From global to local: International political news discussed at Gatineau’s latest municipal council meeting
Sophie Demers
Amid heightened political development in Canada and internationally, discussions of current events are often unavoidable in people's daily lives. Gatineau’s municipal council is not exempt.
In his opening statement during the first Gatineau municipal council meeting of the year, Pointe-Gatineau councillor Mike Duggan stated: “Happy New Year 2025 to everyone watching. This year is already beginning with a big launch with the inauguration of American President Donald Trump. And from what I can tell, this means more peace with fewer physical wars in many places around the world.
But let's hope there won't be any economic wars either, especially with their northern neighbors. Here in Canada, there will be a series of elections this year and next year at all levels, some of which are more predictable than others.
Let's hope that the candidates and candidates of quality will present themselves to lead so that our modern challenges are well managed.”
The council meeting went on as usual moving on to the resident question period. The final speaker to address council, M. Lebel, a regular attendee of council meetings, questioned Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette about the appropriateness of Duggan's comments.
Duggan responded stating that he believes the comments were appropriate. While the mayor addressed the question by saying “Obviously, I do not always agree with Mr. Duggan's comments. It will not be the first time Mr. Duggan, and I do not agree tonight. That said, I respect the fact that I do not always agree with the political opinions of the members around the municipal council. As mayor, my role is not to slap them on the hand, it is really to ensure that everyone works together. That we have a working climate of collaboration that is healthy and productive and that is how I have been working for the last six months. But obviously, I am not one of the people who celebrated the inauguration of the new American president yesterday.”
Mayor Marquis-Bissonnette wrapped up her comments about the topic by saying “I want to leave you on a Turkish proverb, if you allow me, which says that when a clown enters a palace, he does not become the king, it is rather the palace that becomes a circus.”
The following day the Mayor shared to her Facebook page that she will be leaving “X” formerly known as Twitter, owned by Elon Musk a close ally to the American President, in favor of a new social media platform Bluesky. As of late, many people have decided to switch to alternate social media platforms to avoid supporting Musk. Marquis-Bissonnette shared this news on Facebook stating, “At a time when the global context is sometimes worrying, it's on a smaller scale - that of cities - that many people find hope.”
Other local organizations have also joined bluesky, such as Sécurité Publique Mrc des Collines-de-l'Outaouais as well as the Bulletin de Gatineau, your local newspaper.
