Gatineau Mayor France Bélisle is stepping down from her position, leaving her place to City Councilor Daniel Champagne, who will take over as City Hall.
During a press conference late Thursday afternoon, Ms. Bélisle explained with emotion that she made this decision, among other things, to “preserve her health for the future,” mentioning the difficult climate in which the elections are taking place across Quebec.
She also says she's seeing behavior from elected officials and members of the public who don't share her values, and sees decisions on the horizon that she doesn't want her name associated with.
“Since the beginning of my term, I have also experienced comments and approaches to things that concern me,” she added. Personal attacks that go beyond criticism, elected officials not carrying out their roles at the right place or time, death threats from certain members of the public, decisions and instructions made for such partisan purposes.
Ms. Bélisle says she is experiencing a conflict of values.
“These behaviors honestly make me uncomfortable and affect my deep values,” she said. Just as important as my values, there are those that should guide the communal world. The integrity of the council members, the honor that comes with the duties of an elected official, integrity, loyalty to loyalty. They forced me to choose the municipal world, but unfortunately I feel like we have lost the path together.”
“Staying would mean supporting a system that I no longer want to be associated with,” she continues.
The City of Gatineau will announce details this week about what awaits the community organization following the mayor's resignation.
Reacting to the news, Quebec Mayor Bruno Marchand said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that he was sad to “lose a friend.”
“Quebec is losing a great mayor,” he added. It is a real honor and happiness to have been by your side.”
The Quebec Association of Municipalities (UMQ) also responded in a press release, praising “his remarkable commitment” in recent years.
“His openness and great empathy make him a remarkable figure in the municipal world, always ready to bring about change and defend the values of equality and social concerns, even in the most difficult contexts,” shares the President of the UMQ, Martin Damphousse, with .
Trained as a journalist, France Bélisle was notably CEO of Tourisme Outaouais from 2015 to 2021, the year in which she was elected mayor of Gatineau after presenting herself as an independent candidate.