Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent launched its first strategic development plan in over 40 years during a presentation at the Salle Culturelle Alfred-Langevin in Huntingdon on November 7.

A revised version of the Plan d’action pour l’économie et l’emploi (PAÉE) was also unveiled during the event, which highlighted the MRC’s strategic orientations and ambitious objectives in terms of the region’s economic, cultural, and social development over the next four years.

Around 50 invited guests attended the event, including several mayors, representatives from community organizations and businesses, and employees of the MRC, as well as Salaberry-Suroît MP Claude DeBellefeuille, and a representative for Huntingdon MNA Carole Mallette.

In a rousing speech, Sainte-Barbe mayor and prefect Louise Lebrun jubilantly introduced what she referred to as a bold vision for the years ahead. “We are entering an era where the status quo is no longer an option, where leadership must be inspired and inspiring, and where development must be active, sustainable and intentional – an era in which regions capitalize on the characteristics and strengths that make them unique,” she enthused, while calling on those present to become involved and to work together.

Work began on the strategic development plan and the action plan for the economy and employment in the spring of 2023. Both documents were approved during the regular meeting of the regional council on September 18.

MRC director general Pierre Caza explained while presenting the main points of the plan that the end goal of the planning process was to strengthen the local economy, promote rural tourism, and encourage cultural vitality and inter-municipal collaboration. The document includes the MRC’s vision, strategic objectives, and different courses of action to be implemented between now and 2028.

Members of the regional council worked with seven partner organizations to realize the plan, which features 93 actions aimed at improving access to services and housing; economic diversification and support for entrepreneurs; planning for dynamic, attractive living environments; the promotion of the MRC’s natural, cultural, heritage and tourist attractions; and prioritizing sustainable development while taking climate change into account.

Caza maintained that the MRC worked to ensure regional planning efforts would be adapted to the area’s rural or agricultural heritage and current reality. “This is important because the reality of the Haut-Saint-Laurent is what it is. We don’t want to denature ourselves,” he said. “We love our rural environment. And we’re not going to change it,” he explained, while pointing out that this conviction should not stop the MRC from innovating and inspiring other MRCs.

The PAÉE, which was developed in parallel with the strategic plan, aims to stimulate economic growth, support local entrepreneurship, diversify the economic fabric of the area and improve the region’s attractiveness as a tourist destination.

The most recent iteration of the PAÉE was completed in 2013. In revising the document, the MRC’s regional development team partnered with around 26 different organizations, businesses, and groups for the elaboration of the plan, which includes a dozen objectives and 37 strategic actions, several of which are already in place.

Caza noted that while there were different teams working on the strategic development plan and the PAÉE, the two documents are complementary. “This is very gratifying, because it means that on both sides we were really on the right track, and we succeeded in producing tools that will be useful.”

Combined, the two plans include 130 actions the MRC hopes to achieve before the end of 2028.

Caza said the MRC employees will be working with both documents. “We are not going to create two silos. Everyone will work together and build bridges,” he explained, noting the MRC is hoping to encourage the public’s participation. “There are citizens who like to get involved in their communities. We need to be using this energy to boost the region’s development.”

More information on the MRC’s strategic development plan and PAÉE, including the complete documents, can be found online at mrchsl.com/plans.