PUBLIC – Minutes of the meeting of the Gatineau City Council Committee of the Whole held in the committee room of the Maison du citoyen, 25 Laurier Street, Gatineau, on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., at which are present, Mesdames

Financial Review and Strategic Planning

1. Presentation of audited financial results as of December 31, 2025;
2. Update and projection for the year ending December 31, 2026;
3. 2027 orientations and parameters;
4. 2025-2029 financial summary.

Councillor Chloé Bourgeois took her seat at 9:41 a.m. A question and comment period followed. Concerns were raised regarding a reduction in services despite an increase in the municipal contribution. It was clarified that there were no cuts to added service hours, and in areas where additions were made, there was no decrease in ridership. The decrease was noted in areas where services were not enhanced. Ridership rates are currently under analysis. A review of the municipal contribution was provided, with explanations regarding the gap created during COVID. Emergency aid was extended, but revenues have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. The Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO) remains concerned about improving service offerings, with a desire to maintain current service levels. The decrease in government funding remains a concern; the situation is increasingly difficult, and various scenarios are being analyzed. Questions were asked about the future of the parking tax if service optimization is impossible. The commitment made by the STO was to improve service levels by 5%, with annual maintenance. Further enhancements would require new contributions. Regarding TramGo, the file is still with the Government of Quebec regarding the expected reimbursement.

Mr. Christian Tanguay, Assistant Director General, joined the meeting at 10:00 a.m. Questions were raised regarding the financial risk to taxpayers, considering the various contributions requested (registrations and tax bills). Explanations regarding the pre-pandemic financial situation were presented again, as well as the reimbursement terms from the Government of Quebec and the use of the line of credit. Discussions are currently underway at the STO Board of Directors to determine next steps and analyze various scenarios. Follow-ups will be provided to the City Council before any decision is made, if applicable. The Board's work focuses on a desire to maintain public transit for citizens, which is an essential service. However, the provincial government's disengagement remains the main issue. Concerns were raised regarding the level of the municipal contribution versus the total STO budget. A complete review is requested. In Quebec, few investments are made in public transit compared to the road network. The cost of public transit appears mandatorily on the tax bill, unlike other expenses that do not have to be detailed. It is important to invest in assets. It was asked whether it is necessary to reorganize service based on ridership before requesting additional contributions. It was mentioned that non-transit users must also be heard. For users, the required service must be offered, otherwise, people will use their vehicles. The efforts made by the STO were highlighted, noting that all transit agencies are running deficits. It is important to be able to invest in a public service. The Government of Quebec must have a vision for the future to invest in public transit. Discussions continued regarding municipal and provincial contributions and the desired debate on the issue. The public plenary committee was suspended at 10:30 a.m. and resumed at 10:45 a.m.

CP20260630-P2 STO – OPPORTUNITY STUDY – RAPIBUS EXTENSION TO BOULEVARD DE L’AÉROPORT

Introduction by Councillor Edmond Leclerc. Presentation by Mr. Patrick Leclerc, Director General, Mr. Michaël Nowakowski, Project Coordinator, and Ms. Sophie St-Pierre, Director of Customer Experience, STO.

Presentation plan:

1. Need for intervention and objectives;
2. Long list / Short list of solutions;
3. Evaluation of scenarios;
4. Proposed project;
5. Next steps.

Councillor Sonia Ben-Arfa took her seat at 10:55 a.m. A question and comment period followed. It was asked if a similar opportunity study could be conducted for the west, along with details on the anticipated funding for the project in the east and the targeted section. The section will be 3.9 km long. The same process was carried out in the west for the opportunity study, explaining the solution presented for the Tramway. This study is available on the STO website. Additional explanations were given regarding the reasons for choosing the Rapibus for the east. Details were provided on the funding issue, considering the limited envelopes available. The project is funded (PQI), however, other essential operations are not funded (e.g., vehicle acquisition). The priority for the STO remains bus funding. Questions were raised regarding the projected timeline for the project, asking if certain steps could be accelerated, as well as the proposed section. It was suggested that there should be local feeder lines in the industrial park to replace demand-responsive transport. In the preliminary project, a new public consultation will be planned to discuss these various elements. The incentive parking offer at the airport is interesting for BMA citizens for using the Rapibus. It is desired that businesses also be consulted in the process to understand their needs. Details on demand-responsive transport in the Aéroparc were provided. This project is good news for the east of the City. The work done by the STO Board of Directors on this file was highlighted. Explanations were given on the distinctions between the studies carried out for the east and the west. Mainly, in the west, there is no right-of-way corridor, leading to significant additional costs. It is desired to have incentive parking near the Highway (purple line) and to evaluate the possibilities of extending the Rapibus project further east. It is important to have a global, long-term vision of structural links. A follow-up will be possible to better promote demand-responsive transport in the industrial park. The public plenary committee was suspended at 11:36 a.m.