Taylor Clark
LJI Reporter
Unofficial mayoral candidate Jacques Bélanger gathered journalists at the Robert-Guertin Centre on April 2 to unveil plans for rejuvenating the centre-ville by addressing homelessness and implementing a low-cost housing program.
“I am convinced that with Itinérance Zéro and a budget, we will change everything you see around here,” said Bélanger, concerning the encampment known as Tent City, which he dubbed a disaster.
The businessman said the situation that had been ravaging the province’s fourth-largest city could be resolved “quite easily” by forgoing his mayoral salary and dedicating what he estimated was $250,000 per year to combatting homelessness alongside Itinérance Zéro.
“With an amount of $250,000, I believe that we are capable of quite easily, not completely resolving, but improving the current situation by at least 50 per cent,” said Bélanger. With the use of four-season trailers, he planned to restore “dignity to the homeless.”
While Bélanger said encampment would remain at the Robert-Guertin site, he planned to have a fair centre take the place of the former arena to host year-round attractions.
Bélanger also shared his plans for a low-cost housing program that would establish a tax credit for each housing unit rented out at a low price.
“To achieve low-cost housing, there is no other alternative. We need to find something to build at a better price.”
With tourism at the forefront of his campaign, the candidate has already committed to bringing the Gatineau-Ottawa Executive Airport to the next level and 10 tourism projects which he estimated would generate $100 million in revenue for Gatineau.
Bélanger was expected to host another press conference on May 10 to discuss the centre-ville, the environment, and “a very bold program on Gatineau’s infrastructure.” His financial plan for all his commitments was anticipated to follow and be released to the public on May 28.
Photo caption: Gatineau mayoral candidate and business owner Jacques Bélanger expects to
improve the city’s homelessness situation by 50 per cent if elected on June 9.
Photo credit: Taylor Clark