Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter
Mario Aubé, municipal councillor for the Masson-Angers district, will be presented to City Hall in the fall of 2025. In addition, he serves as president of the Public Safety Commission and represents the Corporation de l’Aéroport de Gatineau-Ottawa and Tourisme Outaouais. He is also a member of several committees and commissions.
As 2025 is fast approaching, Aubé agreed to answer a series of questions, to take stock of his achievements and challenges, as well as his reflections on the future.
What do you consider your biggest accomplishments on the council this year?
In my opinion, my greatest accomplishment was making sure that Masson-Angers resonated very strongly with the municipal council. It was a priority to ensure that the residents of my district had a strong voice on the council as well as in the administration.
What were the most significant challenges faced by your district in the past year, and how were they addressed?
One of the major challenges is that of overflows. There are requests, pending projects that want to evolve and move forward, but the answers are not coming quickly. This is still not resolved to this day. When the budget was presented, no amount was added. We are still stuck with the same amount even though we know that the issue of overflows has been going on since 2010 and that the situation needs to be corrected.”
There are also basic services, including paving […]. According to a test I conducted called PCI (Pavement Condition Index), I got one of the worst ratings in the entire city of Gatineau for the condition of Rue de Fleurie in Masson-Angers. However, I managed to pave the street after three years. It may seem simplistic, but for the people in the neighbourhood who pass by that little stretch of street, it made their year.
What feedback from district residents shaped council decisions, and how did you incorporâtes their concerns?
This year, for example, I managed to negotiate an adjustment to the regulation of firearms control in the agricultural sector. I spoke with farmers who told me that this regulation would prevent them from controlling the population of geese that eat the seeds and crops on their land.
I also defended the voice of my residents regarding the registration tax for the STO. Just like them, I was against this tax that penalizes those who have cars. We all want to take the bus, but there are no good services in the area.
What improvements or changes have been made in your district’s infrastructure, such as roads, parks or public spaces?
There was the reconstruction of the tennis court fence at Jack-Eyamie Park and the replacement of the water tower for the Masson arena. Several streets were paved, including Rue George, one of the busiest streets in Masson-Angers and Buckingham.
How have local businesses in the district been supported, especially during challenges like inflation or the post-pandemic recovery?
Lately, there was the parking tax that we discussed during the budget study week and that will be made official when the budget is voted on. I took a very local approach to this issue. I looked at the Encan zone of Masson-Angers where a 25% surcharge was to be imposed. I defended that zone and obtained an amendment to the budget, making an exception for that area. That would have meant thousands and thousands of dollars for merchants who would have been forced to pass the tax on to customers.
I also supported Les 2 Petits Cochons dairy bar that lost everything in a fire. I asked the city administration to obtain authorization for them to continue to operate from a trailer.
How has the district’s budget allocation been spent, and what were the key priorities for local spending?
A good portion of the budget was used to help organizations like the Maison de la Famille and the Lions Club. I also lit up the Vieux-Masson sector for the holiday season, helped find a location for a community organization, the Quilters Guild, and relaunched the small café meetings in Masson.
What policies or initiatives do you believe have made the most impact on residents’ quality of life this year?
I managed to ban the regulation on the new collection of household waste. In my opinion, it makes no sense that the extra bag must be photographed so that the next morning a truck can pick it up. Imagine when it’s winter and your bag gets stuck in the ice or is pushed by the snowplow.
What lessons did you learn this year that will shape future decisions?
I realized that, as a city, we need to take the time to explain our decisions to residents, to inform them in advance and involve them in the decisions. We really need to listen to them.
What are your top priorities for improving the quality of life in your district next year?
Since I will be running for mayor, I will have an eye on all the districts. I have my eye on the greater city, but I will, of course, always keep it on Masson-Angers. For me, the main priorities remain basic services and good communication […].
How do you see the district evolving over the next few years, and what long-term plans are in place to support this vision?
We often think that the evolution of a district is done with large projects, but it is often several small projects located in several sectors that form the whole. It is important that none of these projects leave dust lying around. They must be active.
We also need to knock on the doors of higher governments so that Quebec and Ottawa help with infrastructure, housing and other needs, instead of overtaxing our citizens. There is money sleeping in the coffers at the federal and provincial levels. We need to get that money to maintain good intergovernmental relations for the development of our city.
You will soon be presented at City Hall; what does that represent for you?
I would say that my heart is in Masson-Angers. These are my residents and it’s what makes me want to get up every day to defend their interests. My way of thinking about helping residents has expanded and I feel the need to do it for the entire city of Gatineau. I intend to represent all the people of Gatineau just as I do for those in my district of Masson-Angers.”
Photo: Mario Aubé answering questions from the media during the press scrum on November 7, 2024. (MG) Photo: Courtesy of the City of Gatineau
See all the interviews in upcoming editions and at GatineauBulletin.ca