Starting with a dispute over an alcohol expense by a library volunteer in Ste-Pétronille, Que., the situation has now escalated into a political crisis that has rocked the small village east of Quebec City and unsettled its governing body.
The recent resignations of three members of the Ste-Pétronille town council mark the latest development in the ongoing conflict between residents and elected officials, prompting provincial authorities to launch an investigation and leading the municipality to send legal notices to a significant portion of its population.
Mayor Jean Côté announced the departures of councillors Claude Archambault, Alain Laroche, and Lyne Gosselin at a town council meeting on Apr. 2 without specifying the reasons for their resignations. The news was met with cheers from the audience at Ste-Pétronille town hall.
With only four council members remaining after the resignations, Mr. Côté acknowledged the challenges that come with being a municipal elected official and praised his former colleagues for their service.
At the council meeting on Apr. 2, Mr. Côté outlined the series of events that have led to tensions in the town, beginning with the library volunteer’s request for alcohol reimbursement last summer.
Following the library incident, residents started scrutinizing the town’s manager, Nathalie Paquet, and her previous job in Val-des-Lacs. A petition was launched in December calling for an investigation into her hiring, which resulted in legal notices being sent to nearly 100 individuals in Ste-Pétronille.
Amid public outcry, the Municipal Affairs Department was called in to examine Ms. Paquet’s hiring, although the town maintained its confidence in the hiring process. Subsequent petitions and demands from residents further intensified the situation.
Both Mayor Côté and resident François Martin expressed concerns about the state of affairs in the village, with Minister Andrée Laforest also voicing her worries over the councillors’ resignations.
In an interview, Mr. Côté highlighted the challenges faced by Quebec municipal officials, noting a significant number of resignations since the last municipal election in 2021. An ongoing investigation by Quebec’s municipal commission is looking into the hiring of Ms. Paquet.
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