Aylmer councillors honour James Shea

City council back to work

Gatineau’s municipal council held its first 2019 meeting, January 22, at the Maison du Citoyen (Hull).

Opening the session, the Société nationale des Québécois de l’Outaouais presented a Quebec flag to the Mayor, to celebrate its 71th anniversary (January 21).

Councillors took the opportunity to honour former West Quebec School Board chairman, James Shea, who died December 29. They offered their condolences to Mr. Shea’s family.

“He was an advocate for notions of inclusion, equity and justice,” recalls Audrey Bureau, Aylmer Ward Councillor.

On the agenda was a future seniors residence, planned for 245 Boulevard du Plateau, with 388 units.  A Cage aux Sports is to be built next to the residence, at 229 Boulevard des Grives. No opening dates have been announced.

Partial closing of Robert-Stewart Street?

The vote to maintain the closing of a section of Robert-Stewart Street, between Jockey and Denise-Pelletier Streets, was scheduled for January 22, but was removed from the agenda. Councillor Mike Duggan hopes to see that section of the street closed to vehicles permanently. He will continue to accept citizen petitions on the initiative until the February council meeting.

The Mayor told residents that his 2019 wishes for them was to “have the most boring year, climate-wise!”, referring to the city’s many disturbing climate events in the last two years. Mayor Pedneaud-Jobin said 2019 is a crucial year for the light rail project (to the west end) and for municipal taxation since a renegotiation of the fiscal agreement with Quebec will take place. The Mayor mentioned other projects, including the four ice rinks at Place de la cité, the Plateau library, decisions on Aylmer’s Lucy-Faris library, as well as a four-rinks project also for the west end.

Gatineau will host the Union des municipalité du Québec summit on climate change, March 21. 

Only two questions came in the citizens’ question period, neither relevant to Aylmer sector.  (Transl : CB)