McCann stands with Pontiac Director General Ben Kuhn
on November 13 last year after signing the paperwork to become a councillor after winning a bi-election.
Allyson Beauregard
McCann stands with Pontiac Director General Ben Kuhn
on November 13 last year after signing the paperwork to become a councillor after winning a bi-election.
Allyson Beauregard
MUNICIPALITY OF PONTIAC – Following May 11th’s court decision that removed former Ward 2 councillor Eddie McCann from council and disqualified him from running in any election for four years, effective from January 1, 2015, the case between McCann and the municipality will be heard again, October 25, at the Quebec Court of Appeal.
The date for the appeal was set during a court date on July 27 where the issue of whether McCann could sit as councillor during the interim was also discussed. According to McCann, an answer was not given regarding his return to council and the decision was postponed until the trial in October. “The judge didn’t refuse my return to council. He felt that the next trial is being offered soon enough that a decision could be made then,” he explained, noting that although he would prefer to be reinstated in the interim, he can see the reasoning for the delayed decision. “They don’t want people jumping in and out of seats,” he added.
However, the municipality claims the judge firmly ruled that McCann could not return to council rather than setting the matter aside until a later date. Until a judgement has been made regarding the appeal, a by-election cannot be held and Ward 2 is left without a representative.
Both parties agree the court is on a fast-track in regards to this file due to
the upcoming municipal election in 2017. If the judge rules in McCann’s favour in October, he will be permitted to complete his mandate and run in future elections, otherwise, the May 11
decision will stand.
