Summary of July 8 city council meeting question period

Sophie Demers 

Many Gatineau residents addressed the city council during the monthly meeting on July 8. The public question period is an opportunity for residents to bring forward issues to the council and ask questions. The following is a summary of major discussions during the city council questions period. 

Buckingham’s Legion event insurance issues

A representative from Buckingham’s legion addressed the council about a law that is impacting small organizations' ability to hold events. The city requires the organizations to be listed as a beneficiary of the insurance policy that must provide $2 million coverage. The representative says that a legion that makes little money cannot afford an insurance policy to cover their annual local parade as the event does not bring in any money. 

Buckingham councillor, Edmond Leclerc thanked the legion for bringing the issue forward and said, “I think that, with the discussions we had with the city hall, it is a shared will to make these events easier to organize, especially for volunteer organizations.” 

Job cuts at the city raise alarm

A group of city employees voiced their concerns about the organizational changes within their department. Specifically, reducing administrative assistant positions. Another speaker from the same group voiced his concerns about how many white-collar positions are being eliminated. He specifically says that in the last year 50 positions have been eliminated. Councillor Daniel Champagne, as well as Mayor Maude Marquis Bissonnette, responded that he didn’t feel the city council was the right avenue for the employees to bring their concerns. Champagne states that as the needs of the general direction change, the organization evolves. The residents were reassured that their concerns would be addressed through the proper avenues.   

Regulation changes and rights of individuals experience homelessness

Three advocates, Alexandre Gallant, coordinator at Collectif régional de lutte à l’itinérance en Outaouais, Vanessa Constantino, coordinator with Association pour la Défense des droits sociaux de L’outaouais, and Anne Thibault with the Clinique interdisciplinaire en droit social de l'Outaouais, addressed council asking them to vote against a law change that they believe would violate the rights of homeless individuals. The law would allow officers to access and enter any tent on vehicles occupying public space. 

“Our legal service has made a deep analysis. I trust their analysis, which is that we will be able to respect the rights of the person. Obviously, this is being discussed, and I think that we will learn in the advancement of things,” said Steve Moran, Hull-wright councillor, encouraging his colleagues to vote in favor of passing the law. The councillor says the regulation is not perfect, but the discussion will continue. The regulation was adopted later in the meeting. 

Firefighters' association

The vice-president of the Gatineau Firefighters Association brought forward his concerns about some city council members stating they care about the safety and security of their employees. The speaker states that this is inaccurate due to the lack of support firefighters receive. “Over the past few years, we have been forced to file seven complaints to the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) and we have all won them,” stated the speaker. He continues stating that their equipment and vehicle fleet need to be upgraded and asks when the city will address the situation.

“We want all of our employees, whether they are firefighters, police officers, public workers, white collar workers, security and health to be a priority for the entire Executive Committee, the Municipal Council and the Board,” said Moran as a response assuring the association's vice-president that the conversation will continue through the proper channels. 

Flowers instead of grass

One resident received a notice to cut his lawn. He asked the council to create a list of flower residents that were allowed to grow on their lawns to promote biodiversity, reduce lawn mower pollution, and reduce water consumption. 

Aylmer incentive zoning or “bonus zoning”

Gatineau is discussing implementing incentive zoning also referred to as “bonus zoning” which will allow developers to build higher in certain target areas if they incorporate affordable units in their plans. One resident voiced their opposition to this idea. The mayor responded that this idea came from many consultations in Aylmer and that bonus zoning has not been implemented yet. 

“The incentive zoning is a new tool in the law to allow us at that time to negotiate with the promoters to either better protection of heritage buildings, affordable housing, social, family, public equipment, or funding for public equipment.  So, the idea is really to meet the aspirations of the citizens,” said Marquis-Bissonnette.