Mayor France Bélisle held a press conference to deliver a mid-term update on her
administration’s progress, addressing several key initiatives and reflecting on two years of service. The conference focused on developments in housing, infrastructure, and environmentalpolicies, underscoring a commitment to improving the quality of life for Gatineau residents.
The Mayor began by thanking citizens and committee members involved in housing projects, highlighting the non-political, community-shared interest in tackling the housing crisis exacerbated by the pandemic. She outlined the city’s strides in housing, noting the creation of 1,275 new homes, with a goal of 400 units ready by spring 2024 – a significant increase from the 850 units initially stalled in planning phases.
A historic agreement that secured $75 million for housing initiatives stood out as a key achievement, along with the adoption of affordable housing strategies and policy reforms aimed at facilitating housing projects. These efforts are part of a broader ambition to provide Gatineau with the infrastructure befitting its status as Quebec’s fourth largest city.
Mayor Bélisle also mentioned the Saint-Étienne project, a current construction endeavor led by the Œuvres Isidore Ostiguy, designed to offer transitional housing and community support for 15families at risk of homelessness, aiming to assist them in returning to work or education.
Mayor Bélisle highlighted her administration’s commitment to environmental sustainability, mentioning a significant investment from the provincial government to support a major environmental initiative. This initiative aims to rehabilitate a notable site within the city, addressing environmental concerns and reducing greenhouse gas emissions as part of a larger,comprehensive remediation effort.
On transportation, Mayor Bélisle emphasized initiatives to promote active and public transport, including programs that have enabled over 10,000 students to use city transit for free. The administration has also improved bike paths and expanded the community car-sharing network.
The Mayor stressed the importance of simple, everyday solutions to improve municipal services,such as optimizing waste collection and snow removal policies. Investments totalling $690 million over four years have been made to address infrastructure wear, with a commitment to continue such improvements in the coming year.
In closing, Mayor Bélisle reinforced the city’s dedication to economic development, cultural projects, and organizational improvements to better serve citizens. She advocated for greater economic planning and strategic investments to enhance Gatineau’s economic vitality.
The speech underscored the Mayor’s vision of working together to achieve tangible results, echoing her campaign promise and laying out a roadmap for the remainder of her term.
Photo: Mayor France Bélisle presents a mid-term progress report, outlining her administration’s achievements in housing, infrastructure, and environmental policy to enhance the living standards in Gatineau.(TF)
Photo: Tashi Farmilo