During this summit, several players from the political and economic communities will be present to discuss possible solutions to alleviate the crisis. According to CMHC, the housing vacancy rate in Longueuil was 1.2% in 2021. Catherine Fournier noted that the crisis is a concern and affects all citizens, hence the importance of acting quickly with good strategies.

"Indeed, the development of real estate projects is an important aspect, but we must not neglect the importance of preserving the current rental stock. Unfortunately, we are building housing at a much slower pace than we are losing it," said the mayor.

Some solutions

One of the solutions already in place to facilitate real estate development is to list the inventory of available land and differentiate it from those with high ecological value.

The water strategy is another measure used by the City of Longueuil to facilitate real estate development. This involves reassessing all wastewater and drinking water facilities.

Another upcoming measure concerns the reconstruction of the largest drinking water plant in Longueuil in order to effectively serve the growing population.

A partnership

The mayor intends to review the relationship between the municipality and real estate developers as a partnership. The City wants to increase the number of available housing units and developers are key players in achieving this objective. To ensure healthy collaboration, it is necessary to define clear rules in order to respect the identity of the neighborhoods and their greening.

“The City intends to facilitate processes, ensure better predictability of possible solutions to the challenges encountered and have development criteria that are well defined,” says Catherine Fournier.

In order to improve the quality of life of Longueuil citizens in the coming years, several development plans are planned to revitalize various sectors. Whether it is the Longueuil metro or the former Pratt and Whitney plant, several projects are being evaluated.

The city also plans to build a modern cultural complex that meets the needs of the fifth largest city in Quebec. It also wants to build a multi-sport centre in the borough of Saint-Hubert. That said, the majority of the investments will be dedicated to maintaining existing infrastructure.

Longueuil and eco-responsible projects

In Quebec, a few eco-responsible real estate projects with high energy performance have emerged, such as the Montmorency space in Laval. These are increasingly attractive to condo buyers, because of their higher resale value than traditional condos.

According to the mayor, although it is important to develop responsibly, particularly with LEED or WELL certified buildings, and the City plans to support this type of project, planning is required to preserve the greening of current environments.

The success of Catherine Fournier

In 2021, Catherine Fournier became the youngest woman elected to the position of mayor of Longueuil. In addition, she was previously the youngest woman to be elected to the National Assembly of Quebec.

According to Tony Robbins, a personal development coach, success leaves clues. People who have been successful in a specific field have followed an action plan that can be used by others. I was curious to know what strategies allowed Catherine Fournier to stand out among the next generation of Quebec politicians.

His first piece of advice to a young person who wants to be successful in their career: trust yourself.

When you are ready to make the necessary efforts and sacrifices to achieve a goal, "you have to trust yourself and go for it." The woman who is now at the head of Longueuil says she built her confidence gradually by taking on various challenges in her career.

What motivates her to work so hard, every day?

The desire “to make a difference to citizens, to give the best of oneself, and to obtain concrete results”.

Despite the countless hours she puts in at work, she doesn't feel like she's working, because she feels privileged to serve the citizens.

Gabriel Ccopa, founder of the company Excellence Construction Rénovation , spoke with Catherine Fournier at Longueuil city hall on July 5.