Valérie Plante, Montreal's outgoing mayor, has repeatedly called on higher levels of government to help tackle the city's most pressing issues, from homelessness to expanding its public transit network.

Earlier this week, she also pressed the federal government to give more money for another big challenge: helping cities adapt to climate change.

But what can the city itself actually do?

As citizens prepare to vote in the Nov. 2 municipal elections, experts say the next municipal leader in Montreal and across Quebec will need to build alliances with other levels of government — and use the tools they have.

Who does what

On a daily basis, residents in Montreal and across Canada rely on their municipality to provide basic services, from the water that comes out of their tap and road main

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