Mayor

 Mayor Lamoureux gunning for political hat trick

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By Trevor Greenway

Guillaume Lamoureux is looking for a hat trick. 

A third term as La Pêche mayor, that is. 

“I love this community,” Lamoureux told the Low Down after officially announcing he is running again in the upcoming Nov. 2 municipal elections. “I am super honoured to serve it, and I have the energy and love required to do it for the next four years.”

Lamoureux was a first-time candidate in 2017 when he staged a major upset over longtime mayor Robert Bussière, who had held the title of mayor for five consecutive mandates since 1997. Lamoureux beat Bussière by just 32 votes. 

Since taking office, Lamoureux has managed several significant projects – including overhauling the municipality’s communications to be more accessible; the COVID-19 pandemic; and the new, award-winning $11 million town hall, half of which was funded by grants. 

He said that the next four years will be crucial in La Pêche, particularly with issues such as the future of turntable park (see Page 1), municipal infrastructure and housing. 

“Housing is on everyone’s mind,” said Lamoureux. “We must find the right balance for La Pêche. We need to diversify housing, but we do not want to lose the feel of our community.”

Housing will be a significant issue in the Hills for years to come, particularly in terms of housing diversity, as the region lacks many options for rentals or affordable housing. 

According to regional housing roundtable La Table de développement social des Collines-de-l’Outaouais (TDSCO), 15 per cent of MRC households spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing. The 30 per cent income-to-housing ratio is the threshold used by the Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC) to consider a home as “affordable.” 

Of the 835 residents surveyed by the TDSCO  in 2021, most identified a lack of housing diversity, a lack of affordable housing and housing conditions as the top three issues facing the region. 

Aside from housing, Lamoureux said that his “personal goal is to remain a good listener and always be respectful of everyone’s point of view, especially when we do not agree.” This approach has led to a relatively cohesive and well-functioning council, especially when compared to other municipalities in the region. 

Quebecers head to the polls to choose mayors and municipal councillors on Nov. 2.

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A second candidate, Dominique Giroux, enters the race for Chandler mayor

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Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

CHANDLER – Dominique Giroux launched her pre-election campaign on June 11 for the upcoming November 2 election for mayor of Chandler.

In front of about 25 people who attended her first official public appearance, the candidate, who had made her intentions known last winter, placed recruitment as a priority.

“Attracting our professionals: we’ll soon be short of teachers and dentists. We’re already short of veterinarians. We have 1,000 people who don’t have family doctors. We have to attract these people. We’ll have to invest and develop a strategic plan to attract them,” explained Ms. Giroux, who intends to listen to her citizens.

“The railway is strategic. With my team, I’ll do my best to ensure it reaches at least Chandler. We’ll see later about the distance rules required for building buildings. The main goal of the campaign will be on focusing on the population and the town,” she said, promising a clean campaign against her announced opponent, Gilles Daraîche.

The town is also working to revitalize the wharf that Transport Canada wants to sell. “It’s super important. Now, there are a lot of costs involved. When I’m elected, I’m going to work on that,” the candidate said.

Former mayor Louisette Langlois attended the pre-campaign launch. She indicated that her presence was not an endorsement, but rather an opportunity to hear democracy in action. She declined to comment further.

“I didn’t invite anyone. Ms. Langlois is here.” I can’t tell you if she’ll vote for me, but I feel a great deal of solidarity with me. But between what people feel and how they vote, that can change,” comments Ms. Giroux.

In the ongoing dispute between Langlois and the town, where the town is claiming more than $300,000 related to the former mayor’s 180-day suspension in 2021, with legal costs exceeding $400,000, Ms. Giroux prefers not to comment.

“We have to sit back and watch. I am new to this. Ms. Langlois’s case is very hot. We’ll see where it gets to and we’ll see, within reason, what we can do. But at this point, I can’t answer you because I’m not in office,” says the candidate cautiously.

However, the saga surrounding Sauvetage adrénaline, which led to her dismissal, could resurface during the campaign.

Ms. Giroux once again assures that she has turned the page. “I have a 50-page judgment that has been issued. If people want it, I can forward it. They will read it and make their own analysis. No one said I stole. I don’t think it can harm me,” believes the woman, who is currently the operations coordinator at Camp Bellefeuille.

As soon as she announced her intentions on social media that she was launching her campaign on June 11, Dominique Giroux said she was the victim of intimidation by elected officials who sit on the council table.

“I won’t name them out of respect because I have strong values. I find it sad because municipal employees receive letters asking them not to take sides during the campaign. That councillors can say things… It didn’t affect me. I just find it boring,” the candidate says.

The mayor, Gilles Daraîche, believes that his opponent is casting aspersions. “I spoke with the five elected representatives present and no one intimidated Ms. Giroux. It would be important to name names when making such denunciations, so that we can check. Moreover, the five elected representatives are not talking to Ms. Giroux. It’s all made up in a spirit of revenge. I hope the public will disregard these falsehoods,” says the mayor.

The tone of the campaign appears to be set. “It’s a campaign that will be long and has already begun. It will be a campaign filled with falsehoods right to the end,” believes the outgoing mayor.

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Mayor Outlines 2025 Budget and Priorities for Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension

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Dimitris Ilias
LJI Journalist

Laurence Lavigne Lalonde, the Mayor of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension, has announced the borough’s 2025 budget, presenting what she describes as a balanced and responsible financial plan. According to Lavigne Lalonde, for the second consecutive year, the borough has managed to balance the budget without using accumulated surpluses from previous years. She emphasized that the overall increase in spending will be limited to 1.0%, which she noted is well below the current inflation rate. In her view, this reflects careful financial management, despite rising costs for goods and services.
Lavigne Lalonde has consistently highlighted that the borough’s priorities are focused on the collective well-being and quality of life for its residents. She identified housing access as a critical issue and stated that the borough is working to address this within its capabilities. As part of these efforts, 2024 saw the introduction of measures aimed at protecting the rental housing stock, including restrictions on housing mergers, with limited exceptions. Additionally, the borough is strengthening partnerships with local organizations to promote social and affordable housing projects. According to Lavigne Lalonde, these initiatives are part of a broader response to increasing social challenges.
Among the key achievements cited by the Mayor was securing over $34 million in funding from provincial and federal governments for the construction of two new community centers, one in Parc-Extension and another in Saint-Michel. Lavigne Lalonde also announced plans for the city to transfer land to facilitate these projects.
In addition to addressing housing and social issues, Lavigne Lalonde pointed to several environmental and public space improvements in 2024. She highlighted the launch of the “Bye Bye Béton!” initiative, which she described as the borough’s first participatory project aimed at removing asphalt and increasing green spaces. According to her, 273 square meters of asphalt were removed and 1,000 trees were planted. Other related initiatives included the addition of curb extensions, the planting of flowers, and the continued maintenance of public cleanliness.
In terms of safety, Lavigne Lalonde reiterated her commitment to protecting vulnerable groups, particularly children and seniors. She described ongoing efforts to calm traffic and enhance safety around schools as part of a larger plan aimed at improving pedestrian and road safety. These initiatives, she said, would remain a key focus for 2025.
Looking forward, Lavigne Lalonde expressed her intention to continue the borough’s transformation into what she described as a greener, more connected, and safer community. She emphasized her commitment to staying attentive to the needs of residents and investing in services that address both present and future challenges.
Among the notable achievements of 2024, as outlined by Lavigne Lalonde, were the development of a traffic-calming plan in collaboration with residents, safety improvements near schools, and the planting of thousands of trees. The borough also secured substantial government funding for community centers and maintained its focus on cleanliness efforts in key areas such as Parc-Extension and Saint-Michel.
While Lavigne Lalonde has framed these efforts as essential to enhancing the quality of life in the borough, the community’s response to the 2025 budget and the initiatives outlined will be closely monitored. Though the Mayor has emphasized sustainability and safety as top priorities, the impact of these measures will unfold over the coming year as they are put into action.

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Mayor Announces Slight Reduction in Local Tax Rate for 2025

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Dimitris Ilias
LJI Journalist

The Mayor of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension, Laurence Lavigne Lalonde, has announced a slight reduction in the local tax rate for 2025. The new rate is set at 0.0507 per $100 of property assessment, marking a decrease from the 2024 rate of 0.0538. Lavigne Lalonde highlighted that this reduction is due to the expansion of the borough’s property roll and that the impact on property tax bills will be minimal. For example, the increase in local taxes for a typical multi-unit building valued at $724,728 is estimated to be only $11 for the year 2025.
The Mayor emphasized that the 2025 budget continues to focus on three main priorities for the borough: ecological transition and greening, mobility and safety, and enhancing the living environment. These priorities guide the borough’s investments and spending, which, according to Lavigne Lalonde, are aimed at creating a sustainable and safe community.
Ecological initiatives include increasing green spaces, reconfiguring parks and streets, and continuing efforts to reduce traffic congestion. In line with these goals, the borough will also support the City of Montreal’s central efforts to develop more social, affordable, and family housing. Lavigne Lalonde pointed out that the borough remains committed to fostering local economic growth by supporting initiatives that strengthen the local business community.
During a special session on October 1, the borough also adopted its 2025-2034 Ten-Year Capital Works Program (PDI), which outlines long-term investments planned for the next decade. The program provides a total budget envelope of $88.55 million, which will be distributed over ten years to improve the borough’s infrastructure and public spaces.
Lavigne Lalonde outlined that the investments planned under the PDI for 2025-2034 will focus on key areas, including road repairs, park redevelopment, and the protection of public buildings. These investments are designed to enhance the quality of life for the residents of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension by addressing their needs for improved facilities and local parks.
The PDI’s $88.55 million budget is divided as follows:
$36.04 million for road repairs and public space improvements.
$35.93 million for building protection and maintenance.
$16.58 million for park redevelopment.
Major projects slated for 2025 include road repairs, reconfigurations, park revitalizations, and building protection efforts. These projects are expected to play a crucial role in the borough’s continued development and are detailed in the borough’s 2025 budget presentation.
While Lavigne Lalonde’s announcement highlights these initiatives as central to the borough’s future, the implementation and effects of these investments will be observed closely as the projects progress. Residents will also be able to view detailed budget priorities and plans in the borough’s 2025 budget presentation, where they can see how the administration aims to balance the financial and environmental needs of the community while maintaining a focus on long-term sustainability.

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