CALEB NICKERSON
QUEBEC CITY Oct. 30, 2019
On Wednesday, the MNA for Papineau and Minister responsible for the Outaouais, Mathieu Lacombe, made a motion . . .
in the National Assembly recognizing that the region has been under-funded for years, in areas like health care and education. The motion, which was passed unanimously, also acknowledges that the lack of funding has had significant consequences for the economic and cultural development of the region.
Speaking to the French newspaper Le Droit, Lacombe said that while the motion is symbolic, he compared it to a marriage, in that it is a public commitment to future action and a desire to work together to solve the region’s problems.
Pontiac MNA André Fortin told THE EQUITY that he was in support of the spirit of the announcement, but was disappointed that the motion the Assembly passed did not mandate any actions on the part of the government. He said the Liberals tried to introduce an amendment that would have required the government to commit to investments in the next budget, which was voted down.
“While we support the text of the motion and the spirit of the motion, we would have wanted it to be a binding motion, asking for government action to solve the issue that it highlights,” he said.
Fortin pointed out that outside of increased funding, there are other challenges that the border region faces, like interprovincial trade barriers for agricultural products and alcohol produced in the Outaouais, as well as restrictions in industries like construction.
“Those are all things that happen here that don’t necessarily happen in central Quebec and if the government really wants to … [overhaul] … health care funding in the region, if the government really wants to be in tune with the region, and develop programs that are adapted to our needs, those are the kinds of things they need to look at,” he said.
Gatineau Mayor Maxime Pednaud-Jobin applauded the move in a message he published on social media, calling it a victory for residents of the Outaouais. He also pointed out that this situation is one that local elected officials have been decrying for some time, mentioning specifically the “Outaouais Dossier” that he and the Wardens of the local MRCs delivered to the provincial government last June.
