Acclaimed councillor in Plateau district wants an ‘innovative’ Gatineau
It’s one thing to learn about public policy in school, but Maude Marquis-Bissonnette decided to put her doctoral studies on hold to hit the election trail seeking the council seat in Gatineau’s Plateau district.
“I strongly believe that we find solution to major problems at the local level, whether it be social inequalities or climate change,” the mother of a four-year-old boy said recently.
It’s been months since the 29-year-old Carleton University student worked on her doctoral thesis. And she unexpectedly learned another life lesson halfway through this campaign when her only opponent, Patrick Doyon, took his name off the ballot in the face of allegations of “inappropriate conduct” with women he worked with or taught in the past.
Without competition, she was acclaimed Saturday and named councillor.
In a release, she said she was “saddened” for the circumstances, but expressed pride in her campaign up to now.
“I talked with more than 5,000 residents and was able to learn their concerns,” she said, urging voters to remain committed to participate in the vote for mayor.
The district’s sitting councillor, Maxime Tremblay, announced in March he would be leaving politics. However, he recently announced he was acting as an adviser for mayoral candidate Denis Tassé and would act as chief of staff if Tassé wins.
Since March, Marquis-Bissonnette had been going door to door five to seven times a week to get to know Gatineau’s district 4 and its people. She’s been a resident of the district for a short period of time and says she’s been pleased, and a bit surprised, at her new neighbourhood.
“Plateau is a beautiful and diverse community. About 25 per cent of the residents are born outside of Canada,” Marquis-Bissonnette said in an interview with the Citizen recently, before being acclaimed on the weekend.
The district, which runs from Chemin Pink to Boulevard des Allumettières grew very rapidly in the past years and currently holds 22,000 people. According to the city’s planning for Plateau, looking at space and density, the district can hold 30,000 people, which is about the size of Aylmer.
“Within Plateau, there are young families and young professionals who have just bought their first properties. There are also a lot of federal officials leaving for Ottawa or Hull in the morning,” said Marquis-Bissonnette.
Marquis-Bissonnette said she’s become used to juggling her studies and work at a municipal level.
For years, she has been working as a strategic planner and consultant,
I want Plateau to be a place where people live, not just reside.
sharing her expertise in public policy with municipalities and non-profit organizations.
Even before that, while studying for her bachelor’s degree in political science, she was vice-president of the Université de Montréal students association.
“I’ve always been very involved in what I undertake,” said Marquis-Bissonnette, who ran for Action Gatineau, sitting Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin’s team.
“Action Gatineau is a movement first put in place by residents, which I find very interesting.
“Obviously, we won’t always agree on everything, but I strongly believe that we can achieve more while working as team rather than individually.”
Immigration and integration are key issues in Plateau district.
“There are lots of upcoming challenges for us, especially when it comes to public services,” available to families and newcomers to Canada, she said.
Marquis-Bissonnette says the issues surrounding integration of newcomers is close to her heart. Since May, she has been involved with l’Association des femmes immigrantes de l’Outaouais, which works to encourage immigrant women to integrate into Canadian society.
She’s pledging to work for a gathering place for people of all cultures, better family services, public transportation as well as more accessible bike paths. She also wants to bring a weekly public market to the ward, to encourage local products and shopping.
“I want Plateau to be a place where people live, not just reside,” she said.
Pink Road, a major thoroughfare in the ward, is also a top priority, she says. An expansion of the road is already planned, but she would like to add bike paths and sidewalks for the safety of all.
“I want to help make Gatineau an innovative city in many aspects,” said Marquis-Bissonnette.