The defections increasing in town halls will be the subject of an in-depth investigation by the regional directorates of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAMH), as well as the Liberation Party Ral du Québec (PLQ) and Québec Solidaire (QS) calls for the creation of a parliamentary commission to study the issue.
From Outaouais to the state capital, Gatineau Mayor France Bélisle's decision to quit politics to “preserve her health” sent shockwaves on THURSDAY. Especially since she is not the first to resign from office since the 2021 elections: around 10% of elected municipal representatives liked her.
In this regard, Minister Andrée Laforest announced on Friday on the X network that she had asked the regional directorates of the MAMH to quickly communicate with all the cities in their territories to study the situation and offer their services.
She recalled that the department's staff is always available to assist communities, particularly with regard to the roles and responsibilities of elected officials, human resources management or ethics and professional conduct.
If the situation requires it, regional management can also provide more sustained support, added Ms. Laforest, who called for monitoring and recommendations to regional management.
The opposition is calling for a parliamentary commission
For their part, PLQ and QS want the Land Planning Commission to meet urgently to study the issue.
Concerted work is needed to improve the climate in local councils and address more comprehensively issues related to harassment and threats against all elected officials, argued © Liberal MP Michelle Setlakwe, stressing that the entire population will benefit .
In a letter to Commission President Sébastien Schneeberger, the PLQ demands not only that it adopt an initiative mandate for civility in municipal councils, but also that it address the deterioration of respect for elected officials at all levels of government.
The MPs themselves also have to deal with an increasingly difficult climate. Evidence: The Caquiste Isabelle Lecours announced on Friday the closure of her district office on Friday because of threats made against her for abandoning the CPE Val-Alain project.
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CAQ MP for Lotbinière-Frontenac, Isabelle Lecours, says she has been threatened and intimidated. His office is temporarily closed. (archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Sylvain Roy Roussel
Solidarity MP Étienne Grandmont made a similar request to Mr Schneeberger. According to him, the elected representatives of the National Assembly have the responsibility to protect health [leurs] Colleagues at the local level who are undermined by very high pressure and workload.
On this issue, the heartfelt outcry launched by France Bélisle last September on the issue of homelessness would have rung a bell, Mr Grandmont argued in a press release on Friday. “I’m doing your job!” she said to Minister for Social Services Lionel Carmant.