Elected officials denounce the attack on the mayor of Saint-Paul-de-Montminy

(Quebec) Elected officials from the four political parties represented in the National Assembly denounced, on Tuesday, the assault suffered by the mayor of Saint-Paul-de-Montminy, in Chaudière-Appalaches.

Alain Talbot was in his vehicle Saturday when an angry citizen approached and threw a brick at his windshield with all his might. The mayor was able to film the incident with his cell phone.

“This is completely unacceptable,” declared the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest, in a press scrum, who nevertheless assures that she is putting “everything in place” to protect municipal elected officials.

“There has never been so much support, […] whether with the police force, with the municipal council […]there are training sessions, so I think we are putting everything in place,” she said.

The minister recalled past investments and the adoption of a new law stipulating that citizens who intimidate, harass or unfairly obstruct the work of an elected official are liable to a fine of up to $1,500.

The legislation follows a significant wave of municipal officials who have resigned in recent months due to the difficult climate in which they had to do their work.

The sudden departure of Gatineau Mayor France Bélisle last February sent shockwaves through municipal circles.

Since 2021, more than 800 elected officials have left their posts due to the difficult work environment and verbal and physical violence, deplored the interim leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, Marc Tanguay, at a press briefing.

“We want a commission […] parliamentary […] to study the causes and then what can we do. This is additional proof of the validity of our request,” he said.

These violent acts, like the one suffered by Mayor Talbot, do not help recruit people into politics, added the parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.

“When we see mayors having bricks thrown at their windows, it’s super worrying. We want to attract people into politics, especially fathers and mothers. This climate doesn’t help engagement,” he said.

Having himself received two death threats in the past year, PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon added that, in his opinion, the situation has visibly deteriorated. He makes a connection with social media.

“These are people who live in very, very hermetic microcosms, where reality no longer has its rights, where the information that circulates has nothing to do with it. And, yes, it is more dangerous than it was,” he observed.