Gatineau Elections: Aylmer
Candidate: Vincent Roy, Action Gatineau
Vincent Roy, Action Gatineau candidate for Aylmer, worked in the office with Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette since her election to office. Previously, he served as Development advisor for La Coopérative de Développement Régional Outaouais–Laurentides (CDROL) for 10 years. The candidate was also Chairman of the board of directors for Desjardins for seven years.
1. Why are you running for councillor, and what experience or qualities make you the right person for the job?
I'm running because Aylmer deserves a strong, constructive voice that connects with the people. For years, I've been actively involved in our community, notably at the Aylmer Volunteer Access Centre and in several citizen initiatives.
As President of the Desjardins Caisse Populaire in Aylmer for seven years, I learned to listen, bring people together, and rigorously manage in the collective interest. This experience gave me a solid understanding of finance and institutional governance.
With my team, I also founded Quebec's first social economy business incubator, here in the Outaouais region, supporting cooperatives and non-profit organizations for 10 years. This commitment earned me the 2022 Majella-St-Pierre Award for Quebec's next generation of cooperatives.
More recently, I worked in the office of Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, working on issues concerning seniors, recreation, and sports. These experiences prepared me to effectively represent the citizens of Aylmer.
I'm a hands-on, family-oriented man, driven by dialogue and results. I want the city's decisions to be made with and for its citizens, with past, present, and future generations in mind.
2. How do you plan to balance the need for housing with the pace of development, given that infrastructure has not kept up, resulting in service gaps?
After all my meetings with residents, one thing is clear: in Aylmer, real estate development lacks direction. Why build so much, and for whom?
We're not against development, but it must keep pace with infrastructure and integrate harmoniously into our neighborhoods. Projects must be in the right location and meet the needs of residents first.
This requires greater transparency, communication, and dialogue between the city, developers, and residents. We need to innovate—with tools like social utility trusts or tiny homes adapted to the lots.
Finally, we must curb the speculation that harms affordability. Focusing on luxury won't solve Aylmer's real needs. The crisis we're experiencing is an affordable and social housing crisis, not luxury housing!
3. With increased development in the area, how will you protect the ecological corridors, such as the Champlain corridor in Aylmer?
Our forests and ecological corridors provide us with clean air, water, and mental well-being, and are home to precious biodiversity. With Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, we want to continue protecting the Boucher Forest and strengthen regulations for the Champlain and Deschênes corridors, based on the recommendations of independent experts.
We must also curb urban sprawl on our last remaining agricultural lands; this is a matter of food security and a sustainable economic vision. Our team wants to fight speculation and support the next generation of farmers.
Finally, let's protect our urban trees and combat heat islands, particularly in the Galeries sector, where we need a new urban park.
4. With increased development in Aylmer, there is growing concern about the preservation of local heritage, especially as many historic homes are neglected, then demolished to make way for multi-unit buildings. What is your plan to protect and preserve Aylmer's heritage?
Aylmer has a rich history, evident in its century-old homes, its village, and its neighbourhood life. We have a responsibility to pass this legacy on to future generations.
Our true strength lies in its people: passionate homeowners, associations, and experts who value our heritage. The city must support their efforts, fund the restoration of heritage homes, and listen to experts in making decisions.
It must also intervene to preserve neglected buildings, at the owners' expense, and ensure that new projects integrate harmoniously.
5. Anglophones are numerous across Gatineau. How will you ensure they have equitable access to city information and services in English?
The Quebec government regulates the use of English in cities to affirm French as the common language, but this creates particular challenges in Aylmer, where many residents are Anglophone.
Certain exceptions provided for in the law would already improve access to services if they were better known and enforced. This is where the city can take concrete action.
I am committed to the French language, but also to an inclusive city where Anglophones and Francophones build bridges.
Finally, I believe we must also promote a third living language here – that of the Anishinabe. Reconciliation also requires the recognition and visibility of their language and culture.
6. Aylmer’s residents are passionate about their community. When new development projects are proposed, how will you engage with both developers and residents to address any concerns that arise?
Transparency and consultation must become the norm. Too often, citizens are presented with a fait accompli without any real opportunity to participate.
I want to make more consultations mandatory. Before any major project, developers should hold a public meeting with the city and elected officials to inform and listen to the public.
Our team also wants to create sector assemblies to better monitor local projects, as well as a Public Participation Office, an independent entity, so that the city can better involve citizens in its decision-making.
By listening to citizens from the outset, we improve projects and encourage active citizenship. It's a win-win for everyone!
