By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban
Residents gathered at Station des sports restaurant as citizen association Becoming Île Perrot addressed the ongoing debate over municipal amalgamation studies on the island, marking another significant milestone in their campaign for unified governance.
The meeting centred on information published in Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot’s (NDIP) recent “Quoi de neuf” newsletter regarding amalgamation study costs. The organization presented comprehensive documentation from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MAMH) to demonstrate that such studies are available at no cost to municipalities, challenging what they view as misleading information in the municipal publication.
“Our concern is functionality and that the citizens benefit from the best services possible,” Becoming Île Perrot founder Francine St-Denis told The Suburban. “We understand the challenges related to a merge but it is essential to create the best possible services to constituents and local merchants.”
Becoming Île Perrot, established in November 2023, is calling on NDIP council to correct their newsletter content and accurately inform citizens about the availability of free government studies. The organization emphasizes that transparency and accurate information are crucial for informed public discourse about the island’s future.
The proposed amalgamation would significantly reshape local governance. A unified municipality would serve more than 40,000 residents, combining the current municipalities of Pincourt, Terrasse-Vaudreuil, L’Île-Perrot, and Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot under a single administration. This population size would put the unified city on par with neighbouring municipalities such as Vaudreuil-Dorion and Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, potentially increasing its regional influence.
Gérard Farmer, a local entrepreneur serving the area since 1981 and former president of the Île-Perrot Merchants Association, expressed concerns about the current fragmented system. “The geopolitical weight needs to be increased in order for us to be able to advocate for our collective needs in terms of the highway, the bridge and transportation in general,” Farmer said to The Suburban. His experience in the local business community spans over four decades, offering valuable insight into the challenges faced under the current municipal structure.
This represents the most significant proposed change to the island’s governance since 1984, when the City of Pointe-du-Moulin merged with the Parish of Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot. Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot currently stands as the largest of the four municipalities on the island, and its position on the amalgamation issue carries particular weight in the ongoing discussions.
The organization has been actively seeking meetings with municipal officials to discuss the current municipal organization. Their stated goal is to ensure residents have access to comprehensive information about the potential benefits and implications of municipal unification. Despite these efforts, some municipal councils have been hesitant to engage in formal discussions about the merger possibility.
According to the organization’s website, municipalities can obtain a government study simply by requesting it from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs. This stands in contrast to the information published in NDIP’s newsletter, creating confusion among residents about the actual process and costs associated with exploring amalgamation options.
The potential merger could lead to significant administrative streamlining, with current estimates suggesting substantial savings through reduced overhead and consolidated services. The organization points to successful municipal mergers elsewhere in Quebec as examples of the potential benefits of unification.
“We have a vision and we believe this is the best course of action, but this is a democracy and the people will decide. We just want to do our due diligence and let them know,” St-Denis explained. This approach reflects the organization’s commitment to public engagement and democratic process in pursuing their amalgamation goals.
NDIP officials had not responded to requests for comment regarding the newsletter’s content by press time. The silence from municipal leadership has raised concerns among merger proponents about transparency in the discussion process.
The organization continues its efforts to promote dialogue about the island’s municipal structure, emphasizing the importance of accurate information in public discussions about potential amalgamation. Sunday’s meeting represented another step in their ongoing campaign to engage residents in conversations about the island’s administrative future, with particular focus on ensuring all citizens have access to factual, objective information about the amalgamation process and its implications for the community’s development. n