MINUTES – PUBLIC – Seniors Commission – 1st meeting – February 8, 2024 – 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Maurice Labelle addresses the Commission as a representative of the president of the Federal Retirees of the Outaouais. He shares concerns regarding accessibility and the impacts on seniors with reduced mobility following the decision by the Commission de la capitale nationale (NCC) to close access to motorists at certain times to the Promenades du parc de la Gatineau, effective since 2022. In short, he asks the Commission to support the initiative undertaken by the Association nationale des retraités fédéraux de l’Outaouais aimed at creating an NCC-user committee tasked with examining the improvement of accessibility to the Promenades du parc de la Gatineau and user safety. He adds that the Table de concertation des aînés et des retraités de l’Outaouais has given its support. Furthermore, the organizations that are members of the Table have also been invited to provide their support. Members ask clarifying questions regarding the survey of members belonging to the Association nationale des retraités fédéraux section Outaouais, the Table de concertation des aînés et retraités de l’Outaouais, as well as the Association québécoise de défense des droits des personnes retraitées et préretraitées de l’Outaouais which took place last autumn. The chair thanks Maurice Labelle for his intervention. He adds that the members will discuss his request in a closed session and a response will be sent to him subsequently.

The presentation aims to inform members of the objectives and programming of the Parc-cours-santé organized by the FADOQ, in collaboration with the Ville de Gatineau and the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSO) and funded by the government of Quebec. The informative capsules and promotional articles that have been developed are presented. In closing, members are invited to participate in and promote the parc-cours-santé activities that will begin on March 21, 2024, as well as the winter activities for those 50 and over, Les flocons d’argent, which will take place from March 11 to 14. The members thank Mélanie Gauthier for her presentation and salute the partnership work of the FADOQ with the City and the CISSO.

The members have no questions or comments regarding the 2022-2023 report of the Commission which was sent to them by email. It is mentioned that minor modifications were made to the work plan regarding the wording of certain actions. The new version will be sent to members by email following the comments that will be collected by the Service des loisirs, des sports et du développement des communautés. A review of the process for developing the Commission's work plan is conducted. Members are invited to provide their comments regarding the three major files included in the proposed work plan. In short, it is suggested to add stigmatization as an issue to the 2nd means, in connection with the file on the social and active participation of seniors: ensuring a watch, discussing needs, issues (isolation, ageism) and potential solutions to act on inclusion and the positive image of seniors. Some members raise the importance of the role and contribution of the Commission in the work planned in the other work plans of the City's committees and commissions. As an example, the Commission could be consulted on seniors' issues regarding snow removal. Considering that the modifications to be made do not change the content of the work plan: The Commission des aînés recommends to the municipal council: CA-2024-01 To adopt the 2024-2025 work plan of the Commission des aînés. Adopted unanimously.