Montreal politicians are quitting. They say social media is to blame
CBC
When Montrealers cast their votes in November's municipal election, one name may be missing from the ballot: the incumbent's.
In the year leading up to the election, multiple politicians have said they're giving up their seats, citing toxic social media comments and harassment as the reason.
Outgoing Town of Mount Royal mayor Philippe Roy is among those who chose to leave. In explaining his decision earlier this year, Roy said that, over time, the tone on social media has taken a turn for the worse — and despite being repeatedly re-elected without opposition, it was no longer worth it to stay in politics.
"People who don't agree? That's great. That's democracy. And that's the municipal game," he told CBC's Daybreak in March.
"But when people decide to use social media to attack you personally or, in my case, sometimes attacking my family — that's when, one morning you wake up and you say, 'whoa, that's too much. And enough is enough.'"
Verdun borough mayor Jean-François Parenteau said the same, citing social media as one of the reasons he decided not to run again. In a Facebook post, he said comments online led him to "realize that I no longer have the energy or motivation" to remain in politics.
Cathy Wong, city councillor for Peter-McGill in Ville Marie and the city's executive committee member in charge of fighting racism and discrimination, also decided not to run for re-election in November.
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