We all know the headlines are dominated by Ottawa and Quebec City. But the truth is the most important decisions in our daily lives are made right here at the municipal level. Local government controls our streets, our sidewalks, our parks, our zoning, our services, and our taxes. These decisions affect where we live, how we live, and how our communities grow. Yet municipal elections remain the most ignored, and the cost of that indifference is staggering.
The next municipal elections in Quebec are coming. The deadline for nominations is October 3. That is the line in the sand. After that date, the ballot is locked, and if new voices have not stepped forward, we are left with the same cast of characters. Too often those characters walk right back into office without a fight. They are acclaimed.
That word should make every voter angry. Acclamation means a candidate is elected because nobody else put their name forward. It means there was no debate, no accountability, no choice. It is a coronation, not an election. And it has become a far too common feature of local politics in our region. When mayors and councillors are acclaimed, it sends a message that public office is private property. That is the death of democracy.
This is not a problem isolated to one suburb. Look at Hampstead, where for years incumbents have held their seats unchallenged. Look at Côte des Neiges, where political networks tied to the Liberal Party and its machine have kept the same figures entrenched. In Côte Saint Luc, too, the same pattern repeats itself, with councillors and mayors carrying on for decades, often without ever having to defend their record in a real contest. The problem is not one town or one borough. The problem is the culture.
And that culture thrives on apathy. Incumbents count on people staying home. They count on voters not paying attention. They count on potential challengers convincing themselves they are not qualified to run. That silence is their biggest advantage. The only way to break it is for ordinary citizens to step up. Anyone can run. Anyone should run. You do not need insider experience or a long political résumé. What you need is commitment, honesty, and the courage to stand before your neighbours and say you are ready to serve.
No council seat should ever be uncontested. No mayoralty should ever be handed out by default. Every candidate, no matter how long they have been in office, should have to answer to the people. They should have to defend their record. They should have to earn their support. Democracy demands competition, and when there is no competition, there is no democracy.
We have raised this issue before in the Montreal Jewish News, and it remains as urgent as ever. If citizens in Hampstead, Côte des Neiges, Côte Saint Luc, and across Montreal are serious about accountability, they cannot leave their future in the hands of a handful of insiders. They must act. They must run. They must vote. They must make sure that no office is filled by acclamation again.
The deadline is October 3. Mark it. Remember it. Talk to your friends and neighbours. Challenge the complacency that has set in. This is not just about politics. It is about the health of our communities, the safety of our streets, and the values we want to live by. Democracy is not handed down. It is built, defended, and renewed by the people who care enough to stand up. That means you.
