Archive
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Vol. 27, No. 33
5 septembre / September 5
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$12 million for Aylmer water treatment plant
Julie Murray
Gatineau grew 14 million dollars richer, August 31, thanks to contributions presented by Pontiac MP and federal Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon and Outaouais Minister Benoit Pelletier, MNA for Chapleau; the cheques were presented to Mayor Marc Bureau at the Parc des Cèdres near the old water facility. Minister Cannon had nearly $12 million in funding for Aylmer’s new water treatment plant, while MNA Pelletier had another $2 million provincial from Renovation Québec for the city’s housing.
$37 million coming
“Having been a Gatineau city councillor, I know the city’s needs. Back then, my colleagues and I asked that the federal excise tax on gasoline become permanent,” said Minister Cannon. “That’s why our government has extended the transfer of gas tax money to Canadian municipalities until 2014. In the next four years, Gatineau will receive a total of $37 million in gas tax transfer payments.”
Between 2010 and 2014, $2 billion annually in federal gas taxes will be transferred to municipalities, for a total of $8 billion, as part of the federal government’s “Building Canada” fund, which will see $33 billion distributed between 2007 and 2014 for provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure. “It’s the largest commitment in 50 years,” Minister Cannon said, for the construction and repair of “roads, highways, transit ways, bridges, sewers, wastewater treatment plants, and green energy sources.”
Over the next two years, Gatineau will be getting $1 million annually to repair degraded housing, as part of the Renovation Québec program, said MNA Pelletier, as well as $38,000 over two years, for subsidies for low-income seniors to renovate their homes.
Mayor Bureau noted that Gatineau’s growth has put “enormous pressure” on the city’s infrastructure, such as Aylmer’s water treatment plant, which has not been able to keep up with the demand, leading to persistent water shortages. The federal money, however, “will solve the problem in Aylmer,” he said. Ward Three Councillor Alain Riel, who was present at the announcement, told The Bulletin, “I did a door-to-door campaign three times in my ward, and water came up all the time. It’s a huge issue in Aylmer. And this new facility will use top technology. Aylmer’s a winner again.” Work on the new water treatment facility should begin within the year.
Les policiers se retirent des négociations
La Ville déplore le retrait de la Fraternité des policiers et policières de la table de négociation, le 27 août 2007. Dès le début d’une série de onze rencontres, convenue par les deux parties, les représentants de la Fraternité ont quitté la table.
La Fraternité des policiers a déclaré qu’elle demanderait à ses membres d’avoir recours à l’arbitrage. Devant l’attitude des représentants syndicaux, la Ville fait appel au professionnalisme de son corps policier pour continuer à assurer des services de qualité.
« Il est très décevant de voir que les représentants syndicaux, qui se disaient prêts à négocier jour et nuit, se retirent dès que la Ville ne souscrit pas intégralement à leur première demande. Ces derniers souhai tent limiter le recours aux policiers temporaires dans le cadre de projets spéciaux tel que l’escouade pour contrer les gangs de rues », a déclaré Marc Pageau, directeur du Service des ressources humaines à la Ville. (FR)
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