Author name: Pontiac Journal

Tashi Farmilo
Local Journalism Initiative

MRC PONTIAC – The municipalities of L’Isle-aux-Allumettes and Chichester have announced plans to reduce the tax mill rate in response to concerns over significantly increased property evaluations for many homeowners, driven by the region’s growing development and desirability. While higher assessments reflect a positive trend for the area, many residents have voiced worries about the financial implications, particularly with regard to municipal taxes.

“We can’t provide exact details just yet,” said Alicia Jones, director general for both municipalities. “The councils are currently in the process of preparing the 2025 budget, which will be adopted in December. The revenues collected through general taxation—based on the tax rate and property evaluations—are allocated to general operations,” she added.

To mitigate the potential burden, both councils are committing to lowering the tax mill rate in their upcoming 2025 budgets. This adjustment is intended to offset the increased property values, ensuring local homeowners do not face undue financial strain. “As assessment values are higher, tax rates will be reduced,” Jones confirmed.

Additionally, Jones noted municipalities can introduce service-based taxes, which would be calculated based on the services provided to residents rather than property assessments. “Each council should decide the best taxation method for their taxpayers,” she explained, noting the need for tailored approaches depending on local circumstances.

Further discussions on the revised tax rate and other potential solutions are expected in the coming weeks, with final decisions to be made during budget meetings in December. Jones encouraged residents to stay informed, review their new property assessments, and be prepared for any potential changes.

Alleyn-et-Cawood’s efforts
Alleyn-et-Cawood has also committed to lowering its mill rate while continuing its battle to have the assessment process overhauled at the provincial level. The municipality’s Property Evaluation Task Force insists that the evaluation process should be made fairer by eliminating the comparative factor from property value calculation and that it shouldn’t fall on municipalities to lower the mill rate to protect ratepayers from large tax hikes.

Director General Isabelle Cardinal confirmed that the municipality’s delegation, including herself, and Councillors Sidney Squitti and Guy Bergeron, attended the annual Congress of the Fédération Québécoise des Municipalités (FQM) last week. During this meeting, they discussed the property evaluation situation with more than 100 elected officials from across Quebec. “It was pretty obvious that this is a province-wide problem.” Cardinal said. “Many municipalities are facing similar evaluation increases.”

Cardinal also mentioned that the delegation met with Bernard Sévigny, a key figure from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, who was formerly the mayor of Sherbrooke. Sévigny expressed support for Alleyn-et-Cawood’s concerns and agreed to explore legislative changes to address the issue at the provincial level. Cardinal noted that the municipality is making progress and that they will be submitting a detailed proposal to the government soon.

Looking ahead, Alleyn-et-Cawood is preparing for the next Council of Mayors meeting on October 16 and hoping that a new bylaw regarding calculation of municipal shares will be presented. “We’re heading in a very good direction,” Cardinal concluded, optimistic about the steps taken thus far.

TASHI FARMILO

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

MRC PONTIAC – At the MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors meeting on August 21, it was officially announced that Otter Lake Mayor Terry Lafleur was selected as the MRC’s assistant director general. Lafleur, who has held several roles in municipal governance, including positions in L’Isle-aux-Allumettes, Chichester, and Otter Lake, will begin his new duties on September 16.

“By accepting this role, I unfortunately have to resign as mayor of Otter Lake,” said Lafleur, explaining why he applied for the position. “The opportunity came up and I felt I could make a strong contribution based on my experience. I’ve been working in municipal roles for the past 12 years, and this position allows me to bring that expertise to a broader regional context,” he added.

Lafleur hopes to make a significant impact. “I’ll be taking on more responsibilities in areas like economic development, assessment, and urban planning. My goal is to assist the MRC in making informed decisions that benefit the region’s future,” he told the Journal. One of his immediate tasks will be aiding in the implementation of Act 25, a provincial regulation on the use and protection of personal data.

Reflecting on his time as mayor, Lafleur expressed gratitude for the community and council’s efforts. “We’ve done a lot as a municipal council over the last three years, and while there’s still a lot to do, Otter Lake is set up well for the future. Our council and staff are fantastic, and I’m confident the municipality is in good hands.”

Otter Lake will need to hold a byelection within the next four months. Deputy Mayor Jennifer Quaile will step in as interim mayor until the by-election is held.

Tashi Farmilo

Local Journalism Initiative

MANSFIELD-ET-PONTEFACT – Location Martin-Lalonde Inc., a local trucking company, has won a significant legal battle against the Municipality of Mansfield-et-Pontefract, with the Quebec Court of Appeal upholding a lower court’s decision that awarded the company $108,360 in damages for lost profits. The ruling, delivered on August 13, 2024, confirms that the Municipality wrongfully awarded a municipal contract to another bidder, Entreprise R. Charette, despite the latter’s non-compliant tender.

The legal dispute began when the Municipality issued a call for tenders on October 28, 2015, for garbage, recycling, and heavy item collection. Location Martin-Lalonde submitted a bid along with a $5,000 certified cheque as tender security but failed to provide the required letter of undertaking. Based on the omittance of the letter, the Municipality rejected Martin-Lalonde’s bid and awarded the contract to Charette, the only other bidder.

After obtaining Charette’s tender documents through the Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec in 2018, Martin-Lalonde discovered that Charette’s bid did not meet the essential criteria outlined in the tender documents. In response, Martin-Lalonde filed a lawsuit, claiming damages for the profits it would have earned from the five-year contract.

The Superior Court ruled in Martin-Lalonde’s favour in January 2023, stating that the irregularity in Martin-Lalonde’s bid—namely, the omission of the letter of undertaking guaranteeing the issuance of a performance bond—was minor and did not justify the rejection of their tender. The court ordered the Municipality to compensate Martin-Lalonde for the lost profits, based on the five-year contract.

The Municipality appealed the decision, arguing that the irregularity in Martin-Lalonde’s bid was significant enough to warrant its rejection and that the damages awarded were excessive. However, the Court of Appeal disagreed, ruling that the requirement for performance security, while essential, did not necessitate immediate provision of the bond. The omission was deemed a minor irregularity that did not affect the integrity of the bidding process.

Moreover, the Court upheld that Martin-Lalonde was entitled to damages, calculated based on the lost profits from the five-year contract, which the Municipality had originally awarded to Charette.

Reacting to the judgement, Mansfield Mayor Sandra Armstrong stated, “We’ve just received the judgement this week, and it’s something our insurance company is reviewing. At this point, we don’t have much more to say, but we’ll be discussing our next steps soon.”

Martin-Lalonde was unavailable for comment at the time of press.

Tashi Farmilo
Local Journalism Initiative

MRC PONTIAC – In a stride toward environmental conservation, a collaborative initiative has been launched to establish a 115,000-hectare protected area within the watersheds of the Noire and Coulonge Rivers. This project aims to preserve the region’s ecological wealth while integrating sustainable recreational tourism and fostering reconciliation with Indigenous communities.

The announcement was highlighted by a symbolic canoe descent on the Noire River, August 12, led by Sophie Chatel, Pontiac MP, who was joined by Benoit Delage of the Outaouais Regional Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development (CREDDO), along with John McDonnell and Geneviève Leblanc from Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s (CPAWS) Ottawa Valley chapter.

The initiative is supported by a $650,000 federal contribution, which supplements the $300,000 previously allocated in 2019-2020, bringing the total funding to $950,000 over four years. The funds are dedicated to advancing ongoing conservation efforts and addressing specific regional needs related to eco-recreational tourism development. The funding supports activities like assessing the project’s impact on the forestry industry, identifying compensatory measures, implementing a stakeholder engagement strategy, and evaluating the ecosystem services provided by the Noire and Coulonge river watersheds.

McDonnell highlighted the importance of the initiative, noting additional funding from Environment Canada will be crucial in furthering conservation efforts and supporting
eco-recreational initiatives in the region.

Delage underscored the importance of addressing key challenges identified during consultations over the past two years, including the maintenance of acquired rights for current land users, ensuring continued access to the territory, and creating local economic benefits through developing the recreational tourism sector. To meet these challenges, further studies will be conducted, including assessments of recreational tourism development and evaluations of the maintenance costs for priority roads.

Tashi Farmilo
Local Journalism Initiative

CLARENDON – The Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP) announced no criminal charges will be filed against the police officers involved in the fatal shooting of 39-year-old Christopher Watson in Clarendon on June 5, 2023. The decision follows an investigation by the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI) and the DPCP’s review of the evidence.

The incident began when Watson’s mother called 911, reporting that her son, who was living on her property, had become aggressive and violent toward her and her partner. Two officers from the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) responded and arrived at the scene shortly after 11 am. The mother informed the officers that her son, whom she believed to be unarmed, was currently inside a shed in the backyard.

As the officers approached the shed, one of them identified himself as a police officer and asked Watson to come out to talk. However, as the officer moved closer, Watson suddenly opened the shed door and pointed a long gun directly at the officer. In response, the officer fired several shots, striking Watson, who fell back into the shed. The officers lost sight of him and instructed the couple to return to the house for their safety.

Despite multiple attempts to communicate with Watson, there was no response. About 20 minutes later, a tactical operation was launched to enter the shed safely. After efforts to establish contact failed, a drone was deployed inside, revealing Watson lying on the ground, unresponsive. Emergency resuscitation efforts were attempted but were unsuccessful, and his death was confirmed at the scene.

Before reaching its decision, the DPCP relied on the BEI investigation, launched immediately after the incident on the same day. The BEI, tasked with examining situations where a person is killed or seriously injured during a police intervention or while in police custody, gathered evidence and assessed the events leading up to and during the fatal encounter.

The DPCP’s decision not to lay charges is based on Sections 25(1) and 25(3) of the Criminal Code, which protect peace officers who use force in the execution of their duties, provided the force is reasonable and necessary under the circumstances. The analysis concluded the officer’s actions were justified given the presence of a firearm, the immediate threat to the officers and civilians, and the need to protect lives.

The DPCP emphasized police officers are often required to make quick decisions in
high-stress situations, and their actions cannot be judged against a standard of perfection. Both the Sûreté du Québec and BEI declined to comment on the decision.

TASHI FARMILO

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

SHAWVILLE – The Municipality of Shawville is set to implement a series of changes to its waste management system after the MRC Pontiac awarded a new garbage collection contract to Centre FilloGreen in Litchfield. The changes, which took effect on August 19, were designed to improve efficiency and reduce costs in the town’s waste collection process.

Mayor Bill McCleary explained the decision to partner with Centre FilloGreen was made after considering various options, including building a new transfer station. However, the cost of that option led the municipality to purchase a compactor truck instead, a move that has been discussed for years. The truck, a 2017 model equipped with hydraulic attachment arms, was purchased for $130,000 — compared to $500,000 for a new truck.

“Our previous system required multiple trips to the transfer station, which wasted valuable time,” said McCleary. “With the new compactor truck, we can manage the entire town’s garbage in a single trip, which will be much more efficient.”

As part of this transition, the municipality plans to distribute new specialized garbage bins to all residential properties. McCleary noted it will be mandatory for residents to use these bins for waste collection once distributed. “Right now, we’re still working with the old system because residents don’t have the proper bins yet,” McCleary said. “Once the new bins arrive, we’ll switch to the automated system, but until then, nothing will change for residents.”

The municipality is currently determining the exact number of bins required, estimating around 900 pickup locations, though not all will need individual bins. The approximate $80 cost of each bin will be included in residents’ tax bills next year.

Recycling services, managed by McGrimmon Cartage, will remain unchanged through the end of 2024, though McCleary mentioned further adjustments might be needed as Quebec transitions to a new recycling program in 2025. This program may provide grants to help municipalities cover the costs of new bins and collection systems.

Looking ahead, Shawville plans to resume biannual heavy pickups in 2025 and introduce compost collection, which could further reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.

McCleary acknowledged the new system will allow residents to place more garbage at the curb, but emphasized the focus will also be on reducing waste through composting and other initiatives.

“We’re all learning as we go,” McCleary said. “The changes are aimed at better managing waste in Shawville, and we appreciate the community’s patience and cooperation during this transition.”

The municipality will keep residents informed as more details become available.

Tashi Farmilo
Local Journalism Initiative

WALTHAM – The Municipality of Waltham is grappling with significant administrative challenges following the release of a report by the Commission municipale du Québec (CMQ). It highlights numerous concerns regarding the tenure of Fernand Roy, who served as Waltham’s director general from 1985 until his resignation in February 2024, just before the start of the investigation by the Direction des enquêtes et des poursuites en intégrité municipale (DEPIM).

The CMQ’s investigation, initiated after a disclosure of wrongdoing, uncovered a series of mismanagement issues and unethical practices during Roy’s leadership, though he wasn’t specifically named in the report; misuse of municipal resources for personal gain, inadequate documentation of municipal affairs, and a lack of transparency with municipal council.

For nearly four decades, Roy held considerable control over the municipality’s operations, often without sufficient oversight from the elected municipal council. According to the CMQ report, this lack of oversight was largely due to the council members’ limited understanding of their roles and responsibilities, combined with Roy keeping them inadequately informed.

Mayor Odette Godin, who assumed office in 2021, quickly noticed irregularities in the municipality’s operations. “After about a month in office, I started asking questions because things didn’t seem right. I was told the previous mayor had left some pre-signed cheques, so until they ran out, I wouldn’t need to sign any new ones,” Godin recalled. As she delved deeper, her concerns grew when she discovered more troubling practices, such as the signing of blank cheques without invoices attached and the handling of municipal funds
without proper documentation.

The investigation revealed Roy arranged for the municipality to cover his home internet and telephone services even though these services could have been accessed for free in the performance of his duties through the municipal office. Additionally, Roy’s wife was on the municipal payroll for nearly a decade, earning a salary higher than some long-serving employees, despite minimal evidence of her actual involvement in municipal work. Her pay was also incorrectly categorized under the ‘urban planning’ budget, which is typically intended for urban planning and development projects rather than administrative or clerical work.

Godin’s attempts to address the issues were often met with resistance. “Whenever I raised concerns, I was frequently told, ‘This is the way we’ve always done it,’” Godin explained.

Roy’s resignation in February 2024 marked the end of a long and controversial tenure, but it left the municipality with a significant organizational deficit. The new director general, Annick Plante, who took over following Roy’s departure, faces the task of rebuilding the municipality’s administrative structure and restoring public trust.

In response to the report, Roy stated he disagreed with the findings and conclusions. “I’ve always acted in good faith and for the benefit of the municipality,” he asserted, adding the signing of blank cheques was done solely to facilitate the payment process and avoid unnecessary delays. He insisted all expenses were legitimate and approved by council. Roy also defended the employment conditions of both himself and his wife, claiming they were known and approved by previous councils.

The CMQ report has recommended the municipality invest in both financial and human resources to correct the issues identified. Its also suggested the municipality mandate a third party to analyze the impact of the lack of written documentation on the validity of its acts, regulations, and other decisions, and to regularize the situation if necessary.

The CMQ has required the municipality to inform them of the corrective measures implemented and has appointed Denis Michaud, CMQ vice-president of municipal affairs, to follow up on the commission’s recommendations.

Tashi Farmilo

Local Journalism Initiative

OUTAOUAIS – In a push towards fostering regional development, Andrée Laforest, Quebec’s Minister of Municipal Affairs, and Mathieu Lacombe, Papineau MNA who also serves as Minister Responsible for the Outaouais, recently announced a new call for projects.

The initiative, which falls under the Support for Regional Outreach component of the Regions and Rurality Fund (FRR Stream 1), is designed to galvanize community and economic growth across the Outaouais. It targets initiatives that will benefit multiple MRCs and align with key priorities identified for the Outaouais: promoting robust and sustainable community development rooted in solidarity and cohesive integration of rural and urban environments, enhancing climate change resilience through sustainable development practices, and advancing the economy and bolstering competitive positioning via innovation and diversification.

“The call for projects is a great opportunity for organizations and businesses that need a little boost to bring their initiatives to life. Selected projects will contribute to improving the quality of life for the citizens of the Outaouais,” said Laforest.

The deadline to apply is September 20, 2024. Eligible organizations can submit an application on the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAMH) website, which includes information on document requirements and steps to follow. A virtual information meeting will take place before the project submission period.

For more info, visit: https://mrcpontiac.qc.ca/entreprises/entrepreneuriat/fonds-regions-et-ruralite-frr/. For specific questions about the regional component, contact the Outaouais Wardens Table (CPO): https://prefetsoutaouais.ca/.

FRR Volet 1 awards $50 million annually, distributed among the administrative regions. In 2024-2025, $3,060,276 was granted to support projects in the Outaouais.

Tashi Farmilo

Local Journalism Initiative

OUTAOUAIS – In a strategic move to stop the exodus of rural medical imaging technicians to Gatineau and Ontario hospitals, Quebec has announced the expansion of incentive bonuses to all Outaouais healthcare facilities, including the Wakefield and Pontiac hospitals and the Mansfield CLSC.

The announcement, which was shared on social media Thursday by Gatineau MNA Robert Bussière, comes at a critical time for the region. Despite the excitement generated by the news, the Alliance of Professional and Technical Staff in Health and Social Services (APTS) has clarified that the agreement is still under negotiation and has not yet been finalized. The union has refrained from further comment at this time.

Initially, at the end of May, the APTS had reached a tentative agreement with the Quebec government to provide annual bonuses of $22,000 to medical imaging technologists at the Gatineau and Hull hospitals. As a result, many rural technicians applied for a transfer to the city, prompting the government to extend the bonuses to Maniwaki and Buckingham technicians. Maniwaki technicians were only offered $18,000 due to their distance from the city. Wakefield, Shawville, and Mansfield technicians are now also being offered the $18,000 bonus.

Jane Toller, MRC Pontiac Warden, shared her reaction in a recent interview: “I learned about this through the Conférence des Préfets de l’Outaouais (CPO). I was delighted because I was concerned that because the government had broken for the summer, we would see no change until September, which would’ve been too late, resulting in the loss of some of our technicians. Initially, we were not included [in the bonuses], and I think the whole community gave a strong reaction to the government, and they listened. Being offered the same $18,000 bonuses as Maniwaki and Wakefield is good news. The most recent information I received from the Minister responsible for the Outaouais, Mathieu Lacombe, indicates that everything is proceeding well, and they are preparing to sign. I hope that our technicians will stay in the Pontiac, and I will work very hard to address the salary disparities between Quebec and Ontario.”

André Fortin, Pontiac MNA, provided a more critical perspective on the government’s decision. “For months, I have been demanding an equivalent bonus for Shawville’s
medical imaging technologists. The government’s announcement might seem like good news, but after consulting with the technologists themselves, the reality is clear.

“Some of the technologists in Shawville say they will still transfer to Hull or an Ontario hospital because the government is offering them a bonus that is several thousand dollars less than what is provided in the city. Our people deserve no less! The CAQ government must stop being stubborn, fix the mess it created, and offer a full bonus to the workers here. Otherwise, services in the Pontiac will suffer.”

Fortin continued, “Already, in recent weeks, there have been service disruptions in imaging at Pontiac Hospital. If teams are reduced because technologists take positions in the city or in Ontario, the people of Pontiac will bear the brunt. They will have to travel to the city for basic services, which no one should have to do.”

TASHI FARMILO

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

OUTAOUAIS – A number of imaging technicians at the Pontiac and Wakefield hospitals are requesting transfers to other hospitals in the region following the announcement that they will not receive the $20,000 bonuses offered to staff at other hospitals. Nearly half of the local technicians have applied for jobs elsewhere, raising concerns about potential service interruptions.

Nicole Boucher-Larivière, CISSSO’s director of local services for Pontiac, confirmed on June 20 to CHIP 101.9 that four of the eight imaging technicians at the Pontiac Community Hospital (PCH) have applied for positions at the Hull Hospital, with another considering a move to Deep River. She underscored the critical role of imaging technicians in keeping emergency rooms operational and warned of potential service interruptions.

“Without full staffing, the risk of service interruptions is now very real,” Boucher- Larivière said, adding that while transfer requests could take months and aren’t guaranteed, she hopes a solution will be negotiated between the Provincial Treasury Board and the union representing the technicians, the APTS.

Pontiac MNA André Fortin blamed the situation on the government, which initially offered higher bonuses and paid leave to technicians at the Hull and Gatineau hospitals at the end of April, extending these benefits to the Buckingham and Maniwaki hospitals last week. Fortin criticized the approach, stating it would have been easier to offer a region-wide solution with equivalent salaries.

During the monthly meeting of the MRC Pontiac on June 19, council adopted a resolution urging Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel and Health Minister Christian Dubé to extend the bonuses to all hospitals in the Outaouais.  

Tashi Farmilo

Local Journalism Initiative

QUEBÉC – Quebec Premier François Legault recently announced the province has reached an agreement in principle with the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), representing 42,000 farmers. The agreement – submitted to the cabinet for approval – comes after five months of demonstrations by farmers demanding better support and conditions.

While exact details of the proposal haven’t been disclosed, it includes measures to assist farmers facing high interest rates and extensive paperwork. Legault emphasized the importance of addressing these challenges to ensure the viability of farming in Quebec, noting

the government focused on pinpointing current challenges and proposing effective solutions. He’s confident the agreement will benefit farmers in the short and long term.

The key components of the proposal include providing direct financial aid to farmers to help them manage costs and 14 measures aimed at reducing the bureaucratic burden they face when applying for financial aid.

Claude Vallière, Pontiac’s UPA president, is cautiously optimistic about the agreement, stressing the need for direct financial aid to help farmers cope with high costs, particularly for seasonal operations, and a reduction in bureaucracy to simplify accessing government aid, thus avoiding the need for expensive expert assistance.

Vallière also emphasized the importance of efforts to stabilize prices for essential farming inputs like seeds, fertilizers, and equipment, and more support for agro-environmental initiatives to address the impacts of climate change on farming. “In principle, the agreement is a good thing. We’ll see how it materializes. The government agreed to provide direct assistance to producers, but the details aren’t finalized,” Vallière said.

As the province awaits the cabinet’s decision, the UPA said further protests aren’t off the table. Farmers remain vigilant, ready to push for more comprehensive solutions if necessary.