New Quebec municipalities union president takes aim at premier

UMQ President Guillaume Tremblay was quick to criticize Francois Legault's government for not helping municipalities with the housing and other crises. (CTV News)

Shortly after being elected, Quebec Union of Municipalities (UMQ) President Guillaume Tremblay was quick to criticize Premier François Legault.

In a speech to members and the premier, he deplored the lack of resources available to municipalities.

“There is a homelessness crisis that is dragging on because Quebec’s response is not equal to the needs. There is a housing problem that is dragging on because of the lack of funding for municipal infrastructure,” he said on Thursday morning at the opening of the UMQ conference in Quebec City.

The crowd applauded his comments.

Tremblay also pointed out that the “deterioration in public finances” and the tariff war with the United States has changed the situation and complicated the lives of municipalities.

“In Sainte-Marie, the tariffs led to the loss of a $30 million contract,” he said.

Despite this, Tremblay insisted that he is not trying to be “confrontational.”

“I’m looking for the best possible collaboration,” he said.

Tremblay, who is the mayor of Mascouche, was elected president of the organization on Wednesday, succeeding Varennes Mayor Martin Damphousse.

The UMQ conference also saw the launch of a project on “the future of municipal finances and taxation,” to be led by former finance ministers Monique Jérôme-Forget and Nicolas Marceau.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 15, 2025.