Those elected to municipal office in 2021 are now targeting the regional deputy seat | Quebec 2022 elections

Only the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) is behind a third of these applications from the municipal sector. The best example is Jonathan Lapierre, Mayor of the Magdalen Islands. Regional ambitions formalized Just three weeks ago.

Mr. LaPierre has chosen to temporarily step down from his duties and will no longer draw his salary as mayor. However, I cannot campaign and be mayor at the same time.He explained in writing, suggesting that an acting mayor would take over during the campaign.

Two candidates from the Parti Québécois (PQ) chose a similar solution. They are Véronique Venne, mayor of Sainte-Marie-Salome and candidate in Joliet, followed by Jacqueline Rouleau, mayor of Ceneterre Parish and candidate for ABTB-Est.

However, not everyone made the same choice as them. Some continue their municipal activities and still receive their salary.

This is the case of Isabelle Poulet, CAQ candidate in the riding of Laporte and current municipal councilor in Sainte-Julie.

His choice was completely legal and approved by the municipality. In addition, the riding she is campaigning for does not contain the territory of Sainte-Julie, which, according to the CAQ, eliminates the risk of conflicts of interest.

” She met with the mayor and the city’s director general to ensure that the situation was in line with ethical codes. There are no problems in the current situation. »

Flexible rules

If such diametrically opposed conditions can coexist, the rules in this area are quite simple.

Under the law, nothing prevents an elected municipal official from continuing his duties while campaigning. The candidate must do so on an individual basis, therefore outside of their municipal duties.Just explains Elections Quebec.

” He cannot use municipal equipment or services for his campaign, which is considered a political contribution made by the municipality. »

In Quebec Solidaire, the candidate from the Côte-du-Sud, Guillaume Dufour, found himself on this fine line because he was a municipal councilor in La Pocatière, a role he chose to keep throughout his election campaign.

He makes sure that the two roles do not mix. As a city councilor he advertises outside during office hoursRepresents Gabriel Arguin, representative of Quebec Solidaire.

Legally, elected municipal officials can also continue to receive their salary. It all depends on the method of remuneration, whether annual, monthly, weekly or based on attendance, explains the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAMH).

In the event that the municipality determines the remuneration based on the presence of an elected official, if he is unable to attend meetings during the campaign, he shall receive a lower remuneration.Explains MAMH.

” In the case of annual salary, an elected official holding office during the election campaign shall receive his regular salary. »

Some donate their salary

Many elected officials still receive their salary, yet choose to donate it to an organization of their choice. It concerns Yves Montigny, mayor of Baie-Comeau, who is seeking to be elected to the CAQ in the riding of René-Lévesque.

Ditto for Lennoxville municipal councilor Claude Charron and Montreal municipal councilor Véronique Tremblay, who are seeking votes in the Saint-François riding for the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ). Aspired to be elected in Verdun For QAC.

Ms. Tremblay’s situation is complicated, but she is campaigning in an area where she is an elected municipal official. A request for an interview at his municipal office went unanswered.

” It does not take a position on certain ongoing files affecting relations with the government. She seeks an opinion from the ethics commissioner to do things upstream and she applies it. »

In the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ), the candidate in Nicolet-Béconcourt is also in a particular situation. Mario Lyonnais is the Mayor of Saint-Francois and Prefect of the Beaconcourt MRC.

Although he chose to temporarily suspend his activities as mayor and prefect during the election campaign, he continued to receive both of his salaries.

In a telephone interview, Mr. Lyonnais explained that his salaries were very low, only a few thousand dollars a year.

However, its operations were suspended due to two reasons. On the one hand, he had a farm to tend to, which was very demanding with his municipal duties and election campaigning. On the other hand, he stressed, it was a question of respect for the local population.

” I made a personal choice [en me présentant pour le PCQ]. People, when they elected me mayor, they didn’t elect me as a Conservative candidate. »

Despite all the scenarios and various pitfalls that every candidate has to avoid during the election campaign, the same rule applies to all on the day after the election.

Accumulation of duties by an elected official at the provincial level and at the municipal level is prohibited. If she is elected [le 3 octobre]The person has to resign His municipal seat dictates Quebec elections.