Denis Coderre says Montreal has moved on from corruption

In the final week of thecampaign, we're following the two main Montrealmayoral candidatesDenis Coderre and Valrie Planteas they battle for top spot at city hall. Here's a look at what happened today.

Denis Coderre, who has often painted himself as the man who rid Montreal of corruption and collusion, was forced to defend that record Tuesday after a report suggested many of the same big players perhaps with different names or in different forms are still bidding on lucrative municipal contracts.

A joint investigation by La Presse and the Montreal Gazette found that many of the big companies involved in past corruption scandals may have been sold off, been reassembledor changed names,butthey are still among those receiving the highest number of city engineering and construction contracts.

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The investigation foundthe top three conglomerates on the list over the last four years were all affiliated with companies previously embroiled in corruption scandals.

'We brought back integrity': Coderre

"That article is tricky, to be honest,"Coderretold reporters after greeting voters at an Armenian cultural centre Tuesday afternoon.

"I think that we brought back integrity.There is a new process.There is also the inspector general.So I hope we don't give the impression that it's same old, same old becauseit's not the case,"Coderresaid.

Coderrecreated the post of inspector general for the cityand appointed respected lawyer Denis Gallant, who had previously worked as chief prosecutor for the Charbonneau commission.

Coderresaid even if companies currently bidding on contracts are made up of parts of companies that had previously been involved in corruption, Gallant ensures they're legitimate.

"When there's a change of guard that doesn't just mean the family who'spassing the puck, because we would have known through the inspector general," Coderre said.

Coderresaid companies hoping to bid on large contracts now have to be approved by the Autorit des marchs financiers,the province's securities regulator.

He said the proof that corruption has been curtailed is the fact that the average price of municipal contracts has dropped by about 25 per cent.

Coderretold supporters from Montreal's Armenian community that it was his administration that tackled corruption in Montreal. He received enthusiastic applause.

Still undecided? Check out a profile of each candidate:

• The Denis Coderre method to staying in power
• Valrie Plante's charge for City Hall

Coderre's main rival,ValriePlante, wasn't available to speak to the media during the day Tuesday.

She was scheduled to speak to reporters Tuesdayevening, while joining trick-or-treaters for Halloween in the Villeray district.

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