Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter
During the city council meeting on July 8, a few councillors, coordinators, and a lawyer expressed their disagreement with the new regulations affecting the homeless people on the Guertin site. Despite the opposition, the bylaw was ultimately adopted by a majority of 15 city councillors.
This new draft bylaw will, more specifically, regulate the occupation of the site through codes of conduct that must be respected, particularly concerning sanitation and fire services. To do this, a free temporary permit will be required to occupy a space of 20.25 square meters for a period of six months, with the possibility of renewal.
Mario Aubé, city councillor for the Masson-Angers district, understands the desire to regulate the area, but, according to him, adopting a bylaw authorizing its use sends the wrong message. “We’re restricting humans to a ’10 by 10′ by publicly stating that in Gatineau there’s free urban camping […], get your permit, we’ll give you a square space, pitch your tent, and you’ll be good for six months,” he said. “Those who don’t want to follow the rules will end up leaving and going elsewhere.”
This regulation, according to him, targets vulnerable citizens who just want to find a simple space to live. “What we need is real community support to intervene with these people,” he explained. “It’s not the City’s duty to play that role.”
Considering Article 16, which prohibits propane tanks, and Article 17, which prohibits the use of heating devices, the situation is likely to become more difficult once winter arrives. “This will compromise safety during extreme cold,” emphasized Vanessa L. Constantineau, coordinator of the Outaouais Association for the Defense of Social Rights. According to her, this is a project that violates the right to life.
On the other hand, for Alexandre Gallant, coordinator of the Outaouais Regional Collective to Combat Homelessness (CRIO), this rule constitutes an invasion of privacy and personal dignity. “No citizen would accept a city officer entering their home to check if the dishes have been done,” he commented.
Moreover, Gallant pointed out that this new bylaw was implemented without any guidelines. “The City of Gatineau is working on a camp management guide […] which is supposed to explain how to implement interventions, but unfortunately, it’s not ready yet,” he said.
Notably, according to Anne Thibeault, a lawyer at the Outaouais Interdisciplinary Social Law Clinic, these regulations were not presented in their entirety. “Although there was a committee that reviewed its implementation, they had no say in the matter […],” she said. “This is not a proper democratic consultation [….]”
Photo: Mario Aubé, municipal councillor for the Masson-Angers district, answering questions from the media during the press scrum (July 9, 2025). (MG) Photo: Screenshot