SHAWINIGAN. The traditional assessment of the mayor of the City of Shawinigan organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Shawinigan (CCIS) had a particularly different flavor for the reasons that we know. Despite certain technical problems, Mayor Michel Angers presented the highlights of the past year while members of the CCIS followed him on the zoom platform, then reconfirmed that he would seek a fourth term for the mayor of Shawinigan.
“I’m in great shape, and I’m ready to take on the challenge for the next four years,” he said on video conference.
During the media question period after his speech, Mayor Angers went even further. “I had indicated last October that I was going to be on the starting blocks, and that if the situation did not change, I would confirm my candidacy. In the current context, there are many things happening in a pandemic. You have to make sure you really taste it. If I’m not ready to step on the accelerator, there is no half measure. It’s either thoroughly, or not at all. I usually confirm my intention with the CCIS platform. I also wanted to do it in front of business people who have always supported me. ”
Why Shawinigan town hall and not provincial or federal politics? “I sincerely believe that the best policy to do is municipal policy. Have I been asked for other levels? Yes of course. I have no interest in provincial or federal politics. I like the contact with people, it is hard for me with the pandemic. I like that people can call on us in the street. And I love to be the captain of the boat. I am the captain of the Shawinigan boat with a team. I feel that I have free rein to achieve real economic development, real social development. This closeness and this ability to be able to move, that’s what drives me. Do I want to be a sailor in a bigger boat? Probably not, let alone being a sailor in an even bigger boat. When I am done with municipal politics, I will give back my time. People give me a lot, and I feel like giving back on a voluntary basis. ”
Without having a crystal ball, one can expect to see a different election campaign due to the restrictions. “There will be all kinds of electoral strategies and we will not hide the fact that social networks will play a major role in the campaign. Door-to-door will remain difficult to do. I would find a way to go out and meet people according to what public health allows us. I like human contact, unfortunately it will have to be done in a different way. “
The 2020 review and 2021 outlook
Of course, Mayor Angers could not ignore all the work that had to be done due to the pandemic, when the municipalities had to reinvent themselves.
In particular, the Local Investment Fund (FLI) and the Territorial Development Fund have supported 158 businesses for a total of $ 3.2 million, which has generated $ 6.8 million in investments, for the maintenance and creation of 237 jobs.
The mayor also put forward the initiative of Claude Villemure to give more space to restaurateurs with extended terraces. “It is in Shawinigan that the large city terraces project was born thanks to Claude’s involvement!”
Then, the City stepped up its advertising to promote local purchasing against giants like Amazon.
Mr. Angers also says the industrial sector is booming. “Last year, we developed a new street in the Albert-Thibeault industrial park, and in a few months we found tenants for three new lots. We will have new constructions for 2021. We have four projects totaling 270,000 square feet. This is what awaits us in the coming weeks and months. ”
Then, the City of Shawinigan is awaiting the response from the Government of Quebec for the establishment of an innovation zone on Avenue de la Transmission, where the ecocentre and the snow dump site could be moved. A project linked with a $ 10 million grant for brownfield decontamination.
“In Shawinigan, we have manufacturers of electrical terminals, Nemaska Lithium at the former Laurentide plant, transport electrification, Konsberg, Electronic Synapse. We have an almost perfect ecosystem for the electrification of transport. We had put the focus on that. Minister Fitzgibbon announced $ 7 billion to manufacture batteries and be autonomous in Quebec. We are in this line. The minister knows our intention. It is deposited with the Ministry of the Economy. We think we deserve it. “
Mayor Angers also commented on the increase in the number of building permits with an increase of 46% in 2020 compared to 2019. Just like the increase in residential sales of 26%. “People have realized with the pandemic that it is better to live in the regions.”
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