City council back to work

Public grills council on social housing, sidewalks, snow 

 

Julie Murray 

Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin opened the January 20 city council meeting at city hall in Hull by mentioning two major issues on the horizon: negotiations with city employees and the debate on Bill 26 allowing cities to be compensated in cases of collusion. He announced that Airbus has installed a facility in Gatineau that will employ around 30 people.

 

Councillors’ remarks

 

Councillor Martin Lajeunesse thanked the Buckingham Lions Club for its service to the community. “They make the Christmas baskets and they are responsible for the (new medical) scanner at the hospital.” He noted that the club honoured two of its senior members, Thom Laframboise and Horace Gauthier, who have each served 55 years. The councillor also invited residents to a winter party under the Brady Bridge, from 11 am to 2 pm, February 1. 

After Councillor Marc Carrière thanked volunteers at neighbourhood skating rinks, Councillor Sylvie Goneau invited everyone to a winter festival, February 13 at l’Ecole de l’Escalade. Councillor Denis Tassé thanked residents who set up a citizens’ meeting on public issues. 

 

Councillor Mireille Apollon remarked that council now has “the budget to get everything done”, adding that work will begin on Phase I of the library network. She added that with February as Black History Month, “there will be a lot of activities, so stay tuned.” Councillor Louise Boudria pressed issues of street safety and the need for a dog park in her ward. 

 

Councillor Jocelyn Blondin revealed that the city’s partnership with the University of Quebec meant a new entrance just opened, thanks to city investment. He also announced his ward’s 42nd winter carnival, running from January 30 through February 8 at St. Jean Bosco Park. 

 

Question Period: social housing cuts, incomplete sidewalks, snow clearing

 

Francois Roy of Logem’en Occupe demanded answers on the future of Accès-Logis for low-income families who spend 50% of the family income on housing. With provincial cuts to the program, he asked, “can the city approach the Quebec government about getting aid to these families?”

The Mayor responded positively, but Councillor Myriam Nadeau cautioned that the province’s Societé des Habitations had also announced “adjustments” to its budget. Social housing, she said, is under stress. Referring to slush and snow on city sidewalks and streets, Jacques Demers asked about connecting the sidewalks on Boulevard Fournier, to connect Hull and Pointe-Gatineau. “This is the year of sports,” he said, “but to walk or to bicycle we need a sidewalk.” 

 

Bernard LeCoin complained that city snow equipment blew all of the snow onto one side of his street, St. Marie. “Each side should get 50% of the snow,” he noted; “and why plow the sidewalks without snow?  Please clean the sidewalks where all the snow is.” Councillors Jean Lessard and Boudria promised to rectify the situation.

 

Frédéric Ballard, the owner of 44 Hamel, asked if city administrators would be sanctioned for their errors in his file. Mr. Ballard, cited three times for violating bylaws for work in a flood zone, has been exonerated. “I was a victim of repetitive harassment. The administrators told me that I was right, that the city was wrong, but those employees haven’t been punished.”  The Mayor Pedneaud-Jobin replied that such matters between employer and employees are best resolved amicably: “This is what we do.”