Aylmer mayoral election debate questions from the public

Lily Ryan

Photo 1: APICA president Patrick Chenier asked the first question. On behalf of local business owner Bert LeGuerrier of Aliments M&M Foods, he asked the mayoral candidates if a city under their leadership would fix the business taxation burden.

Photo 2: Aylmer Heritage Association director Michel Parent asked the mayoral candidates to explain their plan for Aylmer’s Special Urban Plan. Aylmer currently has an urban development plan to vastly increase density (no single-family home can be replaced with another single-family home, it must be multi-family). Reconciling Aylmer’s heritage character with new development was at question.

Photo 3: Resident and mother asked the mayoral candidates to explain their plan to bring in line the racist actions of Gatineau Police, as experienced by her family. 

Photo 4: Aylmer cycling advocate and organizer asked candidates how they see a healthy and  functioning city council under the bullying conditions that lead former mayor France Belisle to resign. 

Photo 5: Mayoral candidates Yves Ducharme and Maude Marquis-Bissonnette had to be called to order during a heated interaction on the topic of possible conflict of interest. They were offered to be moved to different seats but both refused, agreeing to a more civil tone, which both accomplished. 

Photo 6: Didier Périès, Aylmer Bulletin editorialist in French moderated the debate along with publisher Lily Ryan. 

Photo credit: Chris Rochefort