Claude Larochelle Drives a Street Sweeper to Denounce Neglect of Laval’s Roads
On Wednesday morning, Claude Larochelle, leader of Parti Laval – Équipe Larochelle and candidate for mayor of Laval, took the wheel of a street sweeper truck decorated in his campaign colours to tour Laval’s streets in front of the media.
The symbolic action was meant to draw attention to what he describes as the “deterioration of municipal maintenance” and to promote his party’s vision of a responsible, efficient administration that would focus on day-to-day services starting immediately after the election.
“For a clean, well-maintained and well-managed city, vote for Parti Laval – Équipe Larochelle on November 2,” said Claude Larochelle, mayoral candidate for Laval.
Larochelle criticized the current administration’s record on municipal upkeep, arguing that Laval’s streets and public spaces have been neglected.
“For 12 years, the current administration has left our streets in disrepair. This summer, weeds were growing everywhere, and it was only on the eve of the election—under pressure from citizens—that the mayor intervened. How? By sending workers with weed eaters, probably the least efficient, slowest and most expensive method possible for Laval taxpayers.”
According to Larochelle, Laval currently has barely a dozen functioning maintenance vehicles to serve the entire island, which he described as “completely outdated.”
“The mayor should have purchased or leased equipment well in advance, but he didn’t,” he stated.
Larochelle said his morning demonstration was meant to give citizens a preview of what he calls a “responsible and efficient administration.”
“We wanted to show what an administration that truly takes care of street maintenance and residents’ quality of life looks like. Real priorities even if they’re not glamorous,” he said.
The opposition leader concluded by contrasting his approach with that of incumbent mayor Stéphane Boyer, arguing that the administration has been too focused on downtown development.
“The outgoing mayor is too focused on his megaprojects in the city centre and forgets to take care of neighbourhoods. Our priority is citizens and their living environment public services, infrastructure, safety, cleanliness and maintenance. Those are the real issues.”
The Laval municipal election will be held on November 2, 2025.
