Here is my response, posted on Facebook on October 27.
Here is an excerpt: “Misinformation and mistrust has found its way to our little village and we are in danger of falling victim to rumour and innuendo that has the potential to damage our tiny democracy.
I am a fact checker. I base all my opinions on the facts I work to uncover and double check my sources and I will always admit if I am wrong or have been misinformed.
A local blog has been posting a lot of opinions and stories on their website that appear to be for the citizens of North Hatley. The author of the vast majority of the stories is one individual. This would not cause me concern if each story brought forward all the facts.“
My posts are based on verifiable facts (links, screenshots, recordings).
Each fact is sourced, with references available to the public.
Everyone is free to interpret these facts as they see fit.
Rest assured: in everything I write, I start from the premise that our elected officials and employees are respectable people—parents, colleagues, neighbors.
These facts concern the work of the municipal administration in the context of their professional duties. Here are a few of them:
- 22-09-2025 – A citizen (Mr. Reed) receives a formal notice from a bailiff in connection with questions about public finances.
https://northhatley.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/mise-en-demeure-antoine-reed-municipalite-north-hatley.pdf - 01-10-2025 – A municipal newsletter reinforces the validity of this same formal notice to Mr. Reed.
https://mailchi.mp/62b98da9996d/suivi-prsentation-financire-financial-presentation-follow-up?e=b5cd2dccf2 - 10/01/2025 – A municipal newsletter aims to discredit me and attributes intentions to me.
- However, none of these people have spoken to me or met me in four years.
https://mailchi.mp/3b3a70588827/avis-concernant-northhatleyinfo-advisory-about-northhatleyinfo?e=b - June 2024 – An exchange at City Hall contains, in my opinion, comments that are damaging to my reputation and suggest administrative bias in decision-making.
https://northhatley.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/propos-diffamatoires-biais-administratif_anonymized_v1.wav - 06-10-2025 – Delay in updating minutes since March 2025.
- 30-09-2025 – The election chair and municipal director general confirms that I can register on the electoral roll, providing me with instructions after checking with Élection Québec.
https://northhatley.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/president-election-anonymized-lite.mp3 - 23-10-2025 – My name was removed from the electoral roll two hours before the end of the revision period, without a detailed response to my follow-up. Still no response today.
What I expect from elected officials and the municipal administration
1. Communications guidelines
Strict neutrality; no mention of citizens by name in newsletters/communications; no partisanship.
2. Procedural transparency
Publication of minutes and recordings within two business days; return to virtual meetings to encourage participation.
3. Access to information
Compliance with legal deadlines; minimization of costs for citizens and the municipality.
4. Citizen participation
Dedicated question periods for major documents (master plan, finances); online publication of questions/answers with public monitoring of deadlines and quality.
5. Clear line between elected officials and administration
Formalized roles and responsibilities to avoid any interference or appearance of conflict of interest.
Reason for applying for the position of advisor
I ran for council to move from criticism to action. I would have done so voluntarily, offering my time for the common good, with integrity and neutrality. My goal is not to fuel conflict, but to create a climate of transparency and impartiality that serves everyone. I was assisted throughout the process by a lawyer specializing in municipal law. A second law firm also provided me with legal advice confirming the legality of my candidacy. That said, let us now turn to the future of North Hatley.
Philippe Marchesseault
Husband, father, your neighbor, and also the sole owner of 135 Main Street and a plot of land across the street, in addition to a commercial lease at 80 Main Street.
