Gatineau City Council reorganises committees and commissions: Duggan removed from all extra duties

Sophie Demers 

In the February 15 Municipal Council meeting, 18 of the 19 of the members of council voted for the reorganisation of the committees and commissions. Mike Duggan, Councilor for Pointe-Gatineau was the only council member that voted against. 

This reorganisation comes after the temporary leave of Parc-de-la-Montagne–Saint-Raymond district Councillor, Louise Boudrias as well as the controversial comments made by Duggan concerning the confederate flag and the occupation taking place in the National Capital. 

Duggan has been removed from all commissions and committees as of February 15. Previously, Duggan was the President of the Comité de vérification, the Vice-President of the Comité consultatif d'urbanisme, Comité sur les demandes de démolition, and Conseil local du patrimoine, as well as a member of the Commission sur l'environnement et le développement durable. 

Please note that Boudrias will be reinstated to all her roles once she is recovered and able to return. Boudrias was previously Deputy Mayor. 

Daniel Champagne, Councillor for the Versant district is the new President of the council as well as the Deputy Mayor. Champagne is also taking on the roles of Vice-President of the executive committee and a member of the Commission Conjointe d'Aménagement de l'Outaouais. 

Councillor for the Manoir-des-Trembles–Val-Tétreau district, Jocelyn Blondin, is now the Vice-President of the Comité Consultatif d'Urbanisme et Comité sur les Demandes de Démolition. Blondin is also taking on the roles of Vice-President of the Conseil Local du Patrimoine and a representative for the Société Place des Festivals. 

Mario Aubé, Municipal Councillor for the Masson-Angers district, will now be President of the Table de Concertation des Événements with Tiffany-Lee Norris-Parent, Touraine district councillor as Vice-President. Denis Girouard, Lac-Beauchamp district council, is now a member of the Table as well. 

Councillor Aubé is also the new representative for Tourism Outaouais. 

Jean Lessard, Rivière-Blanche district Councillor, is taking on the role of member of the Commission sur l'Environnement et la Lutte aux Changements Climatiques as well as representative for the Festival de Montgolfières de Gatineau Corporation. 

Lucerne District Councillor, Gille Chagnon is the new Vice-President of the Comité d'Optimisation des Programmes et des Dépenses. Gatineau Mayor, France Bélisle will now represent Table Éducation Outaouais. 

“The realignment that the Council is approving tonight was essential in several respects,” explains Mayor Bélisle. “With new members in place, we will continue our work as per the Council's agenda. Some committees have already sat while others are preparing to do so in the coming days or weeks. We will thus be able to build concrete work plans to achieve the objectives in line with the orientations that we have adopted as a council. I would like to emphasise that the replacement of Ms. Boudrias is only temporary, until our fighter returns to sit with us.”