MINUTES – PUBLIC – ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITTEE (CELCC)

5. Public question period

Five (5) members of the public are attending the meeting and four (4) of them speak during the public question period.

1- First question: Monique Pellerin, citizen – Gatineau sans pesticides (GSP) Ms. Pellerin's intervention concerns the use of pesticides on Gatineau's golf courses. Concerns regarding the use of pesticides on golf courses, which are not included in the municipal bylaw on aesthetic pesticides adopted in 2024, are raised. It is recalled that the City instead chose to require the obtaining of a certification by January 1, 2027, which nevertheless authorizes the use of certain pesticides. Ms. Pellerin expresses concerns regarding the potential impacts on public health, drinking water, and biodiversity, particularly due to the proximity of certain golf courses to sensitive areas. Ms. Pellerin asks if the members of the Commission de l’environnement et de la lutte contre les changements climatiques are ready to recommend that the municipal council adopt a proactive approach aimed at banning the spraying of pesticides on golf courses in the Gatineau territory.

Exchanges or comments The Chair indicates that the question is being noted. It is specified that the regulations regarding pesticides will be addressed during the year as part of the Commission's work and that a regulatory analysis will be presented during one of the next meetings. The Department mentions that everything concerning the use of pesticides on golf courses is currently governed by the Code de gestion des pesticides du Québec (Quebec Pesticide Management Code). It is recalled that the City had planned, during the adoption of the bylaw, the obligation for golf courses to obtain a recognized certification by 2027. It is also indicated that five golf courses in the City's territory already hold a certification and that the association of golf course owners has implemented measures aimed at limiting the use of pesticides. The provincial regulatory framework (Code de gestion des pesticides du Québec) currently applies.

2- Second question: Marie-Claude Gohier, citizen – Gatineau sans pesticides (GSP) The intervention concerns the use of pesticides on Gatineau's golf courses. Ms. Gohier brings to the Commission's attention the situation of the l’Aigle primary school, located in the immediate vicinity of a golf course. She highlights the absence of specific protective measures (vegetative barriers, risk analyses, sharing of information on pesticides used) and expresses concerns regarding the potential risks to the health of children, school staff, and the surrounding population linked to the use of pesticides. She recalls that children constitute a particularly vulnerable population and invokes the precautionary principle. Ms. Gohier asks if the members of the Commission are ready to recognize the urgency of acting to protect public health and to recommend that the municipal council ban the use of pesticides on golf courses in the Gatineau territory.

Exchanges or comments The management indicates that the response provided is similar to that given to the previous question. It is specified that the subject will be analyzed and addressed during a future meeting of the Commission, notably in collaboration with colleagues from the Service de l’eau et des matières résiduelles, responsible for the application of the regulations on the ground with the nuisance management teams. It is also mentioned that the concerns expressed can also be transmitted to the ministère de l’Environnement (Ministry of Environment), at the provincial level. In addition, the Chair indicates that, in her previous functions, she was responsible for the implementation of the pesticide bylaw in another municipality and that she will proceed with a comparison with the bylaw of the municipality of Chelsea. The Chair mentions having been personally surprised by certain practices observed on golf courses regarding the handling and spraying of pesticides. The Chair indicates that she will examine, with all reservations, what is being done and the issues raised.

3 – Third question: Sylvie Trudel, citizen – Food security, sustainable development and seniors projects – Les partenaires du secteur Aylmer – participation via videoconference. Ms. Trudel informs the Commission of the reforestation projects led for more than five years by Les partenaires du secteur Aylmer, notably the Adopte ton arbre (Adopt your tree) program, aimed at the redistribution of trees to citizens. She highlights a recent decrease in citizen participation attributed to a lack of coordination and communication with the City, particularly when municipal tree distributions take place simultaneously with community campaigns (for example during the same weekend), leading to surpluses of trees for the organizations. There is also talk of the state of situations of duplication of plantings and a lack of communication between field organizations and municipal services. As an example, it is mentioned that about 20 to 30 trees were planted last year in the Deschênes sector, without prior coordination, which led to losses of trees and shrubs cut during the maintenance of green spaces by mowing teams. She indicates that these situations have a demobilizing effect on volunteers who see that plantings carried out are then damaged or destroyed. She highlights the importance of clarifying internal communications so that the teams responsible for maintenance are informed of community plantings. She finally mentions that other planting projects are planned during the year, notably in partnership with the CREDDO.

Exchanges or comments The Department indicates that the identification of municipal planting sites is based on a detailed analysis, notably in connection with heat islands, and that this information could be shared in order to avoid duplication. It is specified that the Urban Forestry Plan now has three employees, including a new resource dedicated to field inspections and monitoring of plantings. It is recalled that the tree donation program is intended to be a unifying element and that it is essential to maintain effective communication channels with local associations and organizations. Increased coordination is necessary and it is desired to work jointly with partners. Organizations are invited to open a request via 311 to allow for follow-up by the concerned services, which will communicate directly with them. It is specified that the team works closely with the Service des travaux publics (Public Works Department) to ensure better coordination of maintenance operations, particularly regarding the mowing of green spaces. It is indicated that there is a desire to also collaborate while mentioning the existence of memoranda of understanding for planting projects. An exchange will take place following the meeting to discuss this in more detail to facilitate everything.

4 – Fourth question: Dominique Tassé, citizen – Canopée Localeaf – in-person participation The intervention is to express a desire for collaboration with the City of Gatineau. Ms. Tassé explains that her organization works on the planting of native perennials and trees with a view to reintegrating biodiversity into urban spaces. These actions are carried out in a community and educational approach at the neighborhood level. She mentions that in 2025, as part of the Effet papillon (Butterfly Effect) initiative of the Fondation David Suzuki, the organization carried out the development of 12 gardens intended for native pollinators, a project described as a success. She also indicates that other community organizations have expressed their interest in collaborating with Canopée Localeaf and wishes to explore possibilities for collaboration with the City.

Exchanges or comments The Chair thanks Ms. Tassé for her intervention and indicates that the information shared has been noted. It is mentioned that the Service de transition écologique (Ecological Transition Department) will examine the possibilities for collaboration, notably in the context of the ongoing steps related to greening and urban biodiversity. The Commission highlights the interest of such community initiatives.

7. Success stories: Environment and ecological transition – Information item

A roundtable is held to allow members of the Commission to share news or a success story related to the subjects treated by the Commission. This moment aims to promote initiatives, projects, and collaborations, as well as to take a positive look at environmental and climate news. In this context, the Chair highlights the citizen mobilization held on February 24 in support of the tramway project, described as a success in terms of citizen participation and awareness of sustainable mobility issues. She recalls that the last months have been particularly difficult for the City of Gatineau in terms of public transit. She highlights that this mobilization, bringing together many environmental organizations, representatives of the business community, and various actors of civil society, allowed for the collective expression of a position in the face of a decision deemed regrettable concerning the tramway project. The Chair describes this mobilization as hopeful and highlights the sustained and rapid coordination work of the organizers, to whom congratulations are addressed.

[...Additional success stories from the Service de transition écologique, CREDDO, ODO, and winter maintenance salt reduction are detailed...]

8. Watch – Statutory item

A statutory watch item is added to the agenda to allow for the follow-up of certain files, if applicable. The Department informs the Commission that the tramway file has been transferred to Mobilité infra Québec. It is specified that this file remains a watch point followed closely by the municipal administration. The Commission is awaiting information from Mobilité infra Québec regarding the follow-up of the file and the possibilities that could result from it, notably for the Outaouais region.