2023 Participatory Budget: Almost time to vote for your favourite projects!

Sep 7, 2023

Despite a delay in the timetable for reasons beyond our control, the public will finally be able to vote for their two favourite projects submitted as part of the 2023 Participatory Budget, an initiative that allows citizens to submit projects to enhance our living environments.

A total of four projects will be put to the vote, two in each category. Projects not exceeding $20,000 could be submitted in two categories:

CATEGORY 1: Investment in infrastructure or equipment on land or property belonging to the City of Edmundston
or

CATEGORY 2: Investment on a site (which may be private property) with existing infrastructure belonging to the City of Edmundston (permanent installation) or equipment (which may be relocated).

A participatory budget exercise is a democratic process in which the population decides how to invest a portion of a public funds. Hundreds of cities around the world are conducting participatory budgeting processes, with thousands of people proposing projects that enhance their living environment: public squares, community gardens, sports facilities, and any other projects that are significant to them.

Edmundston residents were asked to submit their projects no later than April 30 to the evaluation committee, which was responsible for ensuring their eligibility. Projects had to be an investment in infrastructure (permanent installation) or equipment (that could be moved); be carried out on land or property belonging to the City of Edmundston; have a useful life of at least five years; and meet the needs of the community.

The two projects in Category 1 (Investment in infrastructure or equipment on land or property owned by the City of Edmundston) are as follows:

1.      Upgrading of the pickleball courts at Richelieu Park, submitted by Toby Lafrance, President of the Edmundston Pickleball Committee.

2.      Community Nurturing Forest on Voisine Street, submitted by Manuel Lamontagne on behalf of a group of citizens from the Saint-Basile sector.

The two projects in Category 2 (Investment on a private or municipal site, with existing infrastructure belonging to the City of Edmundston (permanent installation) or equipment (that can be relocated) are:

1.      Edmundston-North trail system, Merisier Street/Des Plaines Avenue, submitted by Wayne Dionne on behalf of a group of Edmundston-North residents

2.      Improvement to Carrier Street Park, submitted by Kristine Leblanc on behalf of a citizens' group from Edmundston-East.

The public is invited to vote from September 8 to 15 inclusively on the City of Edmundston website by clicking on the "Participatory Budget" icon at the bottom of the home page. You must vote for one project per category. Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 15, and the winners will be announced on the Big Pumpkin Day, at 1 pm on September 24.

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CONTACT: François Boutot, Director, Development Services 506.739.2125