Candidates request recounts in three tight races after Montreal's municipal election
The race for mayor in Pointe-Claire could come down to a recount after Tim Thomas came out on top after the municipal election but by a tiny margin.
Recounts have also been officially requested in two other tight races following the Nov. 7 election.
Incumbent John Belvedere is asking for the results in Pointe-Claire to be looked at again after losing the election by just 61 votes.
He has now hired a lawyer to challenge the results.
“Everyone needs to know where everybody stands and democracy is the most overriding consideration of everything we’re talking about here,” said lawyer Michael Polak in an interview Thursday.
Both Belvedere and Thomas declined CTV News’ requests for interviews.
Pointe-Claire has seen its share of contentious issues, starting with the development of condos at the site of the former Old Pioneer bar — something that was on the mind of voters at the ballot box.
“I don’t think we want Pointe-Claire to become the downtown of the West Island,” one voter told CTV.
However, she says a recount is the right move.
“I think there should be a recount because with 61 votes and I understand a lot of spoiled votes.”
Belvedere’s lawyer expects an answer from the court soon.
“You have a difference of 61 votes between the 2 top contenders Mr. Thomas and Mr. Belvedere and 55 spoiled ballots,” Polak said.
But even he points out being granted a recount is far from a slam dunk.
“When you are asking a judge he or she has the final word. And you never know what a judge is going to think or say, never assume anything,” he said.
“This is the court of law and the judge has the last word.”
With the contenders hoping the last word comes in the next few days, Pointe-Claire's next council meeting is set for Tuesday.
RECOUNTS REQUESTED IN OUTREMONT, TÉTREAULTVILLE
On Thursday afternoon, a spokesperson for Mayor Valerie Plante's Projet Montreal confirmed to CTV that it will request a judicial recount in two close races won by just a few dozen votes.
Her party's candidate in the Tétreaultville district, Suzie Miron, lost by 42 votes to Ensemble Montreal's Julien Hénault-Ratelle.
The party is also challenging the results in the race for mayor of Outremont.
In that race, Laurent Desbois of Ensemble Montreal won by a margin of 23 votes against Philipe Tomlinson.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.