elections

Election 2025: Mount Royal

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Mount Royal riding has elected Liberals since 1940, but some elections in recent years have seen fairly close results, particularly as Côte St. Luc and Hampstead voters came out strongly for the Conservatives, because of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s strong support of Israel.The riding encompasses Côte St. Luc, Hampstead, part of Côte des Neiges and the Town of Mount Royal. The Liberal vote has been stronger in the latter two areas. In the 2021 election, the Liberals won Mount Royal with 57.71 percent of the vote.

Liberals

Anthony Housefather has been the Liberal MP for Mount Royal since 2015. Before that, he was Mayor of Côte St. Luc, a CSL councillor during the merger era from 2002 to 2006 and a Hampstead councillor in the 1990s. Housefather considered leaving the Liberals after his party voted for what many considered an anti-Israel motion, but ultimately stayed with the party. He was also the only MP to vote against Bill C-13, the revision of the Official Languages Act that by reference recognizes Quebec’s language law and gives it application over federal areas of jurisdiction, for which he was briefly demoted. Last year, Housefather was appointed the Special Advisor on Jewish Community Relations to former Prime Minister Trudeau.

Conservatives

Neil Oberman, a lawyer with Spiegel Ryan, is a partner in the firm’s civil and commercial litigation group and his practice is focused on commercial and civil disputes. Oberman is best known for successfully obtaining numerous injunctions to keep anti-Israel and antisemitic protesters well away from Jewish institutions. This followed a blockade of Federation CJA by protesters in 2024 and his work resulted in over 45 Jewish institutions being protected. Oberman has also successfully taken up the cases of Jewish students encountering harassment and antisemitism at Concordia and McGill.

NDP

Adam Frank was born in Canada, educated in Britain and France, and was a volunteer at an orphanage in Kenya. He has been a teacher of history, music, English and French at international schools in several different countries. “It was always my dream to become actively involved in politics once I returned to my native land,” he says.

Bloc Québécois

A Mount Royal candidate has not been named yet as of press time..

Green Party

Jacqueline Chamberland is the party’s candidate for Mount Royal.

People’s Party of Canada

Daniel Gervais was born in 1984 in Laval and is now a Town of Mount Royal resident. Gervais studied economics, business, and political science, and left university to help grow a family and friend-run private company, which was later successfully acquired. Gervais also co-founded a Canadian pet care company and, in China, managed operations and quality control for a prominent dog waste bag brand before returning to Montreal. Locally, Gervais serves on the EMSB parent committee and the Dunrae Gardens Elementary School governing board. n

Election 2025: Mount Royal Read More »

Ensemble Montréal Announces Gariépy to Run in VSMPE

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By Matthew Daldalian, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ensemble Montréal has named Sylvain Gariépy as their mayoral candidate for the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough in the upcoming municipal elections. The announcement was made May 29 by party leader Soraya Martinez Ferrada, who returned to her political roots in the borough where she was first elected.


Gariépy is a veteran urban planner and former president of the Ordre des urbanistes du Québec.


“He’s been very active as an urbanist in his life… and that’s what Montreal needs,” said Martinez Ferrada. She stood alongside longtime borough councillors Mary Deros and Josué Corvil to introduce Gariépy. “People like Sylvain, they’ll step up to serve Montreal by the experience in

in his knowledge about what this city needs,” she said.

Ensemble Montréal leader, Soraya Martinez Ferrada announces Sylvain Gariépy (far right) as mayoral candidate for the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough on May 29.


Housing

The press conference took place in front of a vacant city-owned building, the former Montreal Chinese Hospital, chosen deliberately to highlight one of the campaign’s central promises: to transform such spaces into social and affordable housing. “[The building] is a perfect example of what we want to achieve,” Gariépy said.

The housing crisis was top of mind throughout the announcement. Martinez Ferrada said an Ensemble Montréal administration would prioritize homeownership by abolishing the “règlement pour une métropole mixte” (bylaw for a mixed metropolis), a bylaw designed to ensure housing is included in large developments. “We’re going to abolish the mixed regulations… that has not given the results that the city needs,” she said.

The Ensemble Montréal leader also committed to making homeownership more accessible for young families by working with both the private and non-profit sectors, and by launching a “Famille Propriétaire” (Homeowner Family) program to help first-time buyers access homeownership through flexible support. The plan includes allowing buyers to pay the welcome tax in 12 monthly installments instead of all at once. “We want to keep our families here in Montreal,” she said.


Urban Planning

In addition to housing, Gariépy stressed the importance of community-informed urban planning. He specifically addressed concerns around recent bike path installations in the borough. “Prior to… putting a bike path on the street, I think we need to communicate… work with [residents],” he said. “We need to listen to the people and not go the other way around.”

Mary Deros, borough councillor for Parc-Extension, was more direct in her criticism of the current administration. She recounted an information session held before the installation of a bike lane on one Parc-Extension avenue: “They bulldozed the project without listening to seniors, to large families, to handicapped people of how their lives would be affected,” she said. These are the changes that will be brought about under the leadership of Sylvain Gariépy and Soraya Martinez.”

Communication

The bike lane debate in Parc-Extension has become a flashpoint in borough politics. In 2024, the city moved forward with protected bike lanes on a few avenues, removing parking spaces in the process. The decision sparked protests and a legal campaign from the Coalition for Democracy Montreal, which argued that residents weren’t properly consulted and that the loss of parking has disproportionately affected seniors, families, and people with disabilities.

While borough officials defended the project as a necessary step to expand safe cycling infrastructure, critics said the process felt imposed rather than collaborative.

Gariépy said he plans to maintain communication with residents by being physically present. “You knock on the doors and you inform people directly of what the intentions are and you bring them to the table to have a discussion,” he said. “We need to be there where it happens.”

Coming Leadership

Ensemble Montréal also confirmed that incumbents Mary Deros and Josué Corvil will seek re-election in Parc-Extension and Saint-Michel, respectively.

The announcement is one of several major moves Martinez Ferrada has made since becoming leader of Ensemble Montréal earlier this spring. A former federal cabinet minister and MP for Hochelaga, she left her role as Minister of Tourism to run for mayor of Montreal. The 2025 municipal election is set for November.

Ensemble Montréal Announces Gariépy to Run in VSMPE Read More »

LBPSB election results

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

In the Sunday elections at the Lester B. Pearson School Board (LBPSB), the three contested wards saw significant voter participation, largely driven by the English-speaking community’s motivation to make their voices heard. Observers highlighted steady voter turnout and enthusiasm, reflecting a strong interest in maintaining the integrity of school boards. Compared to the previous election, this year saw a higher voter turnout, with 20% of eligible voters participating.

LBPSB Chair Judy Kelley noted, “Through local media, we observed significant voter participation, particularly from the English community. Many felt it was crucial this time to show their involvement and communicate to the Quebec government that their voices matter. The enthusiasm for voting was evident, with steady lines and a clear interest in maintaining our boards and supporting candidates’ platforms. This higher turnout compared to the last election highlights our strong, caring community.”

Here are the results for the contested wards:

• Ward 2 (Lasalle): Frank Di Bello successfully retained his position, defeating challenger Dario Arella. Di Bello continues his role as an influential advocate for English education in Quebec.

• Ward 6 (DDO Pierrefonds): Elena Sharzan emerged victorious over incumbent Craig Berger, bringing new perspectives to the board with her experience and commitment to community service.

• Ward 9: Maureen Barren was elected, defeating Michael Papoulias.Additionally, four new parent commissioners have been elected by their peers, ready to collaborate with the councillors and contribute to the school board’s ongoing development. n

LBPSB election results Read More »

LBPSB elections mostly uncontested

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The 2024 elections at the Lester B. Pearson School Board (LBPSB) are generally uncontested, save for Electoral Divisions 2, 6 and 9.

LBPSB Chair Judy Kelley is uncontested.

Ward 1(Verdun and Île des Soeurs) : Linda Dalterio is uncontested.

Ward 2 (Lasalle): Dario Arella, currently employed at the English Montreal School Board (EMSB), is challenging incumbent Frank di Bello in Ward 2. Arella says that his approach is to be a “voice for parents” stating that “the wisdom of the parental experience as a part of the harmonious environment is to form the fertile ground for the growth of the minds and souls of our youngsters. The task of a school commissioner is to be the messenger of this parental wisdom.” Di Bello is an active member of the Council of Commissioners and a strong voice for English education in Quebec. He has represented the Board as President of the Comité de gestion de la taxe scolaire de l’Île de Montréal (CGTSIM), served as the Director of the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA), and as the liaison to the LBPSB Central Students’ Committee. Di Bello has also participated in numerous LBPSB sub-committees.

Ward 3 (Dorval and Lachine): Patrick Whitham is uncontested.

Ward 4 (Pointe-Claire): Allison Saunders is uncontested.

Ward 5 (Ile-Bizard and Ste-Genevieve): Malik Shaheed is uncontested.

Ward 6 (Pierrefonds-Roxboro East): Alaina Gross Charszan, currently serving as the parent commissioner representing the elementary sector, is challenging incumbent Craig Berger. Charszan has over 20 years of experience as a clinical social worker in public health and social services, and 15 years of experience as a family mediator. BCraig Berger is a former Westpark Elementary School Governing Board Chair and former Parent Commissioner, and also has been the Commissioner representing the wards for many years. He has been involved for over 25 years as a member of the Board of the Dollard Figure Skating Club, co-founder of the West Island Theatre Association and volunteer. He also has served as Vice-Chair of Council and the Executive as well as Chair of the Facilities and Security Committee investing millions of dollars into schools and facilities. Berger practices civil, commercial, corporate and family law at his law office.

Ward 7 (Pierrefonds-Roxboro West): Jason Doan is uncontested.

Ward 8 (Pointe-Claire South and Beaconsfield North): Marilyne Boyer is uncontested.

Ward 9 (Beaconsfield South and Île-Perrot): Michael Papoulias is running against Maureen Baron. Her campaign is to support the implementation of the school board’s Commitment to Success Plan, facilitate the sharing of information between the schools, centres and the council regarding successes and challenges, ensure the equitable sharing of resources among the schools and centres and contribute to the development of policies and procedures emanating from directives from the Ministry of Education. Papoulias dedicated 32 years to education. He retired from the Lester B. Pearson School Board in February 2024, where he most recently served as the Assistant Director of IT. “My journey in education taught me the power of asking questions and listening, along with the importance of empathy. I also spent over 17 years coaching youth and adult sports,” Papoulias stated.

Ward 10 (Senneville, Sainte-Anne de Bellevue North and Kirkland): Luisa Bulgarelli Vero is uncontested.

Ward 11 (St-Lazare, Rigaud): Daniel Olivenstein is uncontested.

Ward 12 (Pincourt, Vaudreuil-Dorion and Les Cedres): Angela Berryman is uncontested. n

LBPSB elections mostly uncontested Read More »

A petition for new elections was presented in Gespeg 

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Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – A petition with 314 signatures, collected by Gespeg elders, was presented at a press conference on November 21, calling on the Gespeg band council to resume the electoral process due to problems that occurred during the election on September 8. 

The petition notes that communications, including the notice of nomination and polling relating to the September 2024 election, were transmitted only by email, and that by not mailing the communications by the post deprived several voters of their right to vote. According to the petition, this inadequate communication resulted in a lack of candidates for the positions to be filled. 

“This irregularity in the way electoral information is communicated renders the electoral process invalid and its result revocable,” the document states. 

In a press briefing, Gespeg elders, including two former chiefs and Mark Sinnett, a candidate in the last election, called for the September 2024 election to be invalidated and to mandate an electoral officer to hold a new election as soon as possible. 

“We have nothing against anyone or the council in place. What we are saying is that our elections have not been going well since the beginning and this has caused all the problems we see today and especially community members who did not have their right to vote,” notes Mr. Sinnett. According to organizers, some employees thought about signing the petition but feared reprisals if they did. 

“I have great confidence that most employees would have pointed it out. All we want is a fair election,” insists Mr. Sinnett. 

“A lot of former members who don’t have internet didn’t hear that there was an election. They found out how to vote, receive a ballot by mail and return it. There were some who received their ballot after the election. They weren’t able to vote. That caused a major problem. Normally, in all municipal elections in Quebec or Canada, all voters receive a notice before the election. Here, that didn’t happen,” adds Francis Mainville, especially for members who live outside Gaspé. 

Of the 1,800 eligible voters, only 420 participated in the September election, compared to approximately 600 votes in the previous election, where mail-in ballots were also counted. 

However, everything would have been done according to the Electoral Code. “It depends on the interpretation. Our code is not 100% clear. There has been a lot of interpretation. Our code does not contain all the possibilities. There is a shortcoming: you can contest, but we do not know what to do after the contestation. That is what has led to where we are today,” explains Mr. Sinnett. 

“According to our customs and traditions, everyone was notified by mail,” adds Mr. Mainville. 

“In the Electoral Code, we must find all possible means to reach all members. That is the mandate of the president,” emphasizes Linda Jean, another of the initiators of the petition. 

The petition was filed during Gespeg’s annual general meeting on November 24 (see other text). 

For the time being, recourse to the courts is excluded. “Anything is possible, but we are not there yet. We want the council to understand that their community is speaking out and that we want new elections. That’s all there is to it for now. If there is anything else, we will see in the future. We are asking the council to take this very seriously,” says Mr. Sinnett. 

“We don’t want to make threats. We don’t want to go there. We want to protect our community. We have suffered enough recently. We want to do good for our community. We will follow our customs and traditions and that is the right we want to exercise at Sunday’s meeting,” continues Mr. Sinnett. 

“We have never seen Gespeg so united both internally and externally on one point,” he says. 

The Electoral Code allows a petition to be submitted to the council if it garners signatures from at least 10% of voting members. 

“We are within our rights,” calculates Ms. Jean. 

Having been a candidate for the position of chief, Mr. Sinnett denies having any apparent conflict of interest. 

“Absolutely not. If you remember, my point of view was to say that the election was not done well. I said it from the beginning. I continued until I withdrew for personal reasons. The election was not done well. We did not join our members. This is not revenge. It did not work. We have to do it again so that it works like a world,” Mr. Sinnett responds. 

The elders believe they have the support of the majority of Gespeg members. 

A petition for new elections was presented in Gespeg  Read More »

The Gaspé Peninsula wants to assert itself in electoral map legal process

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Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

CARLETON-SUR-MER – The Gaspé Peninsula wants to intervene in the debate surrounding the legal challenge to the law that paused the process of revising the electoral map for the 2026 election. 

Elected municipal officials from the Laurentides and Centre-du-Québec regions have filed a legal action against the Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec and the Attorney General of Quebec to have this law revoked and to resume the process of revising the electoral map. 

The Regroupement des MRC de la Gaspésie has served legal proceedings on the parties in the case. “The message we want to convey is that it is not unanimous among municipal elected officials who want to cancel the law that was made. On the contrary, we are an entity similar to that of the Laurentians and we have a completely divergent point of view on the situation,” explains the Regroupement president, Mathieu Lapointe. 

On May 2, 2024, Quebec’s National Assembly unanimously passed the Act to interrupt the process of delimitation of electoral districts. 

The Gaspé Peninsula MRCs recall that the electoral map on the table was then highly detrimental to the principle of effective representation, directly affecting the representation of the Gaspésie in the democratic institutions of Quebec. 

“At the heart of the debate is the principle of effective representation. This principle was established in 1991 by the Supreme Court of Canada in the Carter decision. Beyond the famous principle of “one voter, one vote”, the electoral map must also include principles such as the vastness of the territory covered by an MNA (Member of the National Assembly), the boundaries of the territories, belonging to the territory, and so on. If we want the voice of the Gaspésie to be heard in Quebec City in the flood of strongly represented urban voices, it is extremely important that the Electoral Act apply this principle recognized by the Supreme Court. That is why we are going to fight. For the voice of Gaspésie, for our future,” adds the mayor of Gaspé and prefect of the MRC of the Côte-de-Gaspé, Daniel Côté.The Gaspé interveners’ request for a conservatory intervention will be heard on November 27 at the Saint-Jérôme courthouse. 

If the Gaspé argument resonates with the court, the region’s arguments may then be heard on the merits of the case in the following months. “The process that is underway is healthy because we need to review the criteria to ensure that, ultimately, the electoral districts must ensure that each citizen is well represented in Quebec City,” emphasizes Mr. Lapointe. 

Recall that the commission suggested merging the ridings of Gaspé and Bonaventure, which include the MRCs of Côte-de-Gaspé, Rocher-Percé, Bonaventure and Avignon, to create Gaspé-Bonaventure, while Haute-Gaspésie would be transferred to the Matane-Matapédia constituency, a Lower St. Lawrence riding. 

As of April 30, 2023, Bonaventure had 35,898 voters and Gaspé 30,131, far from the minimum threshold. The gap was -29.2% and -40.6%, respectively. Gaspé was ranked third among the least populous ridings, behind the Magdalen Islands, which has an exceptional status, and Ungava. 

According to projections of the number of voters based on data from the Institut de la statistique du Québec, the gap with respect to the average for Gaspé should soon surpass that of Ungava. 

In 2017, the commission had maintained the negative exceptional status for Gaspé and granted the same status for Bonaventure. 

However, since the inequalities in representation of these ridings are increasing, the commission did not wish to renew this status. 

In addition to removing a riding in the Gaspésie, the Commission suggested doing the same thing in Montreal to create a riding in the Laurentians and another in Centre-du-Québec. 

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Céline Cassivi is appointed chief of Gespeg

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Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – Gespeg has a new chief. The election president swore in Céline Cassivi as chief of the Micmac Nation of Gespeg. Ms. Cassivi finished third in the September election. 

In a November 1 message to the Micmac Nation of Gespeg members, the election president mentioned that the details about the process leading to Ms. Cassivi’s appointment would be shared at a later date, which was done on November 6 (see image). 

In a note to the members, Ms. Cassivi stated she accepted this appointment “with great pride and humility.” 

“I am committed to being a fair leader, listening to your concerns and working tirelessly for the well-being of each of you. Together, we can overcome challenges, celebrate our successes and build a strong future for generations to come,” she wrote in her statement. 

“Your ideas, support and participation are essential for us to grow and prosper together,” the new leader concluded in her communication to members. 

In addition to the statements from the resigning chief, Yan Tapp, citing an environment of tension within the council as his reason for stepping down, the new council indicated that it “understands that this may raise questions among our members. The situation deserves clarification. To this end, we are committed to providing details as soon as possible to ensure fair and transparent information,” the six councillors affirmed. 

“We prefer not to comment on his decision to leave on October 24, 2024. We respect his decision. We recall that Chief Tapp had announced his intention to officially begin his duties on October 11 through his media interviews, which resulted in a very short stint,” they added. 

Yan Tapp was elected chief on September 27 after a series of events following the September 8 election. At that time, the result declared Mark Sinnett the winner with 144 votes to Mr. Tapp’s 143, while Céline Cassivi came in third with 122 votes. After three recounts, the results remained tied at 143 votes each. According to the Nation’s Electoral Code, a draw is required in the case of a tie. With no news from Mark Synnett to participate in the draw, Mr. Tapp was appointed to lead. 

However, it seems that the start of the mandate was not easy and reflects the difficult relationships among the members of the Nation. 

In a message released to announce his departure, he indicated that “Many former members know the routine that accompanies each council mandate for our community: political and personal conflicts, as well as a sometimes toxic work environment.” 

“During my short mandate, I have noticed a flagrant lack of respect for the chief of the Nation within the community itself. (He was asked things like) “I have never had a chief before… What does a chief eat in winter? No comment…,” said the outgoing chief. 

Mr. Tapp expressed hope for a return to harmony within the Nation. His resignation marks the third leadership change in a relatively short time. Former Chief Terry Shaw resigned on January 26, citing family reasons. 

Former Chief Manon Jeannotte left her position in February 2019 for personal and family reasons after three and a half years at the helm of the community. Ms. Jeannotte had also highlighted “an atmosphere of intimidation within the nation,” at the time of her departure. 

Céline Cassivi is appointed chief of Gespeg Read More »

GESPEG: Chief Yan Tapp resigns not long after being elected

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – The newly elected Chief of the Micmac Nation of Gespeg, Yan Tapp, has resigned.  The announcement was made through a brief press release on the Nation’s website on October 26. 

This marks the third chief to resign within the last decade, following Terry Shaw in January and Manon Jeannotte in February 2019.  “I have made the decision not to continue my path as Chief of our nation. Leaving a professional position is never an easy task and, in my case, stepping down early in my term is a choice that I want to make transparent with all of you,” Mr. Tapp wrote on social media, preferring not to give an interview to explain his decision. 

Mr. Tapp was elected as leader on September 27 after a series of events following the September 8 election. Initially, the results showed Mark Sinnett as the winner with 144 votes to Mr. Tapp’s 143, while a third candidate, Céline Cassivi, received 122 votes.  After three recounts, a tie occurred, with 143 votes to 143 votes. 

According to the Nation’s Electoral Code, a tie is resolved through a draw. Following Mark Synnett’s withdrawal, Mr. Tapp was appointed to lead the Nation. However, it seems the beginning of his mandate was not easy and reflects the difficult relationships within the members of the Nation. 

“Without going into details, many former members know the routine that accompanies each council mandate for our community: political and personal conflicts, as well as a sometimes toxic work climate,” recalls the resigning chief. 

“Once again, another chief has left Gespeg prematurely. I remember that an elder from another community told me last year, and I quote: “You, the members of Gespeg, are very hard on your chiefs. It would be important for you to learn to better master these values,” mentions Mr. Tapp. 

“During my short mandate, I have noticed a flagrant lack of respect for the chief of the Nation within the community itself. (He was asked things like) “I have never had a chief before… What does a chief eat in winter?” No comment…,” says the outgoing chief. 

He has a desire to bring harmony to the Nation.  “I sincerely hope that a future leader in Gespeg will be able to benefit from clearly defined roles, responsibilities and powers, that he will be able to choose his vice-leader, benefit from an adequate salary, have his own expense account and have a role not subject to the control of elected councillors. This would be beneficial for our nation!” he stated. 

He indicates that he discussed with the electoral president on October 24 on the consequences of a contestation of the vote, but nothing would change under the current Electoral Code, “contrary to what is usually stipulated in penal codes,” he noted. 

Nevertheless, he does not intend to give up. “I am contesting the electoral process, because the members were not adequately informed. I have always wanted and asked for a fair electoral process for all. In this sense, I refuse to continue with a council elected by acclamation,” said Mr. Tapp, who concluded his message with a union of forces. 

“It is essential that we cultivate a climate of respect and kindness, both towards our leaders and among ourselves. It is by joining forces and working hand in hand that we can build a better future for the Micmac Nation of Gespeg. Let us continue to move forward with compassion and openness, ensuring that each voice is heard and valued,” concluded the resigning chief. 

On January 26, former chief Terry Shaw resigned, citing family reasons. “This difficult decision is strictly motivated by personal and professional considerations. After much reflection, I have chosen to prioritize my family life above all else and to devote more time to my loved ones,” Mr. Shaw stated in the press release. 

Terry Shaw was elected chief in February 2020, promising a “wind of change.” Before Mr. Shaw was elected, there was a crisis of confidence within the Nation over the reform of the Electoral Code. Serving as a councillor during this time in 2019, he had hoped to resolve this issue before holding elections. 

Former Chief Manon Jeannotte also left her position early in February 2019 “for personal and family reasons” after three and a half years as the community’s leader. At the time, she denounced “an atmosphere of intimidation within the Nation” and filed a complaint with the Sûreté du Québec in January 2020, alleging “manipulation of the electoral list.” 

GESPEG: Chief Yan Tapp resigns not long after being elected Read More »

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