This article is published in good faith, in the public interest, and is based on verifiable facts. Its sole purpose is to defend the fundamental right to impartial and fair administrative treatment for all citizens.
We hesitated for a long time before making the following facts public. We first tried to obtain answers privately, in keeping with administrative and institutional processes. Unfortunately, no satisfactory response was provided. In the interest of civic transparency, we now consider it essential to bring the information below to the public’s attention.
Context
In June 2024, we took part in a formal meeting at the North Hatley town hall with two members of the municipal administration.
We, Myriam Bilodeau and Gabriel B. Théberge, were present as shareholders and employees of Navigo to discuss an administrative matter related to this project. It is important to clarify that Philippe Marchesseault was not present at this meeting.
Yet his name, personal reputation, and integrity were discussed in his absence by a member of the municipal administration, in an inappropriate manner and without any connection to the regulatory analysis of the file we were presenting.
The following statements come from an authentic and verifiable audio recording of that meeting.
Exact quotation – remarks by the member of the municipal administration
On s’en était parlé aussi au niveau de Monsieur Marchesseault, Philippe c’est un peu le nom, peut-être pas le nom associé, car on ne peut pas associer ou rattacher des noms à des projets ou des maisons toujours, en tout cas administrativement, mais, il y a eu certaines situations en plus avec des élus qui partageaient un terrain qui s’en allait, il y avait un litige civil assez intense à ce niveau-là, faque il est, pas qu’il n’est pas vu d’un bon œil mais il est vu comme une personne assez cavalière qui entre dans le tas, je pense que c’est ce qui a fait un frein au départ, Navigo Marchesseault.
English translation
We had also talked about Mr. Marchesseault. Philippe is kind of the name—maybe not the name formally associated, because we can’t always associate or tie names to projects or houses, at least administratively—but there were certain situations, moreover, with elected officials who shared a property that was being dealt with; there was a fairly intense civil dispute on that front. So he is—not that he’s not seen in a good light—but he is seen as a rather cavalier person who charges straight in. I think that’s what created the initial brake—‘Navigo Marchesseault.’
Audio evidence (voice anonymized for legal reasons):
Why these remarks are, in our view, serious in their consequences
The excerpt appears to show that the North Hatley municipal administration expressed a bias in the administrative handling of Navigo.
Breach of administrative impartiality
A regulatory file should always be assessed solely on the facts of the project, never on personal issues between members of a municipal administration and the project’s proponents.
Reference to a private dispute involving a sitting elected official
The municipal employee’s remarks refer to a private dispute unrelated to Navigo and which therefore should in no way influence the administrative process concerning this business.
Potentially inequitable treatment
Admitting that an “administrative brake” was caused by a personal issue between an elected official and a member of the project creates unequal treatment among citizens and opens the door to favoritism for some at the expense of others in access to municipal resources.
Undermining trust in municipal neutrality
When elements such as those presented above suggest potential interference in a municipal administrative process, trust in the neutrality of the administration is broken.
Our position
We are not seeking confrontation. We are defending a fundamental principle: in a democracy, the administration must be neutral and treat every citizen fairly. Navigo is a lawful, transparent, and legitimate entrepreneurial project. No citizen should face administrative bias or judgment because a municipal employee or elected official holds a personal opinion about them.
Good-faith notice
This publication is made in the public interest. It is based on verifiable facts. It is not intended as a personal attack; rather, it demands respect, transparency, and fairness for all in municipal administrative processes.
Myriam Bilodeau
Employee of Navigo
Gabriel Théberge
Shareholder of the Navigo project
