Gatineau makes changes to the city’s committee and commissions 

Sophie Demers

Gatineau’s new mayor's first official municipal council meeting took place on July 9 where she announced the changes to the committees and commissions. 

“The objective was not to change everything; it was to continue with files that were carried out by the members of the Council. But there are still some changes to make room for the newly elected councillor Catherine Craig-St-Louis. One thing to note is that there is less disparity among the elected representatives. When you look at the roles and responsibilities, there is greater equity in the way they are distributed,” said Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, Gatineau Mayor.   

The most notable changes are to the Comité Consultatif de l’Urbanisme (CCU) and consequently the Conseil Local du Patrimoine, and Comité sur les Demandes de Démolition. Independent councillor Mario Aubé was replaced as CCU president by Action Gatineau Candidate Caroline Murray. Mike Duggan is vice-president and newly elected Carrefour-de-l'Hôpital councillor with Action Gatineau, Catherine Craig-St-Louis was added as a member. 

Aubé stated that he did express interest in continuing these positions, but he understood it was a political decision. When asked about the situation during a press conference Aubé states “What I would say is that the mayor kept her word because she said she would not put anyone on the penalties bench. I do not think I was on the penalties bench; I was taken out of the game.” Aubé also stated that he had a different vision for urban development in Gatineau than the party or the mayor. 

When asked about her new position as president of the CCU during a press conference Murray responded “I have been at the CCU for two years. My approach is to prioritize communication between residents and developers. I want residents to be involved in the process.” 

Aubé was added as a member of the Commission de Développement Économique as well as the Corporation de l'Aéroport Exécutif de Gatineau-Ottawa and made president of the Commission de la Sécurité Publique. Bettyna Bélizaire (Action Gatineau) was also added as a representative for the Airport. 

Catherine Craig-St-Louis was added as a member to the Conseil d'administration de la Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO), Comité de Vérification, and made president of the Commission sur les Transports, les Déplacements Durables et la Sécurité. 

The new mayor proposed the fusion of the Comité de Finance and the Comité d'Investissement et de Gestion des Actifs. The changes detail Anik Des Marais as president, Edmond Leclerc as Vice President, and Mike Duggan as a member. 

Alicia Lacasse-Brunet (Action Gatineau) will replace Jean Lessard (Independent) as president of the Comité Consultatif Agricole. Lessard will be a member of the committee with Des Anik Des Marais (Action Gatineau) as Vice President. 

Daniel Champagne (Independent) was replaced by Louis Sabourin (Action Gatineau) as president of Commission du Développement du Territoire et de l'Habitation. Champagne will take the place of Vice President and Des Marais was made a member. 

The mayor, Maude Marquis-Bissonnette (Action Gatineau), will be the president of the Table de concertation du Centre-ville along with Steve Moran (Action Gatineau) as Vice President.

Photo caption: Mario Aubé, Masson-Angers councillor, addressing his removal from the Comité Consultatif de l’Urbanisme (CCU) at the July 9 press conference.

Photo credit: Screenshot by Sophie Demers