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The mayor of Gatineau is calling for the Outaouais to get its \u201cfair share\u201d of provincial investment and services after unveiling a list of 22 policy priorities in the midst of the Quebec election.<\/p>\n
Maude Marquis-Bissonnette said the priorities touch on provincial jurisdiction such as health care, education, infrastructure, sports and culture \u2013 and many of these issues have a long history in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no surprise in that platform,\u201d Marquis-Bissonnette said in an interview with CBC Radio\u2019s Ottawa Morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve discussed the deficit in health-care access for years now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marquis-Bissonnette said business leaders, community groups and heads of educational institutions have rallied together to form a \u201cunited front\u201d and demand plans from local candidates.<\/p>\n
She said the region has been forgotten by members of Quebec\u2019s National Assembly, in part due to its distance from provincial legislators and proximity to Ottawa.<\/p>\n
The Observatoire de d\u00e9veloppement de l\u2019Outaouais (ODO) has been monitoring social spending and policy outcomes in the region and finds that even with Quebec\u2019s transfers to Ottawa health-care institutions, the region lags in per capita health spending compared to other parts of Quebec.<\/p>\n
The province would need to spend $272 million more per year to match spending in other regions, according to the ODO.<\/p>\n
LISTEN | Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette lays out regional priorities:<\/p>\n
Ottawa Morning10:05Outaouais region pushing for fair treatment this Quebec election<\/p>\n
Gatineau mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette explains her “notre juste part” campaign.<\/p>\n
Marquis-Bissonnette said the province needs to return respect to medical professionals after some chose to cross the Ottawa River for work<\/a> after the Bill 2 controversy last winter.<\/p>\n \u201cNot because they were making more money on the Ottawa side. They were actually making less sometimes, but because they have the equipment, they have the workers to work with, like nurses,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The mayor also said the province should pay for upgrading municipal services for the new hospital site at the Asticou Centre<\/a>, which was chosen over a more central location preferred by health-care advocates and the local chamber of commerce.<\/p>\n Transit priorities<\/p>\n