In our societies, public decisions are often justified in the name of “public interest.” But who really defines what this means? And how can we ensure that citizens are truly taken into account in the major projects that shape our cities, schools and institutions?

In this episode of “De la recherche à l’impact,” host Josiane Blanc talks to Antoine Pellerin, 2016 Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholar and Associate Professor at Université Laval’s Faculty of Law. Together, they explore the many dimensions of administrative and municipal law, and ask a fundamental question: how can we rethink public interest so that it better reflects the realities and needs of communities?

As the conversation unfolds, Antoine offers a contextual reading of this notion, rooted in citizen participation. He shares concrete examples of decisions handed down by the Superior Court, and revisits the emblematic case of the City of Blainville, illustrating the persistent tensions between municipalities – sometimes referred to as “governments of proximity” – and provincial power.