Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a rather surprising visit to Lachute on Wednesday, August 21.
Trudeau had lunch with mayors of Argenteuil’s municipalities at the Top Shot Resto Bar in downtown Lachute and then walked along rue Principale and chatted with some downtown business owners.
Lachute Mayor Bernard Bigras-Denis said the Prime Minister’s visit was organized by Argenteuil-La Petite-Nation Member of Parliament Stéphane Lauzon’s office and was meant to be a relatively private event. No journalists had been notified of Trudeau’s visit and none were present.
Bigras-Denis said he was surprised to learn the Prime Minister was visiting and had less than 12 hours to prepare for the meeting.
He said the mayors of each municipality discussed anything to do with how the federal government could assist the needs of their municipalities. Those issues mostly involved infrastructure, housing, and transportation.
“He was very open,” said Bigras-Denis of the two-hour discussion with Trudeau.
Bigras-Denis told the Prime Minister that Lachute would like to conduct a feasibility study about returning passenger rail service to the city due to the growth it is experiencing, and the need for residents to have easier access to education and health services in other centres. Bigras-Denis told Trudeau the city would like to obtain federal funding for the study. He said Trudeau was very receptive to the idea.
Bigras-Denis said he also discussed with the Prime Minister about federal support for the new public library project in Lachute.
Trudeau did not conduct a press conference or make any public announcements during the visit to Lachute.
