Lobby of developers, the Urban Development Institute of Quebec (IDU) will have as its new leader the former Liberal minister Isabelle Melançon. She replaces Jean-Marc Fournier, who is retiring in early June.

Ms. Melançon was Director General of Communications for the Société de développement des entreprises culturelle (SODEC), then Chief of Staff and Member of Parliament for Verdun in the National Assembly from 2016 to 2022. She was also Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, in the government of Philippe Couillard.

The IDU is at the forefront to defend the idea of ​​the densification of the inhabited territory. Its challenges are many in a time of housing shortages and deteriorating affordability.

“I am proud to join an industry that wants to turn these challenges into opportunities. I intend to continue the many collaborations with all those who reflect on the subject so that we can all together build the neighborhoods of the future, “says Isabelle Melançon, in a communication published by the IDU.

Himself a former Liberal minister, Jean-Marc Fournier took over as head of the IDU in 2020. He replaced André Boisclair, who had resigned due to an accusation of sexual assault brought against him. Mr. Fournier’s tenure was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic which made its impact felt on commercial real estate.