Some may be surprised to learn that many people share this opinion. The proof? The public room at city hall was packed Tuesday evening. Some citizens even had to sit on the steps while others turned back due to lack of space.
Real estate project at Golf le Marthelinois, relocation of Tandem, work on Boulevard Sainte-Madeleine, the subjects which motivated citizens to come before elected officials were numerous. A controversy over the question period even ended the evening.
That’s not all. The white-collar workers had concocted a little surprise to raise the curtain. Trumpet, drums and slogans, the impatience of the officials transformed into a lively din.
Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville was adorned with dozens of flags in the colors of the CUPE while the white-collar workers of the City of Trois-Rivières received the support of colleagues from several other cities such as Laval, Quebec and Saint-Jérôme.
“It’s a peaceful protest. The members are tired. We sense a lot of impatience in the ranks,” underlines Patricia Larouche, president of the Union of Civil Servants of the City of Trois-Rivières (CUPE 3423).
The union says it is still waiting for an offer. The mediation was extended. The two sides are still talking, but the white-collar workers want results. It must be said that they have been without a collective agreement for almost two years. The resignations follow one another, deplores Ms. Larouche. She is worried about possible service disruptions. “There is an emergency. Something must be done. There are plenty of people who go to work elsewhere.”
An advertising campaign will be launched in the coming weeks by CUPE. Can we expect other pressure tactics? This is not the case for the moment but… “There are lots of great ideas that are proposed,” says Ms. Larouche.
“You want to gag the citizens”
As for the question period, regular at council meetings, Michel Cossette, set the tone by deploring that citizens only have three minutes to express themselves. And whatever happens, it ends after an hour. If time is short, those who hoped to give their point of view are instead invited to return at the next meeting of the municipal council, two weeks later.
“You want to gag citizens,” said Mr. Cossette, who himself has tasted this medicine in the past. “I find that very cheap of you,” he added, addressing the mayor.
In addition, citizens must write their question before the start of the council meeting. “It’s a way of controlling the questions. There is no doubt,” says Marc Brullemans, who sees there “a democratic deficit”. The session ended before he could step up to the microphone.
Gilles LeBlanc is also one of those who was unable to speak on Tuesday evening. “We don’t come to have fun. We come to deal with important questions. We are treated like school children. Three minutes, that’s what it means.”
Mobilization against the Marthelinois project
Most of the citizens who came to the microphone are opposed to the real estate project at Golf le Marthelinois. Traffic and the water table are among the main concerns expressed.
Claude Morand is not directly concerned by the project. But as he lives east of the river, he estimates that he will be affected by the additional influx of traffic. “I realize that if there are 1,250 more doors to take the highway, it’s going to jam. It’s already jamming.”
“Will the City commit to resolving traffic problems before the zoning change?” asked Véronique Pothier. “Will the construction of buildings make the problem worse? [d’infiltrations d’eau]?,” Ms. Côté wanted to know.
Several other questions were asked, notably on the long lease of Marthelinois. Mayor Jean Lamarche assured that the group of citizens would obtain answers during the three meetings planned in this matter.
“The City has not approved this project. We are at the stage of preparing meetings with citizens,” said Sébastien Roy, Deputy Director General – Planning at the City of Trois-Rivières.
René Houle criticized the public consultation meeting on October 1. “One day, we’ll go have a good beer, and I’ll give you my version of that evening,” replied the mayor. “I’m happy to hear that, it means that there is room for discussion,” replied Mr. Houle.
The final word goes to a citizen who proposed creating “a beautiful park” rather than a real estate project. “Everyone is going to be happy.”
