MINUTES – PUBLIC – PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION (CSP) – 1st meeting 2025 – January 29, 2025 – 5:01 p.m. to 7:14 p.m.

Presentation on risk generators related to the Règlement sur les urgences environnementales (RUE) in the City of Gatineau – Information and reflection

Claudia Cervellera, Civil Security Coordinator at the City of Gatineau's Civil Security Bureau (BSC), presents the 6 risk generators related to the Règlement sur les urgences environnementales (RUE) in the territory of Gatineau. The objective is to inform members and initiate reflection on an important public safety issue. No orientation or recommendation is expected. The presentation provides a portrait of the various industrial risks in Gatineau and the results regarding the relevance of establishing a Joint Municipal-Industrial Committee (CMMI). Regulatory frameworks and avenues for reflection to improve collective resilience are discussed.

Discussion Period

General Comments Thanks are addressed to the presenter.

Risk Prevention and Awareness A question is asked to know if usage checks are performed around risk generators. The example given is the impact on waterways near water treatment plants. The need to properly sensitize the population is noted by members. Some would like more communication. A member suggests setting up a consultation body, or even a CMMI in Gatineau. Clarifications are also requested regarding current means to alert citizens living near a risk generator when there is an issue. The BSC explains that it is already necessary to identify, assess, mitigate, and communicate all risks, including industrial risks in Gatineau. The risk management approach is currently viewed globally to include all risks, including arenas, gas stations, and others. The SSI (Fire Department) specifies that teams already know the impact radii, risks, and intervention measures. The SSI has specific intervention plans related to industries. Links with resource persons are established. Quickly, in case of an issue, the SSI knows who must be evacuated or confined, all being coordinated with the SPVG (Police) and the BSC.

Improving awareness means is already a goal for the administration. At present, various protocols and partnerships allow for more communication, prevention, and awareness in the field (e.g., door-to-door, leaflets, kiosks, campaigns, etc.). One of the BSC's partners is Sauvetage Bénévole Outaouais, which supports and is mandated to implement awareness actions for the City. Regarding awareness, Gatineau does not have sirens, but has automated calls, pre-made messages, and templates for Québec en alerte. A civil security standby line is available 24/7, and the industries of all risk generators know the procedure to follow and the priority communication channels. Recall that the BSC team can directly trigger the mobilization of an emergency coordination center and the mobilization of emergency services. The teams also highlight the excellence and speed of action of the Communications Department. The City wishes, as much as possible, to meet more with local stakeholders (e.g., neighborhood organizations or associations) near risk generators to engage in discussion and awareness with them. This will be the case soon in relation to the Erco risk generator in Buckingham.

Cooperation of Industries A member asks if companies act on a voluntary basis when they have to provide all the data necessary for risk assessment. The BSC explains that although it is indeed on a voluntary basis, the collaboration is very good. The necessary information is shared. It is noted, however, that a current challenge concerns the infrequent inspection by teams from the federal government. With the new regulation, the wish is to equip ourselves with a team of municipal inspectors who will be able to facilitate this work and be more present in the field.

Existence of risk generators around Gatineau It is brought to the members' attention that Gatineau often acts as a big brother/big sister in terms of civil security. Training is offered, information is relayed, etc.

Establishment of a CMMI Exchanges take place regarding the necessity or not for Gatineau to set up a CMMI considering that the organization and expertise are already in place on the side of the SSI and SPVG in coordination with the BSC. The presenter returns to the various elements explained. She explains that the power of municipalities granted in the new Loi sur la sécurité civile, that of being able to regulate and inspect risk generators, has been taken into consideration, as has the fact that Gatineau owns two of the risk generators (wastewater treatment plant and drinking water plant).

The Civil Security Bureau (BSC) has all the necessary relevant information in hand. Due to current operational capacities, the BSC is not able to support a CMMI. For the moment, it is considered preferable to prioritize a complete risk management process compliant with the requirements of the new Law. Furthermore, the BSC also considers that it is preferable to wait for the publication of the government regulation to determine if a CMMI is essential or if the requirements covered in a CMMI are already integrated into this new regulation. The evaluation of regulating, at the municipal level, in a complementary manner to the government regulation to ensure better management of industrial risks is also to be explored. The BSC specifies that they can use the resources already existing at the present time to inform and collaborate with industries by adopting other means to verify, treat, and communicate risks. The evaluation of the necessity or relevance of setting up a CMMI in addition to the regulation will be done following the regulation so as to include in the reflection all risks of all other kinds of industries that are not currently subject to it. A report will be made to the Commission, with all reservations, in 2026.

Break from 5:53 p.m. to 6:04 p.m.

Presentation on domestic violence prevention programs – Information and reflection

The domestic violence prevention programs are presented by Nicolas Côté, Division Chief, Research, Development and Organizational Strategy at the SPVG. The goal of the presentation is to inform members and to take stock of these programs.

Discussion Period

General Comments Thanks are addressed to the presenter. It is mentioned that there is pride in the SPVG, its services, programs, and initiatives, which make Gatineau a leader in Quebec in this field. The evolution of the work done by patrol officers is also highlighted. The SPVG is innovative in its approach and partners collaborate on programs and initiatives. Domestic violence prevention being complex, the work of organizations and partners is complementary and necessary to address this issue.

SAV Project (Suspects auteurs de violence) Clarifications are requested regarding the operation of the pilot project to offer housing to SAV [offenders], in a structured and supervised environment (in a halfway house) for men. The SPVG explains that it involves 4 beds, under surveillance. The structure allows for accompanying, in their daily lives, the people who live there in the short term (about 2 months) and supporting them in their challenges and experiences. It is mandatory to participate in the Donne-toi une chance program to access it. It is an initiative that has great reach in Quebec. This project allows for the accountability of individuals. Certain conditions can be lifted, in part, following this accompaniment.

Increase in statistics – Domestic violence files Members are initially surprised by the statistics where a very strong increase in the number of domestic violence files is noted. Even if it may seem worrying at first glance, the statistics also show that more reports are being made and that everyone's efforts for the protection of victims of domestic violence have a real impact.

Responsibility to file a complaint The chair wishes to be informed of the means put in place to ensure the protection of a victim since the law requires reporting without waiting for the consent of this person. The SPVG explains that police officers, in all interventions, must ensure the safety of the victim. They will remind them of the resources available and the fact that SPVG teams are always there for them. This is the foundation of the reporting policy which puts forward the fact that the victim does not have to file a complaint themselves. By filing a complaint for a person, the system protects them by removing the responsibility from the victim. The collaboration of local organizations is essential. The CAVAC, for example, goes to victims and offers them support.

Judicial System A member wishes to know if the SPVG perceives an improvement in the functioning of the judicial system. The severity of sentences as well as the improvement of follow-up with aggressors are mentioned. The SPVG informs members that steps have been taken with prosecutors, training has been put in place, and that the Service works in collaboration. The sentencing aspect is not under the SPVG's purview. However, once the sentence is rendered, work follows to ensure compliance with conditions with the help of the SPVG.

Parapluie Program and Youth Even if the Parapluie program is not directly associated with domestic violence, there is a desire to know if this theme is addressed with young people. It is also mentioned that we must continue to act on social media in prevention. The Service explains that the Parapluie program targets juvenile delinquency and victimization among youth. In the discourse, we talk more about healthy relationships, between friends and as a couple, to address coercive control. Good behaviors to use are put forward. Regarding social media, police officers in schools note the problem of the use of geolocation; this is also present among adults. In prevention, when a victim is met, teams encourage them to deactivate their geolocation.

Projects to better inform young people and adults about this type of problem and how to remedy it are underway, including the development of complementary information tools (e.g., placemats, guide). A member also wishes to know if the SPVG can lead an awareness workshop or activity with families who frequent a community organization such as the Maison de la famille de Gatineau. The SPVG specifies that it is open to collaborations even if the current offer of the Parapluie program is linked to the school environment and directly targets youth. A member adds that the organization Espace Outaouais could also be a good reference on this subject.

Adaptation of interventions related to living together A comment is addressed regarding the training of police officers to communicate and interact well with all people, including those from all cultural communities in matters of domestic violence. The SPVG specifies that even if police officers receive continuous training, the challenge of wanting to always train them better is present. Collaborative work is done with certain partners. Pivot agents are identified in each team to transmit relevant information, and internal communication and awareness structures exist. Police officers also participated in a symposium regarding intersectionality.

Safe reception space A comment is addressed to the SPVG regarding safe reception spaces. When there is a lot of prevention, as is the case currently, more victims come to file a complaint or get information from the SPVG. It may happen that there are issues regarding the reception of victims at the police station. Is a reception space planned in the new SPVG headquarters building? The Service responds that, indeed, the layout of the new building will take into account all necessary considerations. The revision of the structure, approach, and mode of operation will be done in connection with this construction. Particular attention will be paid to it and notes are taken to this effect.