Jocelyne Houle
Encyclopedia
Jocelyne Houle is a Quebec politician
and businesswoman. She is the current councillor for the Buckingham ward in the amalgamated city of Gatineau
, Quebec
.
Houle was mayor of the former city of Buckingham
from 1999 to 2001 after being councillor
for the city between 1995 and 1999.
When the former city of Buckingham merged with Hull
, Gatineau, Masson-Angers
and Aylmer
, she announced her candidacy for councillor in the newly created Buckingham ward and was elected without opposition in 2001. During her first term in the new city's administration, she was named assistant mayor to then-mayor Yves Ducharme
and was also named a member of the city's executive committee. She was also named to that committee when former councillor Marc Bureau won the 2005 city elections
.
During her first term, she was credited for several projects, including the revitalization of Buckingham's main street, Avenue de Buckingham as well as improvement's to the city's only bridge, improved public transit service from the STO
as well as the addition of a municipal pool at École secondaire Hormidas-Gamelin
. Significant residential developments have also occurred between 2002 and 2006.
She was responsible for the collective agreement
s of city employees, including police officers, firefighters, blue collars
and white collars
. The first collective agreements were marked by tensions from the city's police force which conducted several protest moves including wearing jeans at work instead of their traditional uniforms. Firefighters organized a loud protest in front of former mayor Yves Ducharme's home during a night. The city's blue collars also painted the city's vehicles with graffiti. The issues were later resolved a few years after the amalgamation with the city's white collars being the last group of workers having an official deal.
In addition to her councillor duties, she is also very active in the community in Buckingham, being involved in the area's major festival Buckingham en Fête. She is a member of an association of businesswomen in the Outaouais region.
In late 2007, Houle was approached by the Conservative Party of Canada
as a potential candidate in a future federal election in the Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel
riding, currently occupied by the Bloc Québécois
' Mario Laframboise
, although the Conservatives had previously named Suzanne Courville as the candidate in that riding in March 2007.
She also runs a local jewellery store in Buckingham since 1981.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and businesswoman. She is the current councillor for the Buckingham ward in the amalgamated city of Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
.
Houle was mayor of the former city of Buckingham
Buckingham, Quebec
Buckingham was a city located in the Outaouais region of the province of Quebec. Since January 1, 2002, it has been part of the amalgamated city of Gatineau which merged five former municipalities, including Masson-Angers, Buckingham, Hull, Aylmer and Gatineau, into a single entity...
from 1999 to 2001 after being councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
for the city between 1995 and 1999.
When the former city of Buckingham merged with Hull
Hull, Quebec
Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...
, Gatineau, Masson-Angers
Masson-Angers, Quebec
Masson-Angers is a former municipality and now a sector within the City of Gatineau, located on the north shore of the Ottawa River, in Quebec, Canada, approximately northeast of downtown Ottawa.-History:...
and Aylmer
Aylmer, Quebec
Aylmer is a former city in Quebec, Canada. It became a sector of the City of Gatineau on January 1, 2002. Located on the Ottawa River and Route 148 it is a part of the National Capital Region. The population in 2006 was 41 882 — approx. 16% of Gatineau...
, she announced her candidacy for councillor in the newly created Buckingham ward and was elected without opposition in 2001. During her first term in the new city's administration, she was named assistant mayor to then-mayor Yves Ducharme
Yves Ducharme
Yves Ducharme was the mayor of Hull, Québec, in the Outaouais region, from 1992 to 2002 and from 2002 to 2005 mayor of Gatineau after the city had been merged with its neighbours, part of the supra-organization the Communauté Urbaine de l'Outaouais. He was defeated in an election in 2005 by Marc...
and was also named a member of the city's executive committee. She was also named to that committee when former councillor Marc Bureau won the 2005 city elections
Quebec municipal elections, 2005
The Canadian province of Quebec held municipal elections in its municipalities on November 6, 2005.The municipalities in Quebec for the 2005 election were different than the previous 2001 election, as many municipalities have voted to de-amalgamate....
.
During her first term, she was credited for several projects, including the revitalization of Buckingham's main street, Avenue de Buckingham as well as improvement's to the city's only bridge, improved public transit service from the STO
Société de transport de l'Outaouais
Société de transport de l'Outaouais is the transit service of the Outaouais region of Quebec. It operates public transit routes in Gatineau, Quebec, including the Hull, Aylmer, Gatineau, Buckingham and Masson-Angers sectors, plus limited service to suburban communities such as Chelsea and...
as well as the addition of a municipal pool at École secondaire Hormidas-Gamelin
École secondaire Hormidas-Gamelin
Ecole secondaire Hormisdas-Gamelin is a public francophone high school located in the city of Gatineau, Quebec. It is located in the east end of the city in the Buckingham sector on MacLaren Street...
. Significant residential developments have also occurred between 2002 and 2006.
She was responsible for the collective agreement
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
s of city employees, including police officers, firefighters, blue collars
Blue-collar worker
A blue-collar worker is a member of the working class who performs manual labor. Blue-collar work may involve skilled or unskilled, manufacturing, mining, construction, mechanical, maintenance, technical installation and many other types of physical work...
and white collars
White-collar worker
The term white-collar worker refers to a person who performs professional, managerial, or administrative work, in contrast with a blue-collar worker, whose job requires manual labor...
. The first collective agreements were marked by tensions from the city's police force which conducted several protest moves including wearing jeans at work instead of their traditional uniforms. Firefighters organized a loud protest in front of former mayor Yves Ducharme's home during a night. The city's blue collars also painted the city's vehicles with graffiti. The issues were later resolved a few years after the amalgamation with the city's white collars being the last group of workers having an official deal.
In addition to her councillor duties, she is also very active in the community in Buckingham, being involved in the area's major festival Buckingham en Fête. She is a member of an association of businesswomen in the Outaouais region.
In late 2007, Houle was approached by the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
as a potential candidate in a future federal election in the Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel
Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel
Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1867.-Geography:...
riding, currently occupied by the Bloc Québécois
Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada devoted to the protection of Quebec's interests in the House of Commons of Canada, and the promotion of Quebec sovereignty. The Bloc was originally a party made of Quebec nationalists who defected from the federal Progressive Conservative...
' Mario Laframboise
Mario Laframboise
Mario Laframboise is a Canadian politician. Laframboise served as mayor of Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix and Reeve of the Papineau MRC before getting into federal politics...
, although the Conservatives had previously named Suzanne Courville as the candidate in that riding in March 2007.
She also runs a local jewellery store in Buckingham since 1981.