www.thesuburban.com<\/a><\/p>\nJacques Foucher followed through on his threat to contest Mayor Marc Demers\u2019s election. On Nov. 29, Foucher petitioned Quebec Superior Court to declare Demers ineligible to run Laval, because he hadn\u2019t resided in the city for a full 12 months prior to the Nov. 3 municipal election. <\/p>\n
The court case was a dramatic reversal for Foucher, who ran against Demers as an independent candidate. Foucher was the first of Demers\u2019 opponents to declare that he would respect the choice expressed by Laval voters. <\/p>\n
Foucher told The Suburban last week that he changed his mind after long reflection, and has decided to embark on what he calls a question of principle. Lawyers Charles Caza and Rino Soucy offer to waive their fees to removed the final obstacle to bringing the case before the court. <\/p>\n
\u201cA culture of illegality has been in place in Laval for 40 years, where people accept illegal actions and look away,\u201d asserted Foucher. \u201cThat has to change.\u201d <\/p>\n
He continued by stating that electing an ineligible mayor won\u2019t improve matters. He stated unequivocally that while he respects voters\u2019 choice, he can\u2019t abide the way he believes that Demers has \u201ctwisted the law\u201d to suit his own ambition. <\/p>\n
Made the law moot<\/b>
\n
<\/b>
\nFoucher also hopes that his initiative will force legislators to amend the current law, which allows ineligible candidates to run for office.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one, be it the municipal and provincial chief returning officers or the Municipal Affairs ministry, can intervene until the election is over.<\/p>\n
In this specific case, the candidate chose to run on the assumption that\u2014even if it was illegal\u2014he would gain enough time to run again, legally, should his eligibility be contested [successfully]. It is unacceptable for Demers to begin a mandate that isn\u2019t legal,\u201d explained Foucher. \u201cThere has to be a way for our [democratic] institutions to prevent these things before to an election and avoid loopholes.\u201d <\/p>\n
When asked why Laval\u2019s voters should have to fork over an estimated $1.3 million to hold a byelection, if the court invalidates Demers\u2019 election Foucher replied that it\u2019s Demers\u2019 fault. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not my doing,\u201d Foucher emphasized. \u201cHe\u2019s the one who rolled the dice and, by doing so forced Laval\u2019s population to pay if he loses his bet. <\/p>\n
He\u2019s telling Laval citizens \u2018I\u2019ll go ahead with my manoeuvre and, if there\u2019s a problem, you\u2019ll pay for it.\u2019 If he hadn\u2019t taken this gamble, there wouldn\u2019t be a problem today.\u201d <\/p>\n
Foucher filed the court case as an individual citizen and not on behalf of any citizen\u2019s group or association. He asserted that by taking up a cause like this one, he represents all those who share his view. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a citizen who is doing what he thinks is right,\u201d he said. \u201cAfter I announced that I would make this challenge, several people declared that approve of the initiative. I spoke with Claire Lebel, Guy Landry, and Robert Bordeleau has already made his position on the subject widely known.\u201d <\/p>\n
Jacques Foucher doesn\u2019t know whether he will run again, should a byelection be called, but has called on Demers to commit not to run, should the court rule against the mayor.<\/p>\n
\u201cLogically, if Mr. Demers was elected illegally, he shouldn\u2019t run in a subsequent byelection. It would fly in the face of democracy, integrity and the spirit of the law.\u201d <\/p>\n
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Accuses mayor of being capricious with the law By Genevi\u00e8ve April www.thesuburban.com Jacques Foucher followed through on his threat to contest Mayor Marc Demers\u2019s election. On Nov. 29, Foucher petitioned Quebec Superior Court to declare Demers ineligible to run Laval, because he hadn\u2019t resided in the city for a full 12 months prior to the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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