Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter
The City of Gatineau held its first Executive Committee meeting of the year on January 15,
2025. The meeting focused on reviewing agenda items, including housing developments,
infrastructure projects, and budget approvals. While the session itself followed procedural
formalities, broader issues were addressed during the subsequent press conference, which
featured discussions on key municipal challenges such as housing affordability, homelessness,
public transit, and the Gatineau tramway project.
Councillor Steve Moran of Hull–Wright (7) opened the press conference by discussing
homelessness. He emphasised the growing need for strengthened support systems and
collaboration with community organisations to address the challenges faced by the city’s most
vulnerable residents.
Former interim mayor Daniel Champagne followed by focusing on housing affordability,
particularly for units priced under $1,500 per month. He highlighted a 26% increase in new
housing starts in November 2024 compared to the previous year but acknowledged that
vacancy rates for affordable housing remain critically low. Champagne stressed the need for
continued efforts to address the affordability gap in Gatineau’s housing market.
Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette addressed three key topics during her remarks: Société de
transport de l’Outaouais (STO) investments, municipal taxation, and the Gatineau tramway
project.
The mayor began by outlining plans for reinvesting STO surplus funds to improve public transit
services. She highlighted priorities such as increasing transit frequency, enhancing accessibility,
and expanding service coverage to better serve Gatineau residents.
She then turned to the topic of municipal taxation, explaining that while the surplus funds are
valuable for short-term transit improvements, they are not a sustainable solution for long-term
funding. She defended the city’s decision to maintain certain levies to ensure consistent service
delivery and support larger infrastructure projects.
Finally, Marquis-Bissonnette concluded with comments on the Gatineau tramway project. She
reaffirmed the city’s commitment to this transformative initiative, which remains a cornerstone of
Gatineau’s long-term transportation strategy. While acknowledging the political uncertainty
following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s departure and the Liberal government’s leadership
changes, the mayor expressed optimism that federal and provincial partnerships would continue
to support the tramway’s advancement.
Photo: Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette discussed public transit improvements, taxation
strategies, and the advancement of the transformative tramway project during the subsequent
press conference following Gatineau’s first Executive Committee meeting of 2025. (TF) Photo
screenshot of the Mêlée de presse du 15 janvier 2025 – Comité exécutif on Youtube