Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

A second political party has been coming out of the woodwork to take on Gatineau’s reigning municipal party.

“The by-election was the pivotal point, I think, in Gatineau’s history since the arrival of the first political party,” said Évolution Gatineau founder Sylvie Goneau “It’s now become, I think, clear that without a second political idea carrying another type of ideology, people will not have the ability to vote for any type of view that has a chance to win against a political party.”

The former Bellevue district councillor reserved Évolution Gatineau with Élections Québec from June 5 to December 5.

At the core of the newfound political party was a central ideology with a slight right tendency when it came to economic and financial views, said Goneau.

“You have to be able to offer the population what the population needs within the means of the city. And to do that, you need to value everything the city has to offer.”

The party’s founder explained that the city has the responsibility to manage finances in a way that allows citizens to keep money in their pockets.

Having already run for mayor in 2017, Goneau said she had seriously considered adding her name to the ballot during the recent by-election but was thrown off by the number of independents battling it out against Action Gatineau.

“When I started counting the number of independents who were running and the political party’s ability and finances that they already had in their back pocket and the electoral machine and the lack of interest that the population has in voting in municipal elections, it became clear to me that the political party was going to win, hands down.”

Goneau said she maintained this prediction throughout the months of campaigning and was not surprised when Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette was declared mayor.

With Marquis-Bissonnette’s win, the political party was reinstated at the city’s top job after losing to former independent mayor France Bélisle in 2021. Although Bélisle’s term was cut short, it marked the end of 8 years of Action Gatineau at the helm with founder Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin ending his two-year term as mayor.

In a previous interview, Pedneaud-Jobin explained the political party brought together experts to fuel large municipal decisions as the growing city tackled larger budgets and new responsibilities.

Hoping to level out the playing field between independents and members of a political party, Goneau founded the Regroupement des élus indépendants pour la démocratie, or RÉMI, during her time as district councillor.

“The financing opportunities that differentiate independents versus political parties is a great disadvantage for the independents,” said Goneau. “(RÉMI) had gained an extra year of funding, but that’s still not sufficient for independents to be able to win, especially not in a by-election like (that).”

Unlike independents, political parties of any municipality of 20,000 or more who received at least one per cent of the votes in the last general election were entitled to an annual allowance, distributed in proportion to the percentage of valid votes obtained in the previous general elections. According to Action Gatineau’s 2023 financial report, the political party’s allowance totaled $104,870.97.

Independent Pointe-Gatineau district councillor Mike Duggan, who supported the RÉMI movement in the past, has already joined Évolution Gatineau but Goneau did not expect anyone else to tag along so close to the next election.

“Next year we’ll be ready to start receiving applications for future candidates for the 2025 election, and it’s at that point, I think, that we can expect independents to jump on board with us.”

This was not the first time the independent councillor dabbled in political parties. Duggan reserved the political party name Démocratie modern in 2015, Infrastructure Outaouais in 2019, and Dans le milieu in 2022 which all failed to be officially formed.

The City’s new mayor and Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette said she was not surprised by another political party being formed.

“I think it’s simple for democracy. This allows public participation in municipal authorities. Then as the responsibilities of cities evolve, I think it’s normal to want to work as a team,” said Marquis-Bissonnette.

Évolution Gatineau was not the only party name reserved for the municipality with Élections Québec. Former mayoral candidate Mathieu Saint-Jean reserved Équipe citoyenne de Gatineau from April 30 to October 30.

Goneau invited the public who wished to have another option, “who don’t see their values being represented right now,” to contact her or Duggan to obtain an Évolution Gatineau membership card. Goneau can be reached at info@sylviegoneau.ca while Duggan can be contacted at mikedugganconseiller@gmail.com.

Photo caption: Registered by former Bellevue district councillor Sylvie Goneau, the political party Évolution Gatineau aims to offer residents another option besides the city’s sole active municipal party, Action Gatineau.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Sylvie Goneau

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

A new multi-use trail has been added to the current network in the east of Gatineau. The first phase of the Lièvre Ouest trail, located between rue Pierre-Laporte and rue Maclaren East, was officially opened on June 27.

“This project, awaited by the community, is a great addition to existing links in the east of the city, allowing various modes of active transportation to be practiced in a safe manner. These are significant benefits for the entire population of Gatineau, particularly for residents of Buckingham and potentially for those of Masson-Angers, when the second phase of the project has been completed,” wrote Buckingham district councillor Edmond Leclerc in a press release.

Spanning 1.75 kilometres, the first phase of the trail included a route through a wooded area along with a portion of rue Georges which can be explored on foot, by bike, or even by scooter.

The new addition will allow safe access to the Brady Bridge across the Lièvre River. The link will also double as an incentive to abandon vehicles for active transportation, said Leclerc.

The creation of the trail in a wooded area was possible due to an agreement with Evolugen, which offered the required land.

“Contributing to the quality of life of the communities near our activities is part of our values, and allowing citizens to benefit from the land that belongs to us is one of the ways of doing so. Thanks to the City, our land, like this trail, allows people from the east to move, gather, and have fun,” wrote Evolugen’s director of Quebec operations, Mathieu Daoust.

Photo caption: Representatives from the Ville de Gatineau and Evolugen mark the official opening of the first phase of a new multi-use trail in the east end of the city.

Photo credit: Ville de Gatineau Website

TAYLOR CLARK

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

MRC PONTIAC – Although some areas saw up to 85 millimetres of rain, MRC Pontiac’s public and civil security coordinator said the heavy rainfall was nothing out of the ordinary. “I would say it’s all probably a little above average, but we’re not talking anywhere near the flood levels we have had, even in the spring,” commented Julien Gagnon.

For the week of June 17, Gagnon reported that water levels at Fort-Coulogne rose by about 25 centimetres but quickly began to fall. The increase was insignificant compared to the levels in April, when the water increased almost a full metre, said Gagnon.

“The water that we can get in rainfall doesn’t compare to the water that comes down from the north in the spring with the spring runoff,” Gagnon added. “We’re only at a 20 % effect due to this rain, compared to what we can get in the spring.”

While the higher-than-average rainfall presented no emergency concern for water levels in the rivers, circumstances were different on land. Jason Durand, the MRC’s Director of Land Use Planning and Environment, reports heavy damage to many local roads. “We’ve got a lot of washouts, and that’s giving us a lot of trouble,” he said.

Particularly bad were two washouts, back-to-back, on Jim’s Lake Road, one of the most important bush roads up into the Pontiac’s TNO. The MRC expects to have two culverts replaced within a week.

Beyond Jim’s Lake Road, Bryson Lake Road suffered several major washouts, cutting off access to the Bryson Lake Lodge and four private cottages. The Lodge’s owner, Denis LeBrun, reports “We were able to fix the main road coming into our lodge. That took two days to temporarily repair the holes.” But past the lodge were seven sizeable washouts, blocking access to private cottages and three of the lodge’s own 15 cottages.

“At this point, we’re trying to fix it ourselves. We’ll try to make it passable but there’s going to be a lot of culverts that will need to be repaired and replaced,” added LeBrun. Without access to these three cottages, the lodge would be out a minimum of $45,000, on top of the costs to repair the road. LeBrun said he had not seen such destruction in his 31 years of owning the outfitters.

“We are an outfitting business. We rent out cottages. We’re not a road construction company. We don’t build roads … There [are] no outfitters that I know that have a backhoe, a tandem, a grader, and a loader. We have more construction company equipment, but we’re really renting cottages for fishing.”

Although the lodge is on a secondary road, LeBrun hopes for public funding to repair and maintain the roadway – rather than draining large chunks of the Lodge’s revenue.

“I know the MRC believes we’re important. We bring a lot of business to all the local businesses. We buy everything locally. We especially support the little businesses in the area. It’s just that there’s so little funding.”

Due to the frequency and increasing severity of the washouts, LeBrun said more politicians like the MRC’s Warden Jane Toller should be made aware of the issue. Toller herself did not respond by our deadline.

Photo – One of several washouts caused by heavy rain on Bryson Lake Road.
Credit: Bryson Lake Lodge.

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

The body of a man who had fallen overboard on Canada Day was found in the Ottawa River the following day. 

The Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau confirmed on the morning of July 3 that the body was discovered by drivers on the evening of July 2. 

Emergency services first arrived at the Hull Marina on Laurier St. shortly before 9:45 pm. While how the man ended up in the river remained unknown, the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau indicated that the boat he fell from was moored to the dock. 

A search of the water was carried out that evening, but the man could not be located. Specialized teams joined the search on the morning of July 2 and the body was found later that evening. 

The identity of the man was not disclosed to the media. 

An investigation into the circumstances and cause of death continues. 

Photo caption: Emergency services were deployed to the Ottawa River to search for a man who fell overboard from a docked boat at the Hull Marina on July 1. 

Photo credit: Camera de nuit Facebook Page 

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

A fire caused 200 people to be evacuated from a seniors’ residence in the Aylmer sector on the evening of June 29. Fire services arrived at Aylmer Arms Apartments at 166 rue Principale around 9:18 pm, after residents were alerted by the alarm.

According to its website, Aylmer Arms is a non-profit organization incorporated under Quebec law to provide economical, affordable lodging for semi-retired and retired seniors.

The situation led to emergency evacuation by aerial ladder of several residents from the balconies closest to the fire. Smoke throughout the six-floor building complicated the work of firefighters, and the fire was extinguished around five hours later.

No injuries were reported, but 30 residents were in the care of the Canadian Red Cross.

A media release from the Gatineau Fire Safety Service indicated that damages were estimated at $3,743,730. Deschênes district councillor Caroline Murray said the fire had “seriously affected the building,” leaving the smell of smoke throughout the hallways days after.

“I went to see (those overseeing the building) to reassure them that the City would not let them down,” Murray said after meeting with the Aylmer Arms president and general manager.

The district councillor explained that the Canadian Red Cross only provides assistance for 72 hours. “For the City, it was really important to make them understand that, after 72 hours, they would not be on the street and that we would take care of them. There is no resident who will be left behind.”

Photo caption: Gatineau Fire Safety Service tends to an apartment fire at 166 rue Principale in the Aylmer sector on June 29.

Photo credit: Camera de nuit Facebook Page

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Gatineau’s theatre community was rocked by the death of 86-year-old Gilles Provost on June 23.

The actor, director, and artistic director was a pillar in cultural development in Gatineau. During his long career, Provost notably became the heart and soul of Quebec’s only municipal theatre, Théâtre de l’Île, acting as the artistic director for more than three decades.

His more than 60-year career earned him an array of awards including the Queen’s Silver Jubilee medal in 1977, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal in 2002, the Prix Hommage des Culturiades from Culture Outaouais in 2003, and the Special Jury Award from the Capital Critics Circle in 2007. His long-standing accomplishments also earned him the Ordre de Gatineau in 2014, as well as the Municipal Merit award in 2016.

In a video honouring his 2014 win, Provost described the theatre as “(his) coke, (his) drug, (his) beer, (his) life.”

“I would like people to remember that for me, my seasons, there is comedy, there is drama, there are questions that are asked. There are things that will cause you to protest. I said, that’s theatre, that’s life. At 10 years old, I learned that laughing was important and that crying and being moved were also important,” said Provost.

Photo caption: Actor, director, and artistic director Gilles Provost shares his love for theatre after receiving the Ordre de Gatineau in 2014.

Photo credit: Ville de Gatineau YouTube – Ordre de Gatineau 2014 – Gilles Provost

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Emergency medical dispatchers working for the Centre de communication santé de l’Outaouais have been on an indefinite strike since June 14.

On behalf of 22 union members, the Fédération des employés du préhospitalier du Québec was seeking improvements to salary and vacation time.

Union affairs agent Stéphane Rainville said the strike was unavoidable since the government was unwilling to waver from its position after 10 negotiation sessions.

“We are currently seeking equity with the public sector. Currently, the Government of Québec has provided offers with the public sector,” said Rainville. “Then we want the same thing in terms of vacations and salary. Currently, the government only offers us salary and not vacation time.”

The indefinite strike was triggered just two months after the previous 14-month strike wrapped up in April. Emergency medical dispatchers from Outaouais joined others in Laurentides and Lanaudière on strike in late January of 2023 after their employment contract expired in March 2022 and negotiations lagged.

“We must put pressure on the Ministry to be able to move the negotiation forward.”

An agreement on essential services maintained in the event of a strike was reached between the Fédération des employés du préhospitalier du Québec and the Centre de communication santé de l’Outaouais in early May. The Tribunal administratif du travail later found the agreement terms “sufficient so that the public health or safety (was) not put in danger during the strike.”

During the strike, the emergency medical dispatchers would continue to respond to all calls received as well as allocating and distributing available prehospital resources. The administration side of things was expected to take a hit as the agreement listed modified tasks or ones that would not be performed altogether like punching in or repairing system breakdowns.

If essential services were to be disrupted, the Tribunal required both parties to work together to find a solution quickly. If they fail to do so, the Tribunal will step in to provide the necessary assistance.

Photo caption: Twenty-two emergency medical dispatchers are striking to put pressure on the Government of Québec to provide better pay and working conditions.

Photo credit: Fédération des employés du préhospitalier du Québec Website

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

The Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau hoped to send a clear message against armed violence with the arrest of four individuals in connection to three incidents involving firearms on its territory.

While the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau noted violent incidents with firearms were “relatively rare and isolated,” the incidents occurred within days of each other during the second last week of June. From the investigation, police concluded that the three events were targeted.

The three days of incidents began shortly after 2:30 am on June 19 when officers received a call about an individual at the Gatineau Hospital whose injuries suggested they were a victim of an assault with a firearm. The investigation led the police to a residence located on rue du Progrès in the Masson-Angers sector where a 29-year-old man, known to the department, was arrested the following evening. The man appeared before the Court of Québec on June 21 to face 10 charges.

In the early hours of June 20, the police were deployed to the northern portion of Lorrain to investigate possible gunshots. At the scene, officers noted that a residence experienced damage that could have been caused by firearm projectiles. Two people were in the residence during the incident, but no one was harmed.

Later that evening, possible gunshots were heard by residents on rue du Ravin-Bleu. Upon arrival, the police noticed a residence had been targeted by firearm projectiles. No injuries were reported related to the incident. Officers in the area were quickly able to locate three suspects in a travelling vehicle and arrested them on Highway 50, near boulevard Maloney Ouest. All known to the department, the suspects, 18, 19, and 40 years of age also appeared at the courthouse on June 21 to face various charges.

The investigations into these events continue and further arrests may be made. The Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau encouraged citizens with information about the presence of firearms to contact its information line at 819 243-4636, ext. 5. All information received will be treated confidentially.

Photo caption: The Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau stresses it would deploy all necessary means to arrest anyone involved in armed violence in its territory.

Photo credit: Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

The 120-year-old Alexandra Bridge will need more work than originally anticipated before the historic structure reopens to vehicular traffic.

As custodian of several bridges and crossings between Quebec and Ontario, Public Services and Procurement Canada conducts rigorous inspections, monitoring, and intervention regimes to ensure infrastructures remain safe for their users.

Following an inspection of the Bridge’s steel structure, Public Services and Procurement Canada detected more severe deterioration due to corrosion.

Motorists were advised that the current closure, originally expected to be from October 2023 to fall 2024, would be extended to February 2025 to complete the ongoing rehabilitation and repair work.

During this time, one lane will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists.

Photo caption: Public Services and Procurement Canada informs the public that vehicular traffic will not hit the Alexandra Bridge until February 2025, as more rehabilitation and repair work is needed.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Cégep de l’Outaouais and four hoteliers have partnered to accommodate 150 students with an aim to increase accessibility to college studies.

Seventy-five rooms, in double occupancy, will be rented on varying terms at what a press release referred to as a “highly affordable price,” costing a student from $45 to $75 per night, depending on the hotel, the room, and the services offered.

With respect to the agreement, the Cégep de l’Outaouais would act as promoter and facilitator. Rental contracts were expected to be completed directly between the student and the hotelier.

“This solution responds to part of the critical housing needs for some of our students and contributes to promoting accessibility to higher education, as well as living conditions that contribute to well-being, success, academic perseverance, and also the safety of students who otherwise have to travel long distances between their homes and our campuses,” wrote general director Steve Brabant.

He noted the partnership was a first step in the right direction but stressed that the Cégep de l’Outaouais was the only CEGEP in Quebec that did not have student residences.

The press release pointed to the fact that more than 500 of its students lived more than 60 kilometres from one of its campuses, a distance that risked educational success and academic perseverance.

According to a 2022 census of student housing needs, more than 425 housing units were needed to accommodate the student community. By 2028, the Cégep de l’Outaouais anticipated its student demographic would grow by another 900 students, many of whom will require housing.

The college has submitted a funding request to the Québec Infrastructure Plan 2024-2034 to build a residence on its Gabrielle-Roy campus. An additional project was also being developed in a public-private partnership with Heritage College.

“Under our partnership with our neighbouring college, Heritage College students will also be able to benefit from the offer by partner hoteliers in the event of vacancy,” said Brabant.

Photo caption: A partnership struck between the Cégep de l’Outaouais and four regional hotels will allow 150 students to secure housing as they seek higher education.

Photo credit: Cégep de l’Outaouais Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Two male suspects were arrested after a vehicle stolen from the Aylmer sector was apprehended by the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau apprehended in the Buckingham sector on June 11.

Shortly after 6 pm, a citizen reported his Honda CR-V stolen from a commercial parking lot in the Aylmer sector. The stolen vehicle was equipped with an independent tracking device, which allowed officers to locate the vehicle on Highway 50, heading toward Buckingham.

The driver and passenger fled on foot when the police intercepted the vehicle on Buckingham Avenue. A short foot chase ensued until the two men were arrested by the police.

The men, aged 35 and 38, appeared before the Court of Québec. The investigation continues.

Photo caption: The Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau arrest two men for allegedly stealing a vehicle in the Aylmer sector.

Photo credit: Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Demands from Outaouais appeared to have been partially heard as the Government of Québec agreed to expand specific measures aimed at matching overall pay with Ontario to include medical imaging staff from the Papineau and Maniwaki hospitals.

The agreement between the Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux and the provincial government was first announced at the end of April and was to only be offered to technicians at the Hull and Gatineau hospitals.

Similar to what was previously announced, the two-year incentive measures consisted of an annual lump sum of $22,000 for those committed to working an additional 2.5 hours a week and a 10 per cent increase in salary during the summer for staff in Gatineau, Hull, and Papineau. On top of the 10 per cent increase, technicians in the Maniwaki hospital would only receive $18,000 if they worked additional hours per week.

Pontiac MP and spokesperson for the official opposition André Fortin had already been critical of the “half measures” put forward by the province and was floored by the exclusion of the Shawville and Wakefield hospitals, stating the extension was “a slap in the face” to imaging technicians left at the wayside.

“As a region, we had clearly asked the CAQ government not to abandon Shawville, Wakefield, Maniwaki, and Papineau. Today, it’s as if their answer is ‘Ok, we’ll just abandon Shawville and Wakefield,’” Fortin wrote to social media.

The decision which Fortin deemed unjustifiable was predicted to destabilize the rural healthcare teams and continue to weaken care in Shawville and Wakefield.

Recently launched health coalition, SOS Outaouais has also claimed the expansion of the incentives still fell short.

“The current crisis of staff shortages in medical imaging is not limited to a few hospitals but affects our entire region,” Jean Pigeon SOS Outaouais spokesperson and Gatineau Health Foundation executive director wrote to Facebook.

With the incentives only expected to last for two years, the coalition called for lasting solutions, “not temporary measures that only delay the real problem.”

Pigeon pointed to the recent investment of $350,000 in recruitment subsidies to improve offers aimed at countering the exodus of technicians to Ontario.

“That’s the community. The community donated $350,000 towards that, and we have our government that’s pretty shy, I believe, to give money from our taxes to come and support this initiative.”

The press release from the Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux recognized the agreement was a step in the right direction but there was still a long way to go.

“(The government) must stop managing one crisis after another and instead tackle the problem of labor shortage in medical imaging globally. We must do real workforce planning and put in place solutions to restore the situation in the long term,” wrote Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux president Robert Comeau.

Photo caption: Pontiac MP and spokesperson for the official opposition André Fortin holds a press conference outside the Pontiac Hospital to condemn the CAQ government’s decision to only extend specific incentives to imagery technicians in the Papineau and Maniwaki hospitals.

Photo credit: André Fortin Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

A group of Algonquin-Anishinabeg and non-Indigenous allies are striving to protect the Gatineau River, or Tenàgàdino Zìbì in Anishinaabemowin, by declaring its legal personhood.

“Our ceremonies and everything else teach us that the water is alive and so is the land. And if it is alive, we need to take care of all of that which is alive,” said Gilbert Whiteduck, former Chief of Kitigan Zibi and co-founder of the Tenàgàdino Alliance. “Colonization viewed it very differently. And colonization allowed many people in this region and elsewhere to become very rich at the expense of nature and the water.”

The Tenàgàdino Zìbì has played a critical role in the identity, history, culture, and economy of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation for thousands of years.

The Tenàgàdino Alliance was created by Whiteduck alongside the director of the Friends of the Gatineau River and Chelsea municipal councillor Rita Jain to ensure the river remained safe from dangers like climate change, biodiversity loss, and contaminants.

“The current regulatory framework does not sufficiently protect the river. Municipalities are currently allowed by the province to dump its effluent at levels more than 10 times higher than that required for a swim advisory,” said Jain. “There are many examples where the current regulations don’t protect enough. We need to flip the paradigm.”

For Jain, the natural next step was to work with Whiteduck to launch a people’s movement to have the Tenàgàdino Zìbì recognized as a legal person.

The concept of declaring a river a legal person is not new to Canada. The Magpie River in northern Quebec became the first river in the country to be granted legal personhood in 2021.

Yenny Vega Cárdenas, lawyer and president of the International Observatory on the Rights of Nature protected the Magpie River in the case. Vega Cárdenas said legal personhood protected an ecosystem by recognizing it as a person rather than an object to exploit.

The approach stemmed from the legal framework of the Rights of Nature which recognized natural bodies like mountains, rivers, or forests as entities that have the right to exist and flourish.

“We don’t know where this adventure is going to take us. We’re starting the formation of the Tenàgàdino Alliance. All I know is that the journey is going to be worthwhile,” said Jain. “It’s going to be a journey of exploration, of knowledge sharing, of reconciliation, and for that, it’s also worthwhile.”

Those looking to be an ally to the river were invited to support the alliance’s statement online at https://tinyurl.com/tenagadinorights. The alliance was also looking for citizens who are willing to roll up their sleeves and join the people’s movement by volunteering, which can be arranged by emailing tenagadino@gmail.com. The alliance encouraged residents to share the initiative with their municipal councillors, mayors, and MRC prefect.

Photo caption: Rita Jain, director of Friends of the Gatineau River and co-founder of the Tenàgàdino Alliance, and Yenny Vega Cárdenas, president of the International Observatory on the Rights of Nature, believe the Tenàgàdino Zìbì can be conserved by becoming a legal person.

Photo credit: Friends of the Gatineau River Website

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

As Outaouais grapples with a “very scary time” for its health-care system, a regional coalition is demanding the National Assembly of Québec rectify what it stated was decades of neglect and underfunding, leaving the regional health-care network to crumble.

“I think it’s fairly simple when we look at the state of where we are. There needs to be leadership at the National Assembly in order for big changes to be made and to ensure our voice will be heard,” said Gatineau Health Foundation executive director and coalition spokesperson Jean Pigeon. “That’s what SOS Outaouais is about, a voice that represents every single citizen that lives in our region.”

Launched and supported by the Gatineau Health Foundation, SOS Outaouais brings together organizations and citizens from across the region in a collective voice to draw attention to the eroding health-care network.

While there has been recent media attention on the region’s lack of imagery technicians driving a shortage of services, Pigeon claimed the whole network was hanging by a thread.

“We’re not providing the care that we should and it’s nothing else, I think, than just not receiving the resources that we need to do that work,” said Pigeon.

According to the region’s catch-up study by the Observatoire du développement de l’Outaouais, even with expenditures in Ontario, approximately $181 million was missing in Outaouais compared to the province’s average health spending in 2021 and 2022.

“We pay the same taxes. We should have the same access to the services, but we don’t. And that is a fact.”

Along with correcting the historical disproportion in spending, the coalition was urging immediate permanent measures like providing pay differentials to compete with the exodus of staff leaving for higher pay in Ontario.

“(We need to) provide those salary conditions for them to work in the region where they reside. If not, they’re going to keep on, and I totally understand why they would cross the bridge every day to go work in an Ontario hospital.”

Those looking to support SOS Outaouais can join the close to 600 other citizens lending their voice to the initiative and donating at sosoutaouais.ca.

Photo caption: The Gatineau Health Foundation organized a press conference on June 6 to launch SOS Outaouais, a regional coalition enacted to focus the National Assembly of Québec’s attention on Outaouais’ eroding health-care network.

Photo credit: SOS Outaouais Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Despite the promise of better communication, Alexandre Gallant, the president of the Collectif régional de lutte à l’itinérance en Outaouais, said those experiencing homelessness have been left in the dark as Gatineau worked behind the scenes to relocate those seeking shelter in the parking lot adjacent to the Robert-Guertin Centre.

Hundreds of citizens have been left in limbo as the City prepares to demolish the former home to the Gatineau Olympiques due to the building’s significant deterioration. The City assured it would work alongside the residents who make up what was known locally as “Tent City.”

But these promises of partnership seem to have begun to crumble as the president of the Collectif régional de lutte à l’itinérance en Outaouais addressed the many difficulties in trying to get “answers to relatively simple questions.”

“Emails went unheeded. Meetings organized, canceled, organized, canceled, organized, canceled have followed one another over the last month,” Gallant told council during the question period on June 11.

Gallant’s criticisms followed the Summit on Homelessness at the Maison du citoyen in April where attendees were promised to be kept in the loop.

“We talked about how we were going to work together. We are going to be very good partners. Communication will be fluid,” said Gallant. “And honestly, since then, we’ve been wondering where these discussions went.”

This was not the first time Gallant used the question period to get answers from council. Last month, he pleaded for answers about relocating hundreds of people after the demolition was pushed back, stating it was not just a construction project on the line, but peoples’ lives.

“When you answered our questions, you told us all about your desire to communicate better. So, what are your commitments to ensure this better communication?”

Hull-Wright district councillor Steve Moran said council must not only insist on communication, but also maintain a relationship of respect between partners.

“Once again, I say it often, I think that the City is learning to work on a file that was not its own not so long ago, but because of a crisis on our territory, which affects our citizens, we need to learn to do better,” he stated.

In the spirit of doing better, the council adopted a resolution to appoint an integrated housing and homelessness strategy project director for two years.

“The City must respond with leadership, with efficiency and I think that this responds to the will of the entire municipal council and also to all Gatineau residents,” said Moran.

Photo caption: Collectif régional de lutte à l’itinérance en Outaouais president Alexandre Gallant pleads for Gatineau’s promised partnership in relocating those who seek shelter in the parking lot adjacent to the Robert-Guertin Centre.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

The Ville de Gatineau officially awarded a more than $2 million contract for the deconstruction of the former home to the Gatineau Olympiques. The Robert-Guertin Centre was added to Gatineau’s list of demolitions in late February due to its “significant level of deterioration.”

Mario Aubé, president of Comité consultatif d’urbanisme and Comité exécutif, told reporters work would begin in the coming weeks and was expected to take at least a year.

While demolition tends to evoke images of wrecking balls, Aubé emphasized the 67-year-old building would be deconstructed on account of numerous containments.

The lengthy process would allow those who make up the encampment known as “Tent City” in the adjacent parking lot to “not be chased away.”

“It’s not necessarily going to start tomorrow morning but when it starts this summer, there will be communication with the people who are there at least two weeks before it starts,” said Aubé.

To create a link between those experiencing homelessness and the City, council recently appointed an integrated housing and homelessness strategy project director. The City’s territorial director, Geneviève D’Amours will occupy the position for two years.

Photo caption: Deconstruction of the Robert-Guertin Centre, former home of the Gatineau Olympiques, will begin this summer and last at least a year.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Daniel Champagne bid farewell to his time as Gatineau’s interim mayor and returned to his district councillor seat on June 11.

“Beyond the small legacies that we have left together since February 22, the most important, in my opinion, will be to have demonstrated to the Gatineau population, to all of Quebec, and to all of Canada, the capacity of the current municipal council to work together despite our different objectives,” said Champagne.

The Versant district councillor moved up to the head of the City after the former mayor, France Bélisle, abruptly resigned in late February, citing Gatineau’s political climate.

In his few months at the helm, Champagne was able to move forward files like the financing of the centralized police headquarters, as well as continuing work to bring the tramway to fruition.

“I am hopeful that our efforts will have borne fruit with an imminent announcement to this effect regarding the production of studies necessary to carry out this project,” said Champagne.

When it came to homelessness, Champagne said the council should be proud of the work it’s been able to accomplish together. “We have increased our demands on the provincial government to obtain the support necessary to manage the crisis,” he said. “And we are currently finalizing the last details of the establishment of a group that will facilitate the management of the homelessness crisis by bringing the stakeholders together around the same table.”

The district councillor congratulated the incoming mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette and the other candidates who put their lives aside to run an electoral campaign. “Running a campaign is not something that is easy, so thank you for your involvement.”

Champagne said he has already begun handing work over to Marquis-Bissonnette and looked forward to collectively moving Gatineau’s issues forward.

Marquis-Bissonnette was expected to be sworn in on June 18 for her 17-month mandate. Champagne said he would continue to serve as an advisor until the end of the term.

Photo caption: Members of Gatineau’s municipal council thank Versant district councillor Daniel Champagne for taking on the role of interim mayor after the resignation of France Bélisle.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Devcore’s supervised camp of heated winter tents proved to have a positive impact on most of its campers, according to a social impact analysis by Centraide Outaouais.

Dubbed Camp Guertin, 56 individuals experiencing homelessness spent their winter in red heated tents in a supervised and fenced-in area of the parking lot adjacent to the Robert-Guertin Centre, where participants agreed to respect a code of living.

Before the emergency initiative wrapped up, Centraide Outaouais interviewed 25 campers to gain a better understanding of the social impact of the project.

The most common elements from the interviews were having a “roof,” sleeping with heat, and feeling secure. For some, the camp allowed the opportunity to “catch your breath” and “stay away from problems.”

Having guards and workers provided campers with a feeling of security and, above all, the ability to speak to someone when the need arose. Nearly 20 per cent of the respondents found the camp gave them tools to escape the episode of homelessness in which they found themselves.

While the 48 tents had a beneficial impact on a majority of participants, basic needs, such as access to showers on site and two meals per day, remained unmet. One should note showers were planned in the project but did not become a reality due to administrative reasons.

“Building on the momentum of this positive initiative, we must continue to support innovative solutions that have the agility to implement,” wrote Centraide Outaouais executive director Cédric Tessier.

Camp Guertin was not the only innovative solution Devcore has put forward. The company unveiled the proposed plans for Village Transition, a temporary and transitional solution composed of shipping containers that would house individuals for two to five years.

Under the proposal, Devcore hoped the City of Gatineau would lend land free of charge in the same parking lot where the red tents were erected and contribute to the necessary infrastructure.

The non-profit organization Transition Québec was expected to manage the Village and the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO) was also evaluating ways to support the project.

“Creating a safe, structured, and adapted environment to the needs of this population is essential to promote rehabilitation and social integration. This innovative project demonstrates the real potential for collaboration between various community stakeholders to support the most vulnerable people,” Jeneviève Caron, deputy director of the mental health and addiction programs at CISSSO wrote in a press release.

Plans for the Village consisted of around 60 containers and would accommodate up to 100 people. The exterior would include shared spaces like a dog park, a bike repair shop, storage spaces, a community garden as well as an arts and culture space. Operational amenities would include a sanitary block, and an intervention center offering permanent psychosocial support, along with two large communal kitchens to allow for cooking alone or in groups.

The Village was estimated to cost between $4 and $5 million. The containers or real estate assets would be owned by regional stakeholders like business people or organizations. These stakeholders could then buy shares or contribute through a guaranteed return loan.

Similar to the circumstances surrounding the heated tents, future residents will need to adhere to a code of conduct and be interested in “starting the process toward citizenship.” Tenants will be expected to pay a modest rent based on their income as well as the type of unit and level of involvement on the site.

“Village Transition is the logical continuation of the Guertin Camp, the first phase that protected 50 people from the elements this winter. With the Village, we are helping 100 people,” wrote Devcore’s founding president Jean-Pierre Poulin.

Photo caption: A rendering offers a glimpse of how Devcore’s Village Transition could come together in the parking lot adjacent to the Robert-Guertin Centre.

Photo credit: Devcore Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Pontiac MP and spokesperson for the official opposition on health matters accused the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) of abandoning the Outaouais health care system and its patients after the refusal to hold a travelling parliamentary commission.

“Not only does the CAQ refuse to act, but it does not even deign to come and see the situation and listen to stakeholders in the field,” André Fortin wrote in a press release. “Once again, the CAQ turns its back on Outaouais and prefers to abandon citizens to their fate, even if it means not receiving the health care to which they are nevertheless entitled.”

For the past few months, Fortin has been utilizing the question period during Assembly sittings to address the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, about the catastrophic state of the region’s healthcare network.

In late May, Fortin decided words were not enough and wanted to bring Québec City to Outaouais to allow Dubé and those on the Committee on Health and Social Services to see for themselves the extent of the crisis in the form of a travelling parliamentary commission.

“If those public policymakers and those MNAs from other regions come to the Outaouais and witness just how dire the situation is, they cannot possibly ignore it,” said Fortin.

Yet ignored was exactly what the recent press release from Fortin conveyed, stating “the CAQ categorically refused” the request. The commission would have allowed key players in the field to propose measures to ensure retention and attraction of staff directly to decision-makers.

Fortin said the refusal confirmed the CAQ government’s “total disinterest toward the region and its citizens.”

As the press release was issued, the Minister responsible for the Outaouais region Mathieu Lacombe shared a clip to Facebook of Assembly proceedings, where he highlighted the work that was being carried out by health-care staff in his region.

“Over the past few days, I have travelled through the hospitals of Outaouais to take the pulse of the people who, every day, are there to care for our world,” said Lacombe. “Madam President, I would like to assure you that we will do everything possible to maintain and improve services to the population of Outaouais.”

Photo caption: Pontiac MP André Fortin demands answers for the population of Outaouais from Minister of Health Christian Dubé during Assembly sittings.

Photo credit: Screenshot from the question period during the Assembly sittings on May 22

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Pontiac MP and spokesperson for the official opposition on health matters accused the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) of abandoning the Outaouais health care system and its patients after the refusal to hold a travelling parliamentary commission.

“Not only does the CAQ refuse to act, but it does not even deign to come and see the situation and listen to stakeholders in the field,” André Fortin wrote in a press release. “Once again, the CAQ turns its back on Outaouais and prefers to abandon citizens to their fate, even if it means not receiving the health care to which they are nevertheless entitled.”

For the past few months, Fortin has been utilizing the question period during Assembly sittings to address the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, about the catastrophic state of the region’s healthcare network.

In late May, Fortin decided words were not enough and wanted to bring Québec City to Outaouais to allow Dubé and those on the Committee on Health and Social Services to see for themselves the extent of the crisis in the form of a travelling parliamentary commission.

“If those public policymakers and those MNAs from other regions come to the Outaouais and witness just how dire the situation is, they cannot possibly ignore it,” said Fortin.

Yet ignored was exactly what the recent press release from Fortin conveyed, stating “the CAQ categorically refused” the request. The commission would have allowed key players in the field to propose measures to ensure retention and attraction of staff directly to decision-makers.

Fortin said the refusal confirmed the CAQ government’s “total disinterest toward the region and its citizens.”

As the press release was issued, the Minister responsible for the Outaouais region Mathieu Lacombe shared a clip to Facebook of Assembly proceedings, where he highlighted the work that was being carried out by health-care staff in his region.

“Over the past few days, I have travelled through the hospitals of Outaouais to take the pulse of the people who, every day, are there to care for our world,” said Lacombe. “Madam President, I would like to assure you that we will do everything possible to maintain and improve services to the population of Outaouais.”

Photo caption: Pontiac MP André Fortin demands answers for the population of Outaouais from Minister of Health Christian Dubé during Assembly sittings.

Photo credit: Screenshot from the question period during the Assembly sittings on May 22

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Following the summit on homelessness held in April, the Ville de Gatineau is inviting residents to answer an online questionnaire to shape its next municipal action plan on social development and homelessness.

Similar to the themes discussed during the summit, respondents will be asked to speak to homelessness, the continuum of housing services, support for interventions and partnerships, the neighbourhood as a centre of development, camp and shelters as well as the conditions and quality of life.

The results will guide the City in better targeting the issues and identifying priority actions to be implemented in the 2025-2029 Social Development and Homelessness Action Plan.

The questionnaire can be accessed at gatineau.ca/consultations until June 20.

Photo caption: Gatineau citizens are encouraged to participate in an online questionnaire on social development and homelessness available on the City’s website until June 20.

Photo credit: Tashi Farmilo

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

The Association pour la qualité dans la construction en Outaouais has filed a request for authorization to file a class action lawsuit against Brigil and the Ville de Gatineau before the Superior Court of Québec.

Supported by the law firm ABC Avocats, the non-profit association is claiming $38 million on behalf of more than 2,500 owners and tenants of Brigil condos built from 1996 to as recent as 2016.

The association was founded in 2020 to improve the quality of construction and renovation of residential buildings in Outaouais and the current collective action has been at the heart of their undertakings.

According to the 33-page application submitted to the court on May 28, the Association pour la qualité dans la construction en Outaouais alleged Brigil built nearly 100 buildings with more than 1,000 condos, without ensuring the condos’ wastewater drains were properly equipped with non-return valves which prevent sewer backups.

The Ville de Gatineau website stresses the importance of non-return valves, stating it was an “obligation”. As per a municipal bylaw, all owners are required to install non-return valves in their residences, regardless of the year of construction.

“Additionally, each check valve must be maintained in good working order. To ensure this, regular verification is necessary,” reads the website.

As the case was in the hands of the courts, the association did not grant an interview but issued a press release accusing Brigil of neglecting to have plumbing plans and specifications together prior to the construction of the condos in question. The finger was then pointed at the Ville de Gatineau for granting the necessary building permits despite the absence of said plans and specifications.

“It should be remembered that there is a municipal by-law in Gatineau requiring the submission of plumbing plans before a building permit can be granted,” highlighted the association.

Based on estimates from the Association pour la qualité dans la construction en Outaouais, it could cost tens of thousands of dollars to correct the construction defect in each of the affected condos, which would likely adversely affect their value.

The Association des professionnels de la construction et de l’habitation du Québec’s new home warranty plans and the Régie du bâtiment du Québec were also in hot water for “having grossly failed their responsibilities and duties” by not ensuring the existence of plumbing plans and specifications, as well as neglecting to carry out mandatory inspections during the construction period.

“Out of respect for the ongoing process,” the Ville de Gatineau did not want to issue any comments.

Brigil also did not wish to speak to the matter, stating “Brigil has always been recognized as a responsible company. We will work with the parties before the Court and intend to respond in a timely manner.”

The Association pour la qualité dans la construction en Outaouais, invited citizens to learn more about this legal action by visiting its website at aqco.ca and encouraged a free membership “to collectively defend their rights in this class action.”

Photo caption: The founder of the Gatineau-based construction company Brigil, Gilles Desjardins has been looped in with the Ville de Gatineau for a request for authorization to exercise class action submitted by the Association pour la qualité dans la construction en Outaouais on behalf of more than 2,500 owners and tenants.

Photo credit: Brigil Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Years of underfunding have left Gatineau’s municipal road network to erode rapidly. But it seems that no matter how much money was thrown at the growing situation, the state of the infrastructure would continue to plummet.

“There has not been enough money that has been put into our road network, which means that we end up with a much faster deterioration of what we can see on our roads compared to what it could have been,” Masson-Angers district councillor Mario Aubé told reporters. “But despite this, even if there had been additional investments to this day, we would not have caught up.”

The state of the roadways has been no secret, but the crumbling situation was put in black and white for elected officials during a presentation at a Comité plénier meeting on May 21.

The latest data from 2023 painted a new portrait of the estimated $1.9 billion road network, claiming 40 per cent or 550 kilometres of the roadways were below the desired service levels. Every year, around 20 additional kilometres are added to the sections falling below service levels. Another 370 kilometres or 27 per cent of the network was at the end of its life cycle, a value that has almost doubled since 2015.

While data from 2020 and 2023 appeared to show some stabilization with short-term interventions, filling potholes will not alone resolve the situation in the medium to long term.

Additional funds are required, and some have already been put in place by council, notably the $24 million bonus envelope at a rate of $6 million per year from 2022 to 2025 which was later extended until 2028. Another one-off bonus envelope of $27.4 million was adopted by council in the respective amounts of $7.4 million, $10 million, and an additional $10 million in 2023, 2024, and 2025. But the effects of these additional investments would not be reflected until the next roadway inspection in 2026.

The last three years have allowed an average of nearly 30 kilometres of renewal work to be carried out. The improvement envelopes should make it possible to achieve around 40 additional kilometres between 2024 and 2026, resulting in 13 kilometres per year. Gatineau anticipated this would assist in partially stabilizing the degradation of the network.

To ensure the current state was maintained, the need for annual intervention was estimated at approximately 50 kilometres. Depending on a 25 to 50-year catch-up period, Gatineau would need the annual interventions of 10 to 20 kilometres on top of the 50 kilometres, but this comes at the cost of major dollars.

“Just to maintain what we currently have; we would have to put $80 million per year in our roads. And if we want to improve our roads overall for 30 years, we would have to spend $110 million per year,” said Aubé. “It’s almost impossible for a city to put in that much, but we have to realize that we’ll still have to put in a little more.”

Without the renewal of the bonus envelopes, while also taking in inflation, the City expected the period from 2027 to 2029 to see below-average interventions and to reach less than 50 per cent of the target for maintaining the level of service.

“It’s clear that there are difficult choices to make,” said interim mayor Daniel Champagne. “We realize that the necessary budgets mean that it now costs 45 per cent more than it cost in 2019. This means that all the investments we make not only do not necessarily increase the number of kilometres of asphalt but do not necessarily even guarantee that we will be able to ensure the maintenance of our infrastructure.”

With the importance citizens place on road infrastructure, Champagne noted it was a worrying situation and would add the significant challenge of prioritizing come budget time.

Photo caption: Gatineau elected officials get a glimpse of a roadway in very bad condition as per the pavement condition index during the state of the road network presentation on May 21.

Photo credit: Screenshot of État du reseau routier – Auscultation 2023 presentation to Comité plénier on May 21

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Despite the issue worsening in certain sectors, the Ville de Gatineau has reduced by 18 per cent of the pipes contributing to the coloured water plaguing the city. Elected officials were looped into the status of resolving the issue at the Comité plénier on May 21.

Although the City’s drinking water meets the applicable standards of the Ministry of the Environment, residents in all sectors have at one point been met with yellow to red coloured water from its taps over the years. At the core of the issue was the corrosion of the cast iron pipes in the drinking water distribution network.

The coloured water has often been associated with old neighbourhoods but even more recent sectors without cast iron pipes can be affected by the circulation of water. Its presence fluctuates depending on the season, allowing the coloured water to make regular, periodic, or occasional appearances in different sectors.

While interventions have been underway to attempt to target locations with a regular presence, the situation has continued to evolve.

A 2017-2028 intervention program was adopted to reduce the impact or eliminate the problem in sectors with a high frequency. According to mapping carried out in 2017, approximately 75 kilometres of pipe network was associated with the presence of coloured water, representing 6 per cent of Gatineau’s overall network. Six years later, new mapping identified a considerable reduction in pipes affected by a regular presence. An additional $8.78 million was granted by council during the study of the 2024 budget to continue efforts.

Affected officials were informed about new programming to address the sectors with the highest frequencies at the final Comité plénier in May. Sections of Dorion, Deschênes, Arthur-Whelan, Jean-Paul-Poirier, and Saint-Médard streets along with Vendôme street were added to the list of pipes to be redone in 2028. Another 25 streets with regular presence would be addressed in 2028 followed by 43 other streets of lower priority.

Acting Gatineau mayor Daniel Champagne shared empathy for those not seeing repairs until 2028 but stressed that council was making the “difficult choices to correct the yellow water situation.”

“Since 2017, we have invested or plan to invest, through to 2028, a total of $65 million,” said Champagne. “I think it’s a good start. Of course, we need more but, unfortunately, there are limits to what we can do.”

Photo caption: Gatineau’s interim mayor Daniel Champagne tells journalists the City hopes to resolve the issue of coloured water to a large extent by 2028.

Photo credit: Screenshot from Mêlée de presse du 21 mai 2024 – Comité plénier

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

The Ville de Gatineau hopes to reduce the presence of migratory birds and protect crops by allowing hunting on agricultural land.

Council approved a pilot program submitted by Rivière-Blanche district councillor Jean Lessard at its meeting on May 14.

While it wasn’t a city-wide issue, Lessard said the pilot program came as a request from farmers who have faced “significant financial losses” trying to manage the birds.

“(They) want to have the same right as the MRCs … to be able to take up arms to destroy these migratory birds,” said Lessard.

Running from mid-September to December, the program will allow farmers to hunt 10 birds per day on cultivated land. Council would later analyze the results of the short-term measure.

“Elsewhere, it works. That doesn’t mean it will succeed in destroying everything, but it has an impact.”

Photo caption: A pilot program proposed by Rivière-Blanche district councillor Jean Lessard aims to assist farmers in mitigating migratory birds and protecting their crops.

Photo credit: Screenshot from Mêlée de presse du 14 mai 2024 – Caucus préparatoire

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Days ahead of the by-election, Gatineau’s mayoral frontrunners shared their financial framework for the anticipated 2025 budget.

Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette proposed the highest residential tax increase among the seven candidates, capped at 3.18 per cent. Independent candidate Yves Ducharme put forward the lowest increase at 2.7 per cent.

Stating he was the “only alternative to Action Gatineau,” Ducharme suggested an $846 million budget, a 5.3 per cent increase from the previous year, and a 3.7 per cent non-residential tax increase to finance street repairs and improve several municipal services.

Following recommendations from the 2023-2032 Long-Term Financial Plan, the independent candidate planned to use debt rather than cash to lift the tax burden from residents and finance his proposed measures.

“It’s a budget that’s balanced, that meets the aspirations of Gatineau residents and respects their ability to pay,” said Ducharme.

On the other hand, Marquis-Bissonnette said it was essential to respect the current financial game plan and commitments made by council for the remaining 17-month mandate.

“Everything was approved by the entire council, and it is important to establish this consensus to ensure collaboration with all members within the framework of this mandate,” she said.

However, the political party candidate disagreed with the tax increase laid out in the Long-Term Financial Plan for 2025. Taking in residents’ ability to pay, Marquis-Bissonnette instead proposed a tax ranging from 2.9 per cent to 3.18 per cent, which was the 10-year average of the plan.

“One thing is clear, the candidates proposing a tax reduction or forecasts under the indications of the long-term financial plan will specify where they intend to cut in terms of services to citizens, such as in the service of urban planning, service centres, or even in street repairs,” said Marquis-Bissonnette.

Photo caption: On completely opposite ends, Action Gatineau candidate Maude Marquis-Bissonnette proposed the highest residential tax hike among the seven candidates, as independent candidate Yves Ducharme suggested the lowest.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the candidates

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

The Conseil régional de l’environnement et du développement durable de l’Outaouais (CREDDO) hopes to create tangible effects on the energy efficiency of the real estate stock in the region with its project Communauté du bâtiment vert de l’Outaouais.

The non-profit organization was awarded $462,000 over 3 years as part of the Greener Neighbourhoods Pilot Program launched by Natural Resources Canada to fund the project.

“With this project, CREDDO is helping to pave the way for greener buildings in Quebec and Canada,” Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson wrote in a press release.

The building industry makes 18 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in the country, representing a key sector in achieving Canada’s net zero commitment by 2050. More than two-thirds of the buildings that will exist in 2050 have already been built but require retrofitting to be more sustainable.

CREDDO noted energy efficient renovations must be completed at seven times the current rate to achieve carbon neutrality in this sector in 2050. To aid in stimulating the market for energy-efficient renovations, the project will utilize the Dutch concept of Energiesprong to accelerate the pace and scale of renovations by grouping together similar homes to reduce carbon emissions from residential buildings in Outaouais.

“The ecological transition must strengthen, not reduce, accessibility to housing for all. The Communauté du bâtiment vert de l’Outaouais project integrates this vision by ensuring that affordable housing is not only preserved but also improved, thus contributing to a sustainable and inclusive future,” said CREDDO’s general director Benoit Delage.

Twelve regional partners like the Ville de Gatineau and MRC Pontiac have already committed to ensuring the project’s implementation.

“I would like to express my gratitude to CREDDO and its partners for their exemplary leadership in this magnificent project for the Outaouais. Energy-efficient renovations are essential to reducing emissions from our buildings, and we need local initiatives like this project to meet our greenhouse gas emissions reduction and energy efficiency goals. This initiative strengthens our vision of a green and prosperous Outaouais, a goal to which I am deeply attached,” said Pontiac MP Sophie Chatel.

Photo caption: The Conseil régional de l’environnement et du développement durable de l’Outaouais officially launches its Communauté du bâtiment vert de l’Outaouais project with the help of 12 regional partners.

Photo credit: Agatha Rowland Photography

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Frustrated by the worsening homelessness crisis, changemakers gathered at the third Citizen Symposium on Change to share solutions on how to prevent poverty, not only in Gatineau, but in Outaouais as a whole.

“When unwanted changes occur in our society, there are two things we can do. Nothing or something. This meeting is for those of us who want to do something about the changes we want to experience in our world,” said organizer Sylvain Henry. “It is our hope, our belief, and our most sincere desire to ensure that what begins here in this room, with your collaboration, can soon change our entire region for the better.”

Henry has been organizing these collaborative community events since February to unite citizens and politicians in developing working solutions to tackle the growing issue.

Since his previous symposiums, Henry has been able to collect 800 immediate solutions for what he referred to as the Citizen Idea Bank. He hoped to put some of the ideas into action and share the success stories with all levels of government.

Stirring away from a traditional debate, five of the seven prospective mayoral candidates were asked to share their plans to boost the local economy and prevent poverty.

Independent candidate Olive Kamanyana said she would tackle it straight away by assisting the on-the-ground organizations and later footing the bill to Quebec.

“I cannot accept that people continue to live in unacceptable situations because the provincial government did not listen,” said Kamanyana. “I don’t want politics to affect people, our people, our children, our mothers, our brothers, our sisters.”

With the issue spanning far beyond the municipal realm, independent candidate Stéphane Bisson also stressed the involvement of the provincial government.

“The City takes on a lot of responsibility, and it’s also all of your money that we use to help homeless people, instead of the Government of Quebec, which must be part of it,” said Bisson.

Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette said relationships need to be rebuilt with both the provincial and federal governments to ensure the proper funding to solve the issue.

“The mayor’s role is to remind Quebec that we need our share of investments to ensure that these issues with vulnerable people are resolved,” said Marquis-Bissonnette. “Quebec City is far away, but I want to make sure that politicians at the provincial level, as well as the federal government, hear us.”

Independent candidate Daniel Feeny said a major element was the inaccessibility of housing. “It’s difficult to find housing and the crisis didn’t start yesterday, didn’t arrive suddenly but we haven’t dealt with it sufficiently in recent years.”

France Bélisle’s former communications director proposed upping the construction of social and transitional housing to fill the glaring gap.

Fellow independent candidate Mathieu Saint-Jean also dove into the scarcity of affordable housing and put forward what he referred to as a permanent solution by establishing a community of tiny homes which in return would stimulate the economy and generate jobs with their construction.

“I launched a GoFundMe to support this initiative, under the name Pour l’action. I invite you to give generously to speed up the process,” said Saint-Jean.

Come July, the fourth symposium will centre around potential candidates for the next federal election and their plans for Canada. Visit the Tent City Network group on Facebook for more updates on the next event.

If you would like to contribute to the Citizen Idea Bank, solutions can be shared with Henry via email at sylvain.henry@gmail.com or by phone at 613-501-4357.

Photo caption: Citizens gather at the Cabane en Bois Rond on May 19 to offer their solutions to the growing homelessness crisis grappling Gatineau.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Taking inspiration from Vieux-Québec and Vieux-Montréal, independent mayoral candidate Yves Ducharme wants to revitalize what he has dubbed Vieux-Hull.

“I want to display our history, our pride, our identity, and our sense of belonging,” said Ducharme.

The candidate gathered journalists in downtown Hull on May 23 to reveal his 14-point action plan to stimulate the downtown core as it shakes off the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using the study on the revival of downtown Gatineau by the Observatoire du développement de l’Outaouais as a roadmap, Ducharme planned to review the limits of the current programme particulier d’urbanisme du centre-ville. The territory would be bounded to the south and east by the Ottawa River, to the north by boulevard des Allumettières and to the west by rue Taylor.

“The Observatory’s study highlights an indisputable face. Downtown needs more residents,” said Ducharme. “Residents who can get around on foot or by bike, to eat, to have fun, or to get to work in a neighbourhood in just 15 minutes. But for this, there must be a minimum density.”

While the issue of density played a role in the study, Ducharme said possible concrete solutions to compensate for this demographic deficiency were practically nonexistent. He intended to require a supplement study to know the optimal level of density, desirable residential mix, optimal composition of households, and elasticity of demand according to the price of housing.

Among Ducharme’s other measures was promoting the creation of a public market at the Fonderie, pressing the government to deliver a timeline for the construction of the new convention centre, intervening with the National Capital Commission to improve the development for the Ruisseau de la Brasserie, and establishing the regional museum in the E.B. Eddy Digester Tower.

“It was under my administration that we managed to protect this building … I’m very proud of it. I want to see this gem reborn. I have already indicated to Mathieu Lacombe, our regional Minister, that I would like to see the regional museum take root there.”

When it came to business owners, Ducharme wanted to simplify things by creating a customer approach to the town planning service and eliminating the requirement to obtain a permit to post on buildings.

“Businesspeople must view our administration as collaborators rather than regulators. And our administration must view businesspeople as partners, not profiteers. Ultimately, more residents bring more merchants. And more merchants bring more residents to a vibrant neighbourhood.”

Photo caption: Independent candidate Yves Ducharme would like to use the study published earlier this year by Observatoire du développement de l’Outaouais as a roadmap to boost the attractiveness and diversification of downtown Gatineau.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

The contingency plan announced by the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l’Outaouais has generated sharp reactions from Outaouais elected officials.

“No government in Canada must accept the state of things in the Outaouais region of Quebec,” Gatineau MP Steven MacKinnon said in a video posted to his X account. “People are going to die. People will suffer.”

Wanting to give its limited staff a break this summer, CISSSO chief executive officer Marc Bilodeau announced reductions to services like non-urgent operations and medical imaging, along with a contingency plan which he hoped not to put into action.

“My number one priority is that the contingency plan remains only a plan that will never be implemented,” said Bilodeau.

The contingency plan considered the closure of certain operating lines. Some partial, others total. The same was said for medical imaging.

“I am confident that we have the resources in place to be able to respond to (the needs of the public) during the summer. The plan, ultimately, is just a workaround or a spare tire,” said Bilodeau.

Following the release of the plan, MacKinnon posted a video to his X account, demanding an end to all the excuses.

“This is a situation that must concern the highest levels of the Government of Quebec … Professionals go out of their way to keep this system propped up, but the health situation is a catastrophe,” said MacKinnon.

Hours later, MNA Mathieu Lacombe, the Minister responsible for the Outaouais region, reposted the video, criticizing MacKinnon for making irresponsible comments.

“We must work together, not scare citizens by taking shortcuts. If the federal government wants to help us, rather than lecturing us, it could write us a cheque to increase health transfers, as Quebec and all the provinces have been demanding for several years. It would be more productive,” wrote Lacombe.

MacKinnon was not the only MP sharing concerns at the slash of summer services. The same day, Pontiac MP Sophie Chatel sent a letter to Lacombe and Quebec Minister of Health Christian Dubé calling for “urgent action to avoid a breakdown in health-care services in our region.”

“It is therefore essential that Quebec establish sustainable solutions to ensure the continuity of health services in the Outaouais, including the creation of an action plan for all health personnel in the Outaouais,” read the letter.

The MP went on to highlight solutions put forward by constituents and regional health experts, such as increasing the salary premium and improving working conditions as well as prioritizing interregional equity in the allocation of health resources and funding.

“Health mainly falls under the jurisdiction of Quebec, and this is why Outaouais needs your immediate support to establish an urgent action plan. When a crisis occurs in a region, it is imperative that all levels of government work together to find effective solutions,” wrote Chatel.

Pontiac MNA André Fortin was able to put his questions to the Minister of Health face-to-face during Assembly Proceedings on May 23.

“People in Outaouais are already afraid. The patients are afraid. The doctors are afraid. Madam Speaker, as a resident, I am afraid of the services that we will provide in Outaouais this summer,” he said. “What are you waiting for?”

Similar to what was done in Côte-Nord or Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Dubé said solutions would be found. “We couldn’t be doing more work to find solutions.”

Prior to the proceedings, Fortin held a press scrum alongside Conseil des médecins, dentistes et pharmaciens president Dr. Peter Bonneville to share their concerns about the current contingency plan that Bonneville said would endanger the Outaouais population.

“We are doing what we can with what we have, and it is very difficult,” said the Gatineau emergency room doctor. “I am ashamed of the care we are giving in the Outaouais at the moment … I am ashamed to be in a province where there is inaction regarding what is happening in the Outaouais.”

Bonneville reiterated the demand laid out in the Change.org petition he started in late April, calling on Dubé to implement differentiated compensation “to stop the hemorrhage of departures.”

Later that evening, Lacombe took to Facebook to say he had met with Bonneville and assured the more than 23,000 signatories that they could count on their regional caucus to assert their right to quality health care.

“We will not let the population down. It is our responsibility,” wrote Lacombe.

Photo caption: Pontiac MNA André Fortin is joined by Dr. Peter Bonneville in a press scrum to share their concerns about the CISSSO’s contingency plan that Bonneville believes will endanger the Outaouais population.

Photo credit: Screenshot from André Fortin press scrum at the National Assembly of Quebec on May 23

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Although health issues fall under the provincial government, Gatineau mayoral candidates have committed to bringing the region’s health care up to par with the rest of Quebec.

“Our health system cannot wait any longer. Each day of delay brings its share of worries. We must act now,” independent candidate Daniel Feeny wrote in a press release.

Uncertainty has spread across Outaouais as the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO) revealed that a contingency plan was on the back burner, as services were reduced to allow its limited staff vacation time.

Five years after the unanimous adoption of the Outaouais motion in 2019 by the National Assembly of Quebec, which recognized the region had fallen behind significantly, Feeny said it seemed undeniable that the recognition was merely symbolic, “given the alarming deterioration of the situation in our hospitals.” The candidate pledged to “not idly stand by in the face of this crisis,” and, if elected mayor, to form a coalition of the region’s mayors and prefects to demand precise and effective action.

“Our communities deserve better than words; what they expect are concrete actions. As mayor, I would be committed to hearing your voice so that the government finally takes Gatineau seriously. It’s time for Gatineau to be heard,” wrote Feeny.

Fellow independent candidate Yves Ducharme agreed that the government’s inaction was unacceptable, asserting that other regions of Quebec would never be treated in this manner.

“The time for dodging is over. Outaouais demands immediate and lasting solutions to appease the anger, but above all, the fear of citizens. I am not asking you for miracles. I am simply asking you to respect your vote,” Ducharme said in reference to the Premier and the Minister of Health.

Beyond admitting the crisis state found in Outaouais, Ducharme said the motion lacked substance. “Since the adoption of this motion, practically no measures specific to Outaouais have been implemented. Today, with the threat of closure of several basic health services, the time has come for immediate solutions.” If he found himself back in the position of mayor, Ducharme said he would offer his full support to the minister responsible for the Outaouais region to bring the voice of Gatineau to Quebec. “Mathieu Lacombe and the Government of Quebec have an obligation to achieve results.”

Photo caption: Independent mayoral candidates Daniel Feeny and Yves Ducharme share their disapproval with the CISSSO’s contingency plan for this summer.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the candidates

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

With a difficult summer on the horizon as staffing shortages plague the region’s hospitals, the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO) revealed a contingency plan was underway that could lead to site closures.

“The goal is to not have to use this contingency plan,” said chief executive officer Marc Bilodeau. “The goal is to resolve our activities to a level adequate to provide emergency care, but not have to embark on the contingency plan.”

The plan was revealed as part of the CISSSO’s announcement to reduce services to allow its limited staff vacation time this summer.

“My number one priority is to maintain access to service for any conditions that require a specific time to respond,” said Bilodeau. “I am confident that we have the resources in place to be able to respond to them during the summer.”

Non-urgent operations and medical imaging will bear the brunt of these reductions. “The goal, therefore, with our reduction measures is not to affect the 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week services that we have in our different environments, but to ultimately ensure the survival of Outaouais residents who are victims of accidents or who need urgent surgeries.”

The reductions were anticipated to only exacerbate Outaouais’ lengthy waitlists, but Bilodeau expected the region’s private clinics would be able to pick up the excess slack.

The decision to delegate thousands of surgeries to private clinics by the CISSSO has put the public agency in hot water. Researcher Anne Plourde with the Institut de recherche et d’informations socioéconomiques noted the CISSSO was contributing to the crisis it currently found itself in by passing the buck to private clinics.

“The short-term gain made by the CISSSO on the strictly quantitative level of the total number of surgeries performed was to the detriment of the public sector, and the current situation in hospitals of the CISSSO demonstrates that the disastrous consequences of this strategy are already beginning to be felt,” wrote Plourde.

The chief executive officer assured that the Outaouais population was not in danger, as the measures in place would ensure essential services be provided. But in the long-term, Bilodeau said it was undeniable that solutions needed to be found.

“Please note that the Ministry of Health has been involved for several months already … The ministry is in solution mode with us. We are looking for medium and long-term solutions that will allow us to rebuild an adequate workforce to meet the needs of Outaouais. It won’t happen overnight.”

Photo caption: Chief executive officer of the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l’Outaouais Marc Bilodeau assures the population that Outaouais will be adequately served this summer despite the reduction in services.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette unveiled her plan to strengthen the resilience of the City in the face of climate change.

“In Gatineau, we are well aware of the impacts of climate change. We absolutely must make informed decisions to reduce our (greenhouse gas) emissions and build a green city of which we can be proud,” Marquis-Bissonnette wrote in a press release.

Unlike other cities that have been tasked to create green spaces in their communities, the mayoral candidate highlighted the richness of Gatineau’s natural spaces and stressed their need to be preserved.

“One way to preserve the natural state of our territory is to build the city on top of the city,” wrote Marquis-Bissonnette. She proposed facilitating redevelopment projects with appropriate regulations and abolishing the minimum number of parking spaces for projects close to public transportation.

Along with actions to ensure the City’s compliance with its greenhouse gas reduction commitments, Marquis-Bissonnette proposes to strengthen the Service de la transition écologique to allow it to fully assume its leadership as well as having all municipal decisions pass a climate test.

“It is crucial to involve partners and publicly monitor the climate plan. We have plenty of people ready to take ownership of actions, we must work with them.”

To bring this vision to reality, a meeting with ecological transition partners and the business community was planned for next fall.

Photo caption: Action Gatineau mayoral candidate Maude Marquis-Bissonnette stresses the importance of the City making informed decisions to build a green city that all of Gatineau can be proud of.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the candidate

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Independent mayoral candidate Daniel Feeny promised to improve basic services by relying on the “know-how, ingenuity, and determination of City employees.”

“We must focus on the desire of our employees to surpass themselves. By providing ourselves with the conditions for success, we promote our teams and get the most out of the experience and will of our teams,” Feeny wrote in a press release on May 21.

According to Feeny, Gatineau has some of the best blue-collar and white-collar workers in the province. He planned to recognize the employees’ contributions and equip them with cutting-edge technology to quickly intervene in Gatineau’s most problematic sectors.

The former communications director under France Bélisle also wanted to facilitate the creation of an internal team of paving specialists to be adequately equipped and ready to operate for spring 2026. Feeny will also ask for a real-time work schedule to be added to the City’s website to allow citizens to know when and where work will be carried out in their neighbourhoods.

The candidate planned to also tackle the “unacceptable” issue of discoloured water by speeding up the replacement of aging pipes with the creation of a team specialized in water quality to resolve the matter once and for all.

The following day, fellow independent candidate Stéphane Bisson revealed his four-part plan for services to meet the growing needs of citizens.

From east to west, Bisson wanted to ensure the safe, accessible passage of citizens with repairs and upgrades to streets as well as sidewalks. He also planned to improve the services provided to the population and develop “a culture of continuous improvement” for a better return on taxpayers’ money.

Similar to Feeny, Bisson would like to allow citizens to gain information on current and future work in real-time with the creation of a Citizen Portal to allow communication between the City and its residents.

Photo caption: Independent mayoral candidates Daniel Feeny and Stéphane Bisson present their plans to improve Gatineau’s basic services, if elected.

Photo credit: Courtesy of the candidates

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

With the Carrefour-de-l’Hôpital district left open by Olive Kamanyana as she runs for mayor, four candidates will compete for the seat at the municipal council.

Over 9,000 voters will have the choice between independent candidates Frédérick Castonguay, Marie-Pier Lacroix, Kethlande Pierre, and Action Gatineau candidate Catherine Craig-St-Louis.

In the 2021 municipal election, Kamanyana secured her seat with more than half of the votes but only 40 per cent of the district’s citizens were registered to vote.

Similar to the mayoral by-election, citizens will be able to cast their ballot on June 9. Those wanting to head to the polls early can do so on June 2.

Photo caption: Residents of the Carrefour-de-l’Hôpital district will be able to choose between Frédérick Castonguay, Catherine Craig-St-Louis, Marie-Pier Lacroix, and Kethlande Pierre for district councillor.

Photo credit: Ville de Gatineau Website

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

With Camp Guertin to be disassembled the following morning, organizations and people experiencing homelessness took to the Maison du citoyen ahead of the municipal council meeting on May 14 to plead for a long-term solution to homelessness.

The scheduled demolition of the Robert-Guertin Centre, as well as the removal of the heated red tents provided by Devcore, sparked uncertainty about the future for those who seek shelter on the property of the former arena. To get answers, demonstrators assembled a symbolic campsite outside city hall.

“We came here this evening with mainly three demands. We wanted to allow the trailers to remain on site. We wanted to have two additional tolerance zones, a second in Hull and one in Gatineau. And we wanted a sanitary block in each of these tolerance zones,” said Collectif régional de lutte à l’itinérance de l’Outaouais president Alexandre Gallant. “What we are asking for is the basics. There are no cherries. There isn’t even a sundae.”

Stating much time had been spent debating “band-aid” solutions, Gallant urged council to provide the basic necessities and then move on to tackling “real issues like social housing.”

Acting mayor Daniel Champagne assured that those utilizing the site would be tolerated until viable alternatives were established. The same would be said for the trailers located on the property. The halte-chaleur operated by the Centre intégré de santé et des services sociaux de l’Outaouais would remain in place until mid-June, when the City expected to offer a sanitary block as the site awaited redevelopment.

“For the summer, the usual workers will be on site to assist people experiencing homelessness,” said Champagne. “Our police services will be more present to ensure harmonious cohabitation.”

Director of Service des loisirs, des sports et du développement des communautés Sébastien Vallée said Gatineau has not been able to identify several zones of tolerance as the City has been focused on redeveloping the site of the former arena.

“It should be noted that here we are in listening mode,” said Vallée. “We want to make sure we properly serve the people who already occupy the Guertin site.”

Photo caption: Organizations and those experiencing homelessness flock to the Maison du citoyen on May 14 to demand answers from Gatineau’s municipal council.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Independent mayoral candidate Yves Ducharme has blamed Action Gatineau for “hurting the housing sector,” accusing the political party of being the cause of a 31.1 per cent fall in construction starts from 2022 to 2023.

“It is clear that the municipal administration must correct the eight years in power of Action Gatineau,” Ducharme wrote in a press release. “We are still living from the time when the mayor did not want to see entrepreneurs at city hall. And the situation continues with Action Gatineau.”

According to the former mayor, the political party has voted against the establishment of 1,978 new housing units. The construction delays then created pressure on Gatineau’s finances due to the loss of income and ultimately resulted in elected officials increasing taxes.

“Urban sprawl is a real problem for Gatineau. Young families will settle in the outskirts, which is harmful to the environment and public finances,” wrote Ducharme.

While housing starts dropped between 2022 and 2023, the Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette pointed to the record-breaking number of units built since 2019.

“Since the start of the 2021 mandate, nearly 10,000 new housing units have been started, a considerable effort to meet the growing demand for housing, but the vacancy rate is still very low and the price of rent is very high,” Marquis-Bissonnette wrote in a press release.

With the private market proven not to be able to solve the crisis alone, the Action Gatineau candidate said this is why she has proposed key commitments for the construction of social and family housing.

“If Mr. Ducharme’s solution to the housing crisis boils down to accusing people without proving the figures put forward, I find that this lacks scope and will in no way solve the problems we face. Such a simplistic approach only distracts from the real issues and solutions needed. When Mr. Ducharme hits this nail, I wonder: is it the lobbyist or the mayoral candidate who is speaking? We need concrete and constructive solutions, not accusatory speeches that lead nowhere.”

Photo caption: Former Gatineau mayor and candidate in the upcoming by-election Yves Ducharme attributes a recent fall in Gatineau housing starts to Action Gatineau voting down the construction of housing units.

Photo credit: Yves Ducharme Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

On International Day of Living Together in Peace, Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis- Bissonnette presented her commitment to making Gatineau a more inclusive and attentive city.

Representing 88 cultural communities throughout the territory, Gatineau is considered one of the main immigration gateways in Quebec. But growing diversity presents challenges in terms of reception, integration of immigrants, and living together.

While Gatineau has developed a program of intercultural activities that promote openness and integration, the mayoral candidate would like to offer more meeting spaces for Gatineau residents of all origins like an intercultural centre.

“There is a desire in the community to develop this project,” Marquis-Bissonnette wrote in a press release. “I want to work with the community to bring this project back to the forefront and see how the City can contribute.”

She added Gatineau could even complete the offer of reception services to newcomers by explaining the services offered by the City, such as snow removal or garbage and recycling pickup.

“The role of cities in the integration of immigrants is a subject that is very close to my heart. First, as an organization, the City of Gatineau must better reflect diversity. As mayor, I want to make sure I seek out talent from everywhere and ensure their full integration,” wrote Marquis-Bissonnette.

If elected mayor, the Action Gatineau candidate intended to add her voice to those of the large cities like Sherbrooke and Longueuil to ensure Quebec’s hubs and host organizations receive the resources needed.

“This is a subject that I know very well through my research work and my involvement in several organizations. I know that they play a strategic role and offer valuable support services. Newcomers and organizations can count on me to assert their interests and their needs with Quebec.”

Photo caption: Backed by district councillors and Action Gatineau members Tiffany-Lee Norris Parent and Bettyna Bélizaire, party head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette shares her intention to support the addition of an intercultural centre to Gatineau.

Photo credit: Maude Marquis-Bissonnette Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Independent mayoral candidate Olive Kamanyana would like to see integration of the City of Gatineau and the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO), like what is already done in Ottawa, to meet the challenge of sustainable mobility.

“I am here to propose other ways of doing things that are very important because it is not only the citizens of Gatineau who must reach into their pockets,” Kamanyana told journalists during a press conference on May 16. “The Ville de Gatineau and the (Société de transport de l’Outaouais) must once again be rethinking expenses and, above all, optimizing expenses.”

The STO’s and especially the City’s role in investing in the transportation system have been hot topics lately as the municipal council recently adopted a new vehicle registration tax which was deemed rushed by the former Carrefour-de-l’Hôpital district councillor.

“For the Government of Quebec, it is important that mobility be effective, efficient and, above all, equitable. When it comes to mobility in Gatineau, we are still looking for a way to find a balance between mobility expenses and income,” Kamanyana said in reference to the Sustainable Mobility Policy.

If elected, Kamanyana committed to asking the administration to undertake a concrete examination of the convergence of the City’s administrative services and the STO under the leadership of a newly created mobility service.

“Above all, this examination will involve the collaboration of the administration, the City and the (Société de transport de l’Outaouais) in compliance with legal and normative aspects.”

The concept was not new, admitted Kamanyana. Two committees, first in 2018 and subsequently in 2022, recommended the integration of the STO’ service within the City de Gatineau.

“The operating costs of the (Société de transport de l’Outaouais) include, among other services, … finance services, human resource services, procurement services, information management and technology services. And the same thing is found on the city side.”

In the 2024 budget, Gatineau set aside $82,115,000 for public transportation, making up around 80 per cent of the STO’s revenues. The City’s contribution has continued to increase by nearly 38 per cent over 10 years, serving to balance the transportation system’s budget, said Kamanyana.

“The (Société de transport de l’Outaouais) and the city administration must find a way to look in the mirror and say, where can we cut the fat, what can we keep and what synergy can we create?”

Photo caption: Independent candidate Olive Kamanyana proposes to combine Gatineau and the STO into one budget line to optimize expenses and limit the consumption of resources.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Despite pushback from officials and a petition of more than 1,100 signatures, Gatineau municipal council moved forward with its new vehicle registration tax to finance public transportation.

Come January 2025, Gatineau motorists will be expected to pay $60 for every vehicle registered in Quebec. The funds collected would be used to absorb the Société de transport de l’Outaouais’ $10 million structural deficit. The following year, another $30 will be added to finance service improvements.

Highly contested by citizens since its introduction, the tax has been the subject of numerous debates over recent months, until the measure was finally adopted 13 to 5 on May 14.

Masson-Angers district councillor Mario Aubé, who voted against the tax, still had hope that the Government of Quebec would “take out its cheque book and take its responsibility when it comes to public transportation.”

“Cities are not banks. Gatineau motorists are not banks either. Yes, cities have long called for diversity of income, but not to the point of cutting the throats of motorists,” said Aubé.

Leading the charge of citizens against the tax was Suzanne Bisson, who, along with her petition of more than 1,100 signatures, urged council to find another solution other than taxing those who are already “suffocating.”

“We have people who are suffering and households who are unable to provide for basic needs, but the only solution we find is to use a system which, in my opinion, has now become abusive to resolve problems of poor management of the (Société de transport de l’Outaouais),” Bisson told council during the question period.

She stressed the fact that many motorists had no choice but to use their vehicles. “Isn’t it discriminatory to target only one group? Why not impose this tax on the entire population of the Ville de Gatineau at the same time as recovering funds from fraudsters with Ontario plates?”

Described as a “poisoned chalice” from the provincial government, acting Gatineau mayor Daniel Champagne said the City had no choice but to make up the structural deficit left behind by Quebec.

“The reason why $10 million is missing is not because it is poorly managed,” added municipal council president Steven Boivin. “It’s because the Government of Quebec is not giving its share. Then, we find ourselves in this position where we must go and tax people.”

When it came to Ontario plates, Boivin also pointed the blame to Quebec, stating the provincial government was not doing its job. “It’s the provincial (government) who is not going to get its own money … We are as angry as you. This is why we are passing the resolution today to say, ‘Do something, it makes no damn sense.’”

The resolution demanded actions to regulate the impact arising from the presence of Gatineau residents who own vehicles registered in Ontario.

Although the tax was passed by council, Gatineau has until September to specify the exact amount to the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec.

Photo caption: Gatineau resident Suzanne Bisson speaks out against the vehicle registration tax officially imposed by council during its proceedings on May 14.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Independent candidate Yves Ducharme shared his support in the construction of a sixth link between Gatineau and Ottawa which has been opposed by past mayors on both sides of the river.

“Federal MP for Gatineau Steven MacKinnon has been a leader on the issue since his election in 2015,” Ducharme wrote in a press release on May 13. “He can count on my unwavering support to move the issue forward, especially when the time comes to negotiate with the mayor of Ottawa.” While former Gatineau mayor France Bélisle has advocated for the link, the project has been opposed by former mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin and his counterpart Jim Watson, as well as Ottawa’s current mayor Mark Sutcliffe.

“One of Mr. MacKinnon’s main qualities was his tenacity. First, to convince his caucus colleagues of the need for a bridge. Then, he received opposition from the former head of Action Gatineau who boasted of waging war on motorists,” wrote Ducharme.

With the last bridge connecting the two banks dating back more than half a century, Ducharme argued it was high time to move the project forward.

“Since that time, the population has almost tripled. Demographic studies show that the population will increase by more than 40% by 2040.”

Of the three corridors under study, the independent candidate favoured Kettle Island, stating the construction would facilitate a “significant ecological impact.”

“By preventing truckers and motorists from having to detour via downtown Ottawa to head east, we reduce travel and, therefore, pollution. STO buses would have a direct link with the Blair O-Train station.”

In closing, Ducharme challenged the head of Action Gatineau, Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, to support the bridge in the east and back MacKinnon in the file.

In a press conference held on the same day, Marquis-Bissonnette opposed the addition, stating a sixth link would ensure more cars on the road.

“This is the principle of induced traffic,” she said. “It’s pretty obvious. The more roads we add, the more traffic we add.”

Photo caption: Backed by district councillors Mike Duggan and Denis Girouard, independent candidate Yves Ducharme shares his vision for a sixth link between Gatineau and Ottawa.

Photo credit: Screenshot of video posted on Yves Ducharme Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette unveiled her commitments to revitalize the City’s commercial arteries to journalists in Old Aylmer on May 13.

“I want people to be proud to live in Gatineau. Currently, we need to stand out, and there is no shortage of opportunities,” Marquis-Bissonnette wrote in a press release. “It’s time to recognize and celebrate what makes each neighbourhood unique, with a focus on local economic development and the vitality of our commercial streets.”

With distinct neighbourhoods, Gatineau was like a puzzle with each piece representing a rich diversity, but the closure of iconic local businesses has left missing pieces, ultimately weakening the economic fabric of the City.

“The pandemic, as we know, has had a hard impact on our small businesses, as has online purchasing. And actually, when it comes to online shopping, the solution is quite simple,” said Marquis-Bissonnette. “This means that, from now on, either people will buy online, or they will move to environments that will be attractive.”

While people are proud of their unique neighbourhoods, Marquis-Bissonnette said a greater vision was possible. To reach the peak of attractiveness, the Action Gatineau candidate shared plans to adopt a commercial development policy, created in conjunction with local stakeholders and citizens, by the end of her mandate.

To shape the policy, she proposed reducing the taxes on commercial spaces, a new power given to municipalities that Marquis-Bissonnette said would give businesses some breathing room. The candidate would also like to see modifications to regulations to reduce the cost of pedestrianizing streets during events and to authorize the holding of ephemeral activities and businesses in vacant premises.

“Recently, I was here for Le Vieux-Aylmer se sucre le bec. The street was not pedestrianized despite the business association’s desire to do so. For what? Because it costs too much to do it for the City.”

Marquis-Bissonnette would also like to sustain and enhance the Animation and revitalization support fund which assists in financing cultural displays and activities in commercial arteries to strengthen Gatineau’s cultural identity.

“We want to make room for the cultural community to liven up commercial streets … People see that it brings quality of life. It’s a good way to vitalize our commercial arteries, to create a feeling of belonging, and to highlight our identities, which are specific to different sectors. The reality is not the same in Buckingham as in Aylmer.”

If elected, Marquis-Bissonnette committed to strengthening ties with business associations by listening to their local needs and supporting the development of distinct brand images for each commercial street by highlighting its unique character with street furniture and public art.

“The people I meet on the ground are merchants, entrepreneurs, artists, and citizens mobilized for our future. I want to work with them to give them the means to act.”

Photo caption: If elected as Gatineau’s mayor, Action Gatineau candidate Maude Marquis- Bissonnette plans to adopt a commercial development policy to revitalize the City’s commercial arteries.

Photo credit: Taylor Clark

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

In a video shared on social media, former Gatineau mayor France Bélisle said she would be checking off Daniel Feeny’s name on the ballot on June 9.

Before launching his campaign, Feeny worked as the spokesperson as well as the director of communications and intergovernmental relations for Bélisle while she served as mayor.

It was not just their close working relationship drawing Bélisle’s support but also Feeny’s “rich” candidacy.

“What I hope for you in the coming weeks is that Gatineau residents will learn to discover you,” said Bélisle. “They will see a committed man, a man of public service … who is there for the right reasons.”

The former mayor concluded the short video by wishing Feeny luck in the future.

Photo caption: Former Gatineau mayor France Bélisle shares her support for independent candidate Daniel Feeny, who worked for her during her time as mayor.

Photo credit: Screenshot from France Bélisle’s video

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

Early polling by Segma Recherche for 104.7 Outaouais had Action Gatineau head Maude Marquis-Bissonnette leading the charge in the race for mayor.

Of the 600 voters who shared their opinions in telephone interviews, 38% wanted to see Marquis-Bissonnette as the next mayor of Gatineau. Independent candidate Yves Ducharme was the second favourite with 27% intending to vote for the former mayor.

Independent candidate Olive Kamanyana sat in third at 13% with fellow independent candidate Stéphane Bisson on her coattails at 12%. Independent candidates Daniel Feeny, Mathieu Saint- Jean and Rémi Bergeron followed at 7%, 3% and 0%, respectively. However, one must note that the results did not include the 29% of undecided respondents.

Depending on the age of the voter, the voting intentions varied considerably. Marquis- Bissonnette dominated among those 18 to 34 years old and also took the lead among voters aged 25 to 54 years old. When it came to those aged 55 and over, Ducharme was the favourite at 41% compared to 31% for Marquis-Bissonnette.

In terms of gender, women favoured the Action Gatineau candidate with 40 per cent intending to vote for Marquis-Bissonnette, while Ducharme sat at 20%. Marquis-Bissonnette was still the front-runner among men, but Ducharme was only behind by 2%.

While most of the respondents did not oppose any particular candidate, Ducharme and Marquis- Bissonnette aroused the most opposition at 16% and 14%, respectively. Those who intended to vote for Ducharme were particularly opposed to Marquis-Bissonnette at 43%, while the leading candidate’s voters did not want to see the former mayor regain his seat.

Photo caption: A survey put Action Gatineau candidate Maude Marquis-Bissonnette ahead of the six other candidates in the by-election for mayor.

Photo credit: Maude Marquis-Bissonnette Facebook

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

A Gatineau emergency room doctor is calling for Quebec to intervene in Outaouais’ dire health care situation.

“A lot of people are sort of waking up from their slumber of just accepting mediocre coverage of health care,” said Dr. Peter Bonneville, who also serves as the president of the conseil des Médecins, dentists et pharmaciens of the Centre intégré de santé et des services sociaux de l’Outaouais. “I hope that there will be a movement within the population to try to push politicians in Quebec to do something for us.”

Having practiced in the region for more than 30 years, Bonneville said Outaouais has been an area where maintaining health-care staff, mainly nurses and technicians, has historically been difficult due to the competition of the neighbouring province. This issue was only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the pandemic hit, the staffing shortage in the health-care sector was evident across the country but Bonneville said the region was already grappling with low staffing numbers.

“We went from a situation that was barely manageable to right now, a situation where we’re pretty much just trying to avert crisis after crisis,” he said.

With the imminent departure of three radiology technicians from the Hull Hospital, Bonneville said the ship was “pretty much sinking.”

The Hull Hospital’s operation room was staffed at 43 per cent and hoped to achieve adequate staffing for the summer months. The Gatineau Hospital was in more dire straits, with its surgical unit staffed at 29 per cent. With summer vacation around the corner, the hospital was working on contingency plans to have only one of its seven operating rooms running 24 hours per day, which Bonneville expected to only increase the long wait time for elective surgeries and put the sole obstetrics centre at risk.

“If there are two emergencies at the same time, there may be issues with potentially having people’s lives in danger.”

The reason behind the departures was a salary difference of $30,000 to provide their services on the other side of the river, said Bonneville.

Along with the conseil, all department heads at the Centre intégré de santé et des services sociaux de l’Outaouais, the Département régionale de médecine générale and the Association des médecins omnipraticiens de l’Ouest du Québec urged the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, to not abandon the region and “stop the hemorrhage of departures to other provinces.”

“We pay as many taxes as people in all the other regions of Quebec and we are allowed to have as good of healthcare as the other people of the province have.”

The Minister of Health was not the only politician in the hot seat. Another petition by the Syndicat des professionnelles en soins de l’Outaouais called upon Mathieu Lacombe, MP for Papineau and Minister responsible for the Outaouais region, to “exercise his leadership to ensure patients in (the) region get the care and services they deserve.”

“The government’s bad decisions compromise access to quality, safe, and free health care for the entire population of the region,” read the petition.

Already seeing the downward trends in health care, Bonneville said the conseil made the region’s health care an issue for the 2022 Quebec general election. All local candidates were met with and briefed on the worsening situation in September 2022.

“Things have not changed since then and, as predicted, we’ve been losing more people,” said Bonneville.

But Ontario’s pay bump was not the only factor contributing to Outaouais’ current health-care crisis. According to data from the Ministry of Health and Social Services obtained by the Institut de recherche et d’informations socioéconomiques under a freedom of information request, Outaouais surpassed the rest of the province in terms of privatization of surgeries since the summer of 2020.

Researcher Anne Plourde noted the enormous increase in surgeries carried out in the private sector came at the detriment of the public sector. The number of surgeries at private clinics jumped from 46 in 2020-2021 to 6,601 in 2022-2023, a 14,250 per cent increase. This made Outaouais the region of Quebec that experienced the greatest increase in the number of surgeries performed in private clinics during this period, representing a third of the increase across Quebec.

Plourde pointed the finger back at the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux for delegating thousands of surgeries to private clinics, ultimately contributing to the crisis it was currently experiencing.

“It constitutes a true textbook case for the privatization of surgeries in Quebec and, as we will now see, it also represents a warning of what risks happening at the provincial level if the government continues in this harmful way,” wrote Plourde.

Photo caption: The critical staffing situation at the Gatineau Hospital has left the centre of care with only one of its seven operating rooms available this summer.

Photo credit: Change.org petition by Peter Bonneville

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

After 18 months of debate, the Ville de Gatineau will go forward with a more than $180 million centralized police headquarters in Hull.

“We have had challenges. We have had different positions taken within the municipal council. I would say that particularly over the last two months, my goal … during my mandate was to bring this project to fruition,” acting Gatineau mayor, Daniel Champagne, told reporters during a press briefing on May 7 following a special council meeting.

Originally planned to replace the Robert-Guertin Centre, Gatineau now plans to merge lots at 975 boulevard Saint-Joseph and 80 rue Jean-Proulx to facilitate the new 165,000-square-foot building. The City intended to acquire the land through expropriation procedures.

The director of the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau, Simon Fournier, said the centralization of services will allow the force to increase efficiency and optimize its service to citizens.

With the project estimated to cost $187.3 million, a 25-year loan payment would be required to foot the bill. Gatineau will also be taking steps to seek funding from the Government of Quebec.

To assist with costs, the City planned to put land at 590 boulevard Gréber and 775-777 boulevard de la Carrière up for sale. The sale of both properties was estimated to bring in $40 million, which would cut the costs of the project to $147.3 million.

The decision also brought good news for Aylmer. The district can expect a new service point come 2027, after the addition of $8.2 million to its budget. What was originally budgeted at $17.5 million now sits at $25.7 million. The additional funds were expected to cover the indexation of the initial financial package as well as finance the expansion of office space and warehousing needs.

“I think it was very important to keep a service point in Aylmer,” said Steven Boivin, the councillor for the district. “We have more and more people and we need something in Aylmer.”

With construction of the centralized building expected to commence in the summer of 2026, Fournier said the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau would maximize the current locations to offer the best possible service.

“There are investments that we must maintain as an organization to ensure that the buildings continue to operate,” said Fournier.

Photo caption: Gatineau’s new centralized police headquarters will take shape in Hull at 975 boulevard Saint-Joseph and 80 rue Jean-Proulx.

Photo credit: Ville de Gatineau Website

Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

The Carrefour musical Outaouais invites Gatineau to the 2024 Spring Concerts this May and June.

Made up of mainly wind and percussion instruments, the non-profit organization brings together more than thirty amateur musicians to share their passion and continue developing their musical talent. The stage group offers tunes from jazz, rock, contemporary, classical, film soundtracks, works from Quebec, and much more.

The concert series will kick off at 7:30 pm at the Salle Jean-Despréz on May 28. Under the musical direction of Serge Filiatreault, who has led the ensemble since 2022, the Carrefour musical Outaouais promises to stir up memories and tug at your heartstrings with a range of classic pieces.

Priced at $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, tickets can be purchased online at zeffy.com or picked up at the door, subject to availability.

Another date to mark on your calendar will be June 15. The Carrefour musical Outaouais will be joining the Orchestre symphonique de Gatineau at its Grand Rendez-Vous Musical for a free family concert at Place de la Cité Park. Be sure not to miss their performance at 12 pm in the big top in the park.

Photo caption: Don’t miss out on the sounds of the Carrefour musical Outaouais this spring with its upcoming concert series.

Photo credit: Harmonie CMO Facebook