Municipal Affairs

CHANDLER: Minister of Municipal Affairs questioned in the Godbout case

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

Chandler is calling on the Minister of Municipal Affairs to force the resignation of councillor Bruno-Pierre Godbout, who faces multiple serious criminal charges. 

Mayor Gilles Daraîche has already publicly called for the Newport councillor’s resignation, but so far, nothing has happened. Mr. Daraîche is asking the Bonaventure Member of the National Assembly (MNA), Catherine Blouin, to intervene with Minister Andrée Laforest. 

“I have already spoken to Ms. (Catherine) Blouin’s political attaché, who is to send a message to Ms. Blouin so that she can intervene with the Minister of Municipal Affairs,” Mr. Daraîche emphasized. 

Beforehand, the mayor asked the councillor’s lawyer about his intentions. “He may not have access to his emails. I spoke to his lawyer, who needs to talk to him about it before I can send my message. We’d like this to happen as quickly as possible to take the burden off everyone’s shoulders, even him. At some point, we have to disassociate ourselves from Mr. Godbout,” the mayor stated. 

Furthermore, the municipal council filed a notice of motion at a special meeting in April to stop the remuneration of a councillor who is absent from the municipal council. “The gentleman is no longer being paid as of today’s meeting (May 5),” the mayor noted. In Chandler, a councillor receives $2,171 per month. 

Bruno-Pierre Godbout was arrested on April 15 by the Sûreté du Québec. The 36-year-old faces 12 charges related to sexual assault, assault with a weapon, assault, unlawful confinement, and criminal harassment following an arrest warrant. The events allegedly occurred between 2010 and 2025 in Bonaventure, Gaspé, Newport, Saint-Nérée de Bellechasse, and Montreal. A publication ban was issued to protect the victims’ identities. 

At the time of his arrest, the Sûreté du Québec alleged that Godbout allegedly used his notoriety to contact his victims. On April 25, the court ruled that the accused would remain in custody for the duration of the proceedings. After deliberating, Judge Denis Paradis ruled for the Crown, finding that the accused’s release would undermine public confidence, that he faces a sentence of between five and 10 years in prison, and that the evidence presented during the bail hearing appeared credible. 

On April 29, his lawyer, Ariane Cayer, asked the court to postpone the case until May 13 due to the amount of evidence in the file. 

In addition to being a municipal councillor, Mr. Godbout was employed by the Gaspé Peninsula Integrated Health and Social Services Centre (CISSS) as a physical rehabilitation therapist. 

The accused is charged with fraud, forgery, and using, possessing, or trafficking of a document. The charges were filed following a UPAC investigapro-mayor of Chandler during the suspension of former mayor Louisette Langlois in 2021. 

UPAC estimated the fraud at approximately $10,000. 

By mutual agreement with the Municipal Commission, he stepped down from council a year ago with pay while the case was being resolved in court. It was agreed that the councillor would reimburse the Town for the salary and legal expenses if found guilty. 

Another case involving an illegal lottery dating back to 2021 is also under review by the Office of the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions. 

CHANDLER: Minister of Municipal Affairs questioned in the Godbout case Read More »

MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent wins Superior Court battle over Port-Lewis wharf

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

A Quebec Superior Court judge has rejected a request by the municipalities of Elgin, Saint-Anicet, and the town of Huntingdon to annul a set of resolutions adopted by the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent that transfer Port-Lewis wharf usufruct rights to a private business.

The March 11 ruling, which was issued by Judge Catherine Dagenais, confirms that the MRC was within its rights to transfer user rights for the wharf to the Marina Port-Lewis, and that the procedures employed to do this were completely legal.

The MRC has owned the wharf and the access ramp since 1990 when it was transferred to the regional municipal authority by the federal government. The wharf, which provides access to Lake Saint-François, has always been enjoyed for free by the public.

In December 2020, the MRC first announced it had reached an agreement in principle with Marina Port-Lewis regarding the use of the wharf for a period of 30 years. At the time, the MRC argued that the agreement served to maintain the MRC’s ownership of the property while protecting the financial capacity of the residents and taxpayers of all 13 municipalities in the MRC. The agreement also supported the region’s economic development.

Concerns over the agreement were brought up by residents during numerous council meetings prior to the signing of the agreement. The MRC prefect and mayor of Sainte-Barbe, Louise Lebrun, insisted the MRC had “heard and listened to the representations of citizens and elected officials of the Haut-Saint-Laurent in order to reach a decision that protects their interests.”

A set of resolutions was then adopted by the MRC in February 2021, authorizing the removal of the wharf from the public domain and the signing of a deed transferring the right of usufruct between the MRC and the marina for one dollar.

A usufruct generally refers to the right to enjoy the use and advantages of a given property with conditions; in this case, the marina was given the right to use the wharf for a period of 30 years. The agreement included an obligation to maintain the wharf and carry out any major repairs. It also guarantees that free public access to the wharf will be maintained.

At the end of the 30-year term, the MRC will regain ownership of the wharf, as well as any renovations carried out by the marina.

A motion was filed in Superior Court against the MRC in October 2021 by the municipalities of Saint-Anicet, where the wharf is located, as well as the municipality of Elgin and the town of Huntingdon. The municipalities requested that the resolutions be annulled as well as the deed of transfer between the MRC and the Marina Port-Lewis.

The municipalities argued that the usufruct contravened article 6.1 of the Municipal Code of Quebec as well as the Municipal Aid Prohibition Act. Questions were also raised about whether the wharf could have been withdrawn from the public domain, and whether the municipalities brought their case to court within a reasonable time frame.

The court disagreed, concluding instead that “The usufruct does not contravene article 6.1 of the Municipal Code, and there is no reason to declare the resolutions and usufruct null and void.”

The ruling was also quite unequivocal in rejecting the municipalities’ claim that the usufruct broke the law by subsidizing the marina’s business in allowing the wharf to be used for commercial activities over the next 30 years without charging rent.

The court pointed out the marina is subject to numerous charges and conditions as part of the agreement signed by the MRC, including all major repairs and renovations during the 30-year period.

The judge noted that as of April 2022, the marina had already spent just over $19,795 on renovations and improvements including parking spaces, streetlamps and lighting, the installation of a dock at the descent, and the construction of six terraces.

The marina must also continue to allow free public access to the property. Emergency services, including police, fire departments, ambulances, and first responders, must also be able to always access the wharf. The MRC has formed a monitoring committee to ensure the right of public access to the wharf is upheld.

The court determined that all procedures to remove the property from the public to the private domain were followed through the adoption of the resolutions in question.

The wharf remains the property of the MRC and is still accessible to all, free of charge, between 4 a.m. and 11 p.m.

MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent wins Superior Court battle over Port-Lewis wharf Read More »

Saint-Anicet plans to purchase the land known as ‘the beach’

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The municipal council in Saint-Anicet wants to develop the area known as “the beach” at Jules-Léger Park.

The municipality has been renting the waterfront property on Lake Saint-François from the Pilon family since 1980. Residents who took part in a public consultation during the fall of 2023 made it clear they were in favour of maintaining the site. The sentiment was echoed during a second consultation on February 22, which was attended by around 20 residents as well as five elected officials, and three municipal employees who explained the financial implications of maintaining the beach.

During its regular meeting in February, the municipal council adopted a resolution authorizing the municipality to enter negotiations with the Pilon family to purchase a 1,781-square-metre portion of the lot. On March 3, the council passed a loan bylaw to borrow $325,000 over ten years for the purchase the land. The average annual cost to property owners is estimated to be around $15.81 as part of their municipal taxes.

A referendum on the loan bylaw is now scheduled to take place on March 31, between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the town hall. At least 267 residents must sign the register for the bylaw to be reconsidered. If the number of signatures falls short of this figure, the loan bylaw will be sent to the Ministère des Affaires Municipals et de l’Habitation (MAMH) for final approval.

During the public consultation in February, the municipality detailed some of its development plans. Parking, or the lack thereof during the summer, was brought up as an issue. The municipality plans to discuss the parking situation with residents in the village to see about renting land to create more parking spaces. Signs were installed last year directing visitors to use the parking area at the town hall.

Work began in November to renovate the park, wharf, and swimming area. The municipality received two $100,000 grants as part of a revitalization agreement between the provincial government and the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent. The remaining work in the beach area includes removing rocks from the water, the softening of the slope depending on erosion, and the expansion of the sand surface at the water’s edge.

Additional work will also be done in the park, including repairs to the stairs and cement platform along the wharf, the installation of handrails along the stairs, and the construction of a new building to house public washrooms. 

Saint-Anicet plans to purchase the land known as ‘the beach’ Read More »

Renovation work temporarily closes the Ormstown town hall

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Municipal employees in Ormstown are moving office for a few weeks while important renovation work is carried out in the town hall.

Work began on February 26 to improve accessibility for individuals with reduced mobility and to address plumbing, ventilation, and electrical issues from the building’s initial construction.

The renovations are designed to meet health and safety standards including the installation of a lift that will allow access to the basement, and to ensure a healthy work environment for municipal staff.

“Many people are surprised that work needs to be done on City Hall, which was built less than ten years ago. And I understand them,” says Ormstown’s mayor, Christine McAleer.

“Currently, we have a large basement that is of little use because it is not accessible. The archive room is also located in the basement, and the ventilation is not optimized for the preservation of documents,” she adds, noting that once the work is completed, all citizens will be able to enjoy the town hall.

Ormstown director general Daniel Leduc confirms the renovations were included as part of the 2025-2027 three-year capital investment program, which was approved by the municipal council in December. He says the $550,000 budget represents less than four per cent of the total investments planned by the municipality over the next three years, which include significant road, sewer and drinking water expenditures.

“This year we are putting some money into the town hall and the recreation centre,” he says, noting the upgrades are not a luxury. “The objective is to make it a real community building … A town hall that is well-equipped and fully functional to meet the needs of the community, which it presently does not.”

The floor in the recreation centre is being refurbished at an estimated cost of around $60,000.

The municipality expects the renovation work to be completed by mid-April. In the meantime, municipal employees will be temporarily relocated to the fire station, while those who work in reception will move to the library so they remain accessible to the public.

Leduc says that he looked into having the work done after business hours to reduce the impact on municipal employees, but it was significantly more expensive.

Municipal council meetings will not be affected and will take place as scheduled on March 3 and April 7 at the town hall.

Renovation work temporarily closes the Ormstown town hall Read More »

Mayors vote down bylaw limiting development near railroads

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Huntingdon mayor André Brunette says the town’s development plans are back on track, after an interim control bylaw (ICB) prohibiting new construction within up to 300 metres of railroads was repealed during the January 22 meeting of the regional council of mayors.

If maintained, the temporary bylaw introduced by the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent would have caused many of the town’s residential projects and future development initiatives to grind to a halt.

The MRC proposed the ICB in response to a series of nine provincial government guidelines for regional planning (OGAT) that came into force in December. These cover several aspects, including the quality of living environments, transportation, sustainable mobility, adaptation to climate change, water resource management, and the protection of natural and agricultural environments.

Within the guidelines are 22 objectives and six regulatory frameworks that the MRC is required to integrate into their land-use planning and development schema over the next three years. One of the frameworks, which is addressed by the MRC’s ICB, aims to mitigate the harmful effects and reduce the risks related to road, rail, and air transport, as well as fixed sources of noise, by prohibiting new residential and institutional development within 300 metres of railways.

The MRC’s ICB promoting the safety, property, and quality of life in the vicinity of a railroad was introduced by notice of motion on November 27. This resulted in an immediate temporary freeze on all new development within 30 metres of a railroad. The regulation was then presented to the council of mayors on December 18, where it was adopted by a slim majority after five mayors voted against the ICB. 

The railroad line in question is a 35-kilometre stretch of the CSX Transportation Montreal Subdivision, which runs through the municipalities of Dundee and Godmanchester and the town of Huntingdon. The MRC resolution notes that in addition to the storage of cars in Huntingdon and a service point in Dundee, the rail line is used primarily to transport various goods and materials, including hazardous materials.

The resolution argues there is a risk of derailment and hazardous material spills within the urban perimeters of Dundee and Huntingdon, where other negative impacts such as vibrations or sounds are more present given the proximity of the population.

Significant impacts

Brunette says the council’s decision left him reeling.

He says the mayors debated the bylaw for two hours. During this time, the spectre of the fatal train derailment in Lac Mégantic was brought up. “When people talk like that, it creates fear, a danger, that there is going to be a derailment, that there are going to be explosions, and the town will go up in flames,” he says.

“The railroad tracks have been completely redone. They’re flat, parallel to the ground. There are no mountains. It’s not the same terrain,” he says, insisting this type of comparison is unfounded. Trains roll through Huntingdon two times per day, one in the morning and again in the evening, at a maximum speed of 16 kilometres per hour, he explains. He notes that the town has also surveyed with those living along the railway and while they do hear the train whistle, vibrations are not a problem.

As a result, the Huntingdon municipal council unanimously passed a resolution on January 13 asking the provincial government to postpone the implementation of its regulatory framework. A similar resolution was passed by the Fédération Québécoise des Municipalités in December, as well as the Table Régionale des Élu[e]s Municipaux du Bas-Saint-Laurent.

The town also requested that the government establish standards based on the type of railway line, traffic flow, and train speed and size, like those in place for roadways.

The town contended that the regulatory framework in its current form would hinder both current and future development, including residential projects involving loans and investments in water and sewer infrastructure that are already implemented within 300 meters of the railroad.

“The town is in full development. We have been working on these projects for years, and now we are getting somewhere. According to the proposed bylaw, we could not build anymore,” says Brunette. Plans to build a new elementary school would also be abandoned, as well as a possible daycare expansion, if the proposed bylaw had not been repealed, he adds.

Brunette says the freeze on construction, which lasted over 50 days including the holidays, also kept the town from issuing permits. This restriction was lifted when the ICB was repealed in January, after eleven of the thirteen mayors voted it down.

MRC director general Pierre Caza explains that adopting an interim control bylaw enables the MRC to promptly address issues related to land use planning and development. This measure helps prevent the escalation of certain problems while providing the MRC with the necessary time to properly develop, modify, or revise its planning tools.

He points out that these temporary bylaws maintain the effectiveness of planning efforts by preventing projects that might conflict with new planning and development frameworks or rules while they are being established.

In this case, the MRC needed more time to analyze and establish safe distances and perimeters [from railways] while prohibiting all new cadastral operations until a permanent solution is adopted that would address safety, public health, and well-being concerns arising from rail transport in residential areas or near services for vulnerable populations.

Caza confirms the MRC is now holding meetings with the municipalities directly concerned “to find the best solutions to promote people’s safety while minimizing, if possible, the impact on the municipalities.”

Following discussions with the relevant municipalities, Caza says the objective remains for the council of mayors to adopt an optimized ICB that ensures the safety of individuals and properties near railroads.

Mayors vote down bylaw limiting development near railroads Read More »

Ormstown adopts tax increase and ambitious three-year spending plan

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Ormstown’s mayor, Christine McAleer, presented a balanced budget of $8,167,136 for the fourth year of her mandate during a special municipal council meeting on December 11. The figures for 2025 forecast an increase of $257,137, or five per cent, over the previous year’s budget. Over 84 per cent of this revenue is expected to come from property taxes.

McAleer explained that the council took several factors into consideration while formulating the budget, including the general tax rate. In Ormstown, the average tax rate for all property categories is not expected to exceed an average of 4.8 per cent, while the average tax bill will increase by an average of 2.89 per cent.

The mayor noted that every effort was made to curb increases while pointing out the municipality has a small number of commercial and industrial institutions that would allow for a more diversified source of income. She announced the municipality would be working on a new approach to its economic development.

“We want to develop the municipality in a way that respects taxpayers’ ability to pay, and with a view to sustainable development,” she said. “We are committed to maintaining a competitive tax system, and will continue to work towards this goal,” she added.

A second factor involved controlling the increase in operating expenses for municipal services, including the public works department, which accounts for around 25 per cent of the municipality’s expenses, as well as administrative services, human resources, communications, and public safety.

A third significant driver revolved around investments in infrastructure improvements. “We could not ignore the many difficult realities that required solutions and sums of money in the very short term,” McAleer said, noting the municipality had little to no choice but to invest in several capital projects.

Ormstown will invest nearly $14 million in various infrastructure in 2025 alone. The mayor confirmed that over a third of these expenditures will be financed by grants, the general fund, and the unrestricted surplus.

McAleer pointed out that despite narrow revenue margins that left little room to manoeuvre, the municipality has been able to innovate despite the need to rationalize spending in all departments.

The municipality’s three-year investment plan represents over $54 million in estimated expenses between 2025 and 2027. Major investments in 2025 will include $4.71 million for a wastewater overflow plan, with a total investment over three years of $15.4 million. At least $5.78 million is expected to be spent on the water and sewer network in 2025, with additional investments of $13.6 million by 2027.

Other significant investments for 2025 include over $1.35 million in road and sidewalk maintenance, over $325,000 in recreational infrastructure (splash-pad and skating rink), and over $1.6 million for municipal buildings, including the town hall, garage and ecocentre, and recreation centre.

The municipality will delay the financing of a drinking water treatment plant to 2026, when $15.4 million is expected to be invested over two years.

McAleer said she was proud of the budget, saying she and the council were confident they would make a success of the final year in their term.

The municipal council adopted the bylaw establishing the tax rates and payment terms for 2025 during a special meeting on December 16. The bylaw was approved by majority vote, after two of the five councillors present voted against plan.

Ormstown resident Philippe Besombes, who is also the president of the Association des Gens d’Affaires d’Ormstown et des Environs (AGAO+), was the only individual present to question the council during both meetings on December 11 and 16. He expressed concerns over the steep increase in tax revenue since 2021, and the impact this may have on residents.

“Tax revenue, or what we’ve been taking out of the pockets of the municipality’s residents, whether residential, commercial, or agricultural, has gone from $3.2 million to $6.7 million. That’s a lot of money,” said Besombes, who noted this cannot be attributed to new residents as development projects have been at a standstill for the past three years. He questioned whether some residents would be able to afford the increase, and asked whether the mayor would consider authorizing payments over four installments instead of three.

Municipal tax bills will be sent out in February.

Ormstown adopts tax increase and ambitious three-year spending plan Read More »

Saint-Anicet adopts balanced budget; mayor will not seek third term

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The mayor of Saint-Anicet, Gino Moretti, will be moving on from municipal politics after the end of his second mandate this fall.

Moretti announced he would not be seeking a third term just before the start of a special council meeting and budget presentation on December 16. “Tonight will be my last municipal budget,” he confirmed. “I have other opportunities in the future,” he added, without further explanation.

The mayor then turned the floor over to director general Denis Lévesque, who presented the details of the municipality’s annual financial exercise, which predicts a balanced budget of $6,418,064.

Lévesque explained that this year’s figures were influenced by several key factors, including the filing of a new municipal roll that saw a 54-per cent increase in the value of all properties. The average assessment for a single-family home jumped from $288,647 in 2024 to $431,032 in 2025, which represents an increase of over $142,000.

The director general was also careful to note a 5.5-per cent increase in shared expenses with the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent, the impact of inflation on all municipal expenditures, and the need to invest in municipal infrastructure having an impact on the overall budget.

Lévesque then presented the details of the capital expenditures program, which estimates an investment of $11,358,000 over the next three years. The municipality expects to invest over $4.9 million in 2025 on the paving of several roads, equipment for the fire service, and several major infrastructure projects.

Saint-Anicet will spend $1.2 million over three years to renovate the town hall, which Lévesque explained was lacking space. Half of the investment will be made in 2025, while an additional $300,000 has been budgeted for 2026 and 2027.

An additional $1.2 million will be spent in 2025 for repairs to the Catholic Church and community centre. Lévesque explained that the roof is currently leaking, and the municipality hopes to stop this before the structure is damaged.

The municipality will be installing washrooms at Parc Jules-Léger at a cost of $150,000, while development plans for Parc Génier will incur annual investments of $350,000 over the next three years. An additional $50,000 will be invested in the park in Cazaville as well.

Investments in the fire service include the purchase of a new boat as well as a new auto-pump fire truck, which is expected in 2026 at a cost of around $1.2 million. An underground cistern is also being installed in Parc Génier at a cost of $138,000. This will allow the fire department to fill their tanks with water more quickly. Lévesque noted excavation work has already begun in the park and a concrete slab has been poured.

Around $4.2 million will be spent on road maintenance between now and 2027, including the repaving of the Chemin St-Charles Ouest, the Chemin Rivière La Guerre, sections of the Chemin des Prairies, as well as sidewalk maintenance within the town and work on the Montée Cazaville.

Lévesque noted that the municipality was required to bring its wastewater treatment facility to standard, requiring an investment of $1.2 million. The municipal garbage truck is also in need of replacing at an estimated cost of $500,000 in 2026.

The director general noted that much of the planned expenditures will be covered by different grants and subsidies as well as loan bylaws.

The council unanimously approved both the budget and the capital expenditures plan before a notice of motion was tabled presenting the tax rates, service taxes, and the terms and conditions set out for this year.

The tax rate in Saint-Anicet is set to decrease from $0.4686 per $100 evaluation in 2024 to $0.3049 in 2025.

The bylaw was on the agenda for approval during the regular council meeting on January 13.

Saint-Anicet adopts balanced budget; mayor will not seek third term Read More »

Investigation alleges wrongdoing by the town of Huntingdon

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

An investigation by the Direction des Enquêtes et des Pursuits en Intégrité Municipale (DEPIM) of the Commission Municipale du Québec has concluded the town of Huntingdon committed wrongdoings in its allocation of tax credits and financial assistance to businesses.

The report, issued by the commission’s municipal integrity investigations and prosecutions branch on October 31, reveals that the town granted a tax credit over ten years to Greenvest Enterprises Inc., the developer behind the restoration of the O’Connor Building, without having first passed a bylaw authorizing it to do so. The report also alleges that financial assistance offered to businesses exceeded the limits imposed by the Municipal Aid Prohibition Act and required citizens’ approval.

Huntingdon’s director general, Johanne Hebert, acknowledges that the town committed an error regarding the awarding of a tax credit to those restoring the O’Connor Building.

The Commission Municipale du Québec has concluded that the town of Huntingdon committed a procedural error in the awarding of tax credits to the developers behind the restoration of the O’Connor Building. (PHOTO Sarah Rennie)

Hébert concurs that the resolution authorizing an agreement between Greenvest Enterprises Inc. and the town was passed by the municipal council on March 13, and that during the same meeting a notice of motion for bylaw 973-2024 was presented. The bylaw established a financial assistance program for the restoration of buildings of special or historic interest in the downtown sector. “The bylaw did not come into force until publication of the public notice to that effect on April 19,” she says. As such, the resolution to authorize the agreement should only have been passed once the bylaw was in force.

“There was no ill intent on our part,” says Hebert. “I think we were just so happy to have succeeded in saving the O’Connor Building,” she adds.

Huntingdon mayor André Brunette agrees, noting it was important to the council that the town’s historical landmarks be saved. The bylaw, regardless of the procedural error, allows the town to offer financial assistance to those willing to help revitalize the town and its older buildings.

Hebert confirms the DEPIM’s report will be deposited during the regular council meeting on December 2, at which time the town will move to repeal the March 13 resolution before passing a new resolution authorizing the agreement with Greenvest Enterprises Inc. in compliance with bylaw 973-2024. This will meet two of the three recommendations issued by the DEPIM as part of its report.

Investigation to be reopened

Hebert says that while she concurs with the DEPIM’s findings concerning the O’Connor Building, she believes the investigators interpretation of article 92.1 of the Municipal Powers Act concerning the town’s financial assistance to businesses is flawed. She disagrees with the report’s conclusions and says she wrote to the investigators with her concerns before the report was published.

Both Hebert and Brunette say they are disappointed that the results of the investigation were made public before discussions could take place to address the town’s concerns. The mayor says the council is now considering hiring a lawyer to respond to the municipal commission and the contents of its report.

Hebert confirms she has been in contact with both the Ministère des Affaires Municipales et de l’Habitation and the commission. She says the investigation will be reopened and that a meeting with the DEPIM’s investigators is already scheduled and will take place shortly.

Investigation alleges wrongdoing by the town of Huntingdon Read More »

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