(Montréal) More and more elected municipal officials are leaving their positions within 18 months of their election. Deserters, our chosen ones? Rather disillusioned, argue observers of the local political scene.
According to data obtained from the Chief Electoral Officer, at the end of June, 434 municipalities will have had to hold at least one by-election. No less than 69 mayors and 505 municipal councilors had to be replaced during the first 18 months of this mandate, which is due to end in November 2025.
For the same period following the previous election in 2017, 365 municipal councilors and 38 mayors had thrown in the towel in 339 municipalities. A year and a half after the 2013 general election, 302 municipalities had to fill vacancies left by 30 mayors and 347 aldermen.
In addition to death, illness or moving, this exodus can be explained by several factors that often have disappointment as their common point.
“New elected officials are realizing that politics is heavier than they imagined. They came into politics to make things happen, but for various reasons, they are not moving as fast as they would like or they have obstacles in the way. They get tired and bow out,” says Pierre Delorme, professor emeritus in the Department of Urban and Tourism Studies at UQAM.
Urban planner Danielle Pilette, also an associate professor in the Department of Strategy, Social and Environmental Responsibility at UQAM’s School of Management Sciences, even speaks of “several potential sources of disappointment”. “People are bitterly disappointed with politics because the issues and solutions vary from person to person or are faced with a lack of cooperation from certain officials,” she elaborates.
“We also see people who are very involved in the community or sports community who make the leap into politics and who realize that it is a much more administrative universe than they would have imagined,” she adds.
More work, fewer resources
This is without taking into account that Quebec has devolved many additional responsibilities to municipalities in recent years, without adequately compensating them to enable them to discharge them.
“The municipal world has become considerably more complex in recent years. Cities are being asked for more and more without having the resources to carry out the new commitments entrusted to them,” explains Mr. Delorme.
The president of the Quebec Federation of Municipalities and mayor of Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley, Jacques Demers, agrees. “The task of elected municipal officials has increased a lot, he testifies. But many people running for office have no idea of the magnitude of the task. Possibly that if we did a survey, we would learn that some have applied without having attended a council meeting. »
The elected official believes that candidates should at least inquire, or undergo training, to know the ins and outs of the function.
“It’s very demanding work, with a lot of meetings, a lot of committees,” adds Mr. Demers. It’s a task that quickly becomes overwhelming. »
He says he is not surprised that some put a cross on their political commitment to preserve their family life, or even avoid exhaustion.
Little recognition, a lot of ingratitude
The salaries paid to elected officials are also insufficient, believes Mr. Demers. “We have several mayors who earn between $10,000 and $15,000 a year and they work more than full time, he illustrates. We have a lot of people in the municipal government who don’t earn minimum wage when you consider the number of hours they spend on files. »
The transition to other levels of government or a job in the better paid private sector also explains some defections.
“We have seen greater general labor mobility since 2020. In some institutions, even municipal ones, these are really revolving doors… So elected officials are also affected by this phenomenon of professional mobility and may want to get involved elsewhere than in politics”, notes Mme Pilette.
Added to this lack of financial recognition is the ingratitude of some citizens, many of whom no longer hesitate to insult, insult, harass or threaten elected municipal officials. A phenomenon in exponential growth, underlines Mr. Delorme, who speaks of a “generalized” situation.
“Elected officials are easy targets since they are in the public square,” recalls Mr. Delorme. They can be found and contacted easily. »
“We have people who get involved to help their community, but members of it are not kind in their words and their approach when the decisions that are made do not go in the direction they would have liked. Not everyone is ready to play the shield or the “punching bag”, notes Mr. Demers.
Sometimes, conflict invites itself to the boardroom table, which poisons relations between elected officials and can force some to leave.
” [L’incivilité entre élus], it is sure that it is part of the reasons which encourage someone to leave, recognizes Mr. Demers. I don’t know if the phenomenon has increased, but it is a very difficult situation to have to rub shoulders with someone with whom you have no affinity, both on the council and in the activities of your community. »
“Personally, I find that elected municipal officials are courageous because it is a very demanding and little recognized function”, sums up Pierre Delorme.
“They are very dedicated people, but we can’t blame them if after a year and a half, for a set of reasons of their own, they decide to throw in the towel and resign. »
This dispatch was produced with financial assistance from the Meta Exchange and The Canadian Press for News.