The mayor of Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly, Christian Laroche, and municipal councillor Jean-Yves Perreault resigned on Tuesday evening, February 17, 2026, following weeks of escalating tensions with residents over a significant property tax increase. The resignations prompted the cancellation of a regularly scheduled council meeting due to a lack of quorum, according to a statement posted on the municipality’s Facebook page.
The catalyst for the current crisis was a 17.1% average increase in property taxes adopted by the municipal council in January. Citizens voiced their concerns and frustrations on social media, questioning the rationale behind the increase, according to reporting from TVA Nouvelles and Le Soleil. The discontent quickly evolved into what remaining councillors described as “disrespectful” and “mesquin” behavior directed towards elected officials.
In a joint statement released by the remaining members of the council, they detailed a deteriorating climate marked by personal attacks and a departure from constructive public debate. “Some citizens have adopted petty and disrespectful behavior towards elected officials, far exceeding the limits of public debate,” the statement read. The councillors lamented the absence of an opportunity to present their vision, stating it was “neither improvised nor imposed.”
The resignations raise concerns about the stability of the municipal government. The statement from the council warned that further resignations could lead to the municipality falling under the administration of the Commission municipale du Québec. The municipality, with a population of 1752, is located in the Lotbinière regional municipal county, approximately 40 kilometers south of Quebec City.
The cancelled council meeting was to have included confirmation of Councillor Perreault’s resignation, as per the published agenda. The municipality has not yet announced plans for by-elections or interim leadership arrangements. As of Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the Commission municipale du Québec has not issued a statement regarding the situation in Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly.
