Alain Riel

Who is Alain Riel?

Alain Riel is a Quebec municipal politician in Gatineau, Canada. He was the councillor of the Deschênes District in the Aylmer sector until November 3rd, 2013.

Riel studied at the University of Ottawa and obtained a bachelor's degree in history and geography and a master's degree in physical geography.

After being a teacher and president of an animal shelter called the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Aylmer, Riel entered politics by running for the councillor position in a municipal by-election in 2002. Although he lost, he was again a candidate in the 2005 municipal election against Alain Roy and Jerry Alarie and was elected in replacement of Richard Jennings who did not seek a re-election. Riel was named in the Environmental Committee by mayor Marc Bureau shortly after as Riel cited environment as one of his top priorities for his first term.

In 2006, Riel was criticized by local residents including former councillor candidate Jerry Alarie on a planned joint project by the city of Gatineau and a non-profit organization on the implementation of a new composting plant on Cook Road in the sector's rural north end. The planned location was formally home to a landfill site under the former city of Aylmer which was shut down. Residents told a two different meeting that they were not informed of this proposal and were opposed to it due to health concerns. Tensions rose a City Council Public Meeting, when Riel received threats from some residents. Mayor Marc Bureau later added that the city will consider other options but that the Cook Road location was the best option.