Quebec’s plan to curb the often toxic climate that drives out local politicians is being welcomed by Montreal-area mayors, who have long called for change.
Longueuil Mayor Catherine Fournier was under intermittent police protection last year and has received death threats over a controversial multi-year plan to cull local deer. Her predecessor was also the target of threats in 2020.
Bill 57, which was introduced in the provincial legislature in April, proposes harsh punitive measures for people who harass elected officials in Quebec. It comes as hundreds have left municipal jobs since the 2021 election.
If the proposed legislation becomes law, people who harass or threaten politicians could face a court order or a fine of up to $1,500. It would also give police the power to impose a fine of between $50 and $500 on anyone who disrupts a city council meeting with disorderly conduct.
“It is an important measure, which has been anticipated,” Fournier said of Bill 57 during Thursday’s legislative hearings. “That reassures many municipal officials.”
Fournier not only gave recommendations on the bill but also spoke about his own experiences. — including a recent incident that played out publicly.
In March, Longueuil police arrested a woman who was later accused of criminally harassing the mayor during a city council meeting that became heated. The woman is not a resident of Longueuil.
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“It is shocking. It was the first time I received a threat in person,” Fournier said Thursday.
The woman in question was released on conditions and her case is now in the hands of the province’s Crown prosecutors. Police said at the time that it was the fourth investigation they had opened involving the mayor.
Fournier previously served as a Parti Québécois and then an Independent MNA before leaving provincial politics. Throughout his career in public office, he said he “unfortunately has filed complaints with the police several times.”
The 32-year-old woman also noted different incidents, ranging from how she received an anonymous letter mentioning a gun to messages on social media that made her feel unsafe.
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“A clear message must be sent: this is not acceptable,” Fournier said Thursday.
“It is clear that something must be done”
Fournier is far from the only local politician who has had similar experiences.
The union of Quebec municipalities conducted a survey on the issue in 2023 and found that 74 per cent of elected municipal officials reported experiencing harassment and intimidation. Since the October 2021 election, 741 of 8,000 local politicians (almost 10 percent) had resigned.
Earlier this year, France Bélisle suddenly resigned as mayor of Gatineau, citing a difficult climate for municipal politicians.
Bélisle said he had witnessed personal attacks that went beyond normal political criticism, including death threats from the public. His decision to resign was due to the preservation of his health and integrity.
A week after Bélisle resigned in February, the province launched a hotline to help municipal politicians and their loved ones.
Westmount Mayor Christina Smith said Thursday that “something clearly needs to be done” to fix the problem and stop the mass exodus of elected officials.
“The problem is when it becomes harassment and when it crosses the line and that’s no longer acceptable in any workplace,” Smith said in an interview with Global News.
“This should not be the last place where it is accepted.”
Smith, for her part, said she has a thick skin but the last straw came when her 11-year-old daughter was harassed on the street.
“It’s unacceptable and when people see it, they will never enter the political arena if they think that’s what they’re facing,” he said.
Municipal Affairs Minister Andrée Laforest said last month that she hoped Bill 57 would be adopted in June.
— with files from Tim Sargeant of Global and The Canadian Press
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
