Q&A: Incoming NCC chair Maryse Gaudreault talks about the new job, difficult issues

Published Jul 04, 2023 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 4 minute read

Maryse Gaudreault is the new chair of the National Capital Commission. She was photographed at Gatineau Park, one of the crown jewels of the NCC. Photo by Julie Oliver /Postmedia

On June 6, Maryse Gaudrealt was appointed chair of the National Capital Commission, replacing Marc Seaman, who’d held the position since 2017. The Quebec City native moved to the National Capital Region nearly 40 years ago. She was the Liberal member for Hull in Quebec’s National Assembly for 15 years, from 2008 until her defeat in October 2022.

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Gaudreault was appointed to the four-year term by Helena Jaczek, minister of Public Services and Procurement and minister responsible for the National Capital Commission. Her first board meeting was June 22.

Q: You’ve been involved in public service for many years. How did you come to be chair of the NCC?

Gaudreault: I have to admit I was ready to retire. I’ve been in the (public service) business for almost 23 years. Then people invited me to read about the responsibilities of the NCC. I sent out my resumé — it had been 23 years since I had to do that! — and I was invited for an interview. I was added to a short list, and then interviewed by the CEO (Tobi Nussbaum) and the outgoing chair (Seaman) who worked with people from PSPC, and I was chosen.

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Q: What is it that interested you in the job?

Gaudreault: I’ve always been sensitive about NCC decisions and everything that it does in the region. I always say the NCC is in your life. It’s everywhere. I’m really happy because I recognize the importance of NCC decisions on future generations. And I’m a fairly recent grandmother so it’s very important to me what we decide and what we dream about.

Q: You’re new to the board. What’s it like at NCC boot camp?

Gaudreault: I have to say I’ve been impressed by the quality of the orientation. There was a lot of online training and all the directors made presentations about their priorities, their public consultations and all the different plans that the NCC has under its responsibility.

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Maryse Gaudreault was the MNA for Hull for nearly 15 years from 2008-2022. She was appointed chair of the National Capital Commission in June. Photo by Julie Oliver /Postmedia

That’s my main objective; to make sure that people understand and they know what’s going on at the National Capital Commission, and to make sure that public consultations are being promoted. Already we have a lot of people participating, but I want to make sure that people are aware of the importance of our decisions and to make sure our capital is something Canadians can be proud of.

Q: You haven’t been on the job very long, but let’s talk about some of the most difficult issues the NCC is facing. Let’s start with the interprovincial crossing.

Gaudreault: As you know, I had the privilege to be the member of the National Assembly for Hull for almost 15 years. I am aware of what the integrated interprovincial crossing is all about. But we have to realize that it’s a government decision, not the NCC’s. We support the federal government, and the City of Ottawa and the City of Gatineau, but it’s not our decision. We are working with them. We had a public consultation in 2021 and 3,000 people participated. It’s a very important decision. It’s a lot of money and the government will take its time.

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We’ll support the government with all sorts of data and analysis, but it will be up to the government to decide.

Q: At your first board meeting, there were demonstrators upset that the NCC has limited car access to the Gatineau Park parkways. The Canadian Human Rights Commission has agreed to hear their complaint that it’s discriminatory. What’s your position on their complaint?

Gaudreault: We work so hard to make our plans together with public consultation. We have a Gatineau Park Master Plan for the next 10 years and for us it’s very important to make sure everyone can have access to the park. On that issue, I’m with the people who came to demonstrate. We have the Gatineau Park shuttle, and that makes a big difference. It’s free and it runs from May to the end of August, and runs every 30 minutes.

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Those people want to use their vehicles, (but) we don’t want to add more vehicles in the park. Quite the opposite. We want people to have access to other methods of transportation. With the shuttle, it will be accessible to all kinds of people. We have to remember that a lot of people — like many immigrants — don’t own a car, but they can go into the park with these free shuttles. Next year, we’re hoping to add more days during the week for the shuttle.

Q: And what about LeBreton Flats and a new hockey arena?

Gaudreault: Residents have been following the story of LeBreton Flats for years! Now, Mr. (Michael) Andlauer has entered into a purchase agreement with the Ottawa Senators. We look forward to working with them, but we don’t know what they will decide. Maybe Mr. Andlauer will want to keep the team in Kanata. We don’t know. But if they want to come to the downtown, we’d be pleased to work with them. We know Mayor Sutcliffe is very into creating a dynamic downtown area so we’ll work together, and we hope the Senators will have a nice new arena and we hope it will be on LeBreton Flats.

Q: I guess it’s who knows?

Gaudreault: Certainly not me!