Author: The Record
Published August 21, 2024

Photo by William Crooks
Local MPs Elisabeth Brière, Pascale St-Onge, and Marie-Claude Bibeau met with around 40 local mayors to discuss significant municipal issues

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Federal MPs Marie-Claude Bibeau, Élisabeth Brière, and Pascale St-Onge hosted a symposium in Magog on Wednesday, Aug. 21, engaging with municipal leaders from across the Eastern Townships. Attended by around 40 mayors and municipal representatives, the event focused on federal programs aimed at addressing pressing local concerns, including infrastructure, housing, and climate resilience.

The meeting was initiated by Bibeau, Minister of National Revenue and MP for Compton-Stanstead, who emphasized the need to keep municipalities informed about the array of federal programs available to them. “It’s not always easy to navigate through these different programs,” Bibeau stated in a media scrum after the event, noting that some are managed federally, while others are administered by Quebec or the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. She stressed the importance of ensuring municipalities are aware of their options and how to access them.

Brière, MP for Sherbrooke and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, highlighted the success of the event, underscoring the importance of collaboration between federal, provincial, and municipal governments. “Collaboration, consultation, and teamwork bring so much more than division and confrontation. We witnessed that today,” she said.

Brière expressed hope that the regional mayors’ day would become a recurring event, providing a forum for continued discussion and problem-solving. She also underscored the commitment of MPs to working with municipalities: “We continue in this direction, ensuring that funds are put in the right places and directly benefit the population.”

Housing was a central issue during the symposium. Federal programs aimed at addressing the housing crisis were presented, but mayors expressed frustrations with the difficulty of accessing these resources. The challenges of applying for federal programs were echoed after the event by Stanstead Mayor Jody Stone and Ogden Mayor David Lépine, who explained that the lengthy applications, short deadlines, and limited municipal staff often put smaller towns at a disadvantage. “They send you a form that’s got 47 pages and you’ve got a month’s deadline,” Lépine said. “You’ve got three employees. One’s taking care of the roads, one’s on the phone counting, and the other one’s doing the inspections. Who’s going to do that?”

St-Onge, MP for Brome—Missisquoi and Minister of Canadian Heritage, addressed concerns over border security, a recurring issue in the region. She recalled her recent patrol of the area with Public Safety Minister Dominique LeBlanc and the challenges posed by illegal crossings: “We want to assure the safety of the population. We’ve added border resources, and when Roxham Road was closed, the RCMP resources were redeployed throughout the region to be closer to the citizens.”

Climate change and disaster response were also key topics of discussion. Several mayors raised concerns about the increasing frequency of natural disasters, referencing the recent flooding in Brome-Missisquoi.  Brière acknowledged the federal government’s responsibility in addressing these issues: “The climate crisis is real, and we are here with strong programs to meet our targets and respond to catastrophes.”

The MPs assured the gathered municipal leaders that their concerns would be taken to the upcoming federal Liberal caucus in Bromont. Bibeau emphasized the importance of these meetings: “It’s essential for us to stay attuned to the concerns of the mayors of the Eastern Townships… Their voices guide our actions, and we will continue to be available and committed to meeting their needs.”

The event was well received by the municipal leaders present. Stone and Lépine both remarked that it was an informative session, providing an opportunity for dialogue with the federal government and allowing smaller municipalities to connect with their counterparts across the region. “It was informative,” Stone said. “They gave us a chance to talk with the ministers, which we don’t always get to do.”

The MPs did not make any specific promises during the symposium, but Brière assured that their voices would be heard: “It’s very effective to bring this feedback to the right ears.” The goal, she explained, is to ensure that federal programs are continually adapted to meet the evolving needs of municipalities across the region.

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