Six councillors object to city tax hike

Gatineau passes 2017 budget

Mayor Pedneaud-Jobin released the city’s 2017 budget during a special council meeting, December 6.  Far from unanimous, council passed the $577.8 million budget 13 to 6, with Councillors Josée Lacasse, Jocelyn Blondin, Louise Boudrias, Sylvie Goneau, Jean-François LeBlanc and  Denise Laferrière opposed.  The six felt that adding an additional 2.9% in property taxes was asking too much of Gatineau taxpayers, given that taxes have increased every year.  The 2.9% increase adds an average of $75 to each household’s tax bill.

Eleven per cent of the budget will go to paying down the city’s debt, about $563.8 million. Gatineau’s infrastructure will get $127 million, with repairs specifically to the sewer and water systems at $34.8 million. 

Aging infrastructure -- highways, streets, water systems -- is a major problem across North America, as most of it was constructed decades ago. According to the “Canada 2020” think-tank, “Canadians are impacted by infrastructure that has failed to be maintained or that remains to be built. This is apparent in the deterioration of our roads and highways, the over-capacity of our public transit systems, underinvestment in affordable housing and social infrastructure, and the increased prevalence of environmental incidents, such as flooding in urban areas. Canada’s infrastructure … (is) in need of repair.” 

Streets will get $23.5 million of repaving; parks will be improved, or constructed, for $3.3 million.  Bicycle paths will be created for $1.4 million and existing paths repaired at a cost of $470,000. Gatineau will get new sidewalks, for $470,000, and speed reduction measures, also for $470,000. The city’s fleet of equipment will get $3.1 million, and municipal buildings will be repaired and improved for $2.9 million.

Concerned about the need for social housing, council voted to spend $2 million to provide affordable residences. Home renovation subsidies will get $1.2 million, and $820,000 will go towards addressing the problem of brown, cloudy water, an issue raised by citizens at recent council meetings. Repairing the water system is a ten-year project that will ultimately cost $53 million.