Longueuil mayor slashes her own annual salary, saying it's 'common sense'
Longueuil's new mayor, Catherine Fournier, has just given herself a pay cut, saying she wanted to act quickly on her campaign promise.
"As I mentioned during the election campaign, the salary of the mayor of Longueuil has been the subject of much discussion in recent years," she said. "I share the opinion of the population that it is inconceivable that this salary is higher than that of the premier of Quebec and that of the mayor of Montreal."
Longueuil city council tabled the motion for a bylaw in regards to the remuneration of elected officials on Tuesday night.
Fournier's paycheque will be reduced by $65,000, reaching a ceiling of $185,000 annually.
"It is a matter of common sense," she said. "I believe this is a first step in restoring and increasing the confidence of citizens in their municipal democratic institutions."
Fournier notes the money will be redistributed into the city's budget, pointing out the province as a whole could benefit from a conversation about salary for elected officials.
"I believe that we must be careful not to devalue elected offices in the wake of this decision," she said. "Many mayors of small municipalities earn a purely symbolic salary, yet they do considerable work on a daily basis and are accountable to the public."
The mayor of Longueuil was previously the highest-paid elected official in Quebec, with a salary of close to $250,000 per year.
Fournier is the third female mayor in the City of Longueuil's history.
She was previously a member of the National Assembly, representing the electoral district of Marie-Victorin.
She was originally a member of the Parti Québécois (PQ), but chose to later sit as an independent, saying the party had lost its way ideologically.
Fournier, who was the youngest member of the National Assembly, still considers herself a committed sovereigntist.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW She developed a passion for genealogy while finding her roots. Now she helps others find their own
Lauren Robilliard always knew she was adopted. As the B.C. native grew older, she developed a passion for genealogy, tracing her roots and paving the way for a career to help others find their own.
Papua New Guinea says landslide buried more than 2,000 people
A Papua New Guinea government official has told the United Nations more than 2,000 people were believed to have been buried alive by Friday's landslide and has formally asked for international help.
NEW A cross-country look at beer and wine in convenience stores
By Labour Day weekend, Ontarians of legal drinking age could snag a six-pack at their local convenience store on the way to the cottage. But what are alcohol sales like across the country? Here's what we know.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
Are you a loud snorer? You could have sleep apnea
You'll have a lot more energy throughout the day if you get a good night's sleep, but not everyone does due to a medical condition.
'We were vetted': Sex-ed organization 'disappointed' over Higgs' comments
The head of a Quebec-based sexual and reproductive health organization says she's disappointed New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has deemed presentations she did in the province last week inappropriate.
Richard M. Sherman, who wrote songs for 'Mary Poppins' and 'It's a Small World,' dies at 95
Richard M. Sherman, who helped write the songs for 'Mary Poppins,' 'The Jungle Book' and 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' — as well as the most-played tune on Earth, 'It's a Small World (After All)' — died at 95.
Cyclone floods coastal villages, blows away thatched roofs and cuts power in Bangladesh and India
A cyclone flooded coastal villages, blew away thatched roofs and left hundreds of thousands of people without power Monday in southern Bangladesh and eastern India. At least seven deaths were reported.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.