direct democracy beyond. Thus, anarchism is not 
a practice that separates the political from other spheres of life, including the economy. 
Instead, we propose the self of the whole society, a project inseparable from anti-capitalism.
theme of direct democracy is also the issue of the collective light the (A) for the year 
telier from 2012 to 2013. Thus, as a result of direct democracy forum organized by the 
Montreal collective of UCL, the (A) telier invites you to its own Forum on Direct 
Democracy March 23, 2013 .

PPU?

The Special Planning Program in a few words.

Special planning program (UPP) are territorial development projects that target sectors 
targeted by the City for commercial and institutional interests. They are preceded by 
consultation and approval by the City Council Decree value. In other words, once a PPU 
adopted, it is no longer possible to challenge by referendum allowing contractor are to 
give free rein to their projects.

The PPU can be criticized on the form and substance. To form, not citizen-s criticize the 
consultation process, the dice are loaded in advance. Indeed, companies of all kinds have 
obviously privileged access to the administration Labeaume, as evidenced by the recent 
modifications to PPU, almost always in favor of real estate projects. As for content, in 
the case of Saint-Roch PPU like other PPU Quebec City (Sainte-Foy, Hill and Estimauville), 
it is the urban fantasies of the City that are challenged. These quantities are those 
dreams of a big city market, with ever higher towers, a wealthy white population and 
traffic always faster. Specifically, Saint-Roch, these ambitions result in the destruction 
of Place Jacques-Cartier to make way for a tower, traffic on the rue Saint-Joseph in both 
directions and the construction of a (eco) district condos "green" at Pointe-aux-hares. 
These projects are clearly oriented towards the interests of the wealthy and some 
businesses, but not for the residents of the popular classes. It is time to defend the 
city against this predation destroys central neighborhoods!

The text of the leaflet distributed by the group 's (A) telier during the public 
consultation in Saint-Roch is available on the website of the UCL and the new site group 
www.collectifatelier.org