Senator David Van has quit the Liberal Party in a fiery resignation letter saying he is “deeply distressed and hurt”.
It comes just days after he was accused of inappropriate behaviour two other members of the Senate, and an unnamed third woman.
“Given the Liberal Party’s wholesale disregard for due process and natural justice in relation to allegations made against me, I write to resign my membership effective immediately,” Van wrote in a letter to Victoria Liberal Party president Greg Mirabella.
“I cannot remain a member of a party that tramples upon the very premise on which our justice system is predicated.
“This is a travesty of justice and I reiterate that I deny the allegations against me.
“I resign also acknowledging the cruel irony of doing so amidst public discourse about the weaponisation of allegations and the role of the rule of law which has at its centre the presumption of innocence.
“I am deeply distressed and hurt that I have not been afforded procedural fairness in relation to these claims. I acknowledge the hundreds of members who have shown me support in my final days as a member.
“I have worked tirelessly for the party and fought hard for its beliefs over many years. I will continue to fight for what I thought were the party’s values – just not under its banner.”
Though he has left the party, his letter gave no indication that he would resign his seat.
In which case, Van would become a member of the crossbench.
Yesterday Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called for Van to resign from parliament after expelling him from the party room.
Earlier this week Senator Lidia Thorpe and former Liberal Senator Amanda Stoker accused Van of inappropriate behaviour.
Stoker said Van had inappropriately touched her twice at an informal social gathering.
Dutton said he had spoken to a third accuser, but did not go into any detail or identify her.
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<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/an-in-ground-pool-in-a-backyard.jpg?id=61482727&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C180%2C0%2C181"/><br/><br/><p>Summer might be winding down, but if you've got a pool in your backyard, now's not the time to tune out! Starting next month, new province-wide <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/quebec-outdoor-pool-rules-changing">rules for residential outdoor pools</a> are coming into effect in Quebec, and not following them could land you with a hefty fine.</p><p>As of September 30, 2025, all residential outdoor pools in Quebec — including in-ground, above-ground, inflatable, and temporary setups — will need to meet safety standards that were initially rolled out <a href="https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/document/cr/S-3.1.02,%20r.%201" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">in 2010</a>. </p><p>Although these regulations have existed for over a decade, they previously only applied to new pools installed after 2010. But come fall, that exemption is gone, and every pool will need to be up to code, regardless of when they were installed or bought.</p><p>The change is part of an effort to make pools safer for everyone — and especially kids — in the province. The government wants to <a href="https://cdn-contenu.quebec.ca/cdn-contenu/adm/min/affaires-municipales/publications/ministere/securite_piscines_residentielles/GUI_InspecteurPiscineResidentielle.pdf">prevent possible drownings</a> by tightening up regulations, particularly for backyard setups that might seem safe but that actually pose drowning risks.</p><p>Quebec pool owners are encouraged to get familiar with these new rules and take the necessary steps to comply before the deadline, which is fast approaching.</p><p>Exactly what you need to do, however, depends on the type of pool you have at home.</p><h2>In-ground pools</h2><p>For in-ground and semi-in-ground pools, the rules are pretty straightforward: they must be fully enclosed by a fence that's at least 1.2 metres high. The pool's own walls don't count, even if they're relatively tall, and hedges and bushes won't qualify, either.</p><p>In some cases, <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6841707">your property itself</a> or existing barriers might qualify under certain conditions. </p><p>Any gates or doors providing access to the pool area also need to close automatically and have a functional latch. Plus, they must be designed in a way so that they can't be climbed.</p><p>These pools are also required to have an easily-accessible ladder or steps for getting in and out of the water.</p><h2>Above-ground pools</h2><p>When it comes to above-ground pools, you might be off the hook for a fence if the pool walls are at least 1.2 metres high and difficult to climb — these can count as a natural barrier. If not, the pool must be surrounded by a fence.</p><p>Plus, if your setup includes a ladder or deck, those parts must be secured or appropriately blocked. </p><h2>Inflatable or temporary pools</h2><p>As for inflatable or temporary pools, if they're deeper than 60 centimetres (around two feet), they still need to be surrounded by a fence, no matter how long they're set up for. In some cases, you may even need a municipal permit, even if the pool's just for the summer.<br/></p><p>In all cases, keep anything that could be used to climb away from the pool fence — so no grills, picnic benches, trash bins, or planters within a metre of it.</p><p>And if your pool has a diving board, there's one more rule: it must meet <a href="https://hudson.quebec/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/NAP_ReglPiscineResi_EN-VS.pdf">BNQ safety standards</a> to reduce the risk of serious spinal injuries, so double-check that your setup is compliant.</p><p>Some cities may have extra requirements, too, so it pays to check in with your municipality to see what exact rules apply where you live.<br/></p><p>Ignore this, and you could be hit with a fine: $500–$700, possibly hitting $1,000 if you've already been warned and haven't fixed things.</p><p>So, if you want to splash around without stressing, now's the time to double-check your setup. Call your municipality, inspect your pool's safety, and make sure you're ahead of the change!</p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
