MINUTES – PUBLIC – GATINEAU, A HEALTHY CITY COMMISSION (CGVS) – 1st meeting 2025 – January 16, 2025 – 9:01 a.m. to 11:47 a.m.
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Statutory item: Homelessness file
A lot of work has been accomplished since last year. One difference this year: community organizations are responsible for activities. Réhabex operates the warming centers, Gîte Ami has taken over for the Motel Montcalm, and Transition Québec is taking care of the Village Transition (containers at the Robert-Guertin site). To date, a total of forty-five people have moved into the containers. Preparations are underway for the next cold snap. Places at the warming centers are reserved for people who have nowhere to shelter. In December 2024, two contracts were awarded for the management of the encampment. Gite-Ami coordinates the Robert-Guertin site and ensures the cohesion of interventions and operational needs. Security is provided by a group possessing specific knowledge and an approach sensitive to the situation of homeless people. The whole thing aims to allow people to focus on what they are experiencing, to take charge of themselves, or to benefit from the resources of the organizations.
The year 2024 was marked by several events. The Summit on Homelessness and Social Development culminated in an action plan submitted to the municipal council. The City's budget allocates funds to the implementation of a team dedicated to homelessness. The update of the file raises the following comments, questions, or clarifications:
- It is asked how monetary donations are managed by Réhabex and Gite Ami. It is indicated that the management of monetary donations is done autonomously. There is no drop-off for donations of objects. Donors go to see the managers on site. The question of donations raises the issue of civil liability. By having Gite Ami as manager of the Robert-Guertin site, the City can show more flexibility regarding the measures put in place to manage donations from civil society.
Sylvie Lafontaine leaves the session at 9:31 a.m. Quorum is maintained.
- It is asked if data is being collected. The situation seems worse than in the past. It is indicated that it is difficult to collect data. At the end of 2024, three additional resources were put in place in case of overflow. None of these had to be opened. Contingency plans mitigate unforeseen events. The available places are sufficient. Generally speaking, the numbers are similar to those of last year.
- Following a comment that we notice the situation less because things are better managed, the hypothesis is put forward that there are not fewer people in a situation of homelessness, but rather fewer people in a state of precariousness thanks to the resources put in place. There is a relative improvement in conditions.
- It is suggested to be careful about how to interpret data. It is not because there are fewer people using the resources that the situation is improving. Some people in a situation of homelessness do not use them and show social disaffiliation.
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Poverty reduction plan — Information
The document titled 4e Plan d’action gouvernemental visant la lutte contre la pauvreté et l’exclusion sociale — Fonds québécois d’initiatives sociales 2024-2029 (4th Government Action Plan for Poverty and Social Exclusion — Quebec Social Initiatives Fund 2024-2029) is presented. This document was sent to members before the session. The objective is to present a status report on the 4th Government Action Plan for Poverty and Social Exclusion (PLP4) and to specify the role of the City of Gatineau. A corrected version of the presentation document will be sent to members.
The Government Action Plan for Poverty and Social Exclusion 2024-2029 was launched on June 21, 2024. Measure 3.1.1 of this plan aims to support local and regional partners and to enhance the Alliances pour la solidarité (Solidarity Alliances). This measure is renewed and accompanied by financial support from the Fonds québécois d’initiatives sociales (FQIS) of $145.36 million spread over five years. In the Outaouais, the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity (MESS) has entrusted the management of the financial envelope to the Conférence des préfets de l’Outaouais (CPO). The agreement between the MESS and the CPO for the implementation of the Alliances pour la solidarité in the Outaouais was signed in December 2024. The Concertation pour le développement social en Outaouais (CDSO) is responsible for mobilizing the communities. Regarding the deployment on the territory of the city of Gatineau, the municipal council is the body that recommends projects to the CPO and identifies the monitoring committee for the file. The Concertation en développement social de l’Outaouais (CDSO) will submit the Regional Action Plan to the Ministry in the coming weeks.
The priority issues for the Outaouais region are: food security; housing; homelessness; access to transport and local services; educational success and school perseverance; socio-ecological transition.
The main elements of the Bilan du Plan d’action local pour la solidarité et l’inclusion sociale (PAL-SIS) of Gatineau 2019-2023 are presented. Twenty-four projects from twenty-two organizations were funded and met the priority issues of the PAL-SIS of Gatineau. The evaluation of the PAL-SIS of Gatineau 2019-2023 led to the following recommendations: provide the human resources necessary for support; create a true Alliance pour la solidarité (concertation); create opportunities for exchanging best practices and sharing initiatives supported by the FQIS; poverty reduction plan by territory (sectors of the City) rather than by issues.
To date, the Conférence des préfets de l’Outaouais has not ruled on the distribution of the budget envelope. Thus, since October 31, 2024, projects have been on hold for lack of funding. In order not to delay the call for initiatives process, a draft resolution is in preparation so that the municipal council mandates the CGVS as a monitoring committee, and the SLSDC for mobilization, the creation of committees, and support for the communities. The next steps are: plan human resources; mobilize actors for the creation of the PAL-SIS Development Committee (Alliance pour la solidarité); set up the initiative analysis committee; plan the call for initiatives process. The current schedule is very tight and suggests that the funds will not be paid to the organizations before the months of August or September 2025. A positive point is that the Ministry now accepts a continuity of projects.
Sylvie Lafontaine joins the session at 9:53 a.m.
On the City's side, it would be desirable for it to have funding allowing it to have the human resources necessary to manage the budget envelope. However, the City is still awaiting news from the CPO regarding the amount of funds that will be granted to it. The chair commits to transmitting the wishes expressed to the mayor.
The presentation raises the following comments, questions, or clarifications:
- Regarding the question of what the City will do if the sums received are insufficient, it is mentioned that the scenario is not yet established. It is clear that the City must have the human resources to manage the budget envelope. Operational capacity being insufficient to assume this management in addition to the work to be done, too little funding will imply administrative or political decisions regarding the files that will have to be set aside or the efforts deployed within the framework of the management of this agreement.
- The current delays are poorly understood. It is judged that this is more of a poverty management plan than a poverty reduction plan. The same is true for homelessness. There are no real measures to act on the problems, the most important of which is housing. Homelessness is a manifestation of poverty. Some organizations struggling with problems related to labor shortages will have difficulty achieving their objectives.
- It is interesting to be able to work continuously on structuring projects presenting a potential to develop and structure the environment as well as to act with the complementarity of the strengths and levers of the partner ministries and organizations. On the side of the Public Health Department, work is also being done to avoid a disruption of services and to advance files or promising projects. It is important to grant funds on a recurring basis while aiming to support structuring projects in the various priorities. The wish is to be part of the discussions and to align with the work of the City and the partners. It is specified that a meeting took place with the team in charge of the food security file of the Public Health Department to determine how to work together and better support the projects.
- It is asked what the role of the Concertation pour le développement social en Outaouais (CDSO) is and who its members are. It is indicated that the composition is quite broad (Social Development Tables of the MRCs and the Gatineau territory; Centraide, TROCAO, etc.). It takes care of mobilization and interrelation with the various environments, the consultation tables, as well as the animation of the Association of Social Development Tables of the Outaouais.
- It is asked why the granting of funding is planned for around August or September and if cash advances could be made. It is specified that the schedule takes into account the fact that the municipal council must recommend the projects to the CPO. All the steps leading to this activity (call for initiatives, analysis, recommendation of the CGVS, etc.) mean that it will be very difficult to act before. The possibility of an extraordinary session of the CGVS around April or May will be examined. A cash advance or an announcement cannot be made as long as the City is not informed of the parameters of the agreement and the percentage of the envelope that can be dedicated to human resources for the management of the latter.
- The delays create enormous pressure on the organizations. Community organizations were very disappointed with the sums granted; it is difficult to fight poverty with these. Accountability must be as simple as possible. Since the aspects surrounding accountability are decided at the regional level, we commit to transmitting the message to them regarding accountability.
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Public question period
No person is registered for the question period. The chair reads a comment received by email regarding wood heating. For the citizen, many studies have shown that this type of heating is a serious issue in urban or semi-urban environments. They mention the harmful effects of smoke. They wish for actions to be taken by the municipal council on this subject. The issue of wood heating has already been raised, notably at the Commission de l’environnement et de la lutte aux changements climatiques. The chair will inform the CGVS of the follow-up to this request.
Nicolas Heidecker leaves the session at 9:19 a.m. Quorum is maintained.
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Statutory item: Chemical sensitivity file
Summary table of the elements of the resolution and actions taken:
Mandate to the Service de l’approvisionnement responsable (Responsible Procurement Department) to evaluate the possibility of reviewing the City's criteria and requirements related to the purchase of fragrance-free and scent-free household products.
- Evaluation of all equivalent fragrance-free and scent-free products that can be requested within the framework of the supply contract currently in force. The criteria have been reviewed regarding the renewal process for calls for tenders and housekeeping.
- During the next call for tenders, the City's Procurement Department will request non-scented products. In the interim, certain products have been obtained, such as a dish soap used by staff.
- As of January 2025, a clause will be included in calls for tenders for fragrance-free products. For current contracts, we will have to wait for their end before being able to request fragrance-free products.
Mandate to the Human Resources Department to evaluate the relevance of the City of Gatineau adopting an internal directive to sensitize municipal employees who work directly with citizens to the effects of perfume odors or scented products for certain people in its community.
- An informative sheet on occupational health and safety regarding chemical sensitivity has been produced by the Human Resources Department and distributed to the various departments. This sheet aims to sensitize staff and equip managers.
- A communication campaign on social media is also planned.
- Posters are installed in municipal infrastructure.
Mandate to the Communications Department to sensitize citizens to the effects of perfume odors or scented products for certain people in its community.
- Development of a communication strategy following the implementation of the occupational health and safety sheet produced. The department will share the strategy to be implemented with the staff.
Request to the Ministry of Health and Social Services to evaluate the possibility of supporting the implementation of an occupational and environmental medicine clinic in the Outaouais, similar to the one operated by the CHUM, and composed of a team of doctors specialized in the field.
- This is a follow-up of a political rather than administrative nature. The chair of the Commission commits to following up on this element. He will inform the CGVS of the results. This subject will no longer be part of the statutory items placed on the agenda of the sessions.
Nicolas Heidecker joins the session at 9:22 a.m.
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Building Safer Communities Fund — Information
The document titled Fonds pour bâtir des communautés sécuritaires (FBCS) is presented. This document was sent to members before the session. The presentation aims to inform them of: the process for developing tailored and ad-hoc action plans for the Action Strategy to Counter Youth Violence; the assessment of the tailored and ad-hoc action plan. A presentation already took place in March 2024. This offensive stems from a financial agreement between the federal government and the ministère de la Sécurité publique du Québec (MSP) supporting the ten largest cities in Quebec (2023-2026) in their actions to counter these scourges. $2.5 million was granted to the City of Gatineau. The prevention of crime and violence among youth aged 7 to 35 is the flagship orientation for the development of an action plan for Gatineau. The development of this plan was entrusted to the SLSDC as well as the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau (SPVG). The CGVS has the responsibility to ensure oversight of this project.
An overview is given of the priority issues regarding community safety in the country. The root causes, risk factors, and protective factors of youth violence are also addressed. The municipal strategy to build safe communities includes:
- Tailored action plans: Long-term mobilized interventions aimed at resolving or preventing issues of violence. This type of plan is deployed in three police sectors.
- Ad-hoc action plan: Rapid intervention in emerging and concerning situations to prevent violence. This type of plan is deployed across the entire territory.
Three police sectors were chosen: Mont-Bleu/Hautes-Plaines/Mutchmore (# 5); Notre-Dame (# 12); Pointe-Gatineau/Fournier (# 10).
The assessment of the action plans is presented as well as the results obtained to date.
The next steps are established as follows:
Tailored action plan
- Continue the consultative process in the two sectors 10 and 5;
- Develop two tailored action plans;
- Spring 2025: Start of the implementation of actions in sectors 10 and 5;
- Continue the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the action plans in sectors 10, 5, and 12.
Ad-hoc action plan
- Identify at-risk parks;
- Respond to emerging and concerning situations;
- Continue short-term interventions with less deployment to prevent violence.
The presentation raises the following comments, questions, or clarifications:
- It is highlighted that the Aire Ouverte initiative is part of the process.
- With parks closing at 10 p.m., youth have nowhere to go after closing hours. Regarding the importance of having a good contact person, it is asked if the impact of the disappearance of the Grands Frères et des Grandes Sœurs (Big Brothers Big Sisters) has been evaluated. It is specified that although this impact has not been measured, it constitutes a risk factor since this service is no longer offered to youth. As for the parks, opening hours are regulated. It is not possible to modify them. The majority of crimes reported to the police are committed during the day. Apparently, there is an initiative to play basketball after midnight in Montreal. The Youth Commission has an action included in its work plan in this sense. Youth centers close at 11 p.m. We are trying to find a solution so that youth have places to go.
- It would be interesting to make a presentation notably to the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ).
- The vision and the very pragmatic approach including youth and the police are very interesting. This is a good investment of the sums received. The mayor's office should be informed that the John R-Luck building is part of the project. It is highlighted that what concerns the John R-Luck building will be in the order of ephemeral activities or layouts. The co-construction approach generates very good collaboration and it is very well received by all stakeholders.
- It is specified that religious organizations participate in the process. It remains, however, a challenge to elicit their collaboration.
- It is asked if there are communities for which the conditions are not present to mobilize potential partners there. It is mentioned that some communities are more difficult to reach due to their apprehension towards the police. However, as meetings progress, perceptions change. The security aim of the process is better understood.
- Regarding the objective of reaching the most isolated families, we are concerned in particular about the situation of newcomers (language barrier, etc.).
- Sport should be named among the recreational activities intended for youth since it frequently constitutes a decisive moment for many of them. It is indicated that programs exist and are part of the service offer in this sense.
- In order to inform the members of the municipal council of the activities carried out in their districts, information sheets are distributed to sector caucuses as well as in certain committees. The members of the municipal council are also invited to participate in the process.
- We take note of the comment regarding a certain void in the programming of leisure activities at the City with regard to the 12 to 22 age group, including especially young girls. We draw attention to the fact that it is necessary, however, not to compete with partners and to clearly define the City's niche.
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Quorum check and opening of the meeting
The chair notes the quorum and opens the meeting at 9:01 a.m. The public meeting is recorded. It will be possible to view the recording on the City's website, gatineau.ca.
The chair welcomes the two new members: Martine Potvin (UQO) and Karina Osiecka (OHO).
This is the second and final year scheduled in the 2024-2025 work plan. The year will include five sessions; the last one is scheduled for September 26, 2025. The schedule of sessions will be shortened by the municipal elections to be held on November 2, 2025. Throughout the duration of the election campaign, all commission sessions will be suspended. Sessions are expected to resume at the beginning of 2026. Election results could have an impact on the elected members chairing and sitting on the commissions.
Agendas will henceforth include an item regarding the declaration of conflicts of interest. A reminder will be given to members on a recurring basis to declare their conflict or appearance thereof during commission sessions.
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Adoption of the agenda
It is proposed by Steve Moran Seconded by Alicia Lacasse-Brunet And resolved that this Commission adopts the agenda as presented.
Adopted
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Declaration of conflicts of interest
No member declares a conflict of interest regarding the items on the agenda.
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Filing and follow-up of the minutes of the November 1, 2024 meeting
Filed. No follow-up is required regarding the subjects discussed during the session.
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Roundtable of partners
A roundtable is held. During the municipal council session of February 18, 2025, the chair will propose inserting the proclamation of March 13 as the National Day for the Promotion of Positive Mental Health.
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Filing of the interim report — 2024-2025 Work Plan — Information
The report states the progress of the work in connection with the CGVS Work Plan for the years 2024 and 2025. 75% of the means indicated in the work plan have been implemented. The means that have not yet been deployed are:
- consult and react to the issues of adaptation to climate change experienced by vulnerable populations;
- participate in the renewal of the policies of the Service des loisirs, des sports et du développement des communautés (Recreation, Sports and Community Development Department) by ensuring equity and universal accessibility.
The average participation rate of members in the sessions is 81%. The chair thanks them for their diligence and their sustained commitment to the work of the Commission. In addition to the files processed, regular follow-ups were made on the issues of homelessness and chemical sensitivity. The presentation raises the following comments, questions, or clarifications:
- We are pleased that there are very few activities carried out that are not in line with the work plan. The targets were well established and the work well framed.
- We thank the SLSDC for all the work accomplished.
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Next meeting
The next meeting of the Commission Gatineau, Ville en santé is scheduled for March 13, 2025.
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Adjournment of the public meeting
It is proposed by Stéphanie Ayotte Seconded by Nicolas Heidecker And resolved that this Commission adjourns the meeting at 11:47 a.m.
Adopted