Gatineau Municipal Elections

[begratto]

Originally Posted by Acajack

This is very rarely an issue for most people in Gatineau. It's one of the things that surprised me when I moved here from Ontario. In the Franco-Ontarian community this would the kiss of death politically.

Well, most of us québécois have voted for the PQ at one point or another in our life: for most voters, the PQ is the only alternative to the Liberals, and was, for a very long period, the only alternative on the left of the political spectrum.

In Quebec, there's generally no stigma associated to the fact that someone has been a supporter of the PQ, even in the Franco-federalist circle (yes, they exist! But they are usually not very passionate about this). Very few people care about your past political affiliations, really.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Who is the new attaché de presse then? Can't find his name in the news.

Also, Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin has a lot of personal history with the PQ himself.

This is very rarely an issue for most people in Gatineau. It's one of the things that surprised me when I moved here from Ontario. In the Franco-Ontarian community this would the kiss of death politically.

Pedneaud-Jobin's a separatist!? So why would he want to work with Ottawa to create a seamless transit system? Usually separatists think Gatineau is its own independent city and go out of there way to destroy any relationship with the City of Ottawa.

[Aylmer]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Pedneaud-Jobin's a separatist!? So why would he want to work with Ottawa to create a seamless transit system? Usually separatists think Gatineau is its own independent city and go out of there way to destroy any relationship with the City of Ottawa.

...Because it's the right thing to do and provincial politics are irrelevant in running a city.

I also hear he likes the colour purple. Despite his obvious activism on behalf id the colour, he has kept the red bricks on city hall for the exact same reason: it's irrelevant.

[Cre47]

No Mr. Pedenault-Jobin is not a separatist unless someone prooves me wrong. It's worth noting that Action Gatineau had some of their ex-councillors been candidates for the CAQ and that The CAQ's ideology on Wikipedia shows Quebec nationalism although like Quebec Solidaire and unlike the PQ it's not close to be their main priority. It's just that Mr. Patrick Robert-Meunier who is the press secretary has been a staunch separatist back the 00's. Not sure if it is still the case today. The CAQ does have have a bunch of ex-PQ MNA's even ex-PQ ministers including their leader.

Unfortunately, it seems the info07 article about that nomination disappeared quickly. Maybe it is not a big deal anyways and again just an observation by my part.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Cre47

No Mr. Pedenault-Jobin is not a separatist unless someone prooves me wrong. It's worth noting that Action Gatineau had some of their ex-councillors been candidates for the CAQ and that The CAQ's ideology on Wikipedia shows Quebec nationalism although like Quebec Solidaire and unlike the PQ it's not close to be their main priority. It's just that Mr. Patrick Robert-Meunier who is the press secretary has been a staunch separatist back the 00's. Not sure if it is still the case today. The CAQ does have have a bunch of ex-PQ MNA's even ex-PQ ministers including their leader.

Unfortunately, it seems the info07 article about that nomination disappeared quickly. Maybe it is not a big deal anyways and again just an observation by my part.

Not that it matters municipally in Quebec as others have said, but the Pedneau-Jobin family has pretty deep sovereignist roots.

I have only met Maxime twice casually, but we have a pretty good friend in common, and another friend of mine went to law school with his sister.

Also, his winning candidate in Pte-Gatineau is the daughter of former BQ MP Richard Nadeau.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Pedneaud-Jobin's a separatist!? So why would he want to work with Ottawa to create a seamless transit system? Usually separatists think Gatineau is its own independent city and go out of there way to destroy any relationship with the City of Ottawa.

Because he's a pragmatist as are all politicians who want to get elected and stay elected.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by begratto

Well, most of us québécois have voted for the PQ at one point or another in our life: for most voters, the PQ is the only alternative to the Liberals, and was, for a very long period, the only alternative on the left of the political spectrum.

In Quebec, there's generally no stigma associated to the fact that someone has been a supporter of the PQ, even in the Franco-federalist circle (yes, they exist! But they are usually not very passionate about this). Very few people care about your past political affiliations, really.

Exactly. The difference is as I said very striking when you compare to Franco-Ontarians. There even a suspicion of PQ sympathies in many circles is enough to have more people than you think want to have nothing to do with you.

I've been on the board of francophone cultural organizations in Ontario where half the ''house'' was adamant about not inviting singers and bands from Quebec that were pro-independence or suspected of being so. We finally won the day after a long battle when we explained that their lineup would be mostly empty (and would also exclude certain Franco-Ontarians, Franco-Manitobans and Acadians) if they went all the way with this.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Cre47

Hasn't been a big deal so far in the media. I know separatism is a very long shot and isn't close to 50%.

But it was just some observation by myself and the fact I had known this guy back in the 2000's most notably as one the most vocal voices against raise in tuition fees during the 05 student strike and that was a PQ militant at around the time and was candidate in the 07 election. But yeah so far, not much of a big deal. There was a bit of criticism by some with Bureau's choice of cabinet chief who was strongly in favor of separatism.

Gatineau's population is a quarter to a third sovereignist at the very most, but when you drill down to the politically active classes somewhat surprisingly a split that is much closer to 50-50 becomes very apparent.

[Acajack]

Oh yeah, and I almost forgot: former Quebec Premier Bernard Landry will be at Maxime's swearing in as mayor.

Wanna know why? Because Mme Maxime is his daughter, Pascale Landry.

As I said: deep roots.

[Mille Sabords]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I think we need a vibrant downtown for citizens before we need a vibrant downtown for tourists.

Personally, I agree very much with this as a basic statement. Once a city feels "bien dans sa peau" with itself, tourists will come check it out. It's a much more durable way to get people interested in your city than put on a show that gets stale quickly (especially if that "show" is... more grass)

[citydwlr]

La Presse posted a few articles regarding Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin and the Destination Gatineau project:

Les discussions sur Destination Gatineau s'annoncent houleuses
[Feb 11, 2014]

Un accueil tiède à Destination Gatineau
[Feb 11, 2014]

Here's an updated video of Destination Gatineau project (though, I really don't see anything new) from the 2nd article:

• Video Link

Also from the 2nd article, it still seems like Pedneaud-Jobin is still sceptical of portions of the project, most notably the current vague cost estimates ($138 Million with funding hopefully coming in from Ottawa and Quebec) and who will be running the show on this shindig. He wants the City of Gatineau to manage it.

Interesting article - didn't know where else to post it, so if there is a dedicated Destination Gatineau thread, feel free to copy it over, or link to this post.

[Aylmer]

Wow! Look at those thousands of people! I wonder if they're the same folk who magically populate the NCC or the Lansdowne Conservancy's renderings of grass.

If this project goes through, it will be empty 20 hours of the day on all days except for the days with those family-fun festivals which feature so prominently in their video. At best, it will be forgotten by locals, sporadically used by summer tourists and a wasted opportunity. At worst, it becomes a place to do things far from the prying eyes of strangers.

The place as it is is pitiful, not for a lack of greenspace, but for a lack of consistent, casual, round-the-clock population and interest. This will not provide any of the former and relatively little of the latter.

Until they can come up with a satisfying reason as to why those throngs of happy people should be there and not just on a nice summer day, I cannot find any reason to be remotely supportive of the project.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by Aylmer

Wow! Look at those thousands of people! I wonder if they're the same folk who magically populate the NCC or the Lansdowne Conservancy's renderings of grass.

If this project goes through, it will be empty 20 hours of the day on all days except for the days with those family-fun festivals which feature so prominently in their video. At best, it will be forgotten by locals, sporadically used by summer tourists and a wasted opportunity. At worst, it becomes a place to do things far from the prying eyes of strangers.

The place as it is is pitiful, not for a lack of greenspace, but for a lack of consistent, casual, round-the-clock population and interest. This will not provide any of the former and relatively little of the latter.

Until they can come up with a satisfying reason as to why those throngs of happy people should be there and not just on a nice summer day, I cannot find any reason to be remotely supportive of the project.

Yes too bad we continue to be obsessed with generic green space. While it would be one of the nicer urban parks in the region, unfortunately there is not a large population within realistic walking distance and it is not large or spectacular enough to attract people from farther away. The best feature is probably the view so I would think restaurants could do well.

[Acajack]

I will personally have a bird if Destination Gatineau becomes a priority over the revitalization of Vieux-Hull and various critical streets like Promenade du Portage, Eddy and Jacques-Cartier. Even Notre-Dame to be honest.

But I think my sanity will remain intact as I believe MPJ feels the same way I do, and is meeting with the Destination people more as a courtesy and to see what can be salvaged.

[J.OT13]

I don't understand! It's roughly 138 million for a continuous riverside park? I can't even figure out those weird domes around 24 secs or where they are. Boulevard Fournier? What's the point? What about the fact that THEY DONT OWN ANY OF THIS LAND!!!!

Speaking of the NCC, have they expressed any concerns about Gatineau's planned investment on their land? There "protecting Canadian's interest" on a useless strip of land west of downtown Ottawa (ORT), but they haven't said jack about the waste that is Destination Gatineau.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I don't understand! It's roughly 138 million for a continuous riverside park? I can't even figure out those weird domes around 24 secs or where they are. Boulevard Fournier? What's the point? What about the fact that THEY DONT OWN ANY OF THIS LAND!!!!

Speaking of the NCC, have they expressed any concerns about Gatineau's planned investment on their land? There "protecting Canadian's interest" on a useless strip of land west of downtown Ottawa (ORT), but they haven't said jack about the waste that is Destination Gatineau.

I thought the NCC was a major partner of Destination Gatineau.

[Dado]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I don't understand! It's roughly 138 million for a continuous riverside park? I can't even figure out those weird domes around 24 secs or where they are. Boulevard Fournier? What's the point? What about the fact that THEY DONT OWN ANY OF THIS LAND!!!!

Speaking of the NCC, have they expressed any concerns about Gatineau's planned investment on their land? There "protecting Canadian's interest" on a useless strip of land west of downtown Ottawa (ORT), but they haven't said jack about the waste that is Destination Gatineau.

Originally Posted by Acajack

I thought the NCC was a major partner of Destination Gatineau.

The cynic in me thinks that's because the NCC supporting it would cut off an obvious LRT route to Place du Portage and the Museum of Civilization, err, whatever, by putting a sacred park in the way.

[Harley613]

The mayor just stepped down

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...down-1.7122360

[harls]

Holy Moley.. death threats? Good for her. No one needs that kind of stress!

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Originally Posted by harls

Holy Moley.. death threats? Good for her. No one needs that kind of stress!

It seems to be coming quite common. The media is saying that some 800 politicians have resigned in Quebec since the last round of municipal elections.
Many due to the same reasons as the Gatineau mayor. It happens elsewhere as well.