DOMINIQUE LEBEAU
answers to Réseau écocitoyen de Saint-Lambert’s questions
Click on each question and you’ll see the candidate’s answer.
Three issues: malnutrition, our dependence on fossil fuels, the pollution of our soil and waterways.
Malnutrition because we overproduce food! Market forces are not designed for everyone to get an equal share.
Use of fossil fuels is synonymous with production and transportation. It is a vicious cycle that has to stop. The transition needs to start now.
Pollution of soil and waterways: it’s as though the human race has forgotten where the food we eat and the water we drink comes from. A child could explain it.
How is this reflected in my personal life?
My family purchases and consumes only what we need to at home and we never throw anything away. No meat (we are vegetarians) and we compost any food waste produced.
As an artist and public personality, I have taken a stand more than once against fracking, nuclear energy and new pipeline projects. As municipal city councillor, I personally wrote and had passed with a majority vote at council, a resolution against the Energy East Pipeline project on November 15, 2016.
Regarding pollution? I have answered in various ways further on…
Are any of these issues particularly important to you personally, and to which you are firmly committed to finding a solution to?
Transportation, energy, local procurement.
THE biggest challenge in Saint-Lambert is to have the majority of residents leave their cars behind. However, we have everything in our favour: the commuter train, buses, the metro nearby, local shops, schools and offices in close proximity; we even live close enough to downtown Montreal to cycle into the city.
Energy: mostly concerning our buildings. They need to be more energy efficient to require less heating in the winter and less cooling in the summer.
Local procurement: with the number of excellent businesses we have in proximity and the options for fresh produce to come to us, we must minimize the purchase of items that come from faraway sources.
I’ll take into account those that I have walked in.
– Dublin, for the electric tram and the priority it places on pedestrians.
– Berlin, for the good balance between buildings and green spaces, a great transportation network and the never-ending number of interesting neighbourhoods.
–Massachusetts and Vermont, because there are many public markets and spaces that highlight local products, both food-related and artisanal.
My next dream destination? Portland, Oregon.
○ How do you intend to collaborate with neighbouring cities and the RMT on this issue?
○ What do you intend to do on the local level?
As a city, in an agglomeration, within a metropolitan community and within two new structures, how are we going to hold our own?
Firstly, we need to work hard not to lose the gains we have already made, or the level of service we currently have.
Then, I’d wish to see for us a bus line that would perhaps go through Préville in the opposite direction of Simard (du Dauphiné, du Béarn, de Savoie) leading to Queen; a route that would connect with the Recreation Centre; more departures and better coordinated intermodal timing.
Ensuring the safety, efficiency and comfort of physically active transportation improves everyone’s quality of life, from the very young, to the very old. The multiple benefits include energy conservation, pollution and noise reduction, improved physical health, social interaction and a lower cost to the community.
Citizen contributions to this issue can be viewed on jevotevelo.com.
First, people need to give it a try as a special activity, such as a car-free day, an organized bike ride, or a walk with the Mayor. They would see that walking or cycling, you are never stuck in traffic and you never have to drive around in circles looking for a parking spot.
Ok, sometimes on a bike, you have to go a little farther. You arrive on time. That taking part in physical activity outdoors is healthy and puts you in a good mood. You also see things that you wouldn’t necessarily see driving a car and you come into contact with other people. It’s much less expensive. No need to pay for registration, insurance, oil changes, repairs and winter tires that need changing!
It’s obvious that planning measures need to be taken concerning security.
That the bicycle path will one day reach the Longueuil metro station…
That cyclists, like cars, will also have their bypass route at the locks.
I invite you to take part in the public consultation at jevotevelo.com. but I can’t participate, at least not using my full name!
Shopping locally promotes physically active transportation and reduces the need for cars.
Local commercial hubs are often the only businesses accessible to youth, seniors, to those without cars or citizens that are mobility-impaired. The vitality of these areas brings liveliness to the neighbourhood as well as an enhanced sense of community (source: vivreenville.org).
For the Village, I think things are going fairly well. Of course, we have to encourage these businesses ourselves, but we also need to create a “buzz” around the pleasant experience they provide. We, ourselves, need to become ambassadors. Also, as a city, we should call upon our local suppliers for ours needs; we already do it a lot, but not consistently.
Outside of the village and the major routes of Victoria and Laurier, hmm, not much.
It’s unfortunate.
Could we be open to certain types of businesses being close to where people reside? Grocery stores, cafés, professional services, etc….
There is likely a potential project in the works close to where the Loggia complex is being built at the end of Saint-Charles Street.
Pay by volume, by weight, per number of official city bags collected, per collection.
There are many examples in Quebec… that are working!
I would be more than ready to move towards this type of system.
Please take note that practically every resident the Eco-Citizen Network has presented itself to, first asks why Saint-Lambert still does not have organic waste collection, generally before any other question.
Collection is already in place for leaves and grass. Do you mean composting of kitchen waste? Not only am I willing to support it, but I strongly encourage it!
It must be complementary to all of the composting that can be done at home, in the parks with community compost bins, and why not even at a location that could be designated within the city limits.
For the collection, let’s begin with businesses, institutions and multi-unit apartment buildings.
We shouldn’t have to wait for a hypothetical biomethanization plant to be built. There are existing plants, relatively close by, that could treat additional volume.
Buildings, roads and parking lots seal the surface of the soil and intensify the urban heat island effect as well as increase the cost of infrastructure, in particular for rainwater management systems. Revegetation of the soil and the greening of rooftops are efficient strategies that support multiple benefits (source: vivreenville.org).
To reduce the amount of paved surfaces, car usage must be reduced.
And to reduce the use of cars, our city needs to be designed in such a way that inspires its residents to use transportation alternatives.
Please see my answers to question 2, 4, 5 and 6.
○ We would especially like to know your opinion on the growing of vegetables on front lawns, the conversion of purely decorative flowerbeds into edible landscaping, chicken coops in urban settings and/or urban beekeeping.
Urban agriculture is a form of citizens’ advocacy to promote better access to nutritious foods and to healthy living environments (source: vivreenville.org). It promotes the reduction of chemicals, packaging and energy used in growing, preserving and transporting fresh foods.
Urban agriculture must become something besides a curiosity and more than a trend, it has to become… natural. Yes to less packaging, fewer processed foods and foods that come from a long distance, but also to reclaiming the land and to age-old practices. An activity, a game, for all ages. Eating healthy, real foods and eating together!
We must have nice areas dedicated to gardening scattered all over the city. On front lawns, in parks, in schoolyards and even at work! This practice could be permitted on a certain percentage of residential front yards.
○ What would be, in your opinion, the main elements of an innovative and ambitious public participation policy?
○ How would you improve on the functionality of the advisory committees?
Our Citizen Information, Consultation and Participation Policy that was adopted by the City following the adoption of Bill 122 (that gives a lot of leeway to the municipal administration) has to be very solid. It will need to ensure that the last word is given to the citizens. I am convinced that we need to maintain certain referendum approval processes, for issues relating to urban development, zoning and big project loan by-laws, with a return to the 500 signature register to request a referendum. The objective is to effectively present a project with the participation of residents in order to avoid any need for a referendum. Though this must remain as a last resort option.
We must develop opportunities and ways to solicit the contribution of each and every citizen. In person or virtually. By neighbourhood, with neighbourhood committees and consultations per sector.
With regards to the advisory committees, I don’t feel that they are not functioning well. However, they do not communicate with each other. At city council, the councillors should share updates every month on the progress of the projects of their respective committees, roundtable style. I’ve spoken about this more than once… Every year, we should hold a Committee Annual Summit. Each committee would share its accomplishments, thoughts and current projects. As a plenary discussion, all of the committees could exchange and collaborate. I’ve also brought this point up in the last 4 years…
○ How do we ensure that the environmental impacts of decisions are considered at the same level as social and economic impacts?
○ How do we ensure that the entire municipal administration is aware of and applies sustainable development principles?
○ Do you plan to provide the city with quantified targets for environmental impact, as well as a related monitoring process (for example: emissions of GHGs, water consumption, proportion of paved surfaces…)?
We need to develop an “eco” reflex. We often speak of the 3, now 4 pillars of sustainable development: environment, social, economy and culture.
I come from the cultural domain, haha!
We should always ask ourselves what our impact is going to be on all 4 of these aspects.
It’s not very complicated and can easily be developed… if we put our minds to it!
○ What do you think are the key components of sustainable urban development?
Excellent references for sustainable urban development are available at collectivitesviables.org.
OK, the Urban Plan. We need to think simultaneously of the city as a whole, but also work by sector.
I would suggest that we host a first presentation that puts things into historical and physical context. We need to explain to the population what the constraints are, the rules of the game, along with the Plan métropolitain d’aménagement et de développement (PMAD) and the Land Use and Development Plan of the Longueuil agglomeration. These type of things.
Then plan the work by sector, taking into account its particular problems, issues but also its potential. Put all of this together. Invite the population to ask questions, to give comments and suggestions, taking it all into account and presenting recommendations in person, in writing, etc… Go back to the neighbourhoods for comments and contemplation. Present it all as an “almost final” version to everyone.
Our general and global vision of a future Saint-Lambert cannot resemble the suburbs of the past. We must respect, even highlight some of our most attractive elements – I’m thinking of the layout of the roads in Preville and Houde Park – and take them much further. We need to think of where people will go and how they will get around, where they will travel for work, education, entertainment, socializing, and make it all functional, fluid, diversified and harmonious, by experimenting with rhythms and styles.