In a judgment pronounced on August 14 by the Commission municipale du Québec (CMQ) and submitted to the municipal council of the Municipality of Pointe-des-Cascades on Tuesday, September 3, Judge Thierry Usclat imposed the suspension of District 3 Councillor Benoit Durand.

The events of which Mr. Durand is accused took place on or around June 1, 2024, when the councillor allegedly made disrespectful comments to the project manager in charge of tree planting. At least, that's what the Tribunal's decision tells us.

According to the document, Mr. Durand called out to the project manager while the project manager was busy planting trees on the lot in front of the councillor's condo. Believing that the plans approved at the council meeting did not designate the site for tree planting, Benoit Durand angrily went to the site to confirm the matter with the project manager. 

It was during this exchange, described as emotional, that Councillor Durand, addressing the project manager, said “coudonc, I feel like I've been talking to a 2x4 for a while”;

Following this exchange, Councillor Durand telephoned the General Manager to express his dissatisfaction with the tree planting and its location;

During this exchange, once again described as emotional, Councillor Durand asserted that he had been “screwed” since the plans, in his opinion, had not been respected;

Also, referring to his exchange with the tree-planting project manager, he asserts that “if he had had a shovel, he would have hit him in the face with it (...)”; we read in the judgment.

Following the joint recommendation of the Commission's Direction des enquêtes et des poursuites en intégrité municipale and Councillor Benoit Durand, the CMQ therefore imposes on the Councillor a total suspension of 20 days, starting September 4, from his duties as a municipal councillor, as well as from his duties as a member of any committee or organization when he sits on it as a member of the municipal council. 

This sanction is without remuneration, allowance or any other sum he may receive from the Municipality or any other body on which he may sit as a representative of the Municipality.

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