Mayor Gerald Tremblay has cancelled several public appearances he was supposed to make this week.
On Wednesday afternoon Tremblay was supposed to announce the creation of a new Public Art Consultation group for Montreal, and this Friday he was scheduled to give a breakfast speech to the Chamber of Commerce to present his economic plan for the coming year.
Wednesday morning the mayor cancelled both events without any explanation.
There has been much speculation in the media and from pundits that the mayor is expected to resign soon.
Last week one newspaper reported that Tremblay was going to use the Chamber of Commerce breakfast as an opportunity to announce his future retirement from politics, an idea which was denounced by Tremblay that same day when he announced he was planning to fulfill his term as mayor.
Since then the mayor has been accused, at the Charbonneau Commission, of being fully aware of illegal financing and byelection campaign spending as far back as 2004.
In the multiple corruption scandals that have rocked his administration for the past several years, Tremblay has always said he was ignorant of any misdeeds by his fellow politicians or bureaucrats.
At issue, should the mayor resign, is the specific date.
With the next municipal elections in the province scheduled to take place on Nov. 3, 2013, a byelection would be necessary if any mayor steps down more than one year before that date.
Should a mayor resign after Nov. 3, 2012, other councillors in that city can choose whether to hold a byelection, or to fill the post by selecting one of their own.
According to Art. 336 of the Municipal Election Law, the remaining elected councillors would vote in a secret ballot.
