A political crisis has erupted in Ste-Pétronille, Quebec, following a disagreement over an alcohol expense by a library volunteer that has escalated into a heated conflict between residents and elected officials. The resignations of three town council members this week have added to the turmoil, causing tension within the small village east of Quebec City. Mayor Jean Côté announced the departures of councillors Claude Archambault, Alain Laroche, and Lyne Gosselin at a town council meeting, prompting cheers from the audience. This leaves just four remaining council members in Ste-Pétronille.
The conflict in Ste-Pétronille began last summer when a library volunteer’s request for reimbursement for alcohol purchased at an event was refused by the town council. This incident led to reprisals from former volunteers, who disagreed with the council’s decision. Subsequently, residents began to scrutinize the town’s manager, Nathalie Paquet, questioning her hiring process and raising concerns about her previous job in another municipality. A petition was launched to investigate Paquet’s hiring, and legal letters were sent to residents who were accused of infringing on her private life and reputation.
In response to the public outcry, the municipality called on Quebec’s Municipal Affairs Department to examine Paquet’s hiring process, although Mayor Côté defended her integrity. However, tensions continued to rise in Ste-Pétronille, leading to a second petition in March that called on elected officials to adopt an appropriate attitude towards citizens, allow freedom of exchange in council meetings, and ensure proper use of public funds. This petition garnered 512 signatures and was presented to the town council for consideration.
The situation in Ste-Pétronille has been described as worrying by both residents and officials, with Municipal Affairs Minister Andrée Laforest expressing concern over the resignation of three councillors. She emphasized the importance of a healthy climate for elected officials to carry out their mandate and for municipalities to listen to the concerns of their citizens. Mayor Côté also highlighted the challenging work conditions facing municipal officials in Quebec, with over 700 local politicians resigning since the last municipal election in 2021.
The resignation of the three Ste-Pétronille councillors is part of a larger trend of municipal officials leaving their posts in Quebec, with an investigation by the province’s municipal commission ongoing into the hiring of Nathalie Paquet. The political crisis in the small village continues to unfold, with tensions between residents and elected officials showing no signs of abating. The future governance of Ste-Pétronille remains uncertain as the community grapples with the fallout from the conflict that began over an alcohol expense but has grown into a complex and troubling situation.
