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 delivers rambling response to his hush money conviction
A day after a New York jury delivered a historic guilty verdict in Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee held a press conference Friday where he spoke publicly about the conviction and his White House bid.
Mediterranean diet helps women live much longer, a large new study finds
Women who closely followed a Mediterranean diet lived much longer than those who did not, according to a new study that followed more than 25,000 women for 25 years.
How did Ontario's bankrupt 'Crypto King' travel the world on Scene+ points?
Newly released documents suggest Ontario’s so-called ‘Crypto King’ paid for months of world travels with $13,000 worth of Scene+ points while bankrupt – but how?
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Solutions coming for piled-up bodies outside Newfoundland hospital
Health officials in Newfoundland and Labrador say they are only weeks away from a solution to move unclaimed human remains out of roadside freezers and into a nearby hospital.
Jurors weigh death penalty after finding Chad Daybell guilty of killing his first wife and second wife's 2 children
A day after delivering a guilty verdict in Chad Daybell’s murder trial, an Idaho jury will reconvene Friday to weigh whether he will face the death penalty.
Actor Nick Pasqual charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing estranged girlfriend
An actor who has appeared in film and TV projects like 'Rebel Moon' and 'How I Met Your Mother' has been arrested and charged with stabbing his estranged girlfriend multiple times.
'Unprecedented': Human smuggling from B.C. to U.S. soars, using train, Uber and foot
American prosecutors and law enforcement officers say they're dealing with a huge increase in human smuggling from British Columbia.
The northern lights are returning to night skies across Canada this Friday
If you missed the brilliant displays of the aurora borealis over North America on May 10, you may have another chance to see them on Friday night.