Liberal MNAs visit Gatineau Valley to address regional concerns

Tashi Farmilo

Two Liberal MNAs toured the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau to meet with local stakeholders and discuss pressing regional issues. The Official Opposition's critics for employment and forests met with members of the MRC's forestry crisis unit, municipal elected officials, and the team from the region's Carrefour Jeunesse Emploi Vallée Gatineau (CJEVG). The visit focused on the indefinite closure of the Resolute Forest Products sawmill in Maniwaki and significant cuts to employment services.

The forestry sector, a cornerstone of the Gatineau Valley economy, was at the heart of discussions with municipal leaders, including MRC prefect Chantal Lamarche. According to Pontiac MNA André Fortin, who serves as the Official Opposition critic for forests, the provincial government is failing to grasp the urgency of the crisis. “There is no sense of urgency in the Minister of Forests, even though the region's economic future is currently at stake,” Fortin said. He called on the Minister to listen to the community, which has proposed “concrete and realistic solutions” to support forestry entrepreneurs in the region.

The tour also shed light on the effects of recent budget cuts to employment services. The CJEVG, which plays a critical role in helping local job seekers, has seen its funding reduced by 38% over the past two years. Executive Director Sophie Beaudoin described the cuts as catastrophic. “Weakening the CJEVG does not help job seekers,” Beaudoin said, criticizing what she called a ‘wall-to-wall’ approach by the CAQ government that fails to consider the unique challenges of rural regions like the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau.

Fortin reinforced these concerns, warning of broader implications for the community. “If the CAQ government continues to sit idly by, entrepreneurs in the region will be forced to hand over their keys to the bank. It’s as simple as that,” he said.

Madwa-Nika Cadet, the Official Opposition spokesperson on employment, denounced the government’s approach as abandoning vulnerable populations. “Organizations in the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau are right to be concerned,” she said. “The wall-to-wall system imposed by the CAQ does not meet the region’s needs.”

Chantal Lamarche also voiced frustration at the lack of provincial support. “Since this government support is no longer there, we have proposed with resilience, wisdom, and rigour the implementation of a Workforce and Rurality Strategy,” Lamarche said. This initiative aims to ensure accessible, high-quality employment services tailored to local realities but has been rejected by the Minister of Employment. “We will officially resubmit it and call on the Premier to get involved.”

The Liberal MNAs pledged to continue advocating for the region and pushing for immediate government intervention. As Fortin stated, “The Minister must show leadership and agility and agree to implement solutions better adapted to the Outaouais region.”