Last Wednesday (November 6), the Municipality of Fort-Coulonge finalized their decision to reduce the number of municipal councillors during the next election cycle from six to four. The change stems from Quebec’s newly passed Bill 57, which allows municipalities with less than 2,000 residents to reduce their council size.
In the last election in 2021, nearly 60% of Pontiac’s municipal officials (73) ran unopposed, with the councils of Chichester, Campbell’s Bay and Waltham elected entirely by acclamation.
Despite being one of the larger municipalities population-wise in the Pontiac with 1,300 residents, Fort-Coulonge is currently the only municipality to drop to four councillors and a mayor this cycle. Mayor Christine Francoeur explained that since four of Fort-Coulonge’s current seats were elected by acclamation, less seats would hopefully result in more competitive races.
