Last month, the Pointe-Claire Record delved into the topic of development and densification in Pointe-Claire. Many readers voted in the Pointe-Claire Record Polling Station feature, and a good portion wrote in about their concerns or lack thereof. It was all very interesting and eye-opening.
The Polling Station is by no means scientific and is only intended to provoke discussion on subjects, from some light — such as the appropriateness of pineapple on pizza — to the more serious, such as time limits for questions at Pointe-Claire City Council meetings. No matter the accuracy, the results and comments of the PCR readership do offer a window into the differing views of Pointe-Claire residents.
Those views and other recent discussions by citizens raise the question if development is really the big enemy some want us to believe, or if it is simply a shiny campaign issue targeting certain voters. With the responses spreading evenly over many categories, it would seem that issues plaguing residents today are spilling over into fears about development. Even with many of the Polling Station’s respondents choosing “I have no concerns,” many followed up with comments, suggesting that it may not be the physical structures themselves causing worry but their further impact on neighbourhoods.
Pointe-Claire residents, like those all over the city, have many concerns in common; people are facing a daily struggle to afford the basic necessities of life, many are coping with the aftermath of flooding in the wake of Hurricane Debby, and some just want to make it in to work without blowing out a tire or being stuck in a seemingly interminable traffic jam.
Does Pointe-Claire need to keep its focus on development and housing issues? Or is the subject of development being used to stoke fears in order to win an election? Many elections are won or lost based on a single issue, be it the fear of losing your language, separation, or fear of “otherness,” often used by the CAQ, and most recently a certain not-to-be-named presidential candidate to the south.
So, while preserving Pointe-Claire’s greenspace is high on the list of concerns of residents, along with infrastructure and putting a strain on city services, the responses lead us to wonder: What are your other concerns? What is your highest priority in Pointe-Claire?
In order for our public servants to actually serve their populace, they need to know what residents care about. Is it about traffic-related issues or making Pointe-Claire safer for pedestrians and cyclists? Maybe it’s garbage pickup or dog parks. It is important for the elected officials of Pointe-Claire to know what their residents want and need, and if it turns out their concerns are about parks, housing, difficulties applying for permits, or anything else within their power, residents need to make their voices heard.
Write to us at the Pointe-Claire Record. Without the input of its citizens, city politics will continue to centre around the sensational issues, and not necessarily the ones important to all.
This editorial isn’t about pointing fingers, just asking questions. Development and densification have dominated the dialogue in Pointe-Claire for far too long, and it’s time to settle the discussions and move forward. There has been too much division on this issue, and it is time for the leaders of this terrific city to work together and submit their final plan. Then Pointe-Claire officials can work to find out what is important to you, day-to-day, the real issues.