Gatineau Election: Deschênes

Candidate: Daniel Godin, Independent 

Daniel Godin is running as an independent candidate for Deschênes. He has lived in Deschênes for the last 34 years and is very involved in the community. Godin has served as the president of the Deschênes community group, vice-president of the Deschênes residents association, and president of the Deschênes hunting and fishing club.

1. Why are you running for councillor, and what experience or qualities make you the right person for the job?

I'm running for office in the upcoming municipal elections because I believe true leadership is built on transparency and collaboration. I want to ensure that every member of the community has a voice in the decisions that affect them and that our actions are open, honest, and accountable. Thank you for your time and effort, and most importantly, don't forget to vote!

2. How do you plan to balance the need for housing with the pace of development, given that infrastructure has not kept up, resulting in service gaps?

We need to foster smart growth in housing, not only in quantity, but also in catching up on infrastructure, transportation and services offered to our citizens.

3. With increased development in the area, how will you protect the ecological corridors, such as the Champlain corridor in Aylmer?

I want all developments to respect our natural environment. Working with organizations like CREDDO and the Trans Canada Trail can help us in this regard. We must also support community-led reforestation and clean-up projects.

4. With increased development in Aylmer, there is growing concern about the preservation of local heritage, especially as many historic homes are neglected, then demolished to make way for multi-unit buildings. What is your plan to protect and preserve Aylmer's heritage?

To protect our local heritage, we, as citizens, must express our opinions regarding its preservation. We must call on partners from different levels of government as well as developers to help property owners restore their heritage.

5. Anglophones are numerous across Gatineau. How will you ensure they have equitable access to city information and services in English?

I believe that every taxpayer should have equal access to information about the city. This information should not be limited to French or English, but should be available bilingually, breaking down language barriers and allowing everyone to understand.

6. Aylmer’s residents are passionate about their community. When new development projects are proposed, how will you engage with both developers and residents to address any concerns that arise?

To communicate with both developers and residents, we must be honest in our discourse and open to listening to others. We must keep everyone well informed and hold public meetings with a moderator to ensure peace.