In conversation with a diffusionist

Aylmer might go its own way? Hull, too?

Aylmer’s discontent with its treatment within the larger city of Gatineau has led to many letters to the editor in the Bulletin by Aylmer residents who wish Aylmer could break free from the larger city.  According to Claude Millette, a key figure in the original de-amalgamation movement within Gatineau, demerging is possible.

“It’s not impossible. But the province would be against it. First, a large movement in favour of a demerger would need to take root. We would also need a good team with active members,” added Millette, a Hull councillor from 1991 to 2001, a year before the amalgamation process began.

Municipal mergers were forced upon numerous cities in 2002 by Bernard Landry’s PQ government. The mergers sparked outrage, including among the English-speaking population.

When Jean Charest’s Liberals took power in 2003, partly as a result of this discontent, many referendums took place asking that former towns be ‘demerged’ from the new megacities.

Aylmer’s referendum, May 2004, showed more than 50% of voters wanted a demerger. However, voter turnout overall was too low. At least 35% of all registered voters had to vote for de-amalgamation and only 26% did in Aylmer. The vote was scheduled for the Father's Day of that year.

In Gatineau, only Masson-Angers surpassed the 35% threshold by the slim margin of 0.04%. A recount annulled some ballots, dropping the demerger vote to 34.80%, thus  forcing the town to stay in the new city.  Aylmer’s result was not as close.

“It will be much harder to open the City of Gatineau up now,” said Millette. “Everything is in place, including public works. But some municipal employees still wish the merger had not gone through because they feel they lost out in the deal. The two big losers were Hull and Aylmer. In terms of equipment, Aylmer and Hull lost out because their new equipment was sent to Gatineau,” noted Millette.

The former Hull councillor believes that some residents who favoured the merger now realize it was a bad idea.

“We heard that it would cost less to manage the (new) city, that residents would have better services, and that there would be fewer municipal employees. The exact opposite has happened,” said Millette.

In 2015, the city’s salary mass, representing 47% of the budget, increased 2.8% -- about a $5 million hike, a smaller increase than in previous budgets. In 2014, the payroll increased 3.1%; in 2013, 4.1%. In 2012, it went up 5.7% and in 2011, it rose 4.9%.

As the city grows, it would need more staff, increasing the payroll. However, Millette said the salary mass is increasing faster than Gatineau’s population.

Municipal taxes have also increased since the merger. “Our taxes have certainly increased and, in Hull, we would no longer have a debt had there been no merger. Now the debt keeps going up,” continued Millette. Gatineau’s debt today is $570 million. “Not enough people came out to vote -- and today we live with that.” Mr. Millette is unwilling to launch a new movement for de-amalgamation, but he would certainly be willing to help.

This is the first in a series on defusion. Please see future editions for more perspectives. Send in your ideas and opinions on the subject: info@bulletinaylmer.com