(Quebec) The Legault government is “doing its part to support elected officials,” according to Minister Andrée Laforest, who is responding to the call from the resigning mayor of Gatineau, France Bélisle. Rather, changes must be made “from within” municipal councils.
“Our government is doing its part to support elected officials in their duties. Now, it is important that certain changes take place from within the councils with sincere will and for the benefit of citizens. In the end, they are the ones who pay the price,” the Minister of Municipal Affairs wrote Thursday on social media.
Earlier in the day, Mme Bélisle announced with emotion that she was leaving her position as mayor to “preserve (her) health for the future” and “preserve her integrity”.
She said the role of mayor had been her most wonderful job, but also the most difficult of her life. She claims to have witnessed “personal attacks that go beyond criticism” from other elected officials, and also “death threats from certain members of the public”.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
France Bélisle
She then invited the Quebec government to reflect “on this exodus of municipal elected officials, but also on all elections by acclamation”.
I am surprised that these hundreds of departures, this exodus of elected officials in Quebec, generates so little questioning on the merits
France Bélisle
Action plan
Mme Laforest says he learned “with regret” of the resignation of Mme Bélisle and “wish him success for the future”. “An unhealthy climate in a municipal council must not be tolerated,” she added.
The two women had a discussion Thursday morning and are expected to meet next week, the minister’s office said.
The minister stressed that since taking office in 2018, she has “taken numerous measures and put in place tools available to elected officials to promote respect and civility”. An announcement concerning the support of elected officials is also planned for next week, it was indicated.
Quebec launched in 2021 an action plan to promote respect and civility to preserve municipal democracy, which includes measures such as informing elected officials of “good practices on social media”, and making advertisements to “raise awareness population on the importance of civility and respect in exchanges with elected officials and municipal employees, particularly on social media” or even “distribute a tool on good ethical practices relating to respect”.
PHOTO KAROLINE BOUCHER, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Suzanne Roy, Minister of Families
Minister Suzanne Roy, former president of the UMQ and former mayor of Sainte-Julie, said she was saddened by the news.
“When people decide, because it is difficult, because the climate is extremely difficult, to resign, it pains me because this political commitment is extremely important, particularly I would tell you when we are talking about young women” , underlined Mme Roy to The Press.
Last November, the mayor of Chapais, Isabelle Lessard, who was the youngest mayor in the province, resigned, affected by the forest fire crisis. Nearly 800 mayors have left office since the 2021 municipal elections, recalled Thursday Mme Bélisle.
“I hope that we understand more and more the extremely important work of our municipal elected officials, the local work and that we have the greatest respect for their work,” added Suzanne Roy.
A difficult context
His colleague Lionel Carmant pointed the finger at social networks, “which make life very difficult” for elected officials. “The ability to comment randomly, the trolls hitting on us for no reason, we try not to look, but we can’t always,” he said.
The latter also had good words for Mme Bélisle, who launched a frontal attack against the minister on the issue of homelessness in the fall.
“Although it may not have been easy at the beginning, we always worked well with Mme Bélisle, I really appreciated the fact that she defended her citizens, she had a sensitivity for the most vulnerable, and we communicated regularly together, even by text message,” continued Mr. Carmant.
Other politicians also reacted to M’s resignationme Bélisle. Prime Minister François Legault thanked the mayor “for her years of service” at the head of Gatineau. “I wish him the best for the future,” he summarized on X.
The minister responsible for Outaouais, Mathieu Lacombe, for his part published a photo of him and Mme Bélisle. “Politics is indeed a gift of self which is accompanied by great sacrifices. It’s an immense privilege, but it also means giving up too many things that we shouldn’t always have,” tweeted the MP for Papineau. “After politics, there remains what is most precious to us: our family, our friends. When you feel at a crossroads, choosing yourself always remains the best choice,” he added.
Call for “collective reflection”.
The UMQ also underlined the “courage” of Mr.me Bélisle for his call “for collective reflection”. “It is clear that the system in which municipal politics is practiced presents significant shortcomings which lead to a disengagement of municipal officials,” wrote the organization which brings together the large cities of Quebec.
“Added to this is the difficult and sometimes hostile context in which elected people exercise their function. Cases of harassment and intimidation towards and between municipal officials continue to increase,” deplores the group of elected officials.