Marquis-Bissonnette sets council priorities

Tashi Farmilo

Gatineau Mayor, Maude Marquis-Bissonnette presented her top priorities on January 19 during a media roundtable at the Maison du citoyen, setting the direction for the new council term. She focused on housing affordability, homelessness, economic development, sector-specific projects and emerging opportunities in national defence and cybersecurity.

The mayor identified housing as the most urgent issue facing the city. Although the rental vacancy rate has reached 3.8 percent, she noted that most of the availability is in high-end units and that affordable housing remains extremely limited. Gatineau has the highest average rent for two-bedroom apartments in Quebec. She confirmed that the city will relaunch its housing shock committee and seek to create more housing that reflects what residents can actually afford.

She also attributed homelessness partly to the lack of affordable housing and said the city must move beyond temporary measures. Plans are underway to create a permanent community service centre in Vieux-Gatineau in collaboration with local organizations. The centre would help address long-term needs and reduce reliance on warming centres.

When asked about the priorities in the Aylmer sector, Marquis-Bissonnette confirmed that public consultations for the tramway project will begin this year. She highlighted the refrigerated outdoor skating rink at Parc des Cèdres, which opened in November and is part of a two-year pilot project. The rink provides consistent ice throughout the winter and is part of a broader commitment to recreation infrastructure in all sectors. She also noted that the city has taken possession of the Lucy-Faris Library building in Aylmer and that books are now being moved in.

In discussing economic development, the mayor said the city would soon launch a tour of key business sectors to identify priorities following a departmental restructuring. The objective is to reduce Gatineau’s dependence on federal jobs by supporting growth in other sectors. She mentioned that the city is already seeing strength in clusters tied to national defence and cybersecurity. About one-third of companies in certain employment zones are active in these areas. The city intends to better position itself to attract and support those businesses.

Marquis-Bissonnette also commented on the upcoming provincial elections, calling them an opportunity to push for stronger municipal powers and better tools to deal with housing, homelessness, and economic challenges. She closed by emphasizing the need for collaboration and clear priorities. This is not about multiplying projects, she said. It is about delivering where it counts.