Aylmer to meet its candidates

Candidates for councillor and mayor ready for debate

Samuel Poirier

Local residents can meet and test the people running for city council at Aylmer’s all-candidates’ debate, October 12. With at least two candidates running in each of the four electoral districts of Aylmer – Lucerne has three – local voters can expect some fireworks and thoughtful messages. Two present city councillors are challenging the present mayor, who is running for a second term.

Moderated by both the editor of the Bulletin and Bulletin editorialist, Didier Périès, the bilingual debate is free and open to the public. “Aylmerites need as many opportunities as possible to meet the candidates in person, and see how they interact with each other,” commented editor Lily Ryan. “We can read a candidate’s ads and platform, but it is very instructive to observe them on their feet during a public conversation. It can be stressful. The Bulletin debate is a non-partisan event. Neutrality on the part of organizers is important; voters can trust the Bulletin to ask the crucial questions and to offer each candidate the opportunity to make a good impression.”

Do you have questions?

The Bulletin is collecting questions from the public to ask candidates. Anyone can submit their questions on the future of Gatineau to the editor at: info@bulletinaylmer.com. The most common and most pressing questions will be put to each candidate on the evening of the debate. The Bulletin will publish the questions in advance, and make space available in the paper for candidates or other readers to respond.

Hosted by Aylmer’s local newspaper, the 2017 debate begins at 6 pm in the Cinéma Aylmer. There will be a donation box to allow the public to help pay the cost of renting this central location. (Suggested voluntary donation is $5.)  Following the debate, candidates and the public are invited next door to Chez Putters for more informal and detailed give-and-take.

Candidates

Candidates declared to date (alphabetically): District 1, Aylmer: Audrey Bureau and François Sylvestre; District 2, Lucerne: Mamadou-Garanké Bah, Véronic Boyer and Gilles Chagnon; District 3, Deschênes: Richard Bégin (incumbent) and Mike Duggan (incumbent for Ward 2); District 4, Le Plateau: Maude Marquis-Bissonnette and Patrick Doyon.

Candidates for Mayor: Sylvie Goneau (sitting councillor for District 14), Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin (incumbent), and Denis Tassé (sitting councillor for District 10).

For more information about the candidates, check previous editions of the Bulletin d’Aylmer. They are archived on the website, bulletinaylmer.com.

Key dates to remember

Bulletin d’Aylmer all-candidates’ debate: October 12
Advance poll: October 29
City-wide vote: November 5