Maude Marquis-Bissonnette elected Mayor of Gatineau

Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, representing Action Gatineau, emerged victorious in the mayoral elections of Gatineau, becoming the second female mayor of the city in the Outaouais region, succeeding France Bélisle. Bélisle resigned in February, paving the way for Marquis-Bissonnette’s win.

With preliminary results showing Marquis-Bissonnette securing 41.70% of the votes, she surpassed former mayor Yves Ducharme, who garnered 30.87% support. Ducharme, a previous Hull and Gatineau mayor, aimed for a political comeback.

Marquis-Bissonnette, on her second mayoral bid, heavily focused on housing, downtown revitalization, and climate urgency. She emphasized her readiness to act decisively in addressing these issues.

Key pledges by Marquis-Bissonnette include negotiating for a housing rental tax credit with Quebec to increase housing units, supported by the Quebec Association of Construction and Housing Professionals, within the first 200 days in office.

Post her win, Quebec Premier Francois Legault and Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante congratulated Marquis-Bissonnette. Additionally, Action Gatineau secured victory in the Carrefour-de-l’Hôpital district, electing Catherine Craig-Saint-Louis as councillor.

Gatineau’s first female mayor, France Bélisle, resigned due to escalating political intimidation concerns earlier this year. Marquis-Bissonnette expressed awareness of the challenges ahead, given the current political landscape.

As the newly elected mayor, Marquis-Bissonnette swiftly began setting up her administration, appointing Francois Léveillé as her chief of staff and outlining a diverse cabinet structure. She plans to engage closely with the city’s administration and prioritize collaborations for effective governance.

Meetings with Gatineau’s City Manager, Simon Rousseau, and discussions on the executive committee composition are underway. Marquis-Bissonnette aims to incorporate experienced individuals from both Action Gatineau and independent members for a balanced council.

The swearing-in ceremony for Marquis-Bissonnette and newly elected councillor Catherine Craig-Saint-Louis is scheduled for June 18th.