Pointe-Claire city council asks Quebec for help to solve dysfunction
Like its iconic windmill on Montreal's West Island, a majority of the municipality of Pointe-Claire's elected officials say its city council is broken.
"Things aren't working properly," said city councillor Eric Stork. "Issues aren't being resolved. There's tension. We can't meet."
In a special council meeting on Tuesday night, Pointe-Claire city councillors voted seven to two in favour of asking Quebec's Ministry of Municipal Affairs for help.
"Let them come in, look at us, determine what our problems are, and give us a path moving forward," said Stork.
"The only means left is to have the government, the provincial government, come in and see for themselves," said city councillor Brent Cowan.
Another city councillor, Bruno Tremblay, and Pointe-Claire Mayor Tim Thomas voted against the motion.
Thomas believes the 2025 municipal election will be the ultimate resolution.
"In the meantime, I think this will bring some disrepute to Pointe-Claire, which has been a proud political actor on the provincial and municipal stage," said Thomas.
The motion asks Quebec to identify the nature of the problems and propose an action plan to improve the general functioning of the city.
In cases like this, experts say the province is known to intervene quickly, and councillors say it could be as simple as a few modifications or a trusteeship.
"I'm worried that we lose control or actual control of the city is taken over by higher level of government," said Thomas. "That concerns me because this city doesn't deserve it."
Some residents at Tuesday's meeting argue something needs to be done about the council's decorum.
One told CTV News that there has been a lot of dysfunction and disrespect on council.
City councillors say they expect Pointe-Claire to send a letter with demands to the ministry soon.
The ministry told CTV News in an email that it is looking into the case.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump returns to his campaign facing a warning of jail time if he violates a trial gag order
Donald Trump on Wednesday will use a one-day break from his hush money trial to rally voters in the battleground states of Wisconsin and Michigan, a day after he was held in contempt of court and threatened with jail time for violating a gag order.
Ontario woman surprised after 20-year-old fines suddenly tank credit score
An Ontario woman says that she was shocked when fines from 20 years ago suddenly tanked her credit score last week, but the situation may not be as unusual as it seems, according to at least one debt expert.
Anger can harm your blood vessel function, study shows
Stress and anger can have a negative impact on cardiovascular health, studies have shown. New research points to just how the mechanism may work.
Freeland leaves capital gains tax change out of coming budget implementation bill, here's why
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Swarm of bees delays Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles game in Arizona. An 'MVP' beekeeper came to the rescue
Major League Baseball fans had an unexpected buzz on Tuesday after a swarm of bees delayed the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers game for around two hours.
Newfoundland fisherman says police broke his leg during protest that delayed budget
Richard Martin is spending this year's fishing season on land after he says a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer broke his left leg in three places during a protest last month that shut down the provincial legislature.
A 98-year-old in Ukraine walked miles to safety from Russians, with slippers and a cane
A 98-year-old woman in Ukraine who escaped Russian-occupied territory by walking almost 10 kilometres (six miles) alone, wearing a pair of slippers and supported by a cane has been reunited with her family days after they were separated while fleeing to safety.
It's opening day for the $34B Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion
Wednesday marks the official start date of the long-awaited $34-billion Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion project.
Will an 'out of sight, out of mind' cellphone policy make a difference in Ontario schools?
Ontario’s cellphone ban in schools has been met with mixed reaction, with some teachers concerned about constant policing of kids and experts applauding the change as necessary for student learning.