COVID-19 – Gatineau is closing its administrative offices and maintaining its essential services

Ce communiqu� a �t� publi� le 24 mars 2020. L'information dans ce communiqu� pourrait ne plus �tre � jour et certains liens pourraient ne plus �tre fonctionnels.

Ville de Gatineau

News release

COVID-19 – Gatineau is closing its administrative offices and maintaining its essential services

Gatineau, March 24, 2020. – Gatineau is following the recommendations of the Government of Quebec, and closing its administrative offices until April 13. Essential services will be maintained and provided in accordance with the provincial government's directives.

Quick facts

●	Over the past few weeks, Gatineau has been preparing a contingency plan for the COVID-19 pandemic. This plan aims to maintain the human resources needed to ensure essential services to the public in the event of confinement.

●	In its instructions, the Government of Quebec used the concept of resources deemed essential by municipal organizations. Thus, the Province is giving municipalities the latitude to determine what they consider essential services.

●	In accordance with the Province's instructions, Gatineau identified the resources that will ensure the delivery of services deemed essential.

●	Thus, essential services will remain operational in all concerned municipal departments.

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The services to the public that will be maintained, include:
- trash collection;
- the production of drinking water;
- wastewater treatment;
- fire services;
- police services;
- the emergency calls centre (911);
- the non-emergency calls centre (311); and
- the maintenance of municipal vehicles and infrastructures, including sewer and water supply systems.

This list of essential services will vary over time, as the situation evolves.

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In order to respect the standards set by the Province, Gatineau is notifying the public that certain operations will be adapted:
- Pothole repairs will be slowed down given the limited availability of asphalt, as contractors' supply lines have been interrupted. The priority will be on the major arteries that require urgent intervention, and will be done with cold asphalt.
- The ecocentre on rue Pierre-M�nard will remain open for urgent needs. It should be noted that materials must be sorted. No bulky items will be accepted. As well, social distancing will have to be maintained.
- The ecocentre in the Hull sector will close today at 4 p.m.
- The on-demand home collection service for reusable bulky items will be suspended.
- The sale of tagged overflow bags will be suspended. This stems from the interruption of suppliers' operations further to the Provincial instructions. As an exception, the public will be able to use other plastic bags for any surplus garbage. In addition to the contents of the gray bins, a maximum of five bags will be accepted per collection.
- The bin repair and delivery service will be suspended. The public will have to dispose of residual materials (compost, recycling, trash) in dedicated bags until the service resumes.

●	The public is invited to use the following online services: - consultation and payment of municipal taxes; - ticket payments; - permit applications; - consultation of the property assessment roll; and - job application.

●	In addition, enforcement of payments further to municipal Court orders will be suspended until further notice. Online payments are still possible.

●	Gatineau strongly urges residents to follow the recommendations issued by the Government of Quebec. It is essential that everyone cooperate under these exceptional circumstances.