Celebrating Valérie Plante’s Impact with the Mayors Migration Council

As Valérie Plante concludes her final term as Mayor of Montréal, we reflect on her important contributions and achievements as a founding member of the Mayors Migration Council’s Leadership Board from 2018-2025.

Elected in 2017 as Montréal’s first woman mayor, Valérie Plante has championed a pragmatic and inclusive approach to migration—both in her city and on the global stage. Through her leadership, Montréal has become a model for people-centered migration governance and has set an example for local leaders worldwide seeking to turn principles into action.

“I could not be prouder of what mayors have accomplished over the past few years. We went from being outsiders to having a seat at the table at global migration negotiations as the world is realizing that local solutions are national successes.” Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montréal.

In 2018, during the adoption of the United Nations Global Compacts on Migration and Refugees, Mayor Plante co-founded the Mayors Migration Council (MMC) with ten visionary mayors to secure cities a voice in global policymaking and mobilize resources for local solutions with global impact.

Under her leadership, Montréal signed the Marrakech Mayors Declaration, pledged to the Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees, and consistently championed urban priorities and city leadership in international fora. At home, she has translated these commitments into tangible outcomes—expanding access to municipal services for residents, creating one-stop hubs for newcomers, and advancing economic inclusion initiatives for immigrants and residents with precarious immigration status through training, advocacy, and outreach.

” Cities often act as the laboratories which show how migrants and refugees add value and bring concrete solutions for inclusive, safe and sustainable urban space,” Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montréal.

Highlights of Mayor Plante’s leadership include:

• Signing the Marrakech Mayors Declaration along with a coalition of mayors from all over the world and pledging to advance the principles and objectives of the Compacts, participate in international diplomacy, and take direct action within their communities to improve the lives of migrants and refugees.
• Co-launching a Global Mayors Solidarity Campaign on Inclusive Covid-19 Response, which called for non-discriminatory access to health services and economic relief, as well as investment in city-led solutions for an inclusive pandemic response. This urgent campaign resulted in the UN Secretary-General’s recommendation to invest in cities and in the creation of the MMC’s Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees which has now mobilized nearly $30 million to reach over 100,000 migrants and displaced people in 32 grantee cities. 
• Joining 70 mayors around the world in an emergency advocacy campaign to Welcome Afghan Refugees. This called on national governments and the international community to expand protection, resettlement, and aid for the people of Afghanistan, which resulted in widespread media coverage and practitioner response.
  
  

• Ensuring access to municipal services for undocumented migrants through the creation of an identification and residence card. Adopted as part of Montreal’s “Access Without Fear” policy, the initiative has enabled hundreds of undocumented residents to obtain essential services—from food and banking to essential vaccination—while strengthening their sense of belonging and safety. Mayor Plante has since expanded initiatives to train police officers, advocate for regularization, and structure funding for migrants with precarious status, positioning Montréal as a national leader in inclusive urban governance.
• Partnering with 60 private sector CEOs to launch “Montréal Inclusive at Work“, an initiative advancing the hiring, integration, retention, and career progression of immigrants. Through a mix of CEO engagement, company training, public awareness campaigns, and a popular podcast on immigrant experiences, the program is helping reshape workplace culture across the city.
• Establishing the New Start Station, a one-stop shop for newcomers into Montréal, that streamlines access to essential services under one roof. Inspired by Lisbon’s model and developed in partnership with the Government of Québec, the initiative allows new arrivals to complete key tasks—from obtaining a health insurance card to finding housing and employment—in a single visit.
• Representing the MMC at the Global Forum for Migration and Development, where she elevated city priorities like access to healthcare regardless of migration status, climate migration, and multilevel governance, and the UN International Migration Review Forum, the first-ever global review of the Global Compacts on Migration, where she presented over 120 city pledges to the President of the UN General Assembly.
• Joining the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Group on Local and Regional Governments to discuss the role of cities in the UN and influence the UN Pact for the Future, a roadmap to rebuild multilateralism in the face of multiplying crises. Her successful advocacy ensured the final pact included commitments to localize investments, maximize the positive contributions of migrants, and ensure dignified treatment for all migrants, reflecting the crucial role cities play in addressing migration issues. 

Tributes from fellow MMC Leadership Board Mayors: 

“From Amman, I extend my sincere appreciation to Mayor Valérie Plante and the City of Montréal for their inspiring leadership and strong role within the Mayors Migration Council Leadership Board. Mayor Plante has been a committed colleague and a powerful voice for ensuring that cities are central to global solutions on migration and climate. Her vision has strengthened solidarity among city leaders and advanced our shared mission within the MMC. I deeply value our collaboration and wish her and Montréal continued success in their global urban leadership journey”–Dr. Yousef Alshawarbeh, Mayor of Amman, Jordan

“Congratulations to Mayor Valérie Plante on an inspiring tenure as Mayor of Montreal. Your leadership, vision and commitment to creating inclusive, sustainable and people-centered cities have been a true inspiration to mayors around the world. Wishing you every success in the next chapter of your journey, and heartfelt thanks for your friendship and collaboration through the years.”–Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Sierre Leone

“To my dear sister Mayor Valérie Plante, your leadership has been instrumental in creating opportunities for all communities in the amazing city of Montreal. I will forever treasure our time together as mayors on the frontline of cities facing multiple crises. Your support continued support for UN-Habitat during my tenure as Executive Director there made it possible for the revival of Habitat’s country presence in Canada. From Montreal, your vision and contributions now reach our shores in Asia and the Pacific. Your steadfast commitment to ensuring no one and no place is left behind resonates strongly all over the world. I wish you all the very best for the future.”–Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

“Dear Valérie, as a co-founding Mayor of the Mayors Migration Council, you have been a sheer force behind the action of our Leadership Board. With you, Montréal has successfully led the drafting of cities’ contributions to the Global Compacts and to the Marrakesh Summit in 2018. Your enthusiasm and energetic smile have been a door opener at the United Nations as well as in convenings around the world. Thank you! Best wishes for your future endeavours.”–Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan, Italy

“With Mayor Valérie Plante of Montréal another fellow MMC founding member is passing the torch to the second generation of mayors leading the MMC. I shared an immediate connection with Mayor Plante during the inaugural meetings of the Mayors Migration Council in New York back in 2019, as we are both women mayors representing welcoming cities in the Global North. Dear Valérie, I thank you for being such a strong advocate for the voice of cities, thereby putting local realities and urban solutions for inclusive cities on the global policy agenda.”–Corine Mauch, Mayor of Zürich, Switzerland