People are hard on politicians, says François Legault. After the resignation of the mayor of Gatineau, in the face of concern raised by the departures of more and more municipal officials, the Prime Minister of Quebec opened up on Wednesday about his own experience of the incivility of certain citizens.
“I invite you to go to my Facebook or press office in Morin-Heights, in the Laurentians, where he was precisely to meet local elected officials.
Although he says “get used to” these sometimes filthy comments, the leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec adds in the same breath “that you never get used to 100%”. His wife and children, he says, are more affected by it.
He takes the opportunity to recall the latest gesture made by his government in this area: the granting of funds for the establishment of a telephone assistance service intended for municipal elected officials and their families.
“But it is true that currently we will have to make an appeal to everyone,” he added, believing that there should also be “consequences for people who make threats”.
The mayor of Gatineau, France Bélisle, resigned Thursday denouncing a hostile climate at city hall, which the opposition describes as a false characterization.
His departure, however, is part of a major trend, while at least 741 of the 8,000 municipal elected officials have left their positions since 2021. In Quebec, the Liberal Party and Québec solidaire also called last week for the holding of a parliamentary commission on the role of municipal elected officials.