Barely over a month into its mandate, your new Municipal Council is already passing its first budget. I would like to begin by highlighting the respectful and collaborative work climate that enabled us to accomplish so much in such a short time. I am grateful to everyone who helped make this budget a solid starting point from which to tackle the challenges awaiting us in 2026 and in the years ahead. Indeed, the challenges we face are significant, particularly on the financial side. But there are solutions, and I am eager to present them to you.

The first thing we have to do is identify the issues: the inflationary context that is extremely hard on everyone, and the major projects that have an impact on our debt. Gatineau is not alone in this regard. Montréal, Laval, Québec and Longueuil are all grappling with the same issues.

There is a gap between what taxpayers can handle and what it costs to run the city. That is a fact, and there's no getting away from it. So, we took a hard look at ourselves as we prepared the budget, and we asked ourselves whether every expenditure was really needed. There is no escaping this responsibility when it comes to managing public finances.

With every item, starting with those that attract the most attention, we looked for a balance between preserving our ability to act and acknowledging the ability of taxpayers to foot the bill. So, we kept the tax increase to 3% for residential properties. This is a moderate and stable increase, amounting to $104 for an average residence.

However, in reality, our load has increased by more than 3%. Our infrastructures and our operations, among other things, cost more. Inflation is generating a $53 M structural deficit that we have to manage one way or another even though the fiscal framework has already been exceeded.

We decided to manage this deficit by launching into a major campaign to optimizing our finances. A methodical and rigorous review of our approach freed up $5.8 M in 2026 right off the bat, and the work has only just begun.

We will be looking at, among other things, our debt management, our real property assets and our basket of services. The executive committee will take the lead on that throughout the year, and the finance committee will support it in coming up with creative, responsible and human recommendations in preparation for the 2027 budget.

One very clear idea we are eager to implement is to shift the infrastructure project planning cycle. By calling for tenders sooner, we believe we will end up with more competitive bids and deliver more projects with the same dollar.

Even as we focus on the major optimization campaign, we will certainly not relax our efforts to diversify our revenues and maximize the available subsidies. We will follow up on every option because there is no such thing as too small a saving when it comes to spending public funds.

Our development charge by-law, on which we received an initial report during the budget review, has generated $2.3 M since being passed. This money, which would have amounted to close to a 0.5% increase in property taxes, will be used to fund the widening of chemin Vanier, an ecocentre and the Aylmer fire station—three much needed infrastructure projects on which work will begin shortly.

Federal and Quebec provincial subsidies adding up to $70.4 M will also enable us to start work on repairing and widening a portion of chemin Pink and boulevard de la Vérendrye. Thanks to the PRIMEAU and TECQ programs, Gatineau is also going ahead with the more than $130 M modernization of the water treatment plant in the Gatineau sector.

Needless to say, the full list of projects is much longer. The entire Municipal Council understands the urgency of investing in our infrastructures, both the older ones needing repairs and the new ones that need to be built. And we will keep looking everywhere for ways to do as much as possible.

A more equitable city

When it comes to doing as much as possible, it is important that every sector feel included and reflected in the Council's priorities. We have been talking about this since the merger. The west end feels that the east end is getting all the attention, and the east end thinks the west end is. What we need are reliable indicators based on which to make informed decisions from the territorial perspective.

This is why we are using this budget to entrust the head of infrastructures, Ms. Norris Parent, with the mandate to help our departments prepare a status report on our investments by sector.

We will not solve everything in 2026, but we know that Gatineau residents expect a city that meets their needs, a modern, human and equitable city. As a result, we intend to dig deep and get beyond perceptions to get a clear picture of each sector's specific needs.

Regarding those needs, work has started on an arena on the grounds of École secondaire Hormisdas-Gamelin in Buckingham. The project meets some of the pressing needs for the east end. Local partners are on board, and we are delighted to be able to make progress on a key opportunity. We believe deeply in this project.

I would like to take a moment to highlight the achievements of the Service des infrastructures, which met 97% of its targets last year. This is what comes from teamwork. A team that took on the challenges it faced, and rolled up its sleeves because it was determined. In other words, Mr. Chair, the Municipal Council is optimistic that funds earmarked tonight for major projects over the coming years are being invested and managed with the proven professionalism and rigour our teams have demonstrated in their report.

A more affordable city

I would also like to take a moment to talk about our social housing. For 2025, the previous Municipal Council had earmarked $7.3 M for projects by NPOs, cooperatives and the Office d'habitation. We added $10.6 M to the social housing fund during the year to avoid losing certain projects.

In 2026, we decided to go even farther. We are proposing the Council invest close to $21 M because the demand is there and the partners are at the ready. Close to 2,000 new social housing units are already on the drawing board for the next four years, and we want to be able to build as many as possible.

We are taking this route because it's what our people deserve. Too many of them are searching for affordable housing, and this is unacceptable. We have the opportunity to contribute to the construction of subsidized housing that people can actually afford, regardless of the market. It is also a way to attract investment. Over the past few years, every dollar invested by Gatineau in social housing has generated three times more from Quebec and its partners through different programs.

These public funds have tremendous implications for our community, namely by helping get people off the streets—homelessness is not only a matter of housing, but it is always a matter of housing.

As a community, we have covered a lot of ground when it comes to homelessness, and it deserves to be mentioned. We acted with care and daring in 2025, setting up a dedicated municipal team and structuring our actions. Today, that choice is no longer in question, which is wonderful news because we still have a long way to go.

One of our challenges for the next few years is to adapt to each sector's realities. The expertise our team has built up enables us to help our partners. This is why we want to keep showing leadership as well as caring, and the 2026 budget reflects that commitment.

A more strategic city

There is still a lot of social inequality in Gatineau. Even though it has limited tools at its disposal to address the deeper causes of the problem, it can still be part of the solution by using its powers to create collective wealth. Gatineau has tremendous potential. Our economy may still depend largely on the federal public sector, but there are promising areas waiting to be developed, and the conditions are ripe for profound change.

The Government of Canada is preparing to invest billions in innovation, defence and cybersecurity, and the region already has a lot to offer in this high value-added niche. We not only have specialized businesses and human resources, but also a post-secondary education network that can support the research.

A few months ago, the Municipal Council decided to review the governance of economic development for its territory. This was a crucial stage in defining strategic orientations, rallying partners and attracting our share of investments. And this budget is one more step towards better structured economic development that will have a positive impact on everyone.

This may seem abstract, but it's highly concrete: we are setting in place the tools with which to attract more businesses, support them and assist them. Creating this environment is the best boost Gatineau can give its businesses and its economy.

A more friendly city

We are ambitiously investing $1.1 M to accelerate sidewalk clearing. This effort started three years ago with the previous Council, and we are very pleased with the results. We are helping people enjoy their everyday lives despite winter's hazards – which is central to our mission as a local government.

Another role that is central to our mission is to support the cultural community. Even in our difficult financial context, artists must remain a priority because of their significant impact on our quality of life, social inclusion and economic development. If we hope to build a more resilient and attractive city, we need their talents.

Thus, we are investing close to $1 M in culture, spread between the new support program for artists, operationalization of the new Lucy-Faris library and the cultural policy.

In closing Mr. Chair, although to some people, successive budgets may not appear very different from one another, every year brings something new. The 2026 budget is the continuation of environmental protection and of the fight against homelessness. But it is also:

• the beginning of a campaign towards optimization;
• more than $1.2 B in infrastructure investments over five years;
• more than $20 M for truly affordable housing;
• a change in direction for economic development; and
• not to be forgotten, faster clearing of sidewalks and new support for the cultural community.

The coming years will be decisive for Gatineau, and this evening we are certainly taking a step in the right direction—leaving nobody behind. The foundations are solid, but we will need help in moving along. We are all aware of municipal taxation's weaknesses.

The approaching Quebec elections will give us the opportunity to remember—as if we could forget—the full extent of government under-investment in the Outaouais over the years. In infrastructure, in adapting to climate change, in education, in health care, and so much more, the needs are great, and officials elected to the National Assembly must not forget it.

I have been honoured to be designated as the chair of the caucus of big cities of the Union des municipalités du Québec. This position will serve me well in bringing Gatineau's concerns and those of the other cities to the table.

Thank you once again to everyone who pitched in to deliver this budget proposal. I am thinking of the executive committee (both the former and current ones) and the administration. I am also thinking of the teams in the different departments. In particular, I thank the Service des finances which had to field our many questions over the past few weeks.

Thank you to all the colleagues on the Municipal Council who enriched the discussions during the budget review. It's a delight to work with you, and I look forward to seeing you again in 2026.

Thank you and a good evening to all.

Maude Marquis-Bissonnette
Mayor