BRENDA O’FARRELL
The 1019 Report
Stymied by elected officials in its bid to have the provincial government conduct a feasibility study on the possible merger of the four towns on Île Perrot, a grassroots group has launched a petition hoping public support will convince local politicians get the ball rolling.
“I am persuaded that citizens want this information,” said Lise Chartier, the communications director for Avenir Île Perrot – Becoming Île Perrot in an interview Monday.
The petition, urging elected officials in Pincourt, L’Île Perrot, Notre Dame de l’Île Perrot and Terrasse Vaudreuil to request the free study be conducted by Quebec’s Municipal Affairs department, was launched last week. As of yesterday, 314 people have signed the online roster on the group’s website. The group aims to collect 400 signatures, but that goal could be upgraded, Chartier said.
Avenir Île Perrot – Becoming Île Perrot was formed last May. Its purpose is to advocate for the fusion of the four towns on Île Perrot in an effort to better provide cultural and sports services, offer a long-term planning and development vision for the island, as well as reduce administrative costs.
So far, Notre Dame Mayor Danie Deschênes and Terrasse Vaudreuil Mayor Michel Boudreau have refused to meet with representatives of the group, while meetings with elected officials in Pincourt and L’Île Perrot were held last fall. But none have made the move to ask Quebec for the study.
Only municipal officials can request the study.
Chartier said a request for the free study is an important step in informing taxpayers of the pros and cons of a possible municipal merger. It is an issue that has been floated several times in the last few decades, she said. The group claims a merger would provide savings for taxpayers and allow for a better sharing of resources to promote buy-in to provide cultural and recreational infrastructure, like an arena and a performance space.
If the four towns on Île Perrot merged, the new entity would be the second largest municipality in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region, with a population of about 40,600, only slightly smaller than Vaudreuil-Dorion. The new town would be the 35th largest municipality in Quebec and the fourth largest in the greater Suroît region, which includes Valleyfield, Châteauguay and Vaudreuil-Soulanges.
Avenir Île Perrot – Becoming Île Perrot will be hosting a second open-house information session at the Station des Sports, 336 Grand Blvd. in L’Île Perrot on May 4 at 10 a.m.