CDN-NDG Mayor Sue Montgomery granted a stay of proceedings on suspension ruling
Embattled Côte-Des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-De-Grâce (CDN-NDG) borough mayor Sue Montgomery was granted a stay of proceedings Tuesday by Superior Court Justice Mark Phillips and will remain in office for the foreseeable future.
"In the absence of a stay, Ms. Montgomery will clearly suffer serious personal and electoral disadvantage," Phillips wrote in the ruling.
The Quebec Municipal Commission had suspended the mayor for the remainder of her term after she was found guilty in June of 11 ethics violations.
These include failing to show respect and courtesy to staffers, as well as trying to suspend borough director Stéphane Plante.
The commission handed out the 120-day suspension, without pay, late Monday afternoon.
Montgomery's lawyer, Éric Oliver, told CTV News that his client was "disappointed," but "not surprised" about the decision, adding the mayor believes the commission "is not impartial in this matter."
"The last example of this abuse is that we received the decision at 12:30 p.m. today and the sanction is effective at midnight plus one minute tonight," he said. "So, she has less than 24 hours to contest the decision when other elected officials have days, and in some cases, weeks, before their sanctions become effective."
Montgomery has long challenged her guilty verdict, claiming to be under attack for trying to dismiss her director following his longstanding clash with cabinet chief Annalisa Harris.
The conflict took such proportions that Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante eventually kicked her out of her party, Projet Montréal.
The commission has argued Montgomery never admitted to any wrongdoing, including causing hardship to her fellow councillors and staffers.
In addition, it found that not only has the mayor refused to change her attitude, but she is likely to reoffend.
Montgomery's political opponent, Lionel Perez, mayoral candidate for CDN-NDG and member of Ensemble Montreal, issued a statement following the stay of proceedings saying he respected the court's decision.
"However, I am concerned for the citizens of the borough, who will continue to pay the price of its internal war with Projet Montreal and the instability that has been going on for over two years," he said. "Residents can count on me to put them first and foremost, and to serve and represent them as they deserve."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Her SUV was stolen in Montreal. A Good Samaritan on Facebook helped her get it back
Just as she had feared, a restaurant owner from eastern Quebec who visited Montreal had her SUV stolen, but says it was all thanks to the kindness of strangers on the internet — not the police — that she got it back.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.