Dominique Ollivier did not wait to be sworn in to dive into his new role as president of the executive committee of the City of Montreal. The day after her election, on November 7, she got down to preparing the city’s budget, which must be adopted by the end of January. The first black woman to hold this position, Dominique Ollivier does not seem intimidated by the challenges that await her.
Last September, when Valérie Plante invited her to join Projet Montréal, promising at the same time to make her the president of the executive committee, Dominique Ollivier was not prepared for this unexpected offer. President of the Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCPM) since 2014, she took a few days to think about it before embarking on the adventure.
Two months later, here she is number 2 in the City, aware of the colossal task that awaits her for the next four years. But Dominique Ollivier, 57, has a long track record and knows the municipal apparatus well. Holder of a master’s degree in public administration, she held various positions in the offices of the government of Quebec as well as in the office of the leader of the Bloc Québécois, before assuming the general direction of the Institute for cooperation for education. of adults (ICEA) and to become president of the OCPM.
Women and diversity
Born in Haiti, Dominique Ollivier was two years old when her family moved to Amos, Abitibi. She is delighted to see so many women – 61 women out of 103 elected positions – and representatives of minorities entering the Town Hall. “It’s really a City Hall much more diverse than what we had been used to until now,” she underlines. I think that when you have a diversity of voices, you are less likely to forget parts of the population and special needs. It will allow me to concentrate on my files. “
Because the hot files will not miss for her. In addition to the budget that will have to be completed quickly, the issue of aboriginal homelessness will not be able to wait. Mme Ollivier must urgently find a solution for the native homeless shelter whose opening is delayed due to regulations.
Without forgetting the security issues that have marked the last few months. “As Montrealers, we must all feel concerned by this issue. Whether it is real or perceived, there are still people in Montreal who are starting to be afraid to walk around. “
Dominique Ollivier will at least have a respite from the labor relations side, since most collective agreements have already been signed. “It’s a great relief for me. I think everyone starts the term in a better mood, ”she said, but aware that she will have to face crises sooner or later.
A big step for Montreal
The former leader of the Bloc Québécois, Gilles Duceppe, believes that Dominique Ollivier will be able to assume his new responsibilities competently, despite the difficulties facing the metropolis.
Mr. Duceppe had met Dominique Ollivier when he was looking for a woman to share the presidency of Chantiers sur la Sovereignty with Jacques Parizeau in 2000. “Dominique Ollivier had been recommended to me without telling me where she was from. I spoke to him on the phone. But when I saw this tall woman arrive in my office, I said to her: “It’s obvious that you are not from Val-d’Or, you!” She replied: “No, I’m from Amos”, ”he laughs.
“He is a balanced person, a thoughtful person capable of making decisions,” he says.
Former mayor of Rosemont – La Petite-Patrie, André Lavallée believes that Mr.me Ollivier is taking the City a big step forward, as Léa Cousineau had done before her. “It is not nothing that Dominique Ollivier assumes these functions, both as a woman and as a Quebecer of Haitian origin. In itself, it is an event. But even more, Mme Ollivier understands the scope of her responsibilities and the role she will have to play with Valérie Plante, according to him: “If we had not had a president of the executive committee capable of facing Jean Drapeau at the time, we would have had a monorail rather than a metro in Montreal. “
Comedian and humorist JiCi Lauzon befriended Dominique Ollivier about fifteen years ago when he worked for ICEA. He can’t help but see the similarities in character traits between Mr.me Ollivier and his father, the Haitian writer and sociologist Émile Ollivier. “Émile Ollivier wanted to give a voice to people who do not have one or the words to express themselves. He was a revolutionary. Through his duties, at the OCPM among others, Dominique wanted to give a voice to all those who should have the right to express themselves. “
He didn’t expect his friend to become president of the executive committee, however. “There is a dizzying side to it all, but she’s made strong. She is bored when there are no challenges. “