Sherbrooke Mayor Évelyne Beaudin responded Thursday afternoon to the resignation of Gatineau Mayor France Bélisle, describing the situation in local politics as “a crisis of local democracy.”
• Also read: Resignation of France Bélisle: These other mayors who have resigned from office
• Also read: Climate of intimidation: Gatineau Mayor France Bélisle resigns
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The politician said from the start that she was “not that surprised” when she heard the news of her colleague’s departure.
“France is a person of convictions, who has strong values, and I think her speech really reflects the person she is,” says the guest in an interview on LCN.
“We are losing someone who was extremely important at the local level and delivered messages to the government,” she says. Since she falls in battle there, I tell myself the rest will be really difficult.”
The mayor of Sherbrooke claims she “understands her colleague from Gatineau.”
Having returned from sick leave herself, Ms Beaudin admits that the decision to leave her position has already “crossed her mind”.
However, she hopes that this resignation will lead to “a collective and serious consciousness.”
To date, almost 10% of all elected municipal officials have left office in Quebec. In many cases, many reported experiencing intimidation or working in a toxic climate.
Sherbrooke's mayor believes the reasons for these numerous resignations go beyond evil acts that can be shared on social media.
“The real problem is the structure, the resources that are available to us to be able to carry out our role,” she says. I personally feel like I arrived at the helm of the city of Sherbrooke with the ambition to solve the housing crisis and prevent the climate crisis, but then I come and realize I don't have the money, I don't have the money. “I don’t have the tools to govern and change things.”
“I believe there is a crisis in local democracy,” she adds. We see it on the elected officials side and we also see it on the media side. We have a really big reform coming in Quebec.”
In the case of the resignation of France Bélisle and others listed in Quebec, Ms. Beaudin believes “this is just the tip of the iceberg” and is imploring the provincial government to address the issue before the situation worsens.
***Watch the full interview with Évelyne Beaudin in the main video***