Quebec Struggles to Keep Local Officials as Resignations Rise
Quebec is facing a crisis as local officials resign, prompting calls for more candidates, especially women, to step up for upcoming elections.
Quebec, Montreal, Local Elections, Women in Politics, Harassment
Montreal: Municipal leaders in Quebec are on a mission to encourage more young people, especially women, to run for local office in the upcoming elections. But it’s a tough sell, given the harassment and intimidation that many elected officials face.
According to Quebec’s elections agency, around 800 municipal councillors, which is about 10% of those elected in 2021, have quit before their terms ended. The reasons vary, but a lot of them point to the toxic behavior from some citizens.
Antoine Tardif, the mayor of Victoriaville, shared that harassment is becoming more common in local politics, not just in Quebec but across Canada. He believes social media plays a big role in this trend.
To tackle this issue, Quebec has launched a campaign to recruit candidates, focusing on women and young people, ahead of the municipal elections set for November 2025.
Women make up half the population but are still underrepresented in local councils. In the last elections, they were only 35.5% of candidates, and while some cities elected female mayors, many aren’t running again.
For instance, France Bélisle stepped down as mayor of Gatineau due to a hostile work environment, including death threats. Similarly, Sherbrooke’s mayor, Évelyne Beaudin, cited similar reasons for not running again.
Montreal’s mayor, Valérie Plante, announced she wouldn’t seek a third term, and while she didn’t directly mention harassment, she has faced a lot of negative comments online.
Longueuil’s mayor, Catherine Fournier, received death threats over a controversial deer culling plan but is still planning to run again.
The provincial government is trying to help local politicians. They’ve set up a helpline for elected leaders and passed a law to penalize those who harass or intimidate politicians.
A survey revealed that 74% of local officials have experienced harassment. Karim Boulos, a former city councillor, noted that respect for officials has declined over the years.
Tardif mentioned that in smaller towns, mayors often avoid social media to dodge personal attacks. He stressed the need to counter this trend as elections approach, highlighting the rewarding nature of municipal work.
Interestingly, fewer than 10% of candidates in 2021 were aged 18 to 34. Boulos suggested making work schedules more flexible to attract younger candidates.
Julie Bourdon, the mayor of Granby, is leading efforts to recruit a diverse group of candidates and plans to offer mentoring to new politicians.
She believes there are many positive developments in Quebec’s municipal politics and that passionate individuals can inspire others to get involved.
However, she also acknowledged the challenges, like the homelessness crisis and climate change, that make municipal politics complex.
Mark your calendars: municipal elections in Quebec are set for November 2, 2025.