#Gaspé

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – The Town of Gaspé has revised the process surrounding elected officials’ discretionary budgets, following a decision by the Quebec Municipal Commission concerning the City of Gatineau.

The commission had reviewed how Gatineau handled its discretionary funds after receiving a complaint and, in June, concluded that the Gatineau municipality had exceeded the roles and responsibilities defined by the provincial legislature for council members. It also found that the accumulation of funds for discretionary use did not comply with the legal framework.

Gaspé maintains that its own practices are in line with regulations.

“We believe so. Our legal opinions point in that direction. We don’t operate in the same way as Gatineau. In the end, the result may be similar,” said Mayor Daniel Côté.

In Gaspé, the procedures are clearly defined. The council authorizes discretionary funds through a borrowing bylaw, which can ultimately lead to a referendum. This is formalized at the January council meeting following the presentation of the December budget.

“All of this is planned and made public in budget reserves, in accordance with the regulations. It’s not the same as in Gatineau, where it was directly included in the city’s operating budget,” he continues.
Going forward, the town of Gaspé will adopt specific resolutions identifying how and where discretionary funds are allocated.

“We are proceeding in the most transparent manner possible. We are adding safeguards by passing resolutions. We are convinced that we were legal before, but we will be even more so once the decision is adopted by the councilors,” said the mayor.

The added step could delay funding for local organizations, but it’s seen as a move toward greater fairness.

“All financial assistance procedures will be reanalyzed, possibly with the new council after the election. All grants may be debatable. What we want is maximum fairness for all organizations,” said the man who will be running for mayor next November.

Each year, Gaspé provides approximately $2 million in financial support to community organizations.
“The entire council seems comfortable with the way things are done,” concludes the mayor, emphasizing that fairness is a core value.

Right of first refusal

Gaspé is granting itself a right of first refusal. The town of Gaspé will have priority to purchase private land that may be put up for sale for certain uses, a power granted by Quebec in June 2022.

“It must be for public use: housing, children’s areas, even areas sensitive to biodiversity,” Mr. Côté gives as an example.

The town will determine the targeted land over the coming months.

“The urban planning team will identify the land on which we will register our right of first refusal. The owners will be informed,” he says.

The value of the land is not expected to change, according to the elected official. If there is a transaction, the Town will be able to match the offer, if it deems it appropriate.

Detailed information will be available soon on the Town’s website.

Cheaper asphalt

Surprisingly, the only bid submitted by Eurovia to pave the streets of Gaspé this year is slightly lower than the town’s estimates. The mayor says this is good news.

A total of $1.1 million has been allocated to pave several street sections deemed the highest priority.

“We are doing several hundred metres where it is most urgent. I would like to point out that an objective analysis was carried out using specific criteria. There is no political arbitration involved,” said Mr. Côté.

In 2022, the Town of Gaspé adopted a $3.4 million borrowing bylaw, in addition to sums from various funds for a total of $4 million over four years.

In the first year, the cost skyrocketed, with Eurovia’s bid requesting $1 million higher than that town’s $600,000 estimate. In 2023, however, the cost dropped to $676,000.