Interested in applying? Think about it now

In the past year, there has been much talk about the difficulties inherent in municipal political life. I am very afraid that these discussions, although necessary, will have a negative effect on the number of candidates in the next municipal elections.

Why am I telling you this today? Because last Friday, I was given a good dose of hope. Because political engagement is, believe it or not, a wonderful experience. Because, for a candidacy in 2025, now is the time to think about it.

Yes, it is now. In municipal politics, the secret to electoral victory is quite simple: door-knocking. It is the only level of government where it is possible, if you start early enough, to meet almost all your constituents in person. Depending on the size of the city, mayoral candidates cannot always do this, but on a neighbourhood scale, it is feasible everywhere… if you start in the spring.

By Christmas, those interested should therefore decide whether or not to go ahead, because the pre-election work (program, team, financing, etc.) should begin at the beginning of the year.

But why choose municipal politics?

When asked to explain his extraordinary ability to score and get goals scored, hockey player Wayne Gretzky replied that a good player skates toward the puck, but a great player skates toward where he thinks the puck is going to be. In politics, the puck goes to cities. If you’re in a hurry to make the world a better place, that’s the place to be.

In the municipal world, in a few years, we can make a decision and see the result. We can see the expansion of a library, the inauguration of a new sports facility, the establishment of a new service that helps protect the environment, the preservation of a heritage building, the organization of neighborhood parties that strengthen the social fabric, etc.

Feeling like you’re making a difference in your community is an extremely powerful feeling. Having the legitimacy to speak for your community, to defend it to other governments, to celebrate its victories, to help people get through tough times, that too is intoxicating.

The sacrifices required by the office are usually well worth it. I say “usually” because elected officials themselves are often their own worst enemies, so you have to know how to measure out the sacrifices and ask for help.

Let’s not hide it, municipal politics is, by far, the most difficult. Managing collective issues at the level of people is much more difficult than managing, remotely, even larger and more complex issues. At the local level, the smallest flaw is immediately visible and all the beautiful principles must immediately pass the test of reality. The files do not disappear, forgotten in the ambient noise, they remain active until they are settled, kept alive by the citizens who are directly concerned. It is therefore not an easy policy, but help is being organized!

Last Friday, the first meeting of the new municipal wave took place^⁠1. There were 200 of us, half of whom were elected officials, sharing experiences and, above all, looking for ways to ensure that people who choose municipal politics have an exciting experience. The atmosphere was extraordinarily motivating.

One of the most effective ways to overcome the difficulties of politics is to establish a network of mutual aid.^⁠2. This was also the primary objective of Friday’s meeting: to bring together people whose enthusiasm is contagious. There are many other sources of assistance available to elected officials: forming a team or a political party, civil society partners, training, municipal unions, etc. It is entirely possible to make politics a wonderful collective and productive adventure.

If we live today in a Quebec that is one of the happiest, healthiest, most egalitarian and richest societies in the world, it is thanks in part to people who have been involved in politics. So, start thinking now, join support networks and go for it. It’s worth it.

1. Read the article from Right “New wave municipal officials: “We are not the dreamers””

2. Read the column “Maxime, it’s Régis, how’s your business going?”

What do you think? Join the dialogue