BONNIE JAMES
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE
MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors held its monthly meeting on May 21 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield.
Renewable energy production
Council announced their intention to declare full jurisdiction over renewable energy production in the Pontiac, citing a desire to enter the field of solar energy. The Municipal Powers Act allows the MRC to operate a business producing electricity from a renewable energy source. Hydro-Quebec launched a call for tenders for 300 MW of solar energy in May.
The MRC’s jurisdiction over the field would allow strategic collaboration between municipalities and private developers, facilitate large scale renewable energy projects, maximize environmental and economic benefits for local communities, and regulate and manage energy initiatives.
Municipalities have 60 days to opt out of the MRC’s proposed jurisdiction.
Organic waste management
The MRC will issue two calls for interest for organic waste management services by June 15: one for a local composting platform and the other for collecting and transporting organic materials. The resolution states most municipalities are interested in organic waste services and the calls for interest will help provide answers to some of their questions, such as the cost involved in collecting and transporting it, before committing to the management of organic materials.
Changes to PPJ rules
A notice of motion was given for a new bylaw regulating “circulation and proper use of the PPJ”. The current bylaw no longer reflects the evolving uses of the trail, including the growth of cycle tourism, active mobility, and the Vanlife route. The new bylaw will be adapted to new cycle tourism practices, regulate the growing use related to Vanlife (access, parking, services etc.), and align with current territorial policies. The draft bylaw will be presented at a future meeting and posted on the MRC website at that time.
RénoRégion program restored
Kim Lesage, MRC director general, announced that Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau has decided to relaunch the RénoRégion program with an envelope of $9.2 million for the 2025-2026 year. The decision follows push-back from the Quebec Federation of Municipalities (FQM), MRCs, and municipalities. Hundreds of resolutions calling for the program’s restoration had been sent to the minister.
RénoRégion is a financial assistance initiative by the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ) to help low- and moderate-income homeowners in rural areas undertake essential renovations to correct major defects in their homes. The program was initially cancelled under the new provincial budget.
Lesage said the MRC hasn’t been told how much funding they will receive for the year. The program is funded by the provincial government and administered by the MRC.
Dumont Beach welcome station
Visitors to Dumont Beach in the unorganized territory will soon be greeted by a new welcome station manned by volunteers from Les Amis du lac Dumont, who are responsible for the site’s cleanliness, safety, and accessibility. The new station will inform users about the rules, ecological practises, and community initiatives. It will also serve as a coordination point for volunteers managing the site’s daily operations.
The group hopes the station will provide a visible presence to deter and prevent undesirable behaviour. The station will be an Amish home-style structure built on a trailer frame to allow mobility. The structure will be owned by the MRC and funded from the TNO budget.