More female municipal officials than their male counterparts experience harassment or verbal violence. A survey published Thursday as part of the Conference of the Union of Municipalities of Quebec held in Montreal reveals that 62% of mayors and municipal councilors have experienced verbal violence and 53% of them have been victims of intimidation and threat.
At the request of the UMQ, the Léger firm carried out a web survey to which 1,380 elected officials responded, whether or not they work for UMQ member municipalities. On average, elected officials work around fifty hours per week, in their elected functions or in combination with other paid jobs.
Although the climate is generally “pleasant” and “harmonious”, elected officials interviewed still highlighted the existence of a toxic climate. It is within the municipal councils themselves that the situation is the most difficult since 19% of respondents maintain that the climate is conflictual or toxic between the elected officials themselves.
The youngest elected officials are particularly affected by this situation, noted psychologist Rose-Marie Charest who participated Thursday in the conference during which the results of the survey were revealed to elected officials. “I think we took that for granted for a long time: we are adversaries, we can do anything to tear the other down,” she explained. “The younger generation is starting to feel that we can do things differently. We can be adversaries without tearing each other down. But in any relationship, even between adversaries, you have to find common ground on which you work. »
In a proportion of 12%, respondents consider that relations with citizens are problematic. A large majority of elected officials surveyed, i.e. 83%, also point out that it is always the same citizens who intervene during municipal council meetings “in a way that does not promote healthy and respectful debates”.
“In a review, try to separate the content from the form. There are people who criticize us violently, but who do us a great service,” Rose-Marie Charest nevertheless recommended to the elected officials present at the conference.
For their part, relations with the media are considered unhealthy for 8% of respondents, particularly in cities with 100,000 inhabitants or more.
Verbal violence and harassment
Overall, 58% of municipal elected officials say they have experienced verbal violence. Among women, this rate increases to 62%. Furthermore, 46% of respondents indicate that they have suffered intimidation and threats — 53% among women — and 36% have been targeted by harassment. However, almost a third of respondents admit to having never experienced this type of situation.
And the climate has deteriorated over the last five years, estimate 71% of elected officials questioned with more than three years of seniority. Many elected officials have also considered resigning during their mandate. This is the case for 43% of respondents surveyed. This rate increases to 48% among elected women. Remember that since the 2021 elections, 10% of municipal elected officials have left their positions, including the mayor of Gatineau, France Bélisle, last February.
However, almost half of respondents plan to run again in the next municipal elections in 2025.
Two out of three elected officials say they have experienced periods of anxiety during their mandate. Their level of anxiety, however, is similar to that of the general population, argued Cyntia Darisse, vice-president of Léger. “Quebecers are stressed in general, elected or not,” she said.
On the other hand, a very large majority of elected officials, i.e. 97%, have the feeling of making a real difference for society or the community.