Quebec hopes to turn page with municipal elections after era of scandal

MONTREAL – Quebec voters are hoping to turn the page on an era of scandal-ridden leadership as they cast their ballots in municipal elections across the province.

Today’s elections come as the province’s Charbonneau Commission continues to hear testimony detailing a system of kickbacks and illegal party financing at the municipal level.

The longtime mayors of Montreal and the suburb of Laval were forced to step down a year ago amid corruption allegations.

Months later, their interim replacements resigned in scandal as well.

The election campaign in Montreal centred around issues of ethics and transparency but no clear leader emerged on those issues.

The presumed frontrunner to become Montreal’s next mayor is former Liberal MP Denis Coderre, but he could face a challenge from upstart candidate Melanie Joly, a public relations professional.