Quebec hopes to end era of scandal with municipal elections

Quebec voters are hoping to turn the page on an era of scandal-ridden leadership as they cast their ballots in municipal elections across the province.

Today's elections come as the province's Charbonneau Commission continues to hear testimony detailing a system of kickbacks and illegal party financing at the municipal level.

• Quebec Municipal Elections 2013

The longtime mayors of Montreal and the suburb of Laval were forced to step down a year ago amid corruption allegations.

Months later, their interim replacements resigned in scandal as well.

Montrealers want to vote against corruption

In Montreal's mayoralty race,the corruption issue has also been front and centre of the campaign and many voters still haven't decided who is best suited for the job.

The presumed front-runner is former Liberal MP DenisCoderre, but he could face a challenge from upstart candidate MlanieJoly, a public relations professional.

On the last day before voting, candidates madeappearances around Montreal, making a final push toconvince the public of their integrity.

Marcel Ct dropped by a church bazaar in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, while Joly and RichardBergeron took turns meeting voters at the Atwater market.

Coderre's staff would only say he had many meetings planned,avoiding the media following reports linking some of his candidates with names that have come up at the Charbonneau commission.

• St-Lonard councillor Robert Zambito resigns over UPAC investigation

Voter turnout and corruption

Voters in more than 800 municipalities in Quebec are called today to choose their mayors and councillors, while in300 municipalities, local leaders were re-elected without opposition.

As of 1 p.m. EST,20.26 per cent of eligible voters in Montreal cast their ballots, including advance polls. By the same time in 2009, the voter turnout was 17.48 per cent.

"Politics is noble. There's a lot of cynicism, but...peopleare dying to get the right to vote across the world. So it's important for us to fight with ideas," said Coderre as he cast his ballot in Montreal North.

In the 2009municipal elections, the finalturnout wasonly 45 per cent across the province.

Bruce Hicks, apolitical science professor at Carleton University saidall the talk about corruption will have an effect on voters, one way or another.

It can either get people mad as hell and they don't want to take it anymoreand they come out in large numbers, or people are going to sit on their hands and not vote," said Hicks.

Hicks said he would like to see mandatory voting for municipal electionsbecausepoor voter turnout doesn't give politicians the legitimacy they need to govern effectively.

At Atwater market, MathieuLavoiesaid he plans to vote, buthas found the campaign depressing and hopes whoever is elected will be able toaddressother problems in the city.

I'm sick of hearing about corruption and I would like our future mayor to be able to handle other issues, said Lavoie.