History made at the city council

The new City Council and Mayor France Belisle sworn in

Stephane Berimbere

 

The swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected district councillors and the first female mayor of Gatineau, France Belisle, took place at the city council in the presence of media, city officials as well as friends and families of the elected officials. The new council consists of 11 independent members and 8 Action Gatineau members, representing 19 districts, with the district of Mitigomijokan being the new addition of the council.
 “We join an established team, passionate, with experts, who have faced more than one storm” said Mayor Belisle, during her speech to the public that received a standing ovation, as she reiterated that she will be working with the elected councillors for the benefit of the citizens of Gatineau.
The same sentiment was shared by Edmond Leclerc, one the newly-elected independent councillor in the district of Buckingham who told the Gatineau Bulletin that “I am confident with the team we have in the city council; we will be able to deliver on many services expected from us by citizens.”
---Gatineau’s youth had their say
The intervention of Camille Guindon, co-president of the city’s youth commission received much applause from the ceremony attendants as she called upon the new members of the council to work more with the youth in the decision-making process. Co-president Guindon, highlighted “the work already achieved by the commission such as the reflective day on the future of the city that has given a voice to the youth and engaged dialogue with policymakers”. She also mentioned about the “C’est parti je vote” campaign, which is a sensitization campaign for youth that aims at involving them more in municipal politics.
In her speech she also talked about school workshops, that are now a component of the commission, and invited the elected councillors to pitch in “by meeting the youth in their schools, educating them on their work as city councillors and also get their opinions.”
“We need to stop thinking the youth is cute” said Co-President Guindon, when calling upon the council members to engage the youth more in their decisions, particularly by working together in putting in action the municipal youth strategy that followed the last youth summit.

 

Photo Cap: City Council now includes the new electoral district of Mitigomijokan
Photo Credit: Stephane Berimbere