Gatineau residents are called to go to the polls on June 9, to elect a successor to former mayor France Bélisle, who suddenly resigned last week.
Those who want to apply have until May 10 to express their interest. Citizens who wish to exercise their right earlier will be able to vote in advance on June 2.
The City estimates that this by-election will cost approximately two million dollars. A necessary expense after M’s departureme Bélisle, supports his temporary successor, Daniel Champagne. The law provides for triggering a by-election if a mayoral position becomes vacant more than 12 months before a general election.
Advisors are considering introducing themselves
The latter assured that he will not support “any candidate” in the next elections, wanting to “show impartiality”. A municipal councilor for more than 10 years, he also replied a “categorical no” to journalists who asked him if he intended to run in the next elections.
Independent municipal councilors Mario Aubé and Steven Boivin, for their part, declared that they were considering their potential candidacy. At the time these lines were written, councilor Olive Kamanyana, whom several media present as a potential candidate, had not clarified her intentions to the Duty.
Without commenting, Denis Girouard indicated to the Duty that he would announce his decision on Monday March 4. Mike Duggan declared that “the conditions in which [il se présenterait] at Gatineau town hall are quite marginal”, since he is “committed to serving the Pointe-Gatineau district […] without [se] launch into other political projects.” “If the selected candidates are not “acceptable”, I might feel obliged, but I am convinced that at least two candidates would be capable of occupying the position,” he specifies, however.
Action Gatineau will present a candidate, but it will not be its interim leader, Steve Moran. Former Bellevue councilor Sylvie Goneau, who left municipal politics after her defeat at the hands of Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin in 2017, also publicly stated that she was considering running, depending on the interest of the population.
Focus on collaboration
While waiting for the elections, Mr. Champagne recalled the “need to work collaboratively”. “There are certain issues on which we must continue work,” he declared on the sidelines of the first municipal council since the departure of Mr.me Bélisle. He also assured that he would quickly define, with the executive committee, priorities so as not to “improvise” during the next four months.
Tuesday afternoon, the deputy mayor appointed Action Gatineau councilor Isabelle N. Miron as deputy mayor. Mme Miron had been removed from this position by Ms. Bélisle, two days before she announced her resignation. “By suggesting to Mme Miron to resume her duties as deputy mayor, I want to send a clear message that our council is an inclusive and respectful environment, that women are welcome and that politics is for everyone,” declared Mr. Champagne , according to The right.
The opposition party Action Gatineau refused last Friday the description of a “toxic climate” within the municipal council made by Mr.me Bélisle. “On the question of partisanship, I have complete confidence in the ability of our president to ensure sound management of this municipal council,” Mr. Champagne, for his part, said on Tuesday.
This report is supported by the Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada.