Quebec needs people to run for local office. The problem is that they keep getting fired.

MONTREAL. Quebec municipal leaders are looking for ways to get young people, especially women, to run for local office in next year’s elections, but that’s a tall order given the well-documented cases of harassment and intimidation faced by elected officials in the province.

About 800 municipal councilors — 10 percent of the roughly 8,000 people elected to local office in 2021 — resigned before the end of their terms, Quebec’s electoral agency said. They left for many reasons, but some departures were influenced by the toxic behavior of citizens.

“Harassment is happening more and more in the municipal world, whether it’s in Quebec or when I talk to colleagues across Canada,” said Antoine Tardif, mayor of the city of Victoryville, Que., population 45,000, about 140 kilometers away. northeast of Montreal. in a recent interview. “I think social media is part of the reason we’re seeing more and more.”

Quebec has launched a months-long campaign to recruit candidates, especially women and youth, ahead of municipal elections scheduled for November 2025, says Municipal Affairs Minister Andre Laforest.

Women make up half the population, but are still underrepresented in municipal councils across the province. In the 2021 municipal elections, they made up 35.5 percent of the candidates, and five major cities elected a woman mayor — but at least three of them will not run next year.

France Belis cited a hostile work environment, including death threats from members of the public, in her sudden decision to resign in February as Gatineau mayor. Sherbrooke Mayor Evelyn Boden gave similar reasons for ruling out another run in November.

“It’s not very popular to be an elected official in 2024,” Boden said in May.

In October, Montreal Mayor Valerie Plant announced that she would not run for a third term. And while she didn’t specifically cite online harassment and publicity as reasons for her departure — she said she didn’t think she had the strength for another four years — Plant has limited comments on her social media profiles because of the vulgar responses she regularly receives. gives receives

Longueuil Mayor Catherine Fournier has been under occasional police protection and death threats over a controversial plan to cull local deer; however, she runs again.

The provincial government tried to help local politicians who found themselves in combat conditions. In February, Quebec announced funding for a new hotline for elected leaders. And in June of last year, a law was passed that provides for fines of up to $1,500 for those who intimidate or harass a politician. The law also allows elected officials to petition the Supreme Court for an injunction against a citizen who threatens, intimidates or harasses them.

Tardif, who is a member of the executive of the Federation of Quebec Municipalities, released the results of a survey his group conducted earlier this year that found 47 percent of elected local officials were victims of harassment and intimidation.

Karim Boulos, a former Montreal city councilor from 2005 to 2009, says social media bullying was not a problem during his mandate.

“A few years ago, there was more respect — if we can use that word — or more decorum,” Boulos said. “And I think people (officials) today are being unfairly criticized for a job they’re just trying to do on behalf of the residents.”

The exchange in Victorville was always respectful, Tardif said. But in recent years there has been an “unparalleled level of intolerance” among people.

“I think people are on edge, quickly going into confrontational mode, and then add to that social media where anyone can take justice into their own hands and attack politicians or elected officials,” Tardif said. “It can create a cocktail that is difficult for some people to live with.”

In some smaller towns and villages, where people come into contact more easily, some mayors stay away from social media to avoid personal attacks or harassment, Tardif said.

“This trend needs to be countered as the next municipal election approaches because there are so many great things to be achieved in the municipal environment and this is such rewarding work,” Tardif said. “But, unfortunately, there are events that overshadow the functions of municipal officials.”

Less than 10 percent of municipal candidates in the 2021 election were between the ages of 18 and 34. Bulos said one way to get this age group to vote is to make work schedules more flexible, including allowing municipal leaders to work from home at times.

Julie Bourdon, mayor of Granby, Que., 65 kilometers southeast of Montreal, chairs the Union of Quebec Municipalities’ democracy committee. She said her group’s goal is to attract a diverse group of candidates in 2025, adding that she also plans to offer mentoring to politicians.

“There are a lot of great things happening in municipal politics in Quebec, there are still a lot of people who are passionate, who are doing their part … which can encourage other interested people to get involved,” Bourdon said.

“Is municipal politics easy? I don’t think so, it’s still politics: there are issues, there’s a homelessness crisis, a housing crisis, a crisis in terms of climate change,” Bourdon said.

Municipal elections in the province are scheduled for November 2, 2025.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on December 30, 2024.

Siddhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press