Gatineau may need to find another way to finance major projects due to provincial changes

Sophie Demers 

Gatineau went forward with imposing development fees in 2025. The by-law forces developers to pay $4,000 per new dwelling before building in Aylmer. This was implemented to finance a large part of infrastructure projects in the area that residents have been eagerly awaiting for years. These include the Vanier Road expansion, the Ecocentre, as well as the new fire station on McConnell.

Thus far the city has collected over 2 million dollars through the added fees. However, Quebec may be changing the regulations surrounding these by-laws. The provincial government may restrict development fees to only be able to fund drinking water, wastewater, and road infrastructure projects as of January 1, 2028.

Although Vanier Road expansion could still be financed, the city would need to find alternatives for the McConnell fire station and the Ecocentre, which is to break ground this year.

“I want to reassure people that these projects will be delivered as planned,” said Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette. “The needs are great and these projects are absolutely not in question even if Quebec decided to go ahead with the modification of its regulations. If it materializes, we will have to find another way to finance these projects. We are talking here about basic services, for me it is essential for the citizens of Gatineau. We are therefore not questioning the implementation of these infrastructures, but perhaps the financing mechanism. It will be a matter of prioritization in our investment plans and using the leeway we have.”

Gatineau will not issue refunds to developers who have paid the development fees, even if the regulation is changed.

Timmy Jutras, Lac-Beauchamp councillor and designated councillor for Gatineau Ensemble said the party is worried about how these projects will get financed without raising costs for residents. The councillor stated that the development fees have already resulted in cost increases for residents, as increasing costs for the developer will in turn increase it for residents as prices for housing rise. “It’s basically a double welcome tax,” said Jutras.

“We are worried because these are projects that we have taxed people for, and we don’t know if we will be able to deliver them with that envelope of funds,” said Jutras, adding that these projects are important to Aylmer residents and Aylmer’s concerns have not been addressed. He says the Gatineau Ensemble aims to shed light on these issues.

“The message that we sent to people was that we are in a context of budgetary rigour, that we want to limit tax increases. But now we may end up with a surprise bull because our development fees were ill-conceived from the beginning,” stated Jutras.