Author name: Gatineau Bulletin

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Following the summit on homelessness held in April, the Ville de Gatineau is inviting residents to answer an online questionnaire to shape its next municipal action plan on social development and homelessness.

Similar to the themes discussed during the summit, respondents will be asked to speak to homelessness, the continuum of housing services, support for interventions and partnerships, the neighbourhood as a centre of development, camp and shelters as well as the conditions and quality of life.

The results will guide the City in better targeting the issues and identifying priority actions to be implemented in the 2025-2029 Social Development and Homelessness Action Plan.

The questionnaire can be accessed at gatineau.ca/consultations until June 20.

Photo caption: Gatineau citizens are encouraged to participate in an online questionnaire on social development and homelessness available on the City’s website until June 20.

Photo credit: Tashi Farmilo

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

The Association pour la qualité dans la construction en Outaouais has filed a request for authorization to file a class action lawsuit against Brigil and the Ville de Gatineau before the Superior Court of Québec.

Supported by the law firm ABC Avocats, the non-profit association is claiming $38 million on behalf of more than 2,500 owners and tenants of Brigil condos built from 1996 to as recent as 2016.

The association was founded in 2020 to improve the quality of construction and renovation of residential buildings in Outaouais and the current collective action has been at the heart of their undertakings.

According to the 33-page application submitted to the court on May 28, the Association pour la qualité dans la construction en Outaouais alleged Brigil built nearly 100 buildings with more than 1,000 condos, without ensuring the condos’ wastewater drains were properly equipped with non-return valves which prevent sewer backups.

The Ville de Gatineau website stresses the importance of non-return valves, stating it was an “obligation”. As per a municipal bylaw, all owners are required to install non-return valves in their residences, regardless of the year of construction.

“Additionally, each check valve must be maintained in good working order. To ensure this, regular verification is necessary,” reads the website.

As the case was in the hands of the courts, the association did not grant an interview but issued a press release accusing Brigil of neglecting to have plumbing plans and specifications together prior to the construction of the condos in question. The finger was then pointed at the Ville de Gatineau for granting the necessary building permits despite the absence of said plans and specifications.

“It should be remembered that there is a municipal by-law in Gatineau requiring the submission of plumbing plans before a building permit can be granted,” highlighted the association.

Based on estimates from the Association pour la qualité dans la construction en Outaouais, it could cost tens of thousands of dollars to correct the construction defect in each of the affected condos, which would likely adversely affect their value.

The Association des professionnels de la construction et de l’habitation du Québec’s new home warranty plans and the Régie du bâtiment du Québec were also in hot water for “having grossly failed their responsibilities and duties” by not ensuring the existence of plumbing plans and specifications, as well as neglecting to carry out mandatory inspections during the construction period.

“Out of respect for the ongoing process,” the Ville de Gatineau did not want to issue any comments.

Brigil also did not wish to speak to the matter, stating “Brigil has always been recognized as a responsible company. We will work with the parties before the Court and intend to respond in a timely manner.”

The Association pour la qualité dans la construction en Outaouais, invited citizens to learn more about this legal action by visiting its website at aqco.ca and encouraged a free membership “to collectively defend their rights in this class action.”

Photo caption: The founder of the Gatineau-based construction company Brigil, Gilles Desjardins has been looped in with the Ville de Gatineau for a request for authorization to exercise class action submitted by the Association pour la qualité dans la construction en Outaouais on behalf of more than 2,500 owners and tenants.

Photo credit: Brigil Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Years of underfunding have left Gatineau’s municipal road network to erode rapidly. But it seems that no matter how much money was thrown at the growing situation, the state of the infrastructure would continue to plummet.

“There has not been enough money that has been put into our road network, which means that we end up with a much faster deterioration of what we can see on our roads compared to what it could have been,” Masson-Angers district councillor Mario Aubé told reporters. “But despite this, even if there had been additional investments to this day, we would not have caught up.”

The state of the roadways has been no secret, but the crumbling situation was put in black and white for elected officials during a presentation at a Comité plénier meeting on May 21.

The latest data from 2023 painted a new portrait of the estimated $1.9 billion road network, claiming 40 per cent or 550 kilometres of the roadways were below the desired service levels. Every year, around 20 additional kilometres are added to the sections falling below service levels. Another 370 kilometres or 27 per cent of the network was at the end of its life cycle, a value that has almost doubled since 2015.

While data from 2020 and 2023 appeared to show some stabilization with short-term interventions, filling potholes will not alone resolve the situation in the medium to long term.

Additional funds are required, and some have already been put in place by council, notably the $24 million bonus envelope at a rate of $6 million per year from 2022 to 2025 which was later extended until 2028. Another one-off bonus envelope of $27.4 million was adopted by council in the respective amounts of $7.4 million, $10 million, and an additional $10 million in 2023, 2024, and 2025. But the effects of these additional investments would not be reflected until the next roadway inspection in 2026.

The last three years have allowed an average of nearly 30 kilometres of renewal work to be carried out. The improvement envelopes should make it possible to achieve around 40 additional kilometres between 2024 and 2026, resulting in 13 kilometres per year. Gatineau anticipated this would assist in partially stabilizing the degradation of the network.

To ensure the current state was maintained, the need for annual intervention was estimated at approximately 50 kilometres. Depending on a 25 to 50-year catch-up period, Gatineau would need the annual interventions of 10 to 20 kilometres on top of the 50 kilometres, but this comes at the cost of major dollars.

“Just to maintain what we currently have; we would have to put $80 million per year in our roads. And if we want to improve our roads overall for 30 years, we would have to spend $110 million per year,” said Aubé. “It’s almost impossible for a city to put in that much, but we have to realize that we’ll still have to put in a little more.”

Without the renewal of the bonus envelopes, while also taking in inflation, the City expected the period from 2027 to 2029 to see below-average interventions and to reach less than 50 per cent of the target for maintaining the level of service.

“It’s clear that there are difficult choices to make,” said interim mayor Daniel Champagne. “We realize that the necessary budgets mean that it now costs 45 per cent more than it cost in 2019. This means that all the investments we make not only do not necessarily increase the number of kilometres of asphalt but do not necessarily even guarantee that we will be able to ensure the maintenance of our infrastructure.”

With the importance citizens place on road infrastructure, Champagne noted it was a worrying situation and would add the significant challenge of prioritizing come budget time.

Photo caption: Gatineau elected officials get a glimpse of a roadway in very bad condition as per the pavement condition index during the state of the road network presentation on May 21.

Photo credit: Screenshot of État du reseau routier – Auscultation 2023 presentation to Comité plénier on May 21

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Despite the issue worsening in certain sectors, the Ville de Gatineau has reduced by 18 per cent of the pipes contributing to the coloured water plaguing the city. Elected officials were looped into the status of resolving the issue at the Comité plénier on May 21.

Although the City’s drinking water meets the applicable standards of the Ministry of the Environment, residents in all sectors have at one point been met with yellow to red coloured water from its taps over the years. At the core of the issue was the corrosion of the cast iron pipes in the drinking water distribution network.

The coloured water has often been associated with old neighbourhoods but even more recent sectors without cast iron pipes can be affected by the circulation of water. Its presence fluctuates depending on the season, allowing the coloured water to make regular, periodic, or occasional appearances in different sectors.

While interventions have been underway to attempt to target locations with a regular presence, the situation has continued to evolve.

A 2017-2028 intervention program was adopted to reduce the impact or eliminate the problem in sectors with a high frequency. According to mapping carried out in 2017, approximately 75 kilometres of pipe network was associated with the presence of coloured water, representing 6 per cent of Gatineau’s overall network. Six years later, new mapping identified a considerable reduction in pipes affected by a regular presence. An additional $8.78 million was granted by council during the study of the 2024 budget to continue efforts.

Affected officials were informed about new programming to address the sectors with the highest frequencies at the final Comité plénier in May. Sections of Dorion, Deschênes, Arthur-Whelan, Jean-Paul-Poirier, and Saint-Médard streets along with Vendôme street were added to the list of pipes to be redone in 2028. Another 25 streets with regular presence would be addressed in 2028 followed by 43 other streets of lower priority.

Acting Gatineau mayor Daniel Champagne shared empathy for those not seeing repairs until 2028 but stressed that council was making the “difficult choices to correct the yellow water situation.”

“Since 2017, we have invested or plan to invest, through to 2028, a total of $65 million,” said Champagne. “I think it’s a good start. Of course, we need more but, unfortunately, there are limits to what we can do.”

Photo caption: Gatineau’s interim mayor Daniel Champagne tells journalists the City hopes to resolve the issue of coloured water to a large extent by 2028.

Photo credit: Screenshot from Mêlée de presse du 21 mai 2024 – Comité plénier

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

The Ville de Gatineau hopes to reduce the presence of migratory birds and protect crops by allowing hunting on agricultural land.

Council approved a pilot program submitted by Rivière-Blanche district councillor Jean Lessard at its meeting on May 14.

While it wasn’t a city-wide issue, Lessard said the pilot program came as a request from farmers who have faced “significant financial losses” trying to manage the birds.

“(They) want to have the same right as the MRCs … to be able to take up arms to destroy these migratory birds,” said Lessard.

Running from mid-September to December, the program will allow farmers to hunt 10 birds per day on cultivated land. Council would later analyze the results of the short-term measure.

“Elsewhere, it works. That doesn’t mean it will succeed in destroying everything, but it has an impact.”

Photo caption: A pilot program proposed by Rivière-Blanche district councillor Jean Lessard aims to assist farmers in mitigating migratory birds and protecting their crops.

Photo credit: Screenshot from Mêlée de presse du 14 mai 2024 – Caucus préparatoire

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Days ahead of the by-election, Gatineau’s mayoral frontrunners shared their financial framework for the anticipated 2025 budget.

Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette proposed the highest residential tax increase among the seven candidates, capped at 3.18 per cent. Independent candidate Yves Ducharme put forward the lowest increase at 2.7 per cent.

Stating he was the “only alternative to Action Gatineau,” Ducharme suggested an $846 million budget, a 5.3 per cent increase from the previous year, and a 3.7 per cent non-residential tax increase to finance street repairs and improve several municipal services.

Following recommendations from the 2023-2032 Long-Term Financial Plan, the independent candidate planned to use debt rather than cash to lift the tax burden from residents and finance his proposed measures.

“It’s a budget that’s balanced, that meets the aspirations of Gatineau residents and respects their ability to pay,” said Ducharme.

On the other hand, Marquis-Bissonnette said it was essential to respect the current financial game plan and commitments made by council for the remaining 17-month mandate.

“Everything was approved by the entire council, and it is important to establish this consensus to ensure collaboration with all members within the framework of this mandate,” she said.

However, the political party candidate disagreed with the tax increase laid out in the Long-Term Financial Plan for 2025. Taking in residents’ ability to pay, Marquis-Bissonnette instead proposed a tax ranging from 2.9 per cent to 3.18 per cent, which was the 10-year average of the plan.

“One thing is clear, the candidates proposing a tax reduction or forecasts under the indications of the long-term financial plan will specify where they intend to cut in terms of services to citizens, such as in the service of urban planning, service centres, or even in street repairs,” said Marquis-Bissonnette.

Photo caption: On completely opposite ends, Action Gatineau candidate Maude Marquis-Bissonnette proposed the highest residential tax hike among the seven candidates, as independent candidate Yves Ducharme suggested the lowest.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the candidates

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Frustrated by the worsening homelessness crisis, changemakers gathered at the third Citizen Symposium on Change to share solutions on how to prevent poverty, not only in Gatineau, but in Outaouais as a whole.

“When unwanted changes occur in our society, there are two things we can do. Nothing or something. This meeting is for those of us who want to do something about the changes we want to experience in our world,” said organizer Sylvain Henry. “It is our hope, our belief, and our most sincere desire to ensure that what begins here in this room, with your collaboration, can soon change our entire region for the better.”

Henry has been organizing these collaborative community events since February to unite citizens and politicians in developing working solutions to tackle the growing issue.

Since his previous symposiums, Henry has been able to collect 800 immediate solutions for what he referred to as the Citizen Idea Bank. He hoped to put some of the ideas into action and share the success stories with all levels of government.

Stirring away from a traditional debate, five of the seven prospective mayoral candidates were asked to share their plans to boost the local economy and prevent poverty.

Independent candidate Olive Kamanyana said she would tackle it straight away by assisting the on-the-ground organizations and later footing the bill to Quebec.

“I cannot accept that people continue to live in unacceptable situations because the provincial government did not listen,” said Kamanyana. “I don’t want politics to affect people, our people, our children, our mothers, our brothers, our sisters.”

With the issue spanning far beyond the municipal realm, independent candidate Stéphane Bisson also stressed the involvement of the provincial government.

“The City takes on a lot of responsibility, and it’s also all of your money that we use to help homeless people, instead of the Government of Quebec, which must be part of it,” said Bisson.

Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette said relationships need to be rebuilt with both the provincial and federal governments to ensure the proper funding to solve the issue.

“The mayor’s role is to remind Quebec that we need our share of investments to ensure that these issues with vulnerable people are resolved,” said Marquis-Bissonnette. “Quebec City is far away, but I want to make sure that politicians at the provincial level, as well as the federal government, hear us.”

Independent candidate Daniel Feeny said a major element was the inaccessibility of housing. “It’s difficult to find housing and the crisis didn’t start yesterday, didn’t arrive suddenly but we haven’t dealt with it sufficiently in recent years.”

France Bélisle’s former communications director proposed upping the construction of social and transitional housing to fill the glaring gap.

Fellow independent candidate Mathieu Saint-Jean also dove into the scarcity of affordable housing and put forward what he referred to as a permanent solution by establishing a community of tiny homes which in return would stimulate the economy and generate jobs with their construction.

“I launched a GoFundMe to support this initiative, under the name Pour l’action. I invite you to give generously to speed up the process,” said Saint-Jean.

Come July, the fourth symposium will centre around potential candidates for the next federal election and their plans for Canada. Visit the Tent City Network group on Facebook for more updates on the next event.

If you would like to contribute to the Citizen Idea Bank, solutions can be shared with Henry via email at sylvain.henry@gmail.com or by phone at 613-501-4357.

Photo caption: Citizens gather at the Cabane en Bois Rond on May 19 to offer their solutions to the growing homelessness crisis grappling Gatineau.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Taking inspiration from Vieux-Québec and Vieux-Montréal, independent mayoral candidate Yves Ducharme wants to revitalize what he has dubbed Vieux-Hull.

“I want to display our history, our pride, our identity, and our sense of belonging,” said Ducharme.

The candidate gathered journalists in downtown Hull on May 23 to reveal his 14-point action plan to stimulate the downtown core as it shakes off the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using the study on the revival of downtown Gatineau by the Observatoire du développement de l’Outaouais as a roadmap, Ducharme planned to review the limits of the current programme particulier d’urbanisme du centre-ville. The territory would be bounded to the south and east by the Ottawa River, to the north by boulevard des Allumettières and to the west by rue Taylor.

“The Observatory’s study highlights an indisputable face. Downtown needs more residents,” said Ducharme. “Residents who can get around on foot or by bike, to eat, to have fun, or to get to work in a neighbourhood in just 15 minutes. But for this, there must be a minimum density.”

While the issue of density played a role in the study, Ducharme said possible concrete solutions to compensate for this demographic deficiency were practically nonexistent. He intended to require a supplement study to know the optimal level of density, desirable residential mix, optimal composition of households, and elasticity of demand according to the price of housing.

Among Ducharme’s other measures was promoting the creation of a public market at the Fonderie, pressing the government to deliver a timeline for the construction of the new convention centre, intervening with the National Capital Commission to improve the development for the Ruisseau de la Brasserie, and establishing the regional museum in the E.B. Eddy Digester Tower.

“It was under my administration that we managed to protect this building … I’m very proud of it. I want to see this gem reborn. I have already indicated to Mathieu Lacombe, our regional Minister, that I would like to see the regional museum take root there.”

When it came to business owners, Ducharme wanted to simplify things by creating a customer approach to the town planning service and eliminating the requirement to obtain a permit to post on buildings.

“Businesspeople must view our administration as collaborators rather than regulators. And our administration must view businesspeople as partners, not profiteers. Ultimately, more residents bring more merchants. And more merchants bring more residents to a vibrant neighbourhood.”

Photo caption: Independent candidate Yves Ducharme would like to use the study published earlier this year by Observatoire du développement de l’Outaouais as a roadmap to boost the attractiveness and diversification of downtown Gatineau.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Although health issues fall under the provincial government, Gatineau mayoral candidates have committed to bringing the region’s health care up to par with the rest of Quebec.

“Our health system cannot wait any longer. Each day of delay brings its share of worries. We must act now,” independent candidate Daniel Feeny wrote in a press release.

Uncertainty has spread across Outaouais as the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO) revealed that a contingency plan was on the back burner, as services were reduced to allow its limited staff vacation time.

Five years after the unanimous adoption of the Outaouais motion in 2019 by the National Assembly of Quebec, which recognized the region had fallen behind significantly, Feeny said it seemed undeniable that the recognition was merely symbolic, “given the alarming deterioration of the situation in our hospitals.” The candidate pledged to “not idly stand by in the face of this crisis,” and, if elected mayor, to form a coalition of the region’s mayors and prefects to demand precise and effective action.

“Our communities deserve better than words; what they expect are concrete actions. As mayor, I would be committed to hearing your voice so that the government finally takes Gatineau seriously. It’s time for Gatineau to be heard,” wrote Feeny.

Fellow independent candidate Yves Ducharme agreed that the government’s inaction was unacceptable, asserting that other regions of Quebec would never be treated in this manner.

“The time for dodging is over. Outaouais demands immediate and lasting solutions to appease the anger, but above all, the fear of citizens. I am not asking you for miracles. I am simply asking you to respect your vote,” Ducharme said in reference to the Premier and the Minister of Health.

Beyond admitting the crisis state found in Outaouais, Ducharme said the motion lacked substance. “Since the adoption of this motion, practically no measures specific to Outaouais have been implemented. Today, with the threat of closure of several basic health services, the time has come for immediate solutions.” If he found himself back in the position of mayor, Ducharme said he would offer his full support to the minister responsible for the Outaouais region to bring the voice of Gatineau to Quebec. “Mathieu Lacombe and the Government of Quebec have an obligation to achieve results.”

Photo caption: Independent mayoral candidates Daniel Feeny and Yves Ducharme share their disapproval with the CISSSO’s contingency plan for this summer.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the candidates

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette unveiled her plan to strengthen the resilience of the City in the face of climate change.

“In Gatineau, we are well aware of the impacts of climate change. We absolutely must make informed decisions to reduce our (greenhouse gas) emissions and build a green city of which we can be proud,” Marquis-Bissonnette wrote in a press release.

Unlike other cities that have been tasked to create green spaces in their communities, the mayoral candidate highlighted the richness of Gatineau’s natural spaces and stressed their need to be preserved.

“One way to preserve the natural state of our territory is to build the city on top of the city,” wrote Marquis-Bissonnette. She proposed facilitating redevelopment projects with appropriate regulations and abolishing the minimum number of parking spaces for projects close to public transportation.

Along with actions to ensure the City’s compliance with its greenhouse gas reduction commitments, Marquis-Bissonnette proposes to strengthen the Service de la transition écologique to allow it to fully assume its leadership as well as having all municipal decisions pass a climate test.

“It is crucial to involve partners and publicly monitor the climate plan. We have plenty of people ready to take ownership of actions, we must work with them.”

To bring this vision to reality, a meeting with ecological transition partners and the business community was planned for next fall.

Photo caption: Action Gatineau mayoral candidate Maude Marquis-Bissonnette stresses the importance of the City making informed decisions to build a green city that all of Gatineau can be proud of.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the candidate

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Independent mayoral candidate Daniel Feeny promised to improve basic services by relying on the “know-how, ingenuity, and determination of City employees.”

“We must focus on the desire of our employees to surpass themselves. By providing ourselves with the conditions for success, we promote our teams and get the most out of the experience and will of our teams,” Feeny wrote in a press release on May 21.

According to Feeny, Gatineau has some of the best blue-collar and white-collar workers in the province. He planned to recognize the employees’ contributions and equip them with cutting-edge technology to quickly intervene in Gatineau’s most problematic sectors.

The former communications director under France Bélisle also wanted to facilitate the creation of an internal team of paving specialists to be adequately equipped and ready to operate for spring 2026. Feeny will also ask for a real-time work schedule to be added to the City’s website to allow citizens to know when and where work will be carried out in their neighbourhoods.

The candidate planned to also tackle the “unacceptable” issue of discoloured water by speeding up the replacement of aging pipes with the creation of a team specialized in water quality to resolve the matter once and for all.

The following day, fellow independent candidate Stéphane Bisson revealed his four-part plan for services to meet the growing needs of citizens.

From east to west, Bisson wanted to ensure the safe, accessible passage of citizens with repairs and upgrades to streets as well as sidewalks. He also planned to improve the services provided to the population and develop “a culture of continuous improvement” for a better return on taxpayers’ money.

Similar to Feeny, Bisson would like to allow citizens to gain information on current and future work in real-time with the creation of a Citizen Portal to allow communication between the City and its residents.

Photo caption: Independent mayoral candidates Daniel Feeny and Stéphane Bisson present their plans to improve Gatineau’s basic services, if elected.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the candidates

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

With the Carrefour-de-l’Hôpital district left open by Olive Kamanyana as she runs for mayor, four candidates will compete for the seat at the municipal council.

Over 9,000 voters will have the choice between independent candidates Frédérick Castonguay, Marie-Pier Lacroix, Kethlande Pierre, and Action Gatineau candidate Catherine Craig-St-Louis.

In the 2021 municipal election, Kamanyana secured her seat with more than half of the votes but only 40 per cent of the district’s citizens were registered to vote.

Similar to the mayoral by-election, citizens will be able to cast their ballot on June 9. Those wanting to head to the polls early can do so on June 2.

Photo caption: Residents of the Carrefour-de-l’Hôpital district will be able to choose between Frédérick Castonguay, Catherine Craig-St-Louis, Marie-Pier Lacroix, and Kethlande Pierre for district councillor.

Photo credit: Ville de Gatineau Website

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

With Camp Guertin to be disassembled the following morning, organizations and people experiencing homelessness took to the Maison du citoyen ahead of the municipal council meeting on May 14 to plead for a long-term solution to homelessness.

The scheduled demolition of the Robert-Guertin Centre, as well as the removal of the heated red tents provided by Devcore, sparked uncertainty about the future for those who seek shelter on the property of the former arena. To get answers, demonstrators assembled a symbolic campsite outside city hall.

“We came here this evening with mainly three demands. We wanted to allow the trailers to remain on site. We wanted to have two additional tolerance zones, a second in Hull and one in Gatineau. And we wanted a sanitary block in each of these tolerance zones,” said Collectif régional de lutte à l’itinérance de l’Outaouais president Alexandre Gallant. “What we are asking for is the basics. There are no cherries. There isn’t even a sundae.”

Stating much time had been spent debating “band-aid” solutions, Gallant urged council to provide the basic necessities and then move on to tackling “real issues like social housing.”

Acting mayor Daniel Champagne assured that those utilizing the site would be tolerated until viable alternatives were established. The same would be said for the trailers located on the property. The halte-chaleur operated by the Centre intégré de santé et des services sociaux de l’Outaouais would remain in place until mid-June, when the City expected to offer a sanitary block as the site awaited redevelopment.

“For the summer, the usual workers will be on site to assist people experiencing homelessness,” said Champagne. “Our police services will be more present to ensure harmonious cohabitation.”

Director of Service des loisirs, des sports et du développement des communautés Sébastien Vallée said Gatineau has not been able to identify several zones of tolerance as the City has been focused on redeveloping the site of the former arena.

“It should be noted that here we are in listening mode,” said Vallée. “We want to make sure we properly serve the people who already occupy the Guertin site.”

Photo caption: Organizations and those experiencing homelessness flock to the Maison du citoyen on May 14 to demand answers from Gatineau’s municipal council.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Independent mayoral candidate Yves Ducharme has blamed Action Gatineau for “hurting the housing sector,” accusing the political party of being the cause of a 31.1 per cent fall in construction starts from 2022 to 2023.

“It is clear that the municipal administration must correct the eight years in power of Action Gatineau,” Ducharme wrote in a press release. “We are still living from the time when the mayor did not want to see entrepreneurs at city hall. And the situation continues with Action Gatineau.”

According to the former mayor, the political party has voted against the establishment of 1,978 new housing units. The construction delays then created pressure on Gatineau’s finances due to the loss of income and ultimately resulted in elected officials increasing taxes.

“Urban sprawl is a real problem for Gatineau. Young families will settle in the outskirts, which is harmful to the environment and public finances,” wrote Ducharme.

While housing starts dropped between 2022 and 2023, the Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette pointed to the record-breaking number of units built since 2019.

“Since the start of the 2021 mandate, nearly 10,000 new housing units have been started, a considerable effort to meet the growing demand for housing, but the vacancy rate is still very low and the price of rent is very high,” Marquis-Bissonnette wrote in a press release.

With the private market proven not to be able to solve the crisis alone, the Action Gatineau candidate said this is why she has proposed key commitments for the construction of social and family housing.

“If Mr. Ducharme’s solution to the housing crisis boils down to accusing people without proving the figures put forward, I find that this lacks scope and will in no way solve the problems we face. Such a simplistic approach only distracts from the real issues and solutions needed. When Mr. Ducharme hits this nail, I wonder: is it the lobbyist or the mayoral candidate who is speaking? We need concrete and constructive solutions, not accusatory speeches that lead nowhere.”

Photo caption: Former Gatineau mayor and candidate in the upcoming by-election Yves Ducharme attributes a recent fall in Gatineau housing starts to Action Gatineau voting down the construction of housing units.

Photo credit: Yves Ducharme Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

On International Day of Living Together in Peace, Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis- Bissonnette presented her commitment to making Gatineau a more inclusive and attentive city.

Representing 88 cultural communities throughout the territory, Gatineau is considered one of the main immigration gateways in Quebec. But growing diversity presents challenges in terms of reception, integration of immigrants, and living together.

While Gatineau has developed a program of intercultural activities that promote openness and integration, the mayoral candidate would like to offer more meeting spaces for Gatineau residents of all origins like an intercultural centre.

“There is a desire in the community to develop this project,” Marquis-Bissonnette wrote in a press release. “I want to work with the community to bring this project back to the forefront and see how the City can contribute.”

She added Gatineau could even complete the offer of reception services to newcomers by explaining the services offered by the City, such as snow removal or garbage and recycling pickup.

“The role of cities in the integration of immigrants is a subject that is very close to my heart. First, as an organization, the City of Gatineau must better reflect diversity. As mayor, I want to make sure I seek out talent from everywhere and ensure their full integration,” wrote Marquis-Bissonnette.

If elected mayor, the Action Gatineau candidate intended to add her voice to those of the large cities like Sherbrooke and Longueuil to ensure Quebec’s hubs and host organizations receive the resources needed.

“This is a subject that I know very well through my research work and my involvement in several organizations. I know that they play a strategic role and offer valuable support services. Newcomers and organizations can count on me to assert their interests and their needs with Quebec.”

Photo caption: Backed by district councillors and Action Gatineau members Tiffany-Lee Norris Parent and Bettyna Bélizaire, party head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette shares her intention to support the addition of an intercultural centre to Gatineau.

Photo credit: Maude Marquis-Bissonnette Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Independent mayoral candidate Olive Kamanyana would like to see integration of the City of Gatineau and the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO), like what is already done in Ottawa, to meet the challenge of sustainable mobility.

“I am here to propose other ways of doing things that are very important because it is not only the citizens of Gatineau who must reach into their pockets,” Kamanyana told journalists during a press conference on May 16. “The Ville de Gatineau and the (Société de transport de l’Outaouais) must once again be rethinking expenses and, above all, optimizing expenses.”

The STO’s and especially the City’s role in investing in the transportation system have been hot topics lately as the municipal council recently adopted a new vehicle registration tax which was deemed rushed by the former Carrefour-de-l’Hôpital district councillor.

“For the Government of Quebec, it is important that mobility be effective, efficient and, above all, equitable. When it comes to mobility in Gatineau, we are still looking for a way to find a balance between mobility expenses and income,” Kamanyana said in reference to the Sustainable Mobility Policy.

If elected, Kamanyana committed to asking the administration to undertake a concrete examination of the convergence of the City’s administrative services and the STO under the leadership of a newly created mobility service.

“Above all, this examination will involve the collaboration of the administration, the City and the (Société de transport de l’Outaouais) in compliance with legal and normative aspects.”

The concept was not new, admitted Kamanyana. Two committees, first in 2018 and subsequently in 2022, recommended the integration of the STO’ service within the City de Gatineau.

“The operating costs of the (Société de transport de l’Outaouais) include, among other services, … finance services, human resource services, procurement services, information management and technology services. And the same thing is found on the city side.”

In the 2024 budget, Gatineau set aside $82,115,000 for public transportation, making up around 80 per cent of the STO’s revenues. The City’s contribution has continued to increase by nearly 38 per cent over 10 years, serving to balance the transportation system’s budget, said Kamanyana.

“The (Société de transport de l’Outaouais) and the city administration must find a way to look in the mirror and say, where can we cut the fat, what can we keep and what synergy can we create?”

Photo caption: Independent candidate Olive Kamanyana proposes to combine Gatineau and the STO into one budget line to optimize expenses and limit the consumption of resources.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Despite pushback from officials and a petition of more than 1,100 signatures, Gatineau municipal council moved forward with its new vehicle registration tax to finance public transportation.

Come January 2025, Gatineau motorists will be expected to pay $60 for every vehicle registered in Quebec. The funds collected would be used to absorb the Société de transport de l’Outaouais’ $10 million structural deficit. The following year, another $30 will be added to finance service improvements.

Highly contested by citizens since its introduction, the tax has been the subject of numerous debates over recent months, until the measure was finally adopted 13 to 5 on May 14.

Masson-Angers district councillor Mario Aubé, who voted against the tax, still had hope that the Government of Quebec would “take out its cheque book and take its responsibility when it comes to public transportation.”

“Cities are not banks. Gatineau motorists are not banks either. Yes, cities have long called for diversity of income, but not to the point of cutting the throats of motorists,” said Aubé.

Leading the charge of citizens against the tax was Suzanne Bisson, who, along with her petition of more than 1,100 signatures, urged council to find another solution other than taxing those who are already “suffocating.”

“We have people who are suffering and households who are unable to provide for basic needs, but the only solution we find is to use a system which, in my opinion, has now become abusive to resolve problems of poor management of the (Société de transport de l’Outaouais),” Bisson told council during the question period.

She stressed the fact that many motorists had no choice but to use their vehicles. “Isn’t it discriminatory to target only one group? Why not impose this tax on the entire population of the Ville de Gatineau at the same time as recovering funds from fraudsters with Ontario plates?”

Described as a “poisoned chalice” from the provincial government, acting Gatineau mayor Daniel Champagne said the City had no choice but to make up the structural deficit left behind by Quebec.

“The reason why $10 million is missing is not because it is poorly managed,” added municipal council president Steven Boivin. “It’s because the Government of Quebec is not giving its share. Then, we find ourselves in this position where we must go and tax people.”

When it came to Ontario plates, Boivin also pointed the blame to Quebec, stating the provincial government was not doing its job. “It’s the provincial (government) who is not going to get its own money … We are as angry as you. This is why we are passing the resolution today to say, ‘Do something, it makes no damn sense.’”

The resolution demanded actions to regulate the impact arising from the presence of Gatineau residents who own vehicles registered in Ontario.

Although the tax was passed by council, Gatineau has until September to specify the exact amount to the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec.

Photo caption: Gatineau resident Suzanne Bisson speaks out against the vehicle registration tax officially imposed by council during its proceedings on May 14.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Independent candidate Yves Ducharme shared his support in the construction of a sixth link between Gatineau and Ottawa which has been opposed by past mayors on both sides of the river.

“Federal MP for Gatineau Steven MacKinnon has been a leader on the issue since his election in 2015,” Ducharme wrote in a press release on May 13. “He can count on my unwavering support to move the issue forward, especially when the time comes to negotiate with the mayor of Ottawa.” While former Gatineau mayor France Bélisle has advocated for the link, the project has been opposed by former mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin and his counterpart Jim Watson, as well as Ottawa’s current mayor Mark Sutcliffe.

“One of Mr. MacKinnon’s main qualities was his tenacity. First, to convince his caucus colleagues of the need for a bridge. Then, he received opposition from the former head of Action Gatineau who boasted of waging war on motorists,” wrote Ducharme.

With the last bridge connecting the two banks dating back more than half a century, Ducharme argued it was high time to move the project forward.

“Since that time, the population has almost tripled. Demographic studies show that the population will increase by more than 40% by 2040.”

Of the three corridors under study, the independent candidate favoured Kettle Island, stating the construction would facilitate a “significant ecological impact.”

“By preventing truckers and motorists from having to detour via downtown Ottawa to head east, we reduce travel and, therefore, pollution. STO buses would have a direct link with the Blair O-Train station.”

In closing, Ducharme challenged the head of Action Gatineau, Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, to support the bridge in the east and back MacKinnon in the file.

In a press conference held on the same day, Marquis-Bissonnette opposed the addition, stating a sixth link would ensure more cars on the road.

“This is the principle of induced traffic,” she said. “It’s pretty obvious. The more roads we add, the more traffic we add.”

Photo caption: Backed by district councillors Mike Duggan and Denis Girouard, independent candidate Yves Ducharme shares his vision for a sixth link between Gatineau and Ottawa.

Photo credit: Screenshot of video posted on Yves Ducharme Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette unveiled her commitments to revitalize the City’s commercial arteries to journalists in Old Aylmer on May 13.

“I want people to be proud to live in Gatineau. Currently, we need to stand out, and there is no shortage of opportunities,” Marquis-Bissonnette wrote in a press release. “It’s time to recognize and celebrate what makes each neighbourhood unique, with a focus on local economic development and the vitality of our commercial streets.”

With distinct neighbourhoods, Gatineau was like a puzzle with each piece representing a rich diversity, but the closure of iconic local businesses has left missing pieces, ultimately weakening the economic fabric of the City.

“The pandemic, as we know, has had a hard impact on our small businesses, as has online purchasing. And actually, when it comes to online shopping, the solution is quite simple,” said Marquis-Bissonnette. “This means that, from now on, either people will buy online, or they will move to environments that will be attractive.”

While people are proud of their unique neighbourhoods, Marquis-Bissonnette said a greater vision was possible. To reach the peak of attractiveness, the Action Gatineau candidate shared plans to adopt a commercial development policy, created in conjunction with local stakeholders and citizens, by the end of her mandate.

To shape the policy, she proposed reducing the taxes on commercial spaces, a new power given to municipalities that Marquis-Bissonnette said would give businesses some breathing room. The candidate would also like to see modifications to regulations to reduce the cost of pedestrianizing streets during events and to authorize the holding of ephemeral activities and businesses in vacant premises.

“Recently, I was here for Le Vieux-Aylmer se sucre le bec. The street was not pedestrianized despite the business association’s desire to do so. For what? Because it costs too much to do it for the City.”

Marquis-Bissonnette would also like to sustain and enhance the Animation and revitalization support fund which assists in financing cultural displays and activities in commercial arteries to strengthen Gatineau’s cultural identity.

“We want to make room for the cultural community to liven up commercial streets … People see that it brings quality of life. It’s a good way to vitalize our commercial arteries, to create a feeling of belonging, and to highlight our identities, which are specific to different sectors. The reality is not the same in Buckingham as in Aylmer.”

If elected, Marquis-Bissonnette committed to strengthening ties with business associations by listening to their local needs and supporting the development of distinct brand images for each commercial street by highlighting its unique character with street furniture and public art.

“The people I meet on the ground are merchants, entrepreneurs, artists, and citizens mobilized for our future. I want to work with them to give them the means to act.”

Photo caption: If elected as Gatineau’s mayor, Action Gatineau candidate Maude Marquis- Bissonnette plans to adopt a commercial development policy to revitalize the City’s commercial arteries.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

In a video shared on social media, former Gatineau mayor France Bélisle said she would be checking off Daniel Feeny’s name on the ballot on June 9.

Before launching his campaign, Feeny worked as the spokesperson as well as the director of communications and intergovernmental relations for Bélisle while she served as mayor.

It was not just their close working relationship drawing Bélisle’s support but also Feeny’s “rich” candidacy.

“What I hope for you in the coming weeks is that Gatineau residents will learn to discover you,” said Bélisle. “They will see a committed man, a man of public service … who is there for the right reasons.”

The former mayor concluded the short video by wishing Feeny luck in the future.

Photo caption: Former Gatineau mayor France Bélisle shares her support for independent candidate Daniel Feeny, who worked for her during her time as mayor.

Photo credit: Screenshot from France Bélisle’s video

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Early polling by Segma Recherche for 104.7 Outaouais had Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette leading the charge in the race for mayor.

Of the 600 voters who shared their opinions in telephone interviews, 38% wanted to see Marquis-Bissonnette as the next mayor of Gatineau. Independent candidate Yves Ducharme was the second favourite with 27% intending to vote for the former mayor.

Independent candidate Olive Kamanyana sat in third at 13% with fellow independent candidate Stéphane Bisson on her coattails at 12%. Independent candidates Daniel Feeny, Mathieu Saint- Jean and Rémi Bergeron followed at 7%, 3% and 0%, respectively. However, one must note that the results did not include the 29% of undecided respondents.

Depending on the age of the voter, the voting intentions varied considerably. Marquis- Bissonnette dominated among those 18 to 34 years old and also took the lead among voters aged 25 to 54 years old. When it came to those aged 55 and over, Ducharme was the favourite at 41% compared to 31% for Marquis-Bissonnette.

In terms of gender, women favoured the Action Gatineau candidate with 40 per cent intending to vote for Marquis-Bissonnette, while Ducharme sat at 20%. Marquis-Bissonnette was still the front-runner among men, but Ducharme was only behind by 2%.

While most of the respondents did not oppose any particular candidate, Ducharme and Marquis- Bissonnette aroused the most opposition at 16% and 14%, respectively. Those who intended to vote for Ducharme were particularly opposed to Marquis-Bissonnette at 43%, while the leading candidate’s voters did not want to see the former mayor regain his seat.

Photo caption: A survey put Action Gatineau candidate Maude Marquis-Bissonnette ahead of the six other candidates in the by-election for mayor.

Photo credit: Maude Marquis-Bissonnette Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

After 18 months of debate, the Ville de Gatineau will go forward with a more than $180 million centralized police headquarters in Hull.

“We have had challenges. We have had different positions taken within the municipal council. I would say that particularly over the last two months, my goal … during my mandate was to bring this project to fruition,” acting Gatineau mayor, Daniel Champagne, told reporters during a press briefing on May 7 following a special council meeting.

Originally planned to replace the Robert-Guertin Centre, Gatineau now plans to merge lots at 975 boulevard Saint-Joseph and 80 rue Jean-Proulx to facilitate the new 165,000-square-foot building. The City intended to acquire the land through expropriation procedures.

The director of the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau, Simon Fournier, said the centralization of services will allow the force to increase efficiency and optimize its service to citizens.

With the project estimated to cost $187.3 million, a 25-year loan payment would be required to foot the bill. Gatineau will also be taking steps to seek funding from the Government of Quebec.

To assist with costs, the City planned to put land at 590 boulevard Gréber and 775-777 boulevard de la Carrière up for sale. The sale of both properties was estimated to bring in $40 million, which would cut the costs of the project to $147.3 million.

The decision also brought good news for Aylmer. The district can expect a new service point come 2027, after the addition of $8.2 million to its budget. What was originally budgeted at $17.5 million now sits at $25.7 million. The additional funds were expected to cover the indexation of the initial financial package as well as finance the expansion of office space and warehousing needs.

“I think it was very important to keep a service point in Aylmer,” said Steven Boivin, the councillor for the district. “We have more and more people and we need something in Aylmer.”

With construction of the centralized building expected to commence in the summer of 2026, Fournier said the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau would maximize the current locations to offer the best possible service.

“There are investments that we must maintain as an organization to ensure that the buildings continue to operate,” said Fournier.

Photo caption: Gatineau’s new centralized police headquarters will take shape in Hull at 975 boulevard Saint-Joseph and 80 rue Jean-Proulx.

Photo credit: Ville de Gatineau Website

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

The Carrefour musical Outaouais invites Gatineau to the 2024 Spring Concerts this May and June.

Made up of mainly wind and percussion instruments, the non-profit organization brings together more than thirty amateur musicians to share their passion and continue developing their musical talent. The stage group offers tunes from jazz, rock, contemporary, classical, film soundtracks, works from Quebec, and much more.

The concert series will kick off at 7:30 pm at the Salle Jean-Despréz on May 28. Under the musical direction of Serge Filiatreault, who has led the ensemble since 2022, the Carrefour musical Outaouais promises to stir up memories and tug at your heartstrings with a range of classic pieces.

Priced at $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, tickets can be purchased online at zeffy.com or picked up at the door, subject to availability.

Another date to mark on your calendar will be June 15. The Carrefour musical Outaouais will be joining the Orchestre symphonique de Gatineau at its Grand Rendez-Vous Musical for a free family concert at Place de la Cité Park. Be sure not to miss their performance at 12 pm in the big top in the park.

Photo caption: Don’t miss out on the sounds of the Carrefour musical Outaouais this spring with its upcoming concert series.

Photo credit: Harmonie CMO Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

On May 9, Independent mayoral candidate Stéphane Bisson revealed to journalists a four-part plan to find the balance between development and the environment.

At the top of his list was reviewing Gatineau’s Climate Plan and its 12 priorities by realigning the identified targets and demonstrating “a strong commitment to the fight against climate change.”

If elected, Bisson would also like to develop an energy ecosystem with a multitude of energy sources to support the current and future needs of residents. Another of his projects would be to bring some green to Gatineau’s downtown and neighbouring areas by continuing the development of parks and green spaces. His final commitment was to continue the growth of the active transportation network with pedestrian and cycle paths.

“My goal is to implement effective measures that will meet the immediate needs of citizens, while preparing the city to meet long-term environmental challenges,” Bisson wrote on social media. “I am present because my intention is to serve the people of Gatineau and put them at the heart of their city.”

Photo caption: Mayoral candidate Stéphane Bisson gathers journalists at Lac-Beauchamp Park to share his plans for sustainable development in Gatineau.

Photo credit: Stéphane Bisson Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Another mayoral candidate has accused fellow candidate Yves Ducharme of being too close to Brigil, a prominent construction company in Gatineau. Olive Kamanyana said potential conflict of interests could be clouding Ducharme’s decision-making.

“Listen, we just lost a mayor. We don’t want to lose a potential mayor if he is ever elected,” said Kamanyana, in reference to former mayor France Bélisle’s sudden departure in late February.

Ducharme’s ties to Brigil were already put in question by Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis- Bissonnette in late April when she was quoted in an article from Le Droit stating “He still has active mandates on the lobbyist register. Members of his team too.”

The candidate was quick to fire back, issuing a press release insisting the assertion was “unfounded and, above all, false.” Ducharme claimed he and his team had no active mandate in the lobbyist register for any company.

As of May 9, Ducharme and his team member, Roch Cholette, were still listed as active lobbyists for Brigil on the Carrefour Lobby Québec website.

“This is really a problem,” said Kamanyana. “It is very important that the population of Gatineau feels that the mayor will not be in a conflict of interest in advance. Or even in the projects that will come around the table.”

Having served on municipal council, Kamanyana has been part of numerous dealings with Brigil. She noted if Ducharme was elected, he would have to refrain from commenting on several issues, leaving the City’s mayor absent in decision-making.

“We saw other members of council who had to declare their capacity to decide several times because a member of their family was part of the Brigil group. Imagine the one who was working on these files while they were already in progress.”

The call for withdrawal came after the release of the first impression of the legal opinion obtained by Le Droit, claiming that in terms of the law, Ducharme must be considered “close” to Brigil owner Gilles Desjardins.

While Ducharme has said he would only present a legal opinion once elected, former municipal councillor of Hull, Claude Bonhomme, took it upon himself to hire a lawyer from Bélanger- Sauvé, specializing in municipal law.

“In light of the information available to us, it is difficult for us to envisage how Mr. Ducharme could, in a few months, find himself in a position to make decisions that would affect – favourably or unfavourably – the interests of Brigil, while respecting his obligations and ethical standards that would be imposed on him, more particularly, to avoid favouritism toward this company … and not to be influenced by this previous relationship in the exercise of his functions,” read the legal opinion.

“It is absolutely necessary that this legal opinion that (Ducharme) was talking about at one point be done before he submits his candidacy,” said Kamanyana.

Photo caption: After the release of the first impression of the legal opinion, mayoral candidate Olive Kamanyana argues her fellow candidate Yves Ducharme should withdraw his candidacy for Gatineau mayor.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

The solution to Gatineau’s housing crisis lay in changing the regulations and procedures to build them, independent mayoral candidate Olive Kamanyana told reporters on May 9.

Despite the creation of the Comité-choc en logement, the former Carrefour-de-l’Hôpital district councillor noted the vacancy rate in Gatineau was still barely 1 per cent. This low turnover in housing stock ultimately meant the vacancy rate of units with rents under $1,575 was below 1 per cent, making the task of finding housing for lower-income households even more challenging.

“The problem we have, and everyone knows it, is the problem of supply and demand. There is very little housing, and there is a lot of demand. And what I find very complicated is that the Comité-choc en logement, when it began its work, did not think of working on regulatory changes,” said Kamanyana.

Pulling from Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan, the candidate proposed a regulatory review of the Site Planning and Architectural Integration Plans to remove unnecessary barriers, facilitate the addition of housing through building expansion and subdivision, as well as streamline the permit process.

Kamanyana added, “There are several elements that make it possible to make housing available and to help developers to help us…. It is up to us to facilitate the construction of housing because the developers bring the money to us to simplify the processes and regulations.”

Photo caption: If elected, independent mayoral candidate Olive Kamanyana would like to see changes to regulations and procedures to build housing to speed up construction in Gatineau.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Gatineau’s acting mayor, Daniel Champagne, gave his two cents on Bill 57 in a presentation to the National Assembly of Quebec on May 8.

Tabled in early April, the bill aimed to protect elected officials from threats, intimidation, and harassment, with offenders facing fines up to $1,500.

The latest data from the Fédération Québécoise des Municipalités discovered a spike in elected officials reporting uncivil comments and interactions online compared to its 2017 report. This was the reality of former Gatineau mayor France Bélisle, who resigned from her position in late February due to personal attacks and death threats.

Now in her place until the by-election, Champagne underlined the significance of protecting officials from this form of intimidation but avoiding creating a “wall” between politicians and citizens where people no longer feel able to express themselves.

“We must ensure that we do not lose the voice of the citizen,” Champagne told journalists in a press briefing on May 1. “The place of the citizen in decision-making is fundamental. The place of the citizen in criticizing elected officials for the decisions they make is essential.”

At times officials are faced with citizens full of emotion as they speak to issues close to their hearts, and Champagne stressed the importance of allowing this expression of emotion, but in a respectful manner.

“We must not create an environment in which people feel that they are walking on eggshells every time they express discomfort with any situation.”

But where was the limit? Champagne said this was where things became a little difficult but could be resolved with the use of a council president, who was someone other than the mayor.

“I think that the president of a municipal council has an extremely important role to play … to precisely establish this limit, then say at what point have we just crossed to a zone into which we cannot go.”

Photo caption: Gatineau’s interim mayor Daniel Champagne stresses the necessity of keeping communication with citizens open, all the while protecting elected officials from forms of intimidation.

Photo credit: Screenshot from the Executive Committee press scrum on May 1

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Despite having sat on council during the time of the decision, independent mayoral candidate Olive Kamanyana has challenged council to rethink its decision to have citizens foot the bill for the Société de transport de l’Outaouais’ $10 million deficit with a two-part vehicle registration tax.

Although the Société de transport de l’Outaouais hoped for a $90 increase to the current $30 annual public transit contribution, council decided to implement a two-phased approach to the tax. The first $60 hike in 2025 would cover the public transit system’s deficit but no service improvements would be seen until the second increase of $30 the following year. Kamanyana later resigned from her district councillor position on April 25 as she ran for mayor.

“I made it clear that it was a very hasty decision, very quickly taken without having sincerely spent the time to lift all the stones to see how we want to absorb the Société de transport de l’Outaouais’ deficit,” said Kamanyana.

Cited as one tax too many, Kamanyana sided with the many citizens who have contested the tax since it was first raised by former Gatineau mayor France Bélisle prior to her resignation.

“What is happening is that people are tired, very tired on a budgetary level. They no longer have the means to dig into their pockets. You can see for yourself on the shelves how the prices have increased, and people do not understand how this measure comes suddenly without having had a discussion,” she said.

With her own property tax paper in hand, Kamanyana pointed to the fact that Gatineau residents already contribute to public transportation with their property taxes. “The ecological transition is very important, but the successful ecological transition will be one that is supported by all citizens. And above all, we must not impose anything on citizens without talking to them.”

The inflationary period felt by residents required a review of spending and another way of exercising leadership in expense management, said Kamanyana. If elected, she committed to quickly working with the Société de transport de l’Outaouais to help innovative management and optimize their expenses.

Photo caption: Gatineau mayoral candidate Kamanyana condemns municipal council’s decision to go forward with a vehicle registration tax to fund the Société de transport de l’Outaouais’ deficit.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Independent mayoral candidate Stéphane Bisson gathered journalists in the heart of Vieux-Aylmer on April 29 to reveal an “audacious” plan to rejuvenate the centre-ville and neighbourhood centres of Gatineau.

“It is time to renew our approach and intensify our efforts to revitalize these vital centres of our community,” said Bisson.

With the intention of being Gatineau’s mayor beyond the short mandate, Bisson committed to a “clear vision” of the future of the City’s centre-ville over the long term with four measures.

At the top of his checklist was revisioning the Programme particulier d’urbanisme du centre-ville followed by the redevelopment and “reappropriation” of the ruisseau de la Brasserie. Bisson would also like to see the transformation of the segment of roadway from Highway 50, commonly known as Autoroute Guy-Lafleur, to Highway 5 into an urban boulevard to improve connectivity between the centre-ville and the Saint-Joseph boulevard area. He would also promote the continuation of urban densification in the “industrial wasteland” between Montclair and Montcalm.

“For more than 10 years, discussions around the revival of downtown Gatineau have followed one another without a concrete or unified solution being implemented. Past projects, although ambitious, have not succeeded in reversing the spiral of devitalization that our centre-ville has suffered,” said Bisson.

His address did not leave out the neighbourhoods that make up all the sectors of Gatineau. “Neighbourhood quarters are crucial to stimulating and developing the feeling of belonging to our city.” To do so, Bisson proposed the creation of neighbourhood councils, development and implementation of district-specific action plans, promotion of cultural events, ongoing dialogue with key stakeholders, and implementation of a harmonized brand image to boost activity in each district.

“Together, dear citizens of Gatineau, we can transform our city into a place where it is good to live, work, and play. I invite you to join me in this ambitious project, to share your ideas, and to actively participate in building a dynamic and inclusive city.”

Photo caption: While there have been discussions around revamping Gatineau’s centre-ville, mayoral candidate Stéphane Bisson says concrete action has been lacking to bring past projects to a reality.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Independent mayoral candidate Daniel Feeny proposed five “concrete measures” on May 1 for immediate implementation to fight against Gatineau’s growing number of citizens experiencing homelessness.

Of his first measures, Feeny committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of those experiencing homelessness, stakeholders involved, and citizens in the neighbourhood with what he referred to as “frequent cleaning chores on the Guertin site,” establishment of a local service centre, improvement of adapted services, and continued collaboration with camp partners.

“Not knowing what will happen is a situation that adds anxiety and insecurity for our most vulnerable population, the organizations on the ground, and the residents of the Guertin sector. I don’t just want to talk about cleaning, waste, (and) moving people. It’s about our community and our fellow citizens. For me, this means respect, collaboration, and above all a ‘housing first’ approach,” Feeny wrote in a press release.

The need for temporary transitional housing was evident, said Feeny. The candidate committed to the continuation of Gîte Ami’s Mon Calme project, which provides citizens with a temporary housing solution for two to nine months as they seek new accommodations. Feeny also proposed a system to accelerate the support and authorization for transitional housing projects throughout the city.

“Funding for 500 housing units is available from the Government of Quebec for this type of need. Gatineau must be among the first to submit projects to help our most vulnerable population.”

In the hopes of better coordination, Feeny would like Gatineau and the province to jointly finance the position of a homelessness commissioner to facilitate dialogue and innovation between different levels of government and stakeholders.

Inspired by the Fondation du Grand Montréal, the candidate also proposed the creation of the Gatineau Foundation for Life with Philanthropie Outaouais to allow the City to bring together private and public resources to support local initiatives.

Photo caption: In a promise of leadership, mayoral candidate Daniel Feeny committed to ensuring the safety of all players involved at the Guertin site in his plan to tackle Gatineau’s homelessness issue.

Photo credit: Daniel Feeny Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette presented what the mayoral candidate referred to as “win-win” solutions to pull Gatineau out of the housing crisis.

“Despite the increase in construction starts for several years, too many citizens do not yet have access to housing that meets their situations and this is proof that we need to do things differently. Tools exist; we must seize them to build communities for our world,” Marquis- Bissonnette told journalists on May 2.

Marquis-Bissonnette offered three “concrete and realistic solutions” to meet the needs of citizens without stretching their wallets. Among the first was using the city’s new powers of incentive zoning or tax credits to facilitate affordable, social, and family housing. Marquis-Bissonnette committed to opening the doors of communication between citizens and developers prior to a project being realized.

“Citizens are interested in the projects that are developing in their neighbourhood. They want to be informed and listened to by developers before the project is submitted to the city,” she said.

With the adoption of the affordable housing strategy, Marquis-Bissonnette said it was high time Gatineau put some of those tools, like the right of pre-emption, into motion.

“Faced with this urgent situation, the responsibility of a mayor is to defend the interests of everyone. With what I am proposing, we are clarifying the rules of the game to ensure that developers can contribute and do their part to adequately accommodate our world.”

Photo caption: Action Gatineau mayoral candidate Maude Marquis Bissonnette stresses urgent action to stop the City’s housing crisis from unraveling.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Gatineau officials were faced with two possibilities for the future of those residing at Robert-Guertin Centre, also known as Tent City, as the arena awaits demolition.

Officials will have to decide whether to move the site to municipal land on rue Hanson or rearrange the current Guertin site to allow those experiencing homelessness to safely stay, despite the construction work.

“The reality is that we must redevelop the site one way or another. We’ve known that since last fall when we started talking about the possibility of demolishing Guertin,” Hull-Wright district councillor Steve Moran told journalists following a plenary committee meeting on April 30.

With the May 15 deadline with Devcore Group quickly approaching, Gatineau’s interim mayor Daniel Champagne said the City must act quickly.

Municipal land on rue Hanson was identified as the only possible option for relocation, but there is a high risk of soil contamination at the site. Several analyses would be necessary to determine if the land would be developable. The alternative was to maintain the current site, which Champagne noted was an interesting option.

No matter the decision, the Director of Service des loisirs, des sports et du développement des communautés, Sébastien Vallée, said the entire Guertin site requires reorganization. The City planned to explore how the area could be organized with partners to reduce the tension that currently erupts.

“Homelessness is going to be with us at least for the next 10, 2, 3, 4, 5 years, that’s for sure,” said Moran. “Let’s establish a plan for the next few years so that we can organize everyone and finally provide the services that people need.”

Champagne noted that the first step would be for the City to see what is possible at the Hanson site. In the meantime, the acting mayor said Gatineau would maintain the Guertin site.

Photo caption: With the Robert-Guertin Centre up for demolition, Gatineau elected officials were presented with two options on where to locate homeless citizens who have flocked to the arena.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Independent mayoral candidate Stéphane Bisson revealed a five-point approach to tackle Gatineau’s critical housing issue at a press conference at the Asticou Centre on April 24.

“As you know, our City is at a critical point in terms of housing and it is essential to put in place concrete and sustainable solutions for social and affordable housing,” Bisson wrote to social media.

While Bisson listed Gatineau’s vacancy rate at 0.8 per cent, the latest Rental Market Report recorded the 2023 vacancy rate at 1.1 per cent. The area’s vacancy rate has remained steady at 1 per cent since 2018.

To undertake the housing crisis, Bisson recommended using existing land and buildings for social housing, consulting with the main players in the construction sector, using social utility trusts, utilizing municipal right of pre-emption on land and multi-unit buildings as well as continuing the activities and recommendations of the Comité-choc en logement.

To achieve this feat, the candidate underlined the contribution of the main players in the construction and community organizations.

“It is with firm commitment and unfailing determination that I wish to lead these initiatives,” wrote Bisson. “Together, we can transform our vision into reality and make Gatineau a city where every citizen can find an affordable and decent roof over their heads.”

Photo caption: Mayoral candidate Stéphane Bisson shares his five-point plan to resolve Gatineau’s housing crisis at a press conference on April 24.

Photo credit: Stéphane Bisson Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

While the Université du Québec en Outaouais reached a milestone with the awarding of contracts for a new student residence, it has simultaneously launched a plea to the public to assist with off-campus accommodations.

“Until the student residence project comes to fruition, (Université du Québec en Outaouais) is aware that the housing shortage remains, and we must once again launch an appeal to the population to find housing for our future students,” the university rector Murielle Laberge noted in a release.

The project was estimated to cost $32 million, with the Société d’habitation du Québec, the Ville de Gatineau, and the Ministry of Higher Education as the main funders. The building’s first residents were expected to move in the fall of 2026, leaving the university to strategize how to house students for the coming term.

Months away from the fall term, the university has already received 429 requests for accommodation, while only 39 places were available. Those with accommodation were invited to contact the Université du Québec en Outaouais Student Services by email at logementhc@uqo.ca.

Photo caption: With more than 400 requests for student housing, the Université du Québec en Outaouais turns to the population to assist in accommodating students for the coming term.

Photo credit: Université du Québec en Outaouais Facebook