Canada/First meeting of Bas-Saint-Laurent mayors and prefects

Public transit, climate change and the workload of municipal councillors were just some of the topics discussed at the first Rendez-vous régional des municipalités du Bas-Saint-Laurent, held on Friday in Rimouski.

The meeting is organized by the Table régionale des élu(e)s municipaux du Bas-Saint-Laurent (TREMBSL). The meeting includes all mayors and prefects in the Lower St. Lawrence region, unlike the TREMBSL, which is made up of prefects and mayors, who meet once a month behind closed doors.

It's reassuring to be able to verbalize what we experience. We pick up tips and give each other advice," says Rivière-du-Loup mayor Mario Bastille.

For her part, Solange Morneau, mayor of Saint-Pascal, says the forum gives her an opportunity to discuss the problems facing her municipality.

For example, a breakdown at the filtration plant in August 2023, caused by heavy rainfall, was a wake-up call for the municipality. Climate change has arrived here, and torrential rains like the ones we've [received] are going to happen almost every year," explains Solange Morneau.

Uniting voices to raise issues higher

The aim is to make TREMBSL aware of its problems so that its members can take concrete action when necessary, according to its president, Bruno Paradis.

We want [elected officials] to be our eyes and ears on the territory. It's about reminding them that we need them to understand their local [problems] so that we can turn them into regional or even national issues," explains Mr. Paradis in an interview.

Bruno Paradis, for his part, is concerned about the development of municipalities in relation to Quebec's intention to limit residential projects near railroad lines.

A municipality like Price, which would be on its own with this kind of [problem], might have difficulty taking it to the national level," says Bruno Paradis, also mayor of the municipality of Price.

On the other hand, when it's taken to the MRC level, then to the regional level, it allows us to take it [to the national level]. And that's what happened [in this case]," he continues.

These exchanges could then be taken up with the provincial and federal governments. The members of the Table would like to organize this kind of meeting every two years.

Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/