Driving through his small Quebec town of 800 people on Saturday morning, mayor Alain Talbot had just reached for his phone to film an angry resident approaching his car when a brick hit his windshield.
It smashed the glass, falling down on the top of the dashboard and left the mayor of Saint-Paul-de-Montminy — located about 100 kilometres east of Quebec City — in shock.
“It happened so fast,” said Talbot, who was first elected in 2017.
“I never thought it would happen like that.”
Quebec’s Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP) confirmed an arrest warrant was issued Monday for Nicolas David for mischief and assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm.
The mayor of Saint-Paul-de-Montminy, Que., says he never thought he’d be physically attacked when he got into politics. He and others are warning that the increased violence against elected officials could deter people from seeking office.
Talbot says the man who attacked him has a history with the municipality dating back seven years.
While Talbot didn’t sustain any injuries, he says there can’t be any space for violence against elected officials.
“We try to do our best, we understand the verbal attacks.… But it is necessary nevertheless to remain respectful,” said Talbot.
If the uptick in harassment against elected officials continues, he says “it’s going to be hard to get people in these seats.”
‘We don’t seek out positions to be treated like this’
Talbot says he does not have plans to step down.
While this isn’t the first time he has faced harassment, he says this particular incident has already started to affect some residents who are now “afraid to walk on the sidewalk.”
“I wanted to help the citizens and then help the municipality,” said Talbot. “We don’t seek out positions to be treated like this.”
The attack comes as a growing number of municipal officials across the province are quitting politics.
In May, Évelyne Beaudin said she will not seek a second term as the mayor of Sherbrooke, partly due to “division, dissatisfaction, aggression.”
Last November, one of Quebec’s youngest mayors, Isabelle Lessard of Chapais, Que., resigned mid-mandate because of burnout.
And Gatineau Mayor France Bélisle stepped down in February, citing a hostile political climate.
That same month, Quebec announced a helpline for politicians. Almost 10 per cent of municipal elected officials had quit since the 2021 municipal elections.
‘Worrying and totally unacceptable’
The regional municipal county of Montmagny has strongly denounced the act of violence.
Prefect Frédéric Jean says he was shocked by the events. He deplores the fact that elected officials are increasingly the targets of verbal and physical violence.
“We need to intervene proactively to prevent violence from breaking out,” said Jean.
“Often, our elected officials are volunteers in these small municipalities. When there are altercations like this, which can put an elected official’s life in danger [who may only make] a few dollars a month, I think we have to denounce it loud and clear.”
Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs Andrée Laforest says the attack is “worrying and totally unacceptable.”
“Mr. Talbot had the right reflex: to lodge a complaint with the police immediately,” said Laforest.
“I have been following the situation closely and have been in contact with the mayor to offer him our full support.”
Quebec provincial police spokesperson Nicolas Scholtus confirmed an altercation occurred on Saturday morning around 8:30 a.m.
According to preliminary information, he says a man in his 40s threw an object at another man.
He says there were no injuries during the incident and an investigation is underway.