Gatineau Mayor France Blisle steps down, citing hostile political climate

The mayor of Gatineau, Que., says she's stepping down effective immediately.

France Blislemade the announcement Thursday morning at a news conference at City Hall, saying she is leaving to preserve her health and integrity.

She said in French that shedoes not want to keep participating in the currentpolitical climate, andthatshe's received death threats.

"I wondered about the price to pay to accomplish this demanding work in a context [that is], let's say it, often hostile," she said.

Blislesaidthere needs to be more reckoning with whymany elected officials in the province have resigned in recent years nearly 800 of them municipally since the 2021 election, according to theUnion des municipalits du Qubec.

After her emotion-filled remarks, Blisleleft without taking questions.

Ottawa Morning14:14Gatineau mayor joins hundreds of Quebec municipal politicians who have resigned since 2021 election

France Blisle cites the hostile political climate including receiving death threats as the motivation behind her decision to resign, effective immediately.

Byelection in the works

Blisle became the city's first female mayor when she was elected in 2021.

Quebec PremierFranois Legaultthanked her for her service in a social media post.

Quebec City MayorBruno Marchandsaid he's losing "a friend, an ally and a mayor who left no one indifferent"

"I admire your passion, your dedication and your courage which you demonstrate once again today by saying out loud what many of us experience in silence," said Montreal MayorValrie Plante on X.

Versant Coun.Daniel Champagne will be themaire supplant,or acting mayor.

The city said in a post on X it's working toward a byelection and will have more details in the coming weeks.

Quebec's next round of municipal elections are scheduled for November 2025.