Sophie Demers
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE
QUEBEC – On April 10, Andrée Laforest, Minister of Municipal Affairs, tabled Bill 57 at the National Assembly to protect elected municipal officials from intimidation and harassment. The Bill also amends various legislation concerning municipal affairs.
“Municipal councils are where the most strategic decisions with the most tangible impact on communities are made. They’re the foundation of our society and must be respected for their true worth,” said Laforest.
Recent reports suggest an increasing number of Quebec’s municipal officials are leaving their positions due to hostile environments. Since 2021, 741 of Quebec’s 8,000 elected municipal officials have quit. Former Gatineau mayor France Bélisle stepped down in February 2024, stating the decision was due to the harsh and hostile political climate. Bélisle was elected in 2021 and was Gatineau’s first female mayor.
If passed, the Bill will allow elected municipal officials to apply for an injunction, punishable with fines between $500 and $1,500, to end intimidation, harassment, and rude comments or gestures they’re facing. There will also be fines ranging from $50 to $500 for anyone who disrupts the proceedings of a municipal council meeting.
When asked her opinion on Bill 57, Sandra Amrstrong, mayor of Mansfield-et- Pontefract, said she believes the government had to act quickly because the situation is getting out of hand. “However, to be elected you must listen to your constituents, which is why there are monthly municipal meetings. There has to be respect on both sides, citizens and elected officials alike. It’s often after meetings that insults are hurled,” she told the Journal.
“Receiving insults, threats and seeing social media comments is awful. In smaller municipalities, it’s becoming difficult to manage. We meet these people everywhere; the grocery store, post office, restaurants, etc.” continued Armstrong.
Jane Toller, Pontiac warden, also shared her concerns. “In my 11 years in the political sector, I’ve had the most negative feedback since COVID. The increase in online presence changed the way people express themselves: “Municipal officials deal with character defamation, name calling, and lie spreading with no way to protect themselves. I hope this bill will deter people from communicating rudely.”
Toller hopes rules will be made to prevent the situations from happening instead of implementing consequences afterwards. “We need a zero-tolerance rule. When you attack others, it doesn’t help the Pontiac to revitalize and move forward. Comments should be constructive instead of personal criticism and focus on the project, not the elected official.”