Quebec Towns Consider Reducing Council Sizes Due to Candidate Shortages

New rule allows municipalities under 2,000 people to cut council members from six to four amid recruitment difficulties.

Small towns in Quebec are debating reducing the number of city councillors from six to four due to challenges in recruiting candidates.
A new regulation permits municipalities with populations under 2,000 to make this change starting from next year's elections.
Persistent vacancies and low salaries are major factors contributing to the difficulty in attracting candidates for municipal positions.
During the last municipal elections in 2021, 120 mayor and councillor positions went unfilled, and nearly 5,000 candidates were elected unopposed.
Some towns argue that maintaining a six-member council is essential for democratic diversity, while others believe reducing council size could save money and ease recruitment.