The worrying exodus of municipal elected officials can no longer continue. Too many of them have already abdicated their functions, tired of suffering the wrath not only of their constituents, but also of their political colleagues. And who knows how many others are now wondering about their own future, seeing their colleagues capitulate in turn to preserve their health. The status quo is untenable, and for those elected officials who are still hanging on for the good of their municipality, and for the very vitality of municipal democracy.
Each of the resignations of the last two years is unique. That of the mayor of Gatineau, France Bélisle, is just as much, the latter having herself been the subject of complaints of harassment, a toxic work climate and an acrimonious climate (allegations that she firmly denies), including today she in turn regrets having suffered. But beyond the particular profile of the mayor of the fourth largest city in Quebec, the announcement of her hasty departure came to recall the urgency of a massacre which, until now, had aroused too little publicity. ’emotion.
Because these serial departures – there have been more than 760 since the 2021 municipal elections, or nearly 10% of the workforce – have too often been accompanied by disturbing confidences. Intimidation, insults, incivility which sometimes even transpose from the virtual world to the door of the homes of elected officials terrified that a death threat will one day be carried out. “Where have we gotten to?” » rightly asks the mayor of Granby, Julie Bourdon. That the Sûreté du Québec received 400 reports of harassment and intimidation of elected officials or municipal employees during the 2021 election year (an increase of 25% in two years) is alarming. This citizen violence threatens not only to further increase this exile of municipal elected officials, but also to lead to a shortage of replacements in two years. Because who would want to enter active politics to expose themselves to this incessant gall?
The allocation of $2 million by the Quebec government this week to offer municipal elected officials a psychological support telephone line is timely. It is in addition to the 2 million dedicated last summer to the creation of a legal aid program to cover the costs of legal proceedings aimed at putting an end to this inappropriate behavior.
Municipal management having become greatly more complex – the community now has to deal with housing and homelessness crises, forest fires and floods – the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest, is right by also promising, at the request of many, compulsory training which will better equip the new elected officials from the next elections. Those of 2021 brought a whole new generation of elected officials to the municipal scene, more than half having taken their first steps in active politics. For some, heavy disappointments followed. Although we can only rejoice at this dynamic succession, it is clear that it would be advantageous to better prepare them for the magnitude of the task and to support them in it.
In addition to the hostility of citizens, which is difficult to avoid for a local government, municipal elected officials must also carry out a serious exercise of introspection themselves. Because popular intimidation is not the only thing to have been denounced.
The mayors of Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières, Évelyne Beaudin and Jean Lamarche, both reported, when announcing that they were leaving their functions for a few weeks, tensions or an “unhealthy work climate” within their respective city halls. . In Quebec, two elected officials almost came to blows. If municipal elected officials demand – quite rightly – more civility from their fellow citizens, they could try a little to set an example. Or, at the very least, not to contribute themselves to the problem they deplore.
Ditto with regard to their relations with the media, too often in turn the target of intimidation. Less than a year ago, a Radio-Canada journalist suffered insults from elected officials and citizens in Gaspésie, who ordered her to delete her (completely legitimate) recording of a public meeting of the municipal council. The empathy shown towards municipal elected officials does not exempt them from being accused of hypocrisy.
It is time for awareness. On both sides of the political dialogue. It is up to society as well as the government of Quebec to better support the elected officials of our municipalities. But also for them all to recognize that they must necessarily be part of the solution.