Charest was the headline speaker at the closing session of a workshop organized by Westmount MNA Jacques Chagnon for Montreal party members to prepare a programme for the next provincial elections.

In a rousing speech to his supporters, Charest said that PQ leader André Boisclair wanted a referendum as fast as possible. On the other hand, he claimed, the Liberals were looking for better health care and better education “as fast as possible.�

At a press conference afterwards, he was asked about Agglom issues within the context of preparing for the election. The demergers were incomplete, he was reminded, and 250,000 people were now effectively disenfranchised within their local government. Many were mad about it.

Recalling that it was the PQ that had created the forced mergers originally, the premier responded that the government had attempted to “get a new balance� and to avoid hurting Montreal.

In a surprise comment, he added that people had not expected to get their city back exactly as before.

Nevertheless, we are keeping our eye on it,� he concluded, “to make sure it is working effectively.�

This new promise by the Quebec premier was heartening for Westmount mayor Karin Marks, who is also chairman of the suburban mayors’ association.

“I am happy that the Liberal government has undertaken to keep an eye on the Agglom because some changes are needed,� she told the Examiner. “The legislation called for the council to be a deliberative body and this has been completely disregarded.

“Money is being spent in a way that ignores democratic checks.

“The demerger was not properly executed,� Marks added. “It may be uncomfortable for the government, but the result is not one that it can be proud of.�

The meeting between the mayors and Normandeau was prompted by Chagnon and some other MNA’s. All local members are being invited to the meeting.

It will involve the minister – who was for a short period the mayor of Maria in the Gaspé – visiting Montreal from her Quebec City base.

The suburban mayors are still waiting to hear from Normandeau on most of their appeals against early disputes with Montreal over Agglom spending.

At the beginning of the financial year, they also claimed that $105 million in Montreal costs were falsely charged to the Agglom. The minister publicly only admitted that $42 million was incorrect.

She never communicated this directly to the mayors who had launched the appeals, or ordered how taxpayers would be reimbursed for the errors.