Bonnie James

Bonnie James
Local Journalism Initiative

MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors (CoM) held its monthly meeting on March 19 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield.

Alleyn-et-Cawood legal proceedings
Alleyn-et-Cawood (AC) has asked the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MAMH) to cover the difference ($138,490) between the amount the MRC charged them ($289,148) in municipal shares for 2024 based on an inaccurate comparative factor and what they actually should’ve been charged ($150,657) according to the new assessment roll.

AC Pro-Mayor Sidney Squitti, replacing Mayor Carl Mayer, presented a resolution to council asking them to pause their legal action against AC (to recover the unpaid 2024 shares) until a formal response is received from MAMH.

Much discussion preceded the vote. Mayor Corey Spence (L’Isle-aux-Allumettes) opposed the pause, arguing the funds are needed for MRC operations. Squitti suggested using the MRC’s surplus in the meantime and asked what the plan was if the MRC loses in court. Mayor Sandra Armstrong stated, “It’s out of respect that we pay our bills.” Squitti maintained AC was willing to pay their shares but only the correct amount.

Council voted 13-3 to continue legal action against AC, with Pro-Mayors Robert Wills (Thorne), Squitti, and Mayor Jennifer Quaile (Otter Lake) supporting the pause. Bryson and Fort-Coulonge had no representatives present.

New meeting rules by-law
The new by-law containing the rules for MRC meetings was passed with a few changes from the draft. MRC Warden Jane Toller said the changes were a result of feedback from citizens groups including Pontiac Independent; Citizens of the Pontiac; Shawville activist and mayoral hopeful, Linda Davis; and Linda Lafortune.

The changes include:
• The ban on video recording and photography now excludes journalists and may be waived for others at the presiding officer’s discretion.
• Public Question Period has been renamed Question and Statement Period, now officially allowing five-minute statements.
• The second question and statement period may be extended by 20 minutes to a maximum of 30 minutes at the presiding officer’s discretion.
• Agendas will be published on the MRC website the Monday before meetings and posted
at the building’s entrance. Copies will be available in the meeting room and lobby on meeting night.

Warden Toller noted the by-law was based on Quebec Federation of Municipalities (FQM) recommendations following the resignation of 1,000 elected officials since 2021 due to harassment, abuse, and the increasing difficulty of being an elected official in today’s political climate.

Mayor Quaile and Pro-Mayor Squitti opposed the by-law. Quaile argued it failed to improve transparency, citing the lack of public access to resolutions before meetings. Squitti said the by-law missed opportunities to better serve Pontiac residents, adding, “This was a guideline. We could’ve really made it our own and we missed that opportunity. It could’ve been a lot more beneficial for the people of the Pontiac.”

The by-law takes effect in April, with a vote scheduled to open plenary sessions at that time.

High school firefighter training
Encouraged by the success of the Firefighter 1 program at École secondaire Sieur-de-Coulonge (ESSC), council will seek funding to expand the training to Dr. Wilbert Keon School and Pontiac High School. A grant from the Public Security Ministry will cover training costs, with the MRC funding any additional expenses.

MRC Public Security Coordinator Julien Gagnon said the program’s costs have been fully covered so far. However, the grant is only paid after course completion, meaning funding could be impacted if students drop out.

Of the 18 students who began the two-year program in 2023, 16 are set to graduate as certified firefighters this June. Gagnon noted that the program aims to address the shortage of volunteer firefighters in rural areas.

The next CoM meeting is scheduled for April 16.

BONNIE JAMES
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

SHAWVILLE – A public consultation on March 3 at the Community Lodge drew about 30 residents to discuss the proposed John-Dale Rd. affordable housing project. Developers Matthieu Jodoin and Michelle Poirier Asselin of Les Maisons PAJ answered questions, alongside Shawville Mayor Bill McCleary, Building Inspector Charles Gallant, and most of the municipal council. Councillor Bill Hobbs was absent due to work.

The meeting was heated, with residents expressing support and opposition. Handouts detailed the project layout, building designs, and responses to concerns from a previous consultation on February 3. No formal presentation was given; instead, the meeting went straight to public questions.

Mayoral hopeful Linda Davis asked why the developers weren’t using land already zoned for commercial housing. Poirier Asselin said landowners were unwilling to sell, while Gallant noted high-density zoning is scarce. McCleary explained that serviced land is preferred for affordable housing to keep costs down. The John-Dale Rd. lots have water and sewer access and are adjacent to high-density zoning.

A resident asked about water pressure, and Gallant confirmed there is sufficient supply.

Concerns centered on safety, aesthetics, and population growth. Carole Valin questioned the number of buildings, saying, “We moved to that end of town because it was nice and quiet. This is going to change everything.” Jodoin replied that reducing the number of buildings would leave empty lots where families could live.

Another resident suggested building more daycares instead of apartments. Gallant explained that government daycares are built based on population density and that an increase in population could justify more services, including daycare spots and health care.

Not all opposed the project. Former resident Charlie Taylor said that he’s hoping to move back to Shawville, “I’m thrilled to see the buildings already gone up! They look great!”

Sidewalks and streetlights
Residents repeatedly requested a sidewalk extension along John-Dale Rd. from West St. to New Hope Church. McCleary said the construction of a sidewalk would be too expensive, but that the municipality could widen the asphalt and install barriers to create a pedestrian/bike lane. Jodoin said Maisons PAJ would install a sidewalk the length of the project.

Residents also raised concerns about poor lighting. Jodoin said the buildings would have exterior lights and additional lighting on the properties.

Increased traffic, speeding, and the proximity of a wetland 175 feet behind the property line were also concerns.

Davis questioned the safety of the buildings’ metal stairs. Jodoin assured that the grooved aluminum stairs are winter-safe.

Built to code
Davis argued the stairs and landings aren’t accessible for emergency medical services. Jodoin responded that they meet standard width requirements, and Gallant confirmed they comply with the building code. A resident added, “Built to code is a lot safer than living in an old building that’s a fire trap.” Councillor Julian Gagnon agreed, stressing the need for safe housing for low-income families.

Accessibility
Residents urged that all ground-floor units should meet accessibility standards, with features like wide door frames and lower counters. Jodoin said units could be built to these standards if requested by buyers or if there was enough interest.

Rentability
Some questioned the need for more units when some built last year remain vacant. Jodoin responded that some of those buildings were only delivered at the beginning of February and that most units have already been rented.

Next steps
Council was set to vote on rezoning the land for commercial housing at its March 11 meeting. The results were not available at press time. The sale of the lots depends on the zoning change. If approved, the resolution will go to the MRC’s Council of Mayors for final approval before a building permit is issued.

Photo caption: A rendering of the new apartment buildings proposed for John-Dale Rd. (Les Maisons PAJ)

Bonnie James
Local Journalism Initiative

SHAWVILLE – “Does your horse speak French or English?” David Gillespie quipped at the West Quebecers’ 5 à 7 with Pontiac MP Sophie Chatel on February 27, highlighting a discussion on the lack of veterinarians in the region.

A resident asked if the federal government was aware of the shortage. Chatel said discussions are underway to ease regulations preventing out-of-province veterinarians
from providing services to anglophones in Quebec. She emphasized that while Quebec businesses should offer service in French, out-of-province businesses should still be able to serve Quebec residents.

MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller noted that three students from the region are in veterinary school and plan to return to practice.

Hosted by the Regional Association of West Quebecers (RAWQ) at the Little Red Wagon Winery, the event allowed residents to ask Chatel about issues affecting English-speaking communities.

Neil Woodman questioned Chatel’s stance on Law 96, the CAQ’s expansion of the French language charter. “It shouldn’t exist,” Chatel said. “There’s enough love in the heart of the nation for both English and French. The CAQ legislation aims to win votes and divide us.”

She noted that Quebec’s use of the notwithstanding clause in Laws 21 and 96 is before the Supreme Court of Canada. On January 23, the court agreed to hear the Law 21 case, and Chatel said a Liberal government would intervene to defend the Charter of Rights.

Chatel argued that addressing the decline of French requires a targeted approach in areas like Montreal, while considering the realities of regions such as the Pontiac.

“Instead of blaming anglophones, give them resources to learn the language,” she said. “Use the carrot, not the stick.”

Chris Judd said francophones who don’t learn English are at a disadvantage because they “lock themselves into the province” and miss out on opportunities.

Judd also raised concerns about interprovincial trade barriers, noting that beef slaughtered in Ontario can’t be sold in Quebec and Quebec wine can’t be sold in Ontario. Chatel said the federal government is working with premiers to revise the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, removing unnecessary exceptions that hinder trade.

“Removing interprovincial trade barriers unleashes economic potential for local
entrepreneurs,” she said. Eleven-year-old Mason Holmes asked Chatel about cell phone coverage in the Pontiac.

Chatel responded that because cellular providers are private companies, the federal government has not yet intervened.

She said the government has recognized high-speed internet for homes and businesses as an essential service and that improving cell phone coverage is the next priority. She explained that the government plans to launch its own satellite to ensure Canadian autonomy in providing satellite cellular services. Calling it an “ongoing and ambitious project,” Chatel said it is “the way to resolve the Swiss cheese problem,” referring to gaps in cellular coverage.

Near the end of the event, Woodman asked when the federal election might be called if Mark Carney becomes Liberal leader. Chatel said she was preparing for an election as early as March 10, saying she would prefer to “get it over with and focus on the real issues.”

She stressed the need for unity. “It’s not the time for partisanship. One Canada, one voice,” she said.

In closing, Chatel warned of threats to Canadian sovereignty posed by U.S. President Donald Trump. “Since World War II, there has never been a moment like this,” she said. “Trump wants Canada to become the 51st state. He envisions an autonomous U.S. economy, but he can’t do it without Canada’s natural resources.”

She urged Canadians to elect leaders who will stand up for the country. “This is a crucial time in our history, and we only have one chance.”

BONNIE JAMES
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors (CoM) held its monthly meeting on February 19 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield.

New meeting rules
A draft bylaw introducing new rules for MRC meetings was presented and will be voted on at the March CoM meeting. MRC Warden Jane Toller said the goal is to align the meeting management with the municipal code, focusing on order and decorum.

Toller and MRC Director General Kim Lesage outlined the key points:

• Virtual attendance
Mayors can now attend meetings virtually for health or disability reasons. A doctor’s note is required if attending more than three meetings virtually per year. Virtual attendance is allowed only from within Quebec or a neighbouring province. This option is also available for special meetings.

• Agenda
The agenda must be sent to council members at least 72 hours before the meeting. A second question period has been added at the end of the meeting, limited to 10 minutes. Committee reports and correspondence will also be included on the agenda.

• Recording devices
The new bylaw prohibits all filming and photography during meetings. Local media members expressed concern during the scrum about the lack of an exception for them. Warden Toller acknowledged that an exception should be considered.

Audio recordings are allowed under specific conditions.

• Public question period
If time remains after all questions are asked during the designated 30-minute public question period, attendees may ask a second question and a follow-up question until the time is up. The bylaw specifies that “speech must not use offensive or libelous language.”

Public attendees are prohibited from shouting, heckling, singing, making noise, or taking any action likely to disrupt the meeting. Attendees must show respect to council members and others present. The meeting president has the authority to expel anyone who “disrupts order.”

Violations may result in a $200 fine for a first offense and $400 for subsequent offenses.

The bylaw specifies that “speech must not use offensive or libelous language.”

Public attendees are prohibited from shouting, heckling, singing, making noise, or taking any action likely to disrupt the meeting. Attendees must show respect to council members and others present. The meeting president has the authority to expel anyone who “disrupts order.”

Violations may result in a $200 fine for a first offense and $400 for subsequent offenses.

The full bylaw (No. 299-204) is available on the MRC website at:
https://mrcpontiac.qc.ca/en/residents/bylaws/

AgriSaveur kitchen
The MRC has secured a commercial kitchen for the AgriSaveur project and will sign a three-year lease starting April 1 at $2,500 per month. Lesage said user fees would cover the rent, and Assistant Director General Terry LaFleur added that the rent could be paid from the second stream of the Regions and Rurality Fund (FRR 2) if needed.

The fully equipped, 1,250 sq. ft. facility is located on Rue West in Shawville and is owned by Bill Telford. It is ready for immediate use, allowing the project to start without investing in a new building. Users will be able to begin processing non-meat products right away.

While the MRC will lease the facility, it is purchasing the equipment that comes with it for $45,000 using FRR 2 funds. The equipment includes ovens, worktables, an outdoor smoker, kitchen utensils, a dough sheeter, and a meat slicer. Professional inspection of the equipment will occur before the purchase offer is signed.

Coop shuffle
Clarendon Mayor Ed Walsh noted that three executive members of the Coopérative de solidarité AgriSaveur du Pontiac (CSAP) resigned and questioned the impact on the abattoir. He also mentioned that several farmers were expected to attend the meeting regarding the abattoir, but none showed up.

Warden Toller explained that a new executive was elected at a meeting on February 17. She added that one member who had been advising on the project felt their role was complete. During the media scrum, she elaborated, “It’s been a bit challenging to separate the abattoir from AgriSaveur. Our funding from FRR 2 is mainly for AgriSaveur, but it will also benefit the abattoir business.”

The Journal contacted former CSAP Chair William Armitage for comment but received no response before press time.

Lesage announced that the General Manager position for the abattoir would be posted that week, although it was not yet online at press time.

The next CoM meeting is scheduled for March 19.​

Photo – The new Youth Council President, Aidan McCann, presents his first report to the CoM on February 19. (BJ)

BONNIE JAMES
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

LITCHFIELD – The Council of Mayors (CoM) held a special private meeting at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield, January 28, to hear expert opinions on the property evaluation process, particularly the comparative factor, and municipal shares. The mayors, Warden, Tim Ferrigan, MRC director of property assessment; and Terry Lafleur, MRC assistant director general, attended. The meeting was closed to other municipal officials, media, and the public, so the Journal spoke to some of the mayors and the Warden after the meeting.

Expert evaluator Charles Lapoutre gave a similar presentation to what he presented at the public meeting in Alleyn-et-Cawood (AC) in December. He explained the problems of using the comparative factor in years two versus three of the assessment roll, giving the example of two properties in AC where the value skyrocketed in those years due to the comparative factor, and then returned to a normal, expected level in the first year of the following triennial roll.

Lapoutre also explained the concept of neighbourhoods in property evaluations and how they can be used to recognize differences in properties based on things like infrastructure, thus giving a more fair and accurate evaluation. He also explained the idea of ROW (Relative Overall Weight) for weighting municipalities based on available services and infrastructure and calculating shares based on this ranking.

Carl Provencher, Quebec Federation of Municipalities (FQM) evaluator, spoke about changes to the provincial evaluation framework recognizing the difference between the sale of vacant lots and homes in the property evaluation process. New rules aim to give evaluators the ability to recognize and correct abnormal increases based on certain guidelines like a minimum required number of residential property sales before using the comparative factor.

Gerry Labelle, former MRC accountant, spoke about municipal shares, showing what they would be with and without using the comparative factor. He noted municipalities with hospitals and/or schools receive provincial funding.

The mayors said the meeting was informative, with many questions and discussions. AC Mayor Carl Mayer objected to Ferrigan calling Lapoutre a “lobbyist for AC” during the meeting, stating he was there to provide an expert opinion, not to lobby for the municipality.

MRC Warden Jane Toller said the issue needs to be examined further and the Budget Committee, comprised of Mayors Corey Spence (chair), Warden Toller, Donald Gagnon, Christine Francoeur, Doris Ranger, Edward Walsh, Odette Godin and Sandra Armstrong, will continue to explore the topic, considering options like the ROW in calculating municipal shares.

BONNIE JAMES
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors’ (CoM) monthly meeting was held January 22 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield. Ten Alleyn-et-Cawood (AC) residents attended. A heated meeting, the majority of the evening was spent on the controversy surrounding AC’s municipal shares.

Alleyn-et-Cawood’s shares

The public question period started with 370% Task Force Chair Angela Giroux asking MRC Warden Jane Toller about item 11.3 on the evening’s agenda: Payment, shares. Toller read the resolution: the MRC is moving to hire a law firm to initiate legal action against the Municipality of AC for nonpayment of their municipal shares for 2024.

The resolution stated the MRC sent a letter to AC demanding payment on September 18. AC Pro-Mayor Sidney Squitti said AC responded on October 2 with a resolution offering to pay $150,656, the amount owed based on a revised evaluation, while the remaining $138,492 continued to be debated. Toller said the offer was discussed at plenary and rejected because the mayors were in agreement that AC owed the full amount ($289,148).

Under advice of legal counsel, AC didn’t pay the $150,656 they had offered to pay because the MRC didn’t accept the offer. On December 20, the MRC sent a formal notice to AC requiring payment of the 2024 shares. As no payment has been received, the MRC is now following up with legal action.

The motion to take legal action against the municipality carried 14-3, with Mayors Mayer (AC), Jennifer Quaile (Otter Lake), and Pro-Mayor Robert Wills (Thorne) voting against. Waltham Mayor Odette Godin abstained, stating: “I don’t agree with suing our own municipalities.”

No small victory

During the discussion, Toller mentioned there was good news from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MAMH). AC Director General Isabelle Cardinal elaborated by phone after the meeting. Due to the advocacy of AC on the provincial level, the province is introducing new legislation to recognize the difference between the sale of vacant lots and the sale of homes in the property evaluation process. The new law allows for a more accurate approach to the evaluation, giving the evaluator the ability to recognize and correct abnormal increases such as those experienced in AC. Cardinal said the legislation aims to “better reflect the portrait of the municipality”.

Policy change, but no reprieve

In spite of the new legislation and the municipality’s revised evaluation, Toller insists AC must pay the full amount of their shares for $300,000 worth of services she says the municipality received in 2024.

Squitti then asked Toller what services they received worth that amount.

A special mayors’ meeting was held on January 28 where expert property evaluator Charles Lapoutre was expected to explain the concepts of neighbourhoods in property evaluations and the weighting of municipalities in calculating municipal shares based on things like infrastructure and available services. Quebec Federation of Municipalities (FQM) representative Carl Provencher was also expected to present on the issue. The meeting was private, barring the media, the public, and municipal officials from attending. Details of the meeting were not available at the time of publication.

Immigration plan

Council moved to hire a firm called Communagir to help the immigration committee put together an action plan. The contract is worth $19,441 and the action plan must be completed and validated by this September.

The next CoM meeting will be held February 19.

Bonnie James
Local Journalism Initiative

PONTIAC-KITIGAN ZIBI – Brian Nolan was elected Pontiac’s Conservative candidate, December 14 in Shawville. A bilingual francophone hailing from Chelsea, Nolan has wide experience: 25 years of public service work across various government departments and agencies and currently serves as a Senior Program Officer for the Canadian Border Services Agency.

With a degree in computer programming, Nolan founded and ran an IT consulting company for 15 years. He also co-owned a food store in the ByWard Market.

Additionally, Nolan worked in the cannabis sector, serving as Vice President for Marketing, Product Development, Technology, and Investor Relations at two start-up companies. He owned and operated a 100-acre hemp farm in Scotland, ON.

Nolan volunteered with Des Collines Minor Hockey for 12 years; 8 as president and 4 as vice president.

With no prior political experience, Nolan said he chose to get involved now “…because of the mess we’re in.” Referring to his involvement in hockey he said: “I could sit on the sidelines and complain about things, but I decided that if I want to make a change, I have to get involved.”

“We need major change. With the Liberal/NDP coalition maintaining the balance of power, every member of parliament is responsible for the mess we’re in… none should be back in power. We need new blood and ideas. We need to bring common sense and financial responsibility to [the country] or we’ll be bankrupt in no time … We’ll (the Conservatives) make a big difference and with the support of the people of Pontiac-Kitigan Zibi; we’ll bring the country back to the way it was,” he concluded.

Bonnie James
Local Journalism Initiative

MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors’ (CoM) monthly meeting was held December 18 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield. About a dozen Alleyn-et-Cawood (AC) residents and supporters attended.

TNO budget 2025
Annie Vaillancourt, MRC Director of Finance and Administration, presented the TNO’s 2025 budget. The TNO is expecting a balanced budget of $1,019,389 for 2025; up from $888,771 in 2024.

The largest expense is transport, including road maintenance, at $700,000 (69% of total expenses), up by $200,000 from last year. The additional funds are coming from the surplus, which is larger than expected due to increased revenue from leases and lower overall expenses. The money will go towards more road grading and other road improvements.

New forestry project
Warden Jane Toller said she met with Pontiac MP Sophie Chatel in Ottawa, elaborating on that meeting later in the media scrum. A group of investors are interested in reopening one of the defunct Pontiac mills for a pulp and biomass project. Toller met with Chatel to seek support for the project and to request meetings on behalf of the investors with federal Ministers Steven Guilbeault (Environment) and François-Philippe Champagne (Innovation, Science, and Industry). Toller said she also met with Pontiac MNA André Fortin regarding the project.

Toller is optimistic that, if successful, the project would benefit the beleaguered Commonwealth Plywood mill in Rapides-des-Joachims by providing a local site to ship biomass to, thus cutting transportation costs.

“The difference this time is these investors are credible and have other facilities that are successful. Their technology is proven,” said Toller, adding that if all goes well, the business plan could be in place this year and the mill could open in 6 – 12 months.

Calculation of municipal shares
The meeting agenda included a vote on the new bylaw for the calculation of municipal shares, presented at the November council meeting.

At a December 14 public information session held in Danford Lake, Toller invited expert property evaluator Charles Lapoutre to present to the mayors at the January plenary meeting regarding the issues surrounding property evaluations and the calculation of municipal shares.

In light of the upcoming presentation, AC Mayor Carl Mayer moved to delay the bylaw vote until the January meeting, after the mayors had a chance to hear from Lapoutre. The motion failed 13 to 5, with only Carl Mayer, Brent Orr (Bristol), Alain Gagnon (Bryson), Robin Zacharias (pro-mayor, Otter Lake), and Robert Wills (pro-mayor, Thorne) voting to postpone the vote.

The vote on the new bylaw followed and passed, 15 to 3, with Zacharias, Wills, and Mayer voting against.

Under the new bylaw, shares will now be calculated based on 50% of a municipality’s total property values and 50% of the total standardized value, as determined by the comparative factor. For example, if a home is valued at $100,000, and the comparative factor is set at 2, the standardized value becomes $200,000. So, for the purpose of municipal share calculations, the property would be valued at $150,000. Under the previous bylaw, shares were calculated solely on the standardized value.

Although the bylaw passed, Lapoutre is still slated to speak at January’s plenary meeting, and Toller said the bylaw can be adjusted as needed.

The next CoM meeting will be held January 22.

Photo – Council moved to sign a new 4-year agreement with the Fédération québécoise des municipalités (FQM) for property assessments. Pro-Mayor Wills (pictured) asked if the previous agreement with the FQM was the reason the evaluations “went haywire”. Assistant Director General Terry Lafleur replied that the agreement was unrelated to the situation in Alleyn-et-Cawood. (BJ)

BONNIE JAMES
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

FORT-COULONGE – The Pontiac Community Futures Development Corporation (SADC) held their annual Mingle Jingle festive business networking event on December 12 at their Fort-Coulonge office. The event featured a presentation on business succession titled “Prepare Today for Tomorrow’s Transition” by Randy Labadie of Labadie Financial Services.

Labadie gave a brief overview of the fundamentals of business succession, starting with the decision of whether to pass on the business while the owner is alive or after their death, and how either choice impacts capital gains.

Labadie stressed the importance of a holistic team approach in succession planning, including an accountant and a notary or lawyer. He also explained the significance of having a will and encouraged business owners to create a power of attorney or a protection mandate. He explained how capital gains can be reduced by carefully tracking all improvements made to buildings and equipment and encouraged business owners to prepare for every scenario and expect Murphy’s Law to apply.

Following the presentation, SADC Business Advisor Brittany Morin announced new funding available for businesses to finance transfer or succession planning in the form of loans ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. She also said that more new funding will be announced in the coming weeks.

Gene and Justin O’Brien of Edward O’Brien and Sons Farms were also slated to speak about their experience taking over the family farm but were not in attendance due to a scheduling mix-up. Morin plans to interview them on the topic and share the video on the SADC’s social media​.

Photo – Attendees with presenter Randy Labadie (back, far right) at the SADC Mingle Jingle event, Dec. 12, in Fort-Coulonge. (BJ)

BONNIE JAMES
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

BRISTOL – Entrepreneurs from across the Pontiac gathered at Pine Lodge, November 22, for the Techvolution Summit organized by SADC Pontiac. Held in celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, it aimed to empower rural entrepreneurs with digital tools and tech insights to drive business growth and innovation.

The day started with keynote speaker Kyle Smendziuk of Webmarketers and Phantom Productions, who gave a presentation titled “Holistic Strategies for Digital Success.” He noted the importance of a business’ website in developing clientele, explained the steps of the path to purchase, and the tools that can be used to influence potential buyers at each step.

Participant Trefor Munn-Venn of Leystone Farm said: “Smendziuk’s presentation explained how to think about your business, digital presence, and how to apply social media and other tools. Tools are fast-changing, so an event like this is really helpful because you need to check in regularly.”

The next presentation was on cybersecurity, given by Stéphane Pharand, who explained the importance of security in data management and the handling of personal information. Pharand explained Quebec’s Law 25, regarding the use of personal information by businesses, and the implications of non-compliance.

Next up, Jon Stewart of Calumet Media presented “Leveraging AI [Artificial Intelligence] for Businesses.” He described the many ways AI can be used by businesses for applications like content creation, virtual assistance, and data analysis or to create anything from social media posts to proposals and even to fill out grant applications.

The day ended with a panel discussion featuring Kristine Amyotte of Beck Family Farms, Jared Hamilton of Mountainview Turf/Gemma/Jolly Egg Farm, Gary Johnson of Johnson Auto Wreckers, and Adam Thompson of Pine Lodge. The entrepreneurs discussed how they implemented technology into their businesses.

Amyotte spoke about how the transition to milking robots has improved quality and consistency in her dairy farm’s operations. She also explained the health benefits of an automated milk pasteurizer, warmer, and dispenser for feeding calves. The farm started using an app that tracks aspects of the animals’ care including medications, treatments, and milkings, resulting in fewer errors and more time to focus on other things.

Hamilton implemented an order tracking system that allows customers to track their order each step of the way and drivers to confirm delivery.

Johnson highlighted the inventory and order picking system his auto recycling business has. The app has increased the accuracy of his staff’s picks, improved efficiency, and customer satisfaction by enabling staff to communicate with customers about the used auto parts they’ve selected. The system also helps Johnson make better decisions about which vehicles to buy by telling him how much value is in each vehicle, helping him track his current inventory, and what parts are selling.

Thompson discussed the lodge’s new reservation system and how it has improved customer experience. The system sends an automated e-mail a few days before a guest’s arrival, indicating current restaurant hours, services available, and what to expect upon arrival. The system also tracks customer analytics, which can be used to apply for financing for business expansions. The lodge has also adopted an online ordering system for the restaurant.

Many participants commented on the wealth of information shared. “There’s so much I learned,” remarked Celine Romain of Constructions Morin & Fils, “Even if I don’t have a farm or turf business, all their experiences gave me good insight on how technology can be used. There’s no limit.”​.

Photo – L/R: Kristine Amyotte, Jared Hamilton, Gary Johnson, and Adam Thompson participate in a panel discussion led by Amy Taylor (back) at the Techvolution Summit, Nov. 22. (BJ)

Bonnie James
Local Journalism Initiative

MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors’ (CoM) monthly meeting was held November 27 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield with around 16 Alleyn-et-Cawood (AC) residents and supporters in attendance.

Question Period
AC Councillor Sidney Squitti read a resolution passed by their council at the November meeting calling for the nullification of the 2025 triennial assessment roll under Section 171 of the Municipal Tax Act. The resolution states the reason for the request is “significant and glaring increases in property values” ranging from 30% to over 700% and gives the example of a property that went up from $2,100 (2022-2024) to $95,200 (2025), a 4,523% increase.

AC Director General Isabelle Cardinal asked MRC Warden Jane Toller why the municipality is required to pay shares for 2024 based on a 3.7 comparative factor if that number was not representative of all properties. Toller asked Cardinal if AC has paid its shares for 2024; Cardinal stated they have not. Toller told Cardinal that they have to pay their shares, or the other municipalities will have to foot the bill. Cardinal replied that all mayors have a duty to address this situation, as it is a regional issue.

370% Evaluation Task Force Chair Angela Giroux suggested using the MRC surplus to pay the difference for the disputed charge the municipality received. Toller said this couldn’t be done as it would set a precedent that would be problematic in the future if other municipalities have years with abnormally high shares.

MRC bylaw concerning municipal shares
The MRC tabled its new draft bylaw concerning the calculation of municipal shares in response to the concerns raised by AC. Shares will now be calculated based on 50% of a municipality’s total property values and 50% of the total standardized value, as
determined by the comparative factor. Under the previous bylaw, the shares were calculated based solely on the standardized value. Adding the real property value to the calculation will provide some protection against anomalies like those experienced by Chichester and Alleyn-et-Cawood in recent years. There will be no public consultation on the draft bylaw.

MRC budget passed
The 2025 budget was presented and approved. The total budget revenue was $8,913,136, a drop of approximately 10% from 2024 ($9,858.728), mostly due to a decrease in
development grant funds. The revenue generated from municipal shares was recorded as the same as 2024, at $4,206,500, but this represented an increase of 4% of the overall revenue.

Expenses also reduced, primarily in the funds allocated for strategic development (FRR Streams 1-4), which dropped by over $1M. FRR 1 & 2 have ended but new funds are anticipated and are included in the budget. FRR 3 & 4 still have funds available but those funds aren’t included in this year’s budget.

Salaries and benefits increased by approximately 5%, with contracts paid for assessments decreasing but professional human resource expenses increasing by almost the same amount.

An appropriation from the surplus was required to balance the budget, increasing by approximately 12% from 2024, going from $144,897 to $162,309.

AC Mayor Mayer voted against passing the budget, all other mayors voted in favour.

The complete budget is available on the MRC Pontiac website: https://mrcpontiac.qc.ca/
en/mrc/budget-finances.

Mount O’Brien protected area proposal
A resolution presented to support the analysis of a proposed expansion of the Mount O’Brien Biodiversity Reserve in Alleyn-et-Cawood was squashed 10-8 against the proposal.

AC’s DG Isabelle Cardinal told the Journal the municipality does not support the proposal as the group responsible, the Mount O’Brien Association, did not consult the municipality in the proposal’s creation. Moreover, Cardinal said there are no AC ratepayers or municipal representatives on the association’s board.

AC has its own plans for the proposed area, having recently received a $100,000 FRR 4 grant to improve the recreational site with new walking trails and outhouses and to improve the road into the site.

Environment Committee
Council moved to add two new members to the Environment Committee: Otter Lake Acting Mayor Jennifer Quaile and Portage-du-Fort Mayor Lynn Cameron. The committee’s main mandate is waste management as established by the Residual Materials Management Plan (PGMR), but it can also address any issue relating to environment, such as climate change, radon, or issues affecting the Ottawa River.

The next CoM meeting will be held December 18.

BONNIE JAMES

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

FORT-COULONGE – The Pontiac Chamber of Commerce held a 5 à 7 at Café Downtown in Fort-Coulonge, October 23, featuring a presentation on human resources in agriculture.

The keynote speaker was Rebecca Balsdon, Stakeholder Engagement Specialist with the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC). Balsdon and her husband also co-manage a dairy farm in Clarendon.

Led by industry stakeholders, the CAHRC is a national non-profit organization focused on addressing human resource issues faced by agricultural businesses across the country. The council serves as the centre for research on agricultural labour market information and an access point for customizable solutions related to HR management and training.

Balsdon gave some national and provincial statistics on the agricultural labour market. One in eight Canadian jobs is in agriculture, totalling 2.3 million jobs nationwide, but the industry is experiencing a severe chronic labour and skills shortage; 47% of agricultural producers cannot find enough workers, resulting in production delays, lost sales, and cancelled farm expansions and upgrades. Ninetyseven percent of agricultural employers reported that no Canadians applied for jobs on their farms.

Balsdon said the dairy sector is the largest agricultural employer in Quebec, employing 48% of Canada’s domestic dairy workers. In spite of this, Quebec’s dairy industry experienced a 5.4% job vacancy rate in 2022, with an anticipated labour shortage increase of 10% over the next 8 years; 7,800 jobs remained vacant at peak season in the same year and close to 8,000 workers are expected to retire by 2030. Manual labour and low pay, along with a lack of understanding of the industry and the specialized skills required, were listed as barriers to recruitment.

The fruit and vegetable industry and greenhouses and nurseries are also expected to be hit hard by the increasing labour shortage.

But the news wasn’t all grim, with innovative projects underway to bolster the industry. Balsdon is the project manager for the National Women in Agriculture and Agrifoods Network project, which seeks to increase the number of women represented in agricultural leadership to 30% by 2030. The project aims to develop the network, perform research and surveys, and offer networking and professional development to women in agriculture.

Balsdon highlighted CAHRC’s Growing Opportunities Student Wage Subsidy Program, which supports hiring a student in a work integrated learning (WIL) program (a program with a co-op or work placement component etc.). The program is open to all students, not just those in agricultural studies. Growing Opportunities will pay 50% of the student’s wages up to $5,000 or 70% (up to $7,000) of the wage for a student who is a member of an under-represented group.

CAHRC offers consulting services including research, customized data, and e-learning for employers and employees; webinars on HR topics including leadership and more; and networking opportunities. The organization also offers an online AgriHR toolkit containing a wealth of information and resources on topics like compensation and benefits, succession planning, HR policies, workplace wellness, foreign workers, worker performance, workforce planning, and health and safety.

The presentation ended with a Q & A session. Trefor Munn-Venn of Leystone Farms asked what the core things are that a farm has to get right to attract and retain staff. Balsdon responded that cultivating a positive workplace culture and being a good manager are key.

Rachel Soar-Flandé, MRC Economic Development Officer, asked what emphasis is placed on educating school children about agriculture to attract the next generation to the industry. Balsdon said CAHRC is partnering with the Agriculture in the Classroom program for this purpose.

More information on the CAHRC is available at: www.cahrc-ccrha.ca.

Photo – Pontiac Chamber of Commerce President Sébastien Bonnerot and CAHRC Stakeholder Engagement Specialist Rebecca Balsdon at the Chamber’s 5 à 7 at Café Downtown, October 23. (BJ)

Bonnie James
Local Journalism Initiative

MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors’ (CoM) monthly meeting was held October 16 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield. It was another full house with nearly 40 members of the public in attendance to support Alleyn-et-Cawood’s (AC) proposed bylaw
regarding the calculation of municipal shares.

MRC Warden Jane Toller opened the meeting by acknowledging the crowd and mentioned that CoM meetings can be moved to a larger venue when a sizable crowd is anticipated by way of a vote at a meeting prior.

Alleyn-et-Cawood’s bylaw
Several additions to the agenda were requested. Notably, AC Mayor Carl Mayer requested the tabling of AC’s bylaw. The request provoked many comments from the mayors, who unanimously expressed empathy towards AC’s plight, but said that they did not support voting on AC’s bylaw as presented. It was stated that the finance committee is currently studying a bylaw, which is also being reviewed by the MRC’s legal counsel and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs. Council said that they wanted to wait for more information before voting on it. The motion was denied, 17 to 1.

Eurasian milfoil concerns
During the announcements, Otter Lake Interim Mayor Jennifer Quaile told council that the municipality recently received a report from a biologist whom they had hired to check six lakes for the presence of Eurasian milfoil. The invasive species was found in McCuaig Lake, Little Hughes Lake, and Otter Lake; while Clark Lake, Leslie Lake, and Hughes Lake were clear. Quaile said a committee has been formed with councillors and representatives from each lake to develop strategies and a plan of action. She said they hope to bring recommendations to the public for consultation in the spring.

Question period
Warden Toller opened the public question period by citing several regulations regarding the management of public meetings from the municipal code:
• Question period is limited to 30 minutes per CoM sitting.
• A second question period with a maximum time limit of 10 minutes can be added to the end of the sitting at the discretion of the warden or chair.
• Members of the public may ask one question and one sub question, totalling five minutes, after which time the chair may stop the intervention.
• A member of council to whom a question is addressed may answer immediately, or at a subsequent meeting, or in writing.
• Only questions of public interest are allowed, as opposed to those of private interest not concerning the municipality.

Seven members of the public proceeded to ask questions and express concerns on the topic of the comparative factor, property evaluations, and municipal shares.

Notice of motion was given for the adoption of a revised bylaw regarding the management of sittings of the CoM, but no information was provided on what the revisions would entail.

Waste Management Committee cancelled
In another addition to the agenda, Quaile raised the issue of the cancellation of the Waste Management Committee, which was announced at the plenary meeting on October 9. “I feel very strongly this is a mistake,” said Quaile, “The committee should be given a clear mandate and legitimacy like other MRC committees… We have unfinished work. We have knowledgeable people who are committed to taking action and bringing simple, cost-efficient solutions to the table to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.” Warden Toller responded that the committee was designed as a way for previous MRC environmental coordinators to meet with councillors assigned to waste from all 18 municipalities, but that new coordinator Nina Digioacchino prefers to work directly with the municipal director generals and mayors. Toller said the Waste Management Committee had fulfilled its purpose and was no longer needed. Toller also pointed out that there is still an
environment committee comprised of five mayors.

Mayors Odette Godin and Doris Ranger spoke up in support of the committee. Godin said she received valuable ideas from the committee, which she was able to implement in Waltham, reducing the amount of waste they send to landfill. It was suggested that
perhaps some iteration of the committee could continue making presentations to the mayors at plenary and Toller said that the issue could be discussed further at plenary.

The next CoM meeting will be held November 27.

Photo – Nearly 40 citizens came to the Oct. 16 MRC meeting in support of Alleyn-et-Cawood’s proposed bylaw regarding the calculation of municipal shares. (Photo credit: 370% Evaluation Task Force)

Bonnie James
Local Journalism Initiative

L’ISLE-AUX-ALLUMETTES – The third and final Agriculture Zone Development Plan (PDZA) forum was held at the Chapeau Farmers Market building, September 10.

Renewed every five years, the PDZA is a planning tool created by the MRC and local stakeholders to guide local agricultural development. The plan examines the state of
agriculture, identifies opportunities and challenges, and then creates several foundational
projects based on priorities identified.

The purpose of the third forum was to present the final projects and gather feedback. Shanna Armstrong, MRC economic development commissioner for agriculture, and Samuel Comtois of Groupe Pleine Terre presented the projects and explained the process, which included two previous forums and workshops.

“My goal is for the PDZA to be very collaborative. I want it to be something of value to
producers, not just a plan that will sit on a shelf. I want producers to feel involved,” said Armstrong.

The first forum in November 2023 invited local producers to explain the current state of agriculture in the Pontiac; identify strengths, weaknesses, and challenges; and express their vision for the future.

Workshops were then held in February 2024 to work on solutions for the four themes identified in the first forum: local agriculture; agritourism; support, succession, and community; and traditional sectors.

The second forum, held in April, focused on developing projects from the solutions presented and identifying what could be addressed at the local government level.

The following six foundational projects emerged from the process:

1. Regional attractiveness for agricultural entrepreneurship and access to land.
This project aims to implement a strategy to ensure the sustainability of agricultural businesses and start-up projects by linking local players around existing initiatives and regional assets.

Goals: reduce underused land, facilitate access to land for succession and start-up projects, and promote business start-ups and the diversification of existing businesses.

2. AgroHub of Services
This project creates a hub to offer, attract, and retain first-line services essential to agricultural businesses, in addition to pooling needs to implement collective infrastructures to develop regional sectors (cattle, grain, hay, etc.) and promote a circular economy. Goals: improve business profitability, provide access to services and inputs, increase the number and sustainability of local agricultural businesses, and create local jobs.

3. AgriSaveur
This project sets up AgriSaveur, a food processing centre for Pontiac agricultural production, located at the Shawville abattoir, expected to return to operation by January 2025. AgriSaveur aims to increase and facilitate local agri-food processing and the profitability of Pontiac farm businesses, and promote Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Consumer (B2C) transactions.

4. Educate the public about agriculture and its trades
This project implements various initiatives to educate the public about the region’s agricultural realities and raises local awareness of various related trades and their potential. Goals: promote the development of young farmers, agricultural relief, and a specialized workforce; and increase the public’s understanding of agriculture.

5. Proximity marketing
This project includes collective actions to encourage the sale and recognition of the MRC’s agri-food products and businesses. Goals: better visibility for local agricultural products and
businesses; more networking and sharing between partners and farmers involved in local sales; reducing marketing burdens on producers; and increased revenue for
farm businesses using the MRC’s local distribution network.

6. Support for environmental initiatives
This project supports the various initiatives and organizations working on the territory in the fields of environment and adaptation to climate change. Goals: make agricultural businesses and the territory more resilient to climate change and increase the effectiveness of environmental initiatives implemented locally.

All projects are expected to be completed over the next five years.

Bonnie James
Local Journalism Initiative

MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors’ (CoM) monthly meeting returned August 21 to the MRC head-quarters in Litchfield after breaking for July.

Keep it down!
Erik Scobie of Campbell’s Bay raised concerns about the rave, known as the “Groove & Bass Festival”, held annually on Wilson Road in Litchfield. Scobie said the event isn’t properly
regulated compared to events in other municipalities where regulations address issues such as sanitation, emergency access, safety, drug use, etc.

Scobie cited concerns with excessively loud music playing from dawn until very late at night and reports of nudity on public beaches in Bryson during the event. He said he wants the sound levels to be regulated and hours of operation set.

MRC Warden Jane Toller responded that she is opposed to the event and has heard reports of nearby residents being unable to sleep for the duration due to the loud music. She agreed that “quality of life” guidelines need to be set and followed by organizers.

Litchfield Mayor Colleen Larivière clarified the event doesn’t receive a permit as it’s held on private property. The organizers advise the municipality of the event, who in turn advises the Sûreté du Quebec (SQ). Larivière said her hands are tied as there’s no municipal court to issue fines. She said the SQ does issue fines based on by-law violations, but the event is so profitable that the organizers simply pay the fines and carry on undeterred.

Toller said the issue would be raised with the MRC Public Security Committee to look into what further action can be taken.

The private property where the event is held is currently on the market.

More changes at the MRC
Director General Kim Lesage announced the promotion of Kari Richardson to the new role of Manager of Environment. Lesage said the creation of the new role was necessary due to the increasing number of environmental mandates and corresponding responsibilities handed down to the MRC by the government.

Richardson was working as MRC Environmental Coordinator. An undisclosed candidate who applied for the previous Environmental Coordinator for Waste Management posting (now occupied by Nina Digioacchino), has been selected to replace Richardson in her previous role.

Lesage also announced that Otter Lake Mayor Terry Lafleur applied for the position of Assistant Director General and has been selected for the job. If he accepts, he will need to resign from his position as mayor, triggering a by-election in Otter Lake. The job is scheduled to start September 15.

Less is More
Environmental Coordinator Nina Digioacchino announced the launch of a new waste reduction challenge called “Less is More”. It consists of seven challenges aimed at getting Pontiac residents to reduce the amount of waste they produce, which currently sits at approximately 322 kgs per resident annually. The challenges will include zero-waste lunches, Green Halloween, Buy Local Thanksgiving, and more. Residents can sign up for the challenge by visiting the MRC’s booth at the Shawville Fair or by scanning the QR code on pg. 3.

Play ball!
The CoM resolved to give the Bryson Recreation Association $12,764
from FRR 2 and the Municipality of L’Isle-aux-Allumettes $20,611 from FRR 4 to upgrade their baseball fields. These funds will top up the amounts already awarded to the RA and municipality for this purpose by the provincial government’s PAFIRSPA program.

The next CoM meeting will be held September 18.

Bonnie James

Local Journalism Initiative

ALLEYN-ET-CAWOOD: The Municipality of Alleyn-et-Cawood along with the Evaluation Task Force put on a town hall meeting in Danford Lake on June 22 to explain the property assessment process, provide an update from the task force, and answer residents’ questions.

The community was rocked by a notice sent with the municipal property tax bills in February indicating a comparative factor of 3.7 for 2024, which could increase property values by 370%, resulting in a significant increase in taxes.

The comparative factor expresses in units the relationship between the sale price of a property and its assessment roll value. When sales prices exceed the assessed value, the comparative factor is greater than 1. For instance, if your property is valued at $100,000 and the comparative factor is set at 1.10, the standardized value, the property’s expected market price at the beginning of the year, becomes $110,000 ($100,000 × 1.10).

The dramatic increase in the comparative factor in Alleyn-et-Cawood was caused by the sale of a number of vacant lots that in some cases sold for more than triple their assessed value, driving the comparative factor up for the entire municipality. The problem was exacerbated by minimal residential sales, which have a lower comparative factor. Alleyn-et-Cawood Director General Isabelle Cardinal said that one of the problems is that the comparative factor is generalized rather than being categorized by the property type: vacant lots, forestry lots, cottages, or residences, so differences in value based on lot type are not taken into consideration.

Mayor Carl Mayer opened the meeting and welcomed residents, along with Councillors Sidney Squitti and Guy Bergeron. “We are small, but we are mighty. I have confidence that by working together, we can affect change.” said Squitti.

MRC Warden Jane Toller sent a video message of support; she was absent to attend the opening of the Rapides-des-Joachims splash pad. Toller said that more information about the new property values would be available on September 15 and that the Council of Mayors had adopted a resolution in support of Alleyn-et-Cawood’s requests to the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

MNA André Fortin also sent a video message of support, but it wasn’t played due to technical difficulties. He said that he has already spoken to the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest, about the issue.

DG Cardinal and Yann Baillargeon, a resident and CPA, gave a presentation explaining the property assessment process. They started by explaining the function of the assessment roll, a public document containing a summary of the inventory of properties located on a municipality’s territory. The roll is used by municipalities and school boards in the calculation of taxes and must be updated every three years. The roll is prepared by an evaluator and submitted to the municipal clerk for certification.

Cardinal and Baillargeon went on to explain the median proportion, comparative factor, and standardized value, data intended to compare assessed values to actual sale prices. The median proportion indicates in percentage the difference between a property’s assessed value and its expected current market value, at the beginning of a year.

Cardinal explained some of the ways this data is used during each year of the roll including in calculations relating to school taxes, business tax rates, non-taxable values for churches, municipal shares to the MRC, financing of the Sûreté du Quebec (SQ), road maintenance contributions, duties on real estate transfers, and values of parks, playgrounds, and natural areas.

The task force proposes that in years two and three of the triennial roll, the comparative factor should not be used to calculate municipal shares or taxes. They also propose that the comparative factor should only be used to monitor the real estate market and should not be used for anything impacting costs to the municipality such as calculating MRC shares, SQ contributions, and school taxes.

Cardinal and Baillargeon explained the process for requesting a review of your property evaluation.

Cardinal concluded by clarifying that the municipal tax rate and assessment rate are distinct, with the tax rate being set by municipal council based on the municipality’s expenses, revenues, and total assessment. She also said that council will adjust the tax rate according to the new assessment roll and promised that property taxes will not be doubled or tripled.

Task force members Julie Vaux and Angela Giroux (Chair) gave an update on their work. The task force consists of elected officials, municipal administrators, and ratepayers. It was created following a request made by residents at the council meeting in May and the first meeting was held on May 20 with a mandate of reducing the 2024 comparative factor of 3.7, challenging the Ministry of Municipal Affairs on the relevance of the comparative factor, and requesting an update to the evaluation process.

The task force created a petition to rally residents affected by the anticipated 370% increase in evaluations and to build awareness about the issue. Volunteers, Mayor Mayer, and councillors collected more than 300 signatures by going door-to-door over 11 days. The petition was presented at the June council meeting.

A second petition requesting the provincial government to review the 3.7 comparative factor for Alleyn-et-Cawood and to review the triennel roll process was created and sent to André Fortin to be registered with the National Assembly and collect signatures provincewide. The task force hopes to collect thousands of signatures over the summer to be presented to the Assembly by Fortin in September. The petition is available here: https://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/exprimez-votre-opinion/petition/Petition-10859.

Going forward, the task force plans to focus on getting the word out via local and social media and reaching out to other municipalities and the MRC for support. They also plan to organize more events.

The presentations were followed by a public question period with a number of residents asking questions and commenting on the issue. Joan Long asked why Minister Laforest won’t meet with the municipal council. Julie Vaux, task force communications representative, answered that she believes Laforest will meet with council once she receives the letter from the task force and the signed petition.

Joseph Squitti called for a series of town hall meetings to present the issue throughout the MRC, similar to the EFW meetings that were held this spring. He also suggested a steering committee be formed at the MRC to address the issue.

The town hall meeting concluded with an ice cream social featuring ice cream from La Cigale.

Bonnie James

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

 MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors’ (CoM) monthly meeting was held June 19 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield. It was standing room only as two new issues have stoked civic discourse.

Road rage

Former Campbell’s Bay Mayor Bill Stewart, backed by a sizable group of citizens, pled his case over a road dispute that has arisen in Otter Lake. On May 2, Stewart received a letter from the MRC informing him that log trucks would begin hauling on an abandoned colonization road that crosses his and another private property. Stewart claims the deactivated stretch of road hasn’t been touched by the municipality since before 1991 and residents have maintained it since then.

The MRC followed the letter with a meeting between Otter Lake Mayor Terry Lafleur, MRC Director of Land Use Planning and Environment, Jason Durand, and Bill Stewart and family. Durand then revealed the MRC’s intention to clear and lease 8 to 11 lakefront resort lots on Otter Lake, necessitating access via the road through Stewart’s land. The abandoned road was to be reactivated as a municipal road.

Stewart claims the reopening of the road would infringe on his property rights and cause safety issues.

At the June 19 council meeting, Durand said the road was listed as a municipal road in the 2013 cadaster, but it’s possible the listing was a mistake. MRC Warden Jane Toller suggested a meeting with Gail Sullivan, regional director for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests Outaouais- Laurentides to look into it.

Meanwhile, Stewart is preparing to gate the road and says he will take legal action if necessary. Toller promised no work will begin until the issue is resolved.

Seeking fairness

Isabelle Cardinal, Alleyn-et-Cawood director general, along with Angela Giroux, Property Evaluation Task Force Chair, three municipal councillors and a few other task force members asked the CoM to sign the municipality’s letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest.  

The letter requests a review of the property evaluation process, questioning the relevance of the comparative factor, and asking specifically for a review of the 3.7 comparative factor Alleyn-et-Cawood has been hit with for 2024.

Council passed a resolution in support of the initiative, but there was some discussion surrounding the mayors signing the resolution vs. signing the letter. Ultimately, 15 mayors signed the letter, with Shawville, Mansfield and Waltham choosing to abstain.

The resolution from council also states the MRC will consider options other than the comparative factor to calculate municipal shares and will potentially draft a bylaw to minimize the effect of the comparative factor to guard against major increases in the second and third years of the triennial role. The National Assembly has approved Alleyn-et-Cawood’s petition requesting review of the property evaluation process. It can be found here: https://www.assnat. qc.ca/en/exprimez-votre-opinion/ petition/Petition-10859

Trash on the table

The MRC has hired a new environmental coordinator, Nina Digioacchino, to focus on waste management. Digioacchino lives in Bristol and has an extensive background in waste management, having worked in the field for both the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau. She has also owned her own waste management consulting business, Integrated Environmental Waste Services, for more than 15 years.

Digioacchino replaces Thierry Raimbault, who left for a job at the Ministry of Agriculture in the spring.

Council also moved to award the contract for the reception, transportation, and disposal of household waste to FilloGreen following a call for tenders in May. Two bids were received. The contract will begin in August.

Left in the dark

The meeting ended with a discussion about frequent power outages in Mansfield and the Upper Pontiac with multiple occurrences reported in the last few weeks. I’Isle-aux-Allumettes Mayor Corey Spence said aging infrastructure is the problem and upgrades are urgently needed. He suggested sending a resolution to the energy board, as the response from Hydro Quebec hasn’t been satisfactory.

Toller said she would try to set up a meeting with Hydro Quebec and the affected municipalities: Mansfield, Waltham, L’Isle-aux-Allumettes, Chichester, and Sheenboro.

The CoM will break for July and the next meeting will be held August 21.

Photo – Bill Stewart presents his case to council, backed by a group of residents. (BJ)

Bonnie James
Local Journalism Initiative

CAMPBELL’S BAY – People’s Party of Canada (PPC) leader Maxime Bernier visited the Pontiac on June 6 to hold a town hall discussion on gun control and farming. The event was held at Brauwerk Hoffman.

Brewery owner Todd Hoffman opened the event by announcing his candidacy for the PPC in the Pontiac riding. An infantry veteran who served 7.5 years, Hoffman said he isn’t afraid to stand up and fight for the rights of Canadians. “We just want to live our lives out here. We don’t want to be infringed upon,” said Hoffman, who also serves as vice president of the Pontiac Chamber of Commerce.

Bernier declared Hoffman the Pontiac’s official party candidate before speaking about the party’s values and goals, with an emphasis on individual freedom.

Bernier said the federal budget could be balanced in a year by cutting foreign aid and corporate welfare. He spoke about ending financial support to the United Nations (UN) when the organization acts against Canadian values and interests.

Bernier emphasized the importance of sovereignty, both national and provincial. He said he will protect national sovereignty by refusing to allow global organizations like the World Economic Forum (WEF), UN, and World Health Organization (WHO) to impose policy upon Canada.

He said the separatist movements in both Quebec and Alberta would be satisfied by the PPC’s radical decentralization of the federal government, granting provinces autonomy and self-determination. He promised to rework the equalization program to incentivize “have-not” provinces to develop their own resources.

In response to concerns raised about Bill 96 in the context of provincial autonomy, Hoffman emphasized the local focus of his campaign: “I won’t serve the interests of Quebec nor Ottawa, but the Pontiac, and I’ll advocate for Charter rights strongly,” he said.

On agriculture

Bernier’s agricultural policy is centered on deregulation and removing climate policies that hamper the agricultural sector. He claims farmers will benefit from lower taxes under a PPC government.

“You won’t have to protest in the streets because we will withdraw from the Paris Accord,” he said, referring to protests in Europe in the past couple years over climate policies that limit the use of fertilizer, reduce the size of livestock herds, and in some cases have resulted in the expropriation of farmland (in the Netherlands).

On gun control

Bernier promised to be “tough on crime, not on law-abiding citizens.” Citing long rural police response times, Bernier said people have the right to defend themselves and shouldn’t be criminally charged for doing so. He said a PPC government would repeal all firearms legislation introduced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

On taxation

Bernier said in the first year, the PPC will cut federal spending, and in the second year, cut taxes. One resident asked if Bernier believes any tax is beneficial. He replied that the best tax is GST because consumers have control over it; they can choose if they want to make a purchase and pay GST, or not. He said GST taxes spending, not saving.

He then explained that income tax is the worst tax. He said the PPC will reduce the number of tax brackets from five to three and reduce income tax, without increasing the GST. He also promised to do away with the capital gains tax to encourage investment.

On immigration

Bernier announced new immigration policy, introducing a moratorium on immigration for a few years until the housing crisis is solved and legal migrants who are already here can be integrated. He intends to deport illegal migrants including international students and temporary foreign workers who’ve overstayed their visas and refugee claimants. Bernier said the moratorium and deportations will be added to his official platform within a month.

Bernier also said he will withdraw from the Global Compact for Migration as migration isn’t a human right. He criticized the Canadian Multiculturalism Act saying it discourages integration and fosters imported conflicts between different ethnic groups.

“We’re losing this country step-by-step; our goal is to regain our country.” he concluded.

Photo – PPC supporters gathered at Brauwerk Hoffman, June 6, for a town hall meeting with party leader, Maxime Bernier. (BJ)

BONNIE JAMES

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

OTTER LAKE – The Pontiac Community Futures Development Corporation (SADC) held their annual gener­al meeting, June 5, at the Otter Lake RA Hall. The evening began with a taco bar supper catered by Rumours Resto-Café paired with lemonade from Monsieur Limonade of Luskville.

The SADC team presented the Annual Report. First, Business Advisor and Marketing and Communications representative, Brittany Morin, highlighted the two local businesses featured in the French and English versions of the report: Rafting Momentum Inc. of Bryson and Café Downtown of Fort-Coulonge. Both features describe the entrepreneurs’ vision and support received from the SADC.

Next, Board Chair Ellen Boucher announced the renewal of the five-year agreement between SADC Pontiac and Canada Economic Development. She said the new agreement will enable the organization to continue to provide essential services and to further advance community development. Boucher thanked the SADC team and board for their exceptional work throughout the year.

DG Rhonda Perry spoke next, highlighting the organization’s achievements over the past year and plans for the year ahead. She described how the SADC has supported entrepreneurs and said the training programs and workshops offered throughout the year received excellent feedback.

Entering 2024, Perry said the SADC will work with team, board and community members, clients, and partners to develop and launch a strategic plan that will guide the organization for the next five years, aligning programs and services with the evolving needs of clients and the community.

The financial report was presented by Business Advisor and Client Relations Representative, Sarah Graveline. She said the SADC’s $6.5 million in assets belong to Pontiac businesses. Loans ranging from $5,000 to $150,000 are available to entrepreneurs seeking to create, purchase, expand, or modernize their business.

In 2023/2024, six loans totaling $361,500 were given to businesses and $260,000 in additional loans have been approved, but not yet disbursed.

The report also highlights Youth Strategy Loans, which are personal loans up to $25,000 given to young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39 years. In 2023/2024, seven of these loans totalling $160,780 were distributed.

Business Advisor Amy Taylor presented the support program for self employed workers (STA). Although the official program was paused by Services QC in April, the SADC continues to provide coaching, mentorship, and technical assistance to help entrepreneurs develop their business plan during the early phases. Of the eight clients who requested assistance with their business plan and start-up in 2023/2024, five are now working as self-employed entrepreneurs.

Taylor also talked about the SADC’s work in supporting youth rural agricultural entrepreneurship and described how the organization had worked with the local 4-H club to teach members how to prepare to market their animals at the Shawville Fair.

Elections were held for four open seats with the following results: Entrepreneur Pontiac Centre – Terry Lafleur, Entrepreneur Pontiac Municipality – Trefor Munn-Venne, Social Economy – Ellen Boucher, and Women – Leanne Smart.

The evening concluded with a business panel discussion featuring Dr. Isabelle Gagnon of Clinique Chiropratique du Pontiac, Caroline Desrosiers of La Vallée des Rosiers & Escapades Huskimo, and Dan Duggan of Pontiac Home Bakery.

Amy Taylor led the discussion asking a series of six questions about successes, challenges, teamwork, signature products and services, and initiatives and partnerships.

Speaking about challenges, Desrosiers discussed the difficulty of being a unilingual francophone working in tourism in a bilingual region. Gagnon said that she struggled to be taken seriously when she first opened her practise as a young doctor because having grown up in the region, everyone remembered her as a child.

Talking about successes, Duggan said winning the title of Sweetest Bakery in both Eastern Canada and Quebec, and placing second in Canada, was his greatest achievement. Gagnon said that her excellent reputation in the community and patient referrals were her biggest successes. Desrosiers said putting the Pontiac on the map internationally with a 33% international clientele was her most important win.

Photo – In a special moment, DG Rhonda Perry honoured Randy Labadie, who was retiring from the Board after 11 years. Perry spoke warmly about Labadie’s participation, support, and humour. L/R: Chair Ellen Boucher, former board member Randy Labadie, and DG Rhonda Perry. (BJ)   

Bonnie James

Local Journalism Initiative

CAMPBELL’S BAY – On May 14, MRC Pontiac held an event at Brauwerk Hoffman in Campbell’s Bay showcasing projects that have benefited from the second and fourth streams of the Regions and Rurality Fund (FRR) and announcing a new call for FRR 2 community development projects with an envelope of $600,000. The funding is available to municipalities, non-profit groups or band councils with a focus on “structuring projects” including municipal building infrastructure or non-profits purchasing equipment to increase their services etc.

Eight municipalities and non-profit organizations attended the event to showcase their projects.

The Municipality of Shawville high- lighted the improvements made to Mill Dam Park including new playground equipment and washroom facilities. They also showed photos of the new solar powered streetlights.

Groupe L’Île-du-Grand-Calumet was present with an update on their Honour Our Roots project which aims to identify unmarked graves in the old Saint Anne’s Cemetery and also to build a gazebo, add a flowerbed, solar lights, and a bench.

The Upper Pontiac Sports Complex was in attendance to talk about repairs and updates to the arena including the upcoming replacement of the chiller, the key component in the rink’s ice making system.

The Pontiac Archives used FRR funds to purchase audio and visual equipment

enabling them to host various historical presentations, like the recent talks by Wayne Park and Joann McCann. Archivist Venetia Crawford said the Archives hopes to use FRR funds towards opening a Culture Centre in Shawville in the future.

The Municipality of Campbell’s Bay showcased their new multi-surface rink, dock lights, and promotional banners.

The Chapeau Agricultural Society was on hand to talk about the upcoming farmers market season and highlight the opening of the new market building, tentatively scheduled for a soft opening June 6 and a grand opening August 1.

The Municipality of Alleyn-et-Cawood was excited to share their plans for Mount O’Brien Park. The municipality recently purchased the access road to the park in order to improve it and open the park to the public. The park features a lake and walking trails and the municipality will be adding tent pads, outhouses, waste receptacles, and trail rest areas.

Reverend Susan Lewis of the Anglican Parish of West Quebec shared improvements being made to St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Shawville in order to better serve the community. Much of the work is focused on upgrading the church’s kitchen to support their collaboration with Bouffe Pontiac. The work includes adding an epoxy finish to the floors and upgrading to industrial appliances.

Information on how to apply for the new round of FRR 2 funds is available by calling 819-648-5689 or emailing developpement@mrcpontiac.qc.ca. The call for projects is open until July 11.

Photo – Philippe and Guylaine La Salle present the Honour Our Roots project at the FRR showcase at Brauwerk Hoffman, May 14. (BJ)

Bonnie James – Local Journalism Initiative

MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors’ monthly meeting was held May 15 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield.

Question period
It was another full house with approximately 40 citizens in attendance. A variety of questions were raised about the EFW as well as other topics.

The questions started with Otter Lake Councillor Jennifer Quaile sharing the results of the Friends of the Pontiac’s petition against the EFW project. The group collected 3,255 signatures, 73% originating from the Pontiac, 13% from neighbouring communities, and the remainder throughout Quebec and the rest of Canada. Four more residents asked questions and expressed concerns about the project.

The focus then shifted with an Alleyn-et-Cawood resident asking for an update on planned roadwork throughout the Pontiac. MRC Warden

Jane Toller highlighted the work planned for Front St. in Campbell’s Bay and Rapides-des-Joachims Mayor Lucie Rivet Paquette explained the planned bridge repair for the main crossing to Ontario in her municipality. The project will cost $1.2 million and will take 6-8 weeks to complete over the summer.

Angela Giroux, also of Alleyn-et-Cawood, was next to speak, imploring the mayors to work together to address recent hikes in property evaluations throughout the MRC.

A  group of nine former employees of l’Abattoir Les Viandes du Pontiac were in attendance to ask if the MRC would hire them back now that the MRC owns the slaughterhouse. Director General Kim Lesage replied that the proper licensing still needed to be obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture before reopening and took down the names and telephone numbers of the group in attendance.

Energy-from-Waste
Litchfield Mayor Colleen Larivière presented the resolution to bring an end to the EFW project. The resolution called for the Warden and MRC staff to immediately cease all activities in relation to the project, that no funding from the MRC budget or any type of grant or program be allocated to the project, and for the MRC Waste Committee and MRC staff responsible for residual materials to focus their efforts on aspiring to zero waste as outlined in the objectives of the 2023 – 2030 Waste Management Plan (PGMR). It also called for the MRC to continue working with the other Outaouais MRCs and the City of Gatineau to find the best regional solution for residual waste.

The resolution passed unanimously.

Organizational chart
Council approved two changes to the MRC’s organizational chart: the position of Director of Economic Development has been eliminated and the department will now report to the Assistant Director General, a position that is currently vacant, but posted. The second change was the promotion of Tim Ferrigan from Property Assessment Manager to Director of the same department.

The next Council of Mayors meeting will be held June 19.

Bonnie James – Local Journalism Initiative

LITCHFIELD – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors held a special meeting, April 29 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield, with one item on the agenda: a newsletter concerning the Energy-from- Waste Initial Business Plan (IBP) and to set aside $3,000 from the warden’s travel budget to cover its printing and distribution.

It was standing room only, with two police cruisers parked across the street.

Tension filled the room from the start as Otter Lake Mayor Terry Lafleur opposed the motion to open the meeting stating they shouldn’t be having it. Waltham Mayor Odette Godin agreed.

The motion to open passed and MRC Warden Jane Toller explained the reason she called the meeting. “I felt we had unfinished business. We haven’t been able to communicate the results of the IBP to the entire MRC population. Only 2.5% of the population attended the town hall meetings,” she said, suggesting a newsletter was the most effective way of communicating the results to the entire population.

Lafleur cut Toller off asking: “Why don’t we just release the business plan? Or put our efforts toward getting permission to release it?” Toller responded that they haven’t been able to legally release the full IBP, and noted the many pages it contains.

The meeting then moved on to public question period with Toller saying questions and comments were to be on the newsletter and budget only and six people could speak for five minutes each.

Shawville activist Linda Davis questioned the limiting of what could be asked. Toller responded it’s the rule for special meetings. Toller and Davis continued to banter and when Toller tried to move on to the next speaker, Thorne resident Emma Hancock interjected: “No! Keep going, Linda!” so she continued. She asked if the proposal for the creation of the IBP had been checked by the MRC’s legal counsel prior to approval. MRC Director General Kim Lesage said it was reviewed internally.

Otter Lake Councillor Jennifer Quaile was next to speak. As soon as she began, Toller interrupted asking: “Is this a question? This doesn’t need to be personal. Please stick to the subject at hand.” Again, Hancock vocally objected to Toller’s interruption, at which point Toller got out of her chair, confronted Hancock and told her to leave. Hancock refused and was loudly supported by the crowd. Toller finally turned her attention back to Quaile, who asked Toller if she was looking for support to pursue a second business plan with the newsletter.

Toller said the priorities right now are improving recycling, starting major composting and working towards zero waste. She said there are no plans for another business plan as they have to find funding outside of the MRC’s budget. She mentioned the Outaouais and City of Gatineau are working together on waste management solutions through the Conférence des Préfets de l’Outaouais (CPO).

Several citizens spoke, predominantly asking the MRC to consider future generations in their decisions. Resident Pat Shank asked if an incinerator of any size is still on the table and Toller responded it is, along with many other options.

The Equity’s publisher, Charles Dickson, asked why Council wouldn’t invest the proposed $3,000 communications budget in the local media rather than a mailer. Toller said she already spoke to the Journal and advertising is being looked at in addition to the newsletter, with cost and reach being considered.

Mayor Lafleur asked if all information sources would be cited in the newsletter. Toller said the newsletter references the Ramboll and Deloitte companies, the main sources, and people can contact the MRC with questions. Lafleur expressed concern that by not listing the sources, the MRC was positioning itself as the information authority.

Lafleur went on to question the use of funds from the warden’s travel budget to finance the newsletter: “Use the media you have and save the money you weren’t supposed to spend in the first place.”

Several mayors proceeded to comment in a roundtable discussion. Fort-Coulonge Mayor Christine Francoeur said she wasn’t against informing the public, but the newsletter needed to be revised to include the sources and details about the newsletter budget prior to sending it out.

Litchfield Mayor, Colleen Larivière, said she had heard from residents across the Pontiac saying they don’t want an incinerator. She said many residents didn’t attend the town hall meetings because they were confident mayors would “do the right thing”.

Mansfield Mayor, Sandra Armstrong, agreed the communications budget should be spent with the local media and more information needed to be added to the newsletter. “People seem to not want this. They’re afraid. We need to take our time voting on things like this. We need to regroup and talk about it,” she added.

Bristol Mayor, Brent Orr, said “One page won’t even scratch the surface. We should put the whole thing [IBP] on the website.”

L’Isle-aux-Alumettes Pro-Mayor, Ivan Schryer, said the proposed newsletter is “totally biased to sell a product. If we put out a newsletter, let’s make it unbiased.”

Godin commented: “I hate coming to these meetings now. The mayors and communities are against each other; it’s just wrong. When will we be able to say it was an idea, we pursued it, and it’s done?”

Chichester Mayor Donnie Gagnon finally called the vote. The resolution was rejected 16 to 1, with only Portage-du-Fort Mayor Lynne Cameron voting in favour. Thorne had no representative at the meeting.

BONNIE JAMES

– LOCAL JOURNALISM INITATIVE

FORT-COULONGE – On April 22, the Pontiac Chamber of Commerce and the Community Futures Development Corporation (SADC) hosted Pontiac MP Sophie Chatel for a town hall style discussion of the 2024 federal budget at Café Downtown in Fort-Coulonge. Approximately 20 people attended, mostly Chamber members.

Chamber president Sébastien Bonnerot opened by introducing Chatel, an experienced fiscalist and international tax expert, who worked at the Department of Finance for years. Chatel said that she would be giving a high-level presentation of the most important measures in the budget.

The 2024 federal budget is titled: Fairness for Every Generation. Chatel explained that the budget recognizes that one of the main problems Canada is facing is the gap between generations, with affordable housing the biggest challenge for the younger generation. She said that young people feel that homeownership is out of reach. In light of this, housing is one of three main focuses of the budget. With an objective of increasing the housing supply, the budget allocates $13.2 billion to build 3.9 million new homes across Canada by 2031.

The second focus is on “making life more affordable” with specific measures for young adults, children, all generations, and farmers. Of particular interest for the Pontiac is enhanced student loan forgiveness for doctors and nurses who choose positions in rural and remote areas.

For farmers, the budget launches consultations on the “right to repair” regarding copyright legislation that has hampered their ability to work on their own equipment. The budget also eliminates interest payments on the first $250,000 of agricultural loans Regarding succession, the lifetime capital gains exemption for farmers is increased when they sell their farm to $1.25 million. An additional $2 million is also partially exempt.

The third focus is on investment in green and technological economic transition featuring the net-zero economy plan, clean electricity tax credit, artificial intelligence (AI) sector investment, and 10% electric vehicles supply chain investment tax credit.

Lastly, the budget “improves tax fairness” by increasing the tax on capital gain over $250,000 per year.

The inclusion rate for annual capital gains exceeding that amount will increase from 50% to 66% as of June 25, 2024, with the rate for gains up to $250,000 remaining at 50%. Specific exemptions will be maintained for principal residences. The increase is expected to generate $19.4 billion in revenue over the next four years which will help fund the housing initiatives etc.

Chatel also stressed that the deficit will be maintained at $40 billion and is expected to decrease in the coming years.

Questions & Answers

Jon Stewart asked how the Liberals will explain the carbon tax to businesses to counter the Conservatives’ “axe the tax” platform. Chatel replied that the federal carbon tax does not apply in Quebec as the province has its own carbon pricing scheme. She pointed out that the Conservative party included a similar cap-and-trade carbon policy in their 2021 platform.

Stewart also asked how the federal government can help Pontiac businesses hit hard by the costs of changes required under Bill 96. Chatel replied that the federal government is supporting the court challenge against the use of the notwithstanding clause in Bill C-21, which was also used in the invocation of Bill 96. She said that if the challenge is successful, Bill 96 will need to be reopened.

Local investor Larry Charbonneau talked about the challenge of offering newly renovated rental units at an affordable price: “When we fix up apartments, people can’t afford to rent them. We can’t afford to rent them out at $700, but people can’t afford $1,200. So what are we supposed to do?” he asked. Chatel didn’t offer an answer but listened empathetically.

Chamber Vice President Todd Hoffman asked Chatel if the budget was driven by data or feelings, referring to the title. Chatel replied that the theme of the budget is based on a desire for fairness but said that data was also considered. Hoffman stated that the youth of all generations have always felt hard done by and that the budget should be based on national interest. Chatel responded: “I was able to work part-time, go to school, and still buy a house. Youth can’t do that now.”

Bonnie James – Local Journalism Initiative

MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors’ monthly meeting was held April 17 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield.

EFW business plan removed
During the public question period, Christine Armitage of Shawville asked why the Energy-from-Waste (EFW) Initial Business Plan (IBP) had been removed from the MRC’s website.business plan to the public after the conclusion of a series of five town hall meetings, on April 10. True to her word, the IBP from the Deloitte company and a feasibility study from Ramboll were both posted on the MRC website on April 11. But the next day, neither link worked, and the documents had been removed.

On April 15, MRC Strategic Communications Advisor Francis Beausoleil sent an e-mail to the media stating that: “We were advised Friday morning by the parties involved that releasing these documents violated a third-party confidentiality clause that was written into the contract to commission the analysis. In our opinion, these documents are in the public domain since they were paid for with taxpayers’ money. That said, we have for the time being removed the links to the documents while we carry out legal verifications concerning their publication.”

Toller confirmed this in her response to Armitage’s question, saying that they removed the documents from the website while they make sure they aren’t in violation of contract. Armitage asked what the MRC would be liable for if the contract had been violated and Toller replied: “At this point, we don’t believe there will be repercussions.”

Audited financial statements
Auditor Simon Thibault presented a detailed breakdown of the 2023 audited financial statements for both the unorganized territory (TNO) and the MRC.

TNO
The TNO had a surplus of $109,109 for the period covered and an accumulated surplus of approximately $800,000. MRC accountant Annie Vaillancourt, translating for Thibault, said the amount is equivalent to the average annual revenues for the jurisdiction and meets the recommended surplus to revenues ratio.

MRC
Vaillancourt said that the MRC has an unreserved surplus of $1,300,816 and an affected (reserved) surplus of $165,806 with $144,897 having been used to balance the 2024 budget. Thibault said that 15 – 20% of budgeted revenues is the recommended ratio for an accumulated surplus for municipalities and MRCs. The Pontiac’s surplus currently sits at 13%.

Unpaid salaries at the MRC accounted for a large portion of the 2023 surplus, roughly $400,000, which had been budgeted for compensation for jobs that remained unfilled.

Vaillancourt also said that transfer revenues and interest collected in 2023 were much higher than had been budgeted, but that transfer revenue is “in and out”, which means revenues and expenses always match up exactly.Vaillancourt said that the audit went well, and no problems or concerns surfaced.

Water levels
The Flood Prevention Committee met on April 16. Toller said that the water levels are higher than expected given the low amount of snow over the winter, with levels in Mansfield and Fort-Coulonge of particular concern. The levels are believed to have peaked on April 16 and are now receding. Mansfield Mayor Sandra Armstrong said that the Coulonge River is high, but under control.

Toller said that the Timiskaming dam is at 90% capacity and that she’s asked for a warning if flow is to be increased. She said that she was also surprised to learn that the dams on the Ottawa River operate independently, not in a coordinated effort, and therefore the MRC would be seeking to communicate with each dam operator from Timiskaming to Chenaux to prepare for fluctuating water levels.

The next Council of Mayors meeting will be held May 15.

Bonnie James
Local Journalism Initiative

GATINEAU – Three tractor convoys descended on downtown Gatineau on Wednesday, April 17, to protest the provincial government’s failure to make agriculture a priority in the recent budget and to raise awareness about the plight of the farmers. They came from Wakefield in the north, Luskville to the west, and the east end of Gatineau, towards Thurso. 11 tractors from the Pontiac participated. In total, around 30 tractors lined Blvd de la Carrière, which was closed for the event.

Approximately 100 agricultural producers gathered for a rally at the intersection of Blvd de la Carrière and Blvd du Casino. Signs on tractors and other farm vehicles, as well as hay bales, bore messages like “No farmers, no food!”, “Our end will be your hunger!”, “Jeune on en rêve, adulte on en crève.”, and a jab at the CAQ: “Contre Agriculture Québécoise”. Around 100 vehicles participated in the convoy, including the tractors.

The protest was organized by the Agricultural Producers Union (UPA) to demand reform of Ministry of Agriculture (MAPAQ) programs, particularly to provide better support for farmers in light of the escalating climate crisis. The producers are also demanding reform of the government’s agricultural vision. “It isn’t right that the economic sector that feeds the population three times a day receives less than 1% of the provincial budget.” said David Landry, UPA Communications Advisor.

“For more than two years, the agricultural sector has been facing significant challenges. The UPA has repeatedly urged governments to act urgently to support the sector in the face of economic downturns, rapid inflation, rising interest rates, and climate change. In response, the government has proposed a limited number of adjustments to existing programs and various so-called “emergency” measures that do not meet the expectations and needs of agricultural producers.”  Landry added.

Audrey Lemaire, Vice-President of the UPA Outaouais-Laurentides Federation and dairy producer in Saint-Jérôme said: “If the announced decline in net farm income by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) for 2024 materializes, it will be the darkest year for our sector since the 1930s! What signal does this send to our future generations? Who will want to take over our farms when the financial burden and workload don’t even allow for a decent living income?”

Jeff Overton of Big Rock Farm brought his tractor from Aylmer to participate in the demonstration. “We’re not being supported the way that we should be. We’re overlooked as an essential service. We have to fight tooth and nail to receive any kind of funding from the government and it takes forever.” he said.

Gema Villavicencio of Pure Conscience Farm in Bristol was also in attendance. She said that she was there to represent farms of all sizes that are going through huge financial crises due to high interest rates, inflation, and the enormous costs involved in farming. She said that her husband has to work a fulltime job off the farm because without his salary they couldn’t afford to continue. She said that more government support is needed for small farms as many existing programs aren’t tailored to small scale operations and small farms aren’t covered by crop insurance.

Pontiac MNA and Liberal agriculture critic André Fortin drove in from Quebec City to attend the event and hear the farmers’ concerns. “If government doesn’t act quick there’s going to be a lot of farms across the province, and in the Pontiac, that will close. That would be a tremendous loss to our economy; to our food supply; and a tremendous loss to our Quebec heritage.” he said. The only MNA in attendance, Fortin said he could understand why the producers feel that they are “at the bottom of the totem pole of government priorities when they didn’t get anything in the budget and none of their representatives are here today. It’s unfortunate that in 2024 agriculture is still treated as a second-class file by government.”

BONNIE JAMES – LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

SHAWVILLE – The Pontiac Union of Agricultural Producers (UPA) held its annual general meeting, March 28, at the Little Red Wagon Winery in Shawville.

The meeting opened with a message and activity report from Pontiac UPA President Claude Vallière. He focused on the UPA’s work with the MRC and other organizations to save the Abattoir les Viandes du Pontiac. The UPA supported the MRC’s bid on the business’ assets, dated March 15, and expressed the UPA’s desire to partner with the MRC on the Agrisaveur agri-food processing project.

After, Stéphane Alary, Outaouais-Laurentides UPA president, spoke about the challenges faced by farmers in 2023, including rising interest rates and costs and the impacts of climate change. He mentioned the UPA’s participation in federal consultations on land use, Nature Plan 2030, agricultural land and activities, and agricultural planning policy implementation.

Alary stressed the urgent need for government support for the sector and expressed frustration at the province’s failure to make agriculture a priority in the recently released budget, which placed agriculture at the bottom of the list. In response, the UPA is planning a Farmers’ Protest on April 17 in Gatineau. While exact plans haven’t been announced, Simon Durand, Outaouais- Laurentides UPA regional manager, and Alary called for 100 – 150 tractors to converge on Gatineau to apply pressure to the Legault government and draw attention to the plight of farmers. Durand said they hope to have people on overpasses along the highways and may plan a route along Hwy 148 or Hwy 50.

Elections were held and the board for 2024 includes: Claude Vallière, president; Gema Villavicencio, vice-president; Justin O’Brien, vice-president; and members: David Gillepsie, Ursina Studhalter, Ron Hodgins, Morgan Lance, David Ingalls, Andrew Simms, Robert Boulet, Andrew Graveline, Amanda Amyotte, and Patrick La Rochelle.

Christine Rieux, Shawville Ministry of Agriculture (MAPAQ) field crops advisor, highlighted the offerings of the local MAPAQ office. She encouraged producers to bring in their projects to find out what assistance may be available to them.

Specialized advisors covering many types of production are ready to assist producers.

Rieux also announced her husband, Thierry Raimbault, will be leaving his current position of Environmental Coordinator at MRC Pontiac to join MAPAQ as a Food Transformation and Marketing Advisor later this month.

Gene O’Brien of the Chapeau Ag. Society gave a presentation on the Chapeau Farmers’ Market. She reviewed the history and evolution of the market and the ag. society and presented the new market building expected to open in June.

Presentations were also made by Kim Maloney of Brylee Farm who explained her family’s on-farm sales and marketing strategy and Caroline Chénier of Serres de Gatineau who discussed challenges she and her husband faced in purchasing a family farm from relatives.

The meeting closed with Shanna Armstrong, MRC Economic Development Commissioner for Agriculture, announcing the next Agricultural Zone Development Plan (PDZA) consultation for producers will be held at Little Red Wagon Winery on April 12 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Bonnie James – Local Journalism Initiative

FORT-COULONGE – The Pontiac Chamber of Commerce held its 2nd Annual Black Tie Gala at the Pontiac Conference Centre in Fort-Coulonge on April 6. More than 100 tickets were sold for the event. The evening featured a dinner of salmon, chicken cordon bleu, and roast beef with entertainment by comedian Eric O’Brien and DJ Erica Energy. Attendees had the chance to have their photo taken on the red carpet with the Chamber’s backdrop. The event was sponsored by CHIP FM, Caisse Desjardins des Rivières de Pontiac, and SADC Pontiac.

The gala was emceed by radio journalist and comedian Eric O’Brien. MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller was the first speaker and welcomed the crowd, followed by Chamber President Sébastien Bonnerot.

A special tribute was paid to François Carrier, who recently announced that he was leaving his role as Director General at CHIP FM to take on the same role at Le Droit, Ottawa and Outaouais’ daily French language newspaper. Mayors Sandra Armstrong (Mansfield-et- Pontefract) and Christine Francoeur (Fort-Coulonge) presented Carrier with a gift basket and thanked him for his tireless support of and dedication to their communities. CHIP FM’s Caleb Nickerson, Geneviève Gagnon, and Eric O’Brien all spoke of the impact of Carrier’s mentorship and support and how much they enjoyed working with him.

Pontiac MP Sophie Chatel also took the mic to pay homage to Carrier, highlighting his work towards saving the Local Journalism Initiative, an important source of funding for community newspapers and radio. Chatel said that it was the efforts of the Pontiac media specifically that caused the federal government to renew the grant, which was almost lost to a tax credit that would not benefit local media.

Finally, Carrier addressed the crowd and talked about the teamwork required to run the radio station and expressed his confidence that teamwork will continue. He thanked the entire population of the Pontiac and said in his new role at Le Droit, he will ensure that the Pontiac will always have a voice and be well represented, as he owes much to the region.

The event also included door prizes and a silent auction featuring pieces from local artists, an espresso machine, a knit blanket, an assorted beer pack from Brauwerk Hoffman, wool pellets from Leystone Farm, a 1/4-page ad in the Journal, and hoodies and hats from Campbell’s Polaris.

Bonnerot said he was very happy with the event and had already received positive feedback. The event had been postponed from its original date of February 17, which he mentioned turned out for the better as it allowed for the tribute to Carrier.

The Chamber’s next event, hosted together with the SADC, will be a presentation of the federal budget and its implications for the Pontiac with a question-and-answer period with MP Sophie Chatel at Café Downtown in Fort-Coulonge on April 22 at 5:00 p.m.

Bonnie James – Local Journalism Initiative

LITCHFIELD – The Council of Mayors appointed Pierre Cadieux as the new Director of Economic Development at a special council sitting held March 13 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield.

Cadieux took the mic to introduce himself and thanked the mayors for their vote of confidence. He explained that he started his career as an assistant to a member of parliament which gave him knowledge of and respect for the sphere of elected officials.

Cadieux said that he is a government relations expert with a background in industry associations facilitating partnerships between industry and government. He closed by saying that he looked forward to starting work the next morning.

Cadieux declined all interview requests from local media saying that he wanted to first meet with his team and familiarize himself with the MRC’s current economic development files and priorities before discussing them directly with journalists.

In a statement sent through the MRC’s communications department, Cadieux said that the job is: “a task I approach with seriousness and enthusiasm, as I recognize the great strategic responsibility it entails. I am fortunate to be able to count on a team of nine economic development commissioners and support staff who work hard every day to develop Pontiac’s economic potential and support local businesses in all spheres of economic activity…I come to the MRC with relevant experience and I’m ready to take on this exciting challenge with enthusiasm and energy. I join all those who are committed to the socio-economic success of the MRC Pontiac.”

Cadieux replaces Guillaume Boudreau, who left the position in December 2023.  

Bonnie James – Local Journalism Initiative

MRC PONTIAC – On March 15, the MRC placed a bid to purchase the assets including the building, equipment, machinery, and five lots, of Abattoir les Viandes du Pontiac. The slaughterhouse is in the process of filing for bankruptcy and the assets were up for sale.

MRC Communications Advisor Francis Beausoleil said the bid was made in an effort to keep the slaughterhouse in the Pontiac. Warden Jane Toller and Director General Kim Lesage both stressed that the move was in support of Pontiac agriculture.

Funds for the bid came from the third and fourth streams of the Regions and Rurality Fund (FRR) after a special sitting of the Council of Mayors held March 13 to authorize use of the funds. The resolution stated that the financing was aimed at maintaining the slaughterhouse’s activities on the territory.

MRC Economic Development Commissioner for Agriculture, Shanna Armstrong, and DG Kim Lesage held several meetings leading up to the bid with the Agrisaveur Committee, Warden Toller, the SADC, UPA, MAMH, MAPAQ, CDROL, local agronomist Roger St-Cyr, MRC lawyers, and key Pontiac agricultural producers to evaluate how the Agrisaveur agri-food processing project could be incorporated with the slaughterhouse.

Lesage said that a market study was still underway to determine how the Agrisaveur project could best meet the needs of local producers, but the imminent sale of the slaughterhouse has forced the MRC and stakeholders to speed up the process and consider what could be done to avoid losing the important facility.

On March 20, Lesage said that she hadn’t yet received any information regarding the MRC’s bid from the firm responsible for the sale, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, other than that it could take some time because of the number of stakeholders involved in the situation. “On that end, we don’t know what’s going on and they couldn’t give us a timeframe to expect an answer.” she said.

Lesage also mentioned while the MRC had placed the bid, if successful, the MRC will not be involved in the slaughterhouse operations and the exact configuration is still to be determined.

Bonnie James – Local Journalism Initiative

MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors’ monthly meeting was held March 20 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield.

EFW townhall meetings
The narrow Elsie Gibbons Room at the MRC headquarters was packed to standing room only with around 30 residents concerned about the proposed Energy from Waste (EFW) incinerator project.

Ahead of the public question period, MRC Warden Jane Toller announced that a series of 5 townhall meetings would be held to reveal the EFW business plan to the public. The first meeting was to be held the following Monday, March 25, in L’Isle-aux-Allumettes.

Some residents expressed concern that not enough advance notice had been given for the meetings. Amy Taylor of the Pontiac Independent Facebook group later posted a segment of the Quebec Municipal Code that states public notices regarding public meetings must be published at least seven days before the meeting. In response, Toller contacted the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the MRC’s legal counsel for advice but did not hear back from either. Toller said the meetings would proceed as planned, adding: “We just think it’s best to get this information out.”

 All meetings will be held at 7:00 p.m. on the following dates:

• March 27 – Fort-Coulonge – Club de l’Âge d’Or
• April 3 – Shawville – United Church Hall
• April 9 – Campbell’s Bay RA
• April 10 – Otter Lake RA

L’Isle-aux-Allumettes Mayor Corey Spence will be giving the presentation at the meetings. Toller said that she asked Spence to help because he has worked closely with her on the Energy from Waste Business Plan Committee and is well-versed on the topic. Toller will also be present at all the meetings and she and Spence will both be available to answer questions.

Spence said that the presentation will be balanced considering both pros and cons of the project, saying: “We’re going to look at everything, both sides.” He said that the same presentation will be given at each location.

Public Question Period
Opening the public question period, Toller said that 30 minutes is usually allocated for questions. She asked for a show of hands of those who wished to speak or ask a question, and nine citizens raised their hands. Toller said that they would be given three minutes each to speak.

The most hotly debated question of the evening was that of when the business plan would be available to the public. The question was asked by Christine Anderson on behalf of Friends of the Pontiac, who said that they’d like to review the business plan ahead of the townhall meetings.

Toller responded that the business plan will not be given to any member of the public or media ahead of the townhall meetings as the MRC wants the opportunity to present the plan to the public before the citizens’ groups have the chance to review and comment on it.

Other citizens in attendance raised concerns about pollution and economic impact. Judith Spence of Citizens of the Pontiac asked if health and environmental considerations are addressed in the initial business plan. Toller said that they are, and Corey Spence said that health considerations will be presented at the townhall meetings.

Judith Spence also mentioned that she is setting up a private Zoom presentation with incineration critic Dr. Paul Connett for interested mayors and municipal councillors.

Plenary meetings
A resolution was presented to modify the existing structure for plenary meetings by holding part of them in public.

Ahead of the reading of the motion, Director General Kim Lesage read a letter from Mélanie Guénette, a consultant with the union representing the MRC’s employees (SFPQ), stating: “Our members are not elected representatives accountable to the public. We do not accept that they find themselves in the political arena in front of the citizens they deal with on a regular basis.”

MRC employees are unionized, but the management team is not.

The mayors voted down the resolution, 15 to 3, with only Shawville Mayor Bill McCleary, Litchfield Mayor Colleen Larivière, and Waltham Mayor Odette Godin voting in favour of opening the plenary sessions to the public.

The next Council of Mayors meeting will be held April 17.

Bonnie James

Local Journalism Initiative

SHAWVILLE – A clinic called Contact with Large Animals (Cattle and Sheep): Safe Behaviour was held February 19 at Little Red Wagon Winery as part of the 2024 Rendez-vous agroalimentaires de l’Outaouais. The clinic featured an introduction to stockmanship, or stress-free cattle handling, presented by Dr. Frédéric Tremblay of Bureau vétérinaire Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce (Large animals).

The day began indoors with a presentation on stockmanship theory and stress-free cattle handling. Stockmanship uses a more natural approach to handling cattle based on pressure and release techniques, which work with the animal’s instincts. The methods are similar to those of better-known natural horsemanship, made popular by trainers such as Monty Roberts and Pat Parelli.

Dr. Tremblay said stockmanship has become popular in Western Canada, the United States, and Australia, but its influence has not yet reached Quebec, likely due to the language barrier. He is working on introducing the techniques to Québécois dairy and beef producers who haven’t had access to the information in French.

Dr. Tremblay spoke about the negative affects of stress on cattle: decreased milk production in dairy cows and decreased reproduction in beef cattle. Cows will not bond as well with their calves when stressed. On a large dairy farm, even one handler who is harsh with the animals will increase stress levels in the entire herd. High stress levels are also associated with increased use of antibiotics as the animal’s overall health is negatively affected.

Dr. Tremblay explained bovine behaviour, psychology, and how cattle experience the world through their senses. Since cattle are naturally inquisitive and easily distracted, better results are often achieved in handling cattle by removing distractions and creating a calm, quiet environment. Avoiding yelling and aggressive movements can make a big difference in daily operations. He also suggested reducing loud metal-on-metal noises, such as slamming gates, etc.

Dr. Tremblay went on to explain the zones of influence: the flight zone and the pressure zone and how the animal can be moved forwards or backwards by working with their point of balance. The flight zone and the pressure zone are the areas immediately surrounding the cow, with the flight zone closest to the animal. The “driving pressure” of being in the flight zone will cause the cow to move forwards or backwards depending on the handler’s position relative to the cow’s point of balance, which is at their shoulder. Positioning yourself behind the cow’s point of balance will cause the animal to move forward. Positioning yourself ahead of their point of balance, will cause them to move backwards.

The pressure zone is the area surrounding the flight zone. The “drawing pressure” of occupying this zone will cause the cow to turn and look at the handler and to want to move toward them.

Using pressure and release techniques and working with the cows’ zones of influence and point of balance, the animals can easily be moved into a pen, chute, or loaded onto a trailer.

After lunch, participants travelled to Willow Hollow Farm in Clarendon for the practical portion of the workshop where Dr. Tremblay demonstrated the cattle handling techniques discussed during the morning presentation.

The Rendez-vous agroalimentaires de l’Outaouais is a series of events aiming to giveagricultural producers the opportunity to learn about and discover new approaches, visions, and techniques. The series is organized by the Table agroalimentaire de l’Outaouais (TAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) with financial support from the Government of Quebec, Desjardins Entreprises Outaouais, and the Agriconseils Outaouais network.

Bonnie James

Local Journalism Initiative

FORT-COULONGE – Détail Quebec gave a breakfast presentation at the Pontiac Community Futures Development Corporation (SADC) in Fort-Coulonge on February 21. Détail Quebec is a sectoral committee supporting the retail sector. They provide a wide variety of training and services to the industry, mostly free of charge.

The presentation started with the SADC’s Director General Rhonda Perry giving a brief explanation of the financing and consulting services offered by the SADC and introducing the MRC and Service Quebec representatives who were on hand to answer questions and provide support to business owners.

Détail Quebec’s Director General Manuel Champagne and Work-Study Training Project Manager Marion Havas then started their workshop by going around the room and asking the business owners in attendance about their needs. Many were looking for help with moving their businesses online and doing more online, as well as help with their websites, social media, and marketing.

After the roundtable discussion, the Détail Quebec representatives gave a comprehensive overview of the services offered by their organization. They provide free online training and tools covering all aspects of human resources management including employee integration, coaching, mentoring, and evaluations. They also offer virtual training for sales and supervisory staff including courses on sales, customer relations, merchandising, shoplifting, team management, and change management. Courses on e-commerce and social networks are also available.

In addition, Détail Quebec offers an online AEC course in electronic commerce coordination and an in-store AEP course in customer service. Employers who enroll their staff in these programs are eligible for a wage subsidy to keep their staff on payroll while they complete their studies. A program to train bicycle mechanics is also in the works.

Détail Quebec carries out industry studies and provides statistics. This year they are completing a sectoral workforce diagnosis to give a current picture of the retail sector and to identify issues and challenges. They are also conducting a renumeration and staff retention survey with results expected this spring. The results of their studies are used to propose solutions adapted to businesses.

In support of retail workers, Détail Quebec launched a civility awareness campaign at the beginning of December to address impatient and aggressive customers, as well as physical threats to cashiers and store clerks. The campaign’s slogan is: “Together, let’s say no to disrespect.” Posters and buttons are available free to businesses.

Détail Quebec’s webinars are free and are uploaded to the website for later viewing. Upcoming webinar topics include the integration of digital marketing into a recruitment strategy, digital threats and fraud, using AI in operations, and preventing the counterfeiting of bank notes.

Détail Quebec can be found online at www.detailquebec.com and on social media.

Bonnie James

Local Journalism Initiative

OUTAOUAIS – On January 22, Dr. Marc Bilodeau became president and CEO of the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO). He comes from a long career in military healthcare, most recently serving as Surgeon General and Head of Health Services for the Canadian Armed Forces since 2020.

The Journal sat down with Dr. Bilodeau on February 22 to talk about the future of healthcare in the Pontiac and the state of healthcare in the province. In a February 19 interview with CHIP FM, when asked about rural services, the obstetrics unit at the Pontiac Community Hospital (PCH), and challenges in rural healthcare, Dr. Bilodeau spoke about centralizing services in the city and making them accessible to rural residents. The Journal asked what that might mean for the future of PCH and what his vision is for PCH.

“Local and centralized services are a moving target because of the availability of human resources and support personnel, which changes over time. There are some services we have no choice but to centralize because they require an expertise that’s very hard to secure in more remote areas. In order to provide safe care, it’s not possible to offer all services remotely. My focus is on access [to services] but also safety; I need to manage them in the context of support to remote communities… We want to maintain proximity services in the Pontiac. The Pontiac Community Hospital will remain. But the content of the service offer may change over time.  We’re constantly reassessing the needs of the population, the services offered, and availability of resources,” said Dr. Bilodeau.

Regarding proximity services, the doctor also mentioned using technology to provide services via video conferencing, where appropriate. He gave the example of dermatological issues, which he said can often be diagnosed using video or photos.

In light of the closing of Aylmer’s busy CLSC, we asked what the future holds for the Mansfield/Fort-Coulonge CLSC. The doctor replied that since he’s newly appointed, he didn’t have information about the specific location, but promised to look into it and follow up. He offered the following about the CLSC network in general:

“CLSCs have evolved over the last several years. Some services formerly provided there are now provided at other points of service. Very few, if any, services have been reduced. They have just changed in nature and format. The mission of the CLSCs is changing, but the point of service itself will remain. We’ll keep trying to adjust service offers based on the needs of the local population.”

Last week, a doctor told the Montreal Gazette that Quebec’s health services are suffering a “system collapse.” We asked Dr. Bilodeau if he agrees:

“We definitely have huge challenges. The biggest cause is lack of human resources. In some areas, we’re at a very critical point, but collapse is a big word. The reason the system hasn’t collapsed is because of the dedicated people we have in it who are working day in and day out to make this work. The system is vulnerable. It’s fragile, and we can take it for granted. My role is to keep supporting those people [who are making it work] so we don’t lose them and to do the best I can to secure additional resources to better support them and reduce the pressure currently on them. I’m hopeful. I wouldn’t have taken this role if I didn’t think I could make a difference with my team and make it [the system] better for our people and ultimately our users.”

Bonnie James

Local Journalism Initiative

MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors’ monthly meeting was held February 21 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield.

EFW business plan

Two residents attended the meeting to ask questions about the Energy From Waste (EFW) project. Judith Spence of Clarendon, representing Citizens of the Pontiac, asked if any of the mayors would “put forward a motion to put the incinerator matter on hold” for consideration of other options and to gather public input. The mayors did not immediately respond, but MRC Warden Jane Toller said that she is working on waste solutions with the Conférence des Préfets de l’Outaouais (CPO).

Christine Anderson of Thorne, representing Friends of the Pontiac, asked when the EFW

business plan would be finalized, approved, and made public. Toller replied that the initial business plan draft would be presented to council by the Deloitte and Ramboll companies in a special working session of the mayors on February 27. She said that if no changes are required, the mayors will vote on accepting the plan in March.

Toller stressed that the initial plan is “high level and not super detailed.” She said that the

consultants have proposed following up with a more extensive business plan. She added that if the plan will depend on waste from other municipalities, that those municipalities will

be expected to contribute to the cost of the business plan.

Help wanted

Council moved to launch calls for candidates for the positions of Deputy Director General and Engineer. Two previous postings of the engineer position did not yield any qualified candidates, resulting in the MRC announcing its intention to end its service agreement with the municipalities last August. After several mayors expressed concern, council decided to continue the search for an engineer, moving to post the position once again.

NSDF

Council formally requested by resolution that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) relocate the site of the future Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) to a location farther away from the Ottawa River, stating that the current site is less than a kilometer from the river and upstream from MRC Pontiac. This is Council’s second resolution requesting that the site be moved away from the river.

The resolution also states that the approval of the NSDF contravenes the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and council reiterates its

support for the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and Kebaowek First Nations.

Toller opened the floor for the mayors to share their thoughts on the approval of the NSDF. Almost all the mayors said that the site is too close to the river. Portage-du-Fort Mayor Lynn Cameron said that when she toured the proposed site, she noticed that you could see the river: “It’s obviously too close.” “Once you pollute the river, it’s done forever.” said Thorne Councillor Robert Wills. Otter Lake Mayor Terry Lafleur said that he wants a guarantee that the facility will last as long as the toxins do. Shawville Mayor Bill McCleary said that he hopes MP Sophie Chatel will “listen to the wishes of the people rather than the wishes of her leader.”

Plenary meetings

Mayor McCleary tabled a motion to open discussions regarding making the council’s plenary meetings public. The private plenary meetings are held monthly for the mayors to discuss policy ahead of the public sitting of Council, where the resulting motions are voted on. Both citizens and local media have asked that the plenary sessions be made public in the interest of increasing transparency and insight into the decisions made by Council.

The motion to discuss was passed unanimously, with a final vote on the matter to be held at the March public sitting.

The next Council of Mayors meeting will be held March 20.

Bonnie James
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors’ monthly meeting was held January 24 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield.

Law 25 denounced

Council denounced legislative amendments introduced by Law 25 – an act to modernize legislative provisions regarding the protection of personal information. They’re concerned Law 25 will impose an administrative burden on municipalities at a time when the municipal workforce is already stretched thin and overloaded due to labour shortages.

The resolution claims the new law accentuates bureaucratic burdens citizens and municipal stakeholders face by “increasing the complexity of the legal environment in which municipalities must operate.” It goes on to say the new legislative provisions are imprecise and difficult to interpret, thus risking disparities in application between different municipalities and levels of government. Council stressed the government has failed to provide support tools, including funds to hire new staff and compensate for additional hours needed to meet the Law’s obligations, in a timely manner.

The resolution will be forwarded to the Minister of Municipal Affairs (MAMH), the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ), the Fédération québécoise des municipalités (FQM), local members of the National Assembly, and other Outaouais MRCs.

Lights, camera, action!

The MRC was approached by TVA Sports with an offer to film episodes highlighting the Pontiac’s winter recreation. Two episodes of Alexis le Randonneur will be filmed showcasing winter tourism in the Pontiac and one episode of Motoneiges.tv will feature Pontiac snowmobile trails. Both programs promise to highlight local businesses as well.

The filming of Alexis le Randonneur is in partnership with Tourisme Outaouais and the Pontiac Tourism Association, with the MRC contributing up to $4,500. The MRC will contribute $6,000 to filming the Motoneiges.tv episode, with funds for both projects coming from the 2024 tourism envelope ($75,000 available) of the second stream of the Regions and Rurality Fund (FRR 2).

Cell service, NOW!

Council passed a resolution brought forward by Waltham Mayor Odette Godin and L’Isle-aux-Allumettes Mayor Corey Spence demanding that the western portion of Highway 148 – Mansfield, Waltham, and L’Isle-Aux-Allumettes – be made an immediate priority to receive cellular coverage. The resolution states the absence of cell service impacts residents, emergency services, the economy, social health, and the region’s overall connectivity.

“Emergencies documented in Waltham have revealed the life-threatening consequences of unreliable cellular connectivity,” says the resolution. Godin stated that two Letters to the Editor published in the Journal last November will be attached to the resolution when it’s sent to the provincial government. The letters detail two recent emergencies in Waltham that were worsened by the lack of cell service. In one instance, a death may have been prevented if those present had been able to reach 911.

The resolution explains that new fibre optic landlines are vulnerable to severe weather events as they run along above-ground hydro poles, so it’s impossible to reach emergency services during infrastructure failures. It proposes government-owned infrastructure, including the Chapeau/ Chichester CBC Tower and Brennan’s Bluff Sheenboro, be leveraged as immediate solutions.

The resolution will be forwarded to Premier François Legault; Pierre Rodrigue, Associate Secretary General for High Speed Internet and Special Connectivity Projects; Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy, Innovation, and Energy; Mathieu Lacombe, Minister responsible for the Outaouais region; François Bonnardel, Minister of Public Security; and MNA André Fortin.

The next Council of Mayors meeting will be held February 21.

Bonnie James
Local Journalism Initiative

FORT-COULONGE – The Pontiac Community Futures Development Corporation (SADC) held their annual Mingle Jingle business networking event, December 14 at their headquarters.

The morning event began with local entrepreneurs networking over coffee and snacks. It was well attended by the business community and politicians including MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller, Fort-Coulonge Mayor Christine Francoeur, and Mansfield Mayor Sandra Armstrong.

After SADC Director Rhonda Perry greeted attendees, it was time for the event’s feature presentation by Jon Stewart of Calumet Media.

Stewart gave a presentation on harvesting first party data. He spoke about privacy and the law, highlighting businesses’ responsibilities under Law 25; how data can be used and how a data strategy can benefit marketing, customer retention, planning, and automation; the different types of data (first, second, and third party) and how it can be legally collected from customers; cookies, website and social media analytics; and how artificial intelligence (AI) is useful for a variety of purposes from generating images and marketing materials to analyzing data.

Stewart brought it all together by giving an example of a dynamic data strategy featuring a fictional fitness business. He reiterated that an effective strategy will use data to deliver more impactful marketing, convert more leads into paying customers, reduce customer churn, and eliminate manual work. He also introduced the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) which provides larger small businesses with grants to create a digital data adoption plan; Stewart is an approved advisor for the service.

“I’m pleased with the level of attendance this year. The annual event is a great networking opportunity for businesses. It gives the SADC’s partners a chance to come together and meet entrepreneurs, exchange information, and learn about new programs and services. We were happy to host this year’s event in our newly renovated building,” said Perry.

Up next for the SADC, Stewart will be returning to give a series of four “Tech Talks” over the winter. Visit the SADC’s website and social media pages for details.

Photo: Jon Stewart of Calumet Media gave a presentation on harvesting first party data at the SADC’s annual Mingle Jingle event on December 14.

Bonnie James
Local Journalism Initiative

SHAWVILLE – On November 22, the MRC held the first of three public consultations on the revision of the Agricultural Zone Development Plan (PDZA) at the Little Red Wagon Winery in Shawville. Local agriculture stakeholders were invited to discuss regional priorities for the next five years.

The event was led by MRC Economic Development Commissioner for Agriculture Shanna Armstrong and Groupe Pleine-Terre’s Assistant Director and Consultant for Cash Crops and Territory Management Samuel Comptois. The 42 participants were divided into six groups to engage in three activities to help identify regional priorities. Each group included a facilitator from the MRC who recorded the ideas presented.

The first activity had participants discussing “elements of value of the MRC Pontiac”. The groups were asked to identify local elements that are essential and distinctive. One group identified the Shawville Fair and Island Fest. They also discussed the importance of the cattle industry and maple syrup production, both which they felt are underdeveloped and have potential. Participating in the discussion was MRC Director of Land Use Planning and Environment Jason Durand, who talked about the potential for developing a Pontiac “appellation réservée” or “appellation d’origine contrôlée”, which is a local product that the region would be known for.

The second activity gave each group a different scenario and asked them to discuss what challenges might be faced locally in each instance. The challenges presented included items such as marketing livestock to out-of-province buyers and integrating successors into a family business. Farmer Emily Evterra talked about the challenges a family farm may face in trying to build additional residences on a property due to strict government regulation and red tape. She said these same challenges are a hinderance in building and providing staff or visitor accommodations.

The final activity was titled “Tomorrow’s Front Page” and asked participants what future success stories they envision for Pontiac agriculture. One group said they hope to see an influx of young farmers resulting from the promotion of agriculture education today. They talked about the importance of introducing kids to agriculture who might not otherwise have the exposure. They discussed ways to connect schools with farms to foster interest among the students.

The MRC will now take the information gathered and identify four emerging themes or priorities. A second forum will be held in February where small groups will be invited to discuss the themes and priorities identified that affect them. Based on the information gathered in these forums, the MRC will create an action plan in the spring. The third and final forum will be held in fall 2024 to present the preliminary revision of the PDZA and gather feedback. The plan will then be finalized in winter 2025.

Photo: L/R: Amy Taylor, Jason Durand, Nicole Craig, Rachel Soar Flande, and Charleen and Garry Overton participate in a group discussion at the first PDZA forum November 22 in Shawville.

Bonnie James
Local Journalism Initiative

MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s Council of Mayors’ monthly meeting was held November 22 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield.

2024 Budget

The MRC accountant, Annie Vaillancourt, presented a balanced budget for 2024, showing an increase of 3.7%; it was approved unanimously. A press release from the MRC read: “With this budget, the MRC has given itself the means to pursue its mission of revitalizing and developing the region’s economy, while focusing on its core responsibilities, such as property assessment, public safety and land use planning. Also on the environmental front, the MRC is giving itself the capacity to meet provincial requirements for the recovery of residual materials by introducing recycling and compost collection in interested municipalities.”

Highlights of the budget include:

• Total MRC Pontiac expenditures: $9.8 million

• Municipal shares  revenue ($4.2M)

• Transfers, grants etc ($5.5M)

• Appropriation from the surplus of $145,000 to balance the budget.

Expenditure by department:

• Administration: $1,970,209

• Public Safety and Engineering: $459,187

• Assessment: $1,282,423

• Land Use Planning and Development: $1,827,227

• Economic Development Projects and Activities: $3,523,363

• Transportation: $634,500

• Renovation programs: $31,500

• Financing costs and capital expenditures: $110,319

• Warden election costs by universal vote (pro-rated over four years): $20,000

FRR Stream 2 projects approved

Of 14 project applications received, five were approved:

• The Fort-Coulonge Knights of Columbus will receive $41,982.48 to install insulation and ventilation in the attic of their community hall.

• Groupe L’Île-du-Grand-Calumet’s Honouring Our Roots project will receive $36,178.26 to build a gazebo.

• The Municipality of Thorne will receive $33,191.85 towards the second phase of development of the multi-complex.

• The Municipality of Otter Lake will receive $26,000 to build a rest area as part of the development of the recreational grounds.

• The Municipality of L’Île-du-Grand-Calumet will receive $66,201.90 for the development of La Jeunesse Park.

The total amount of funds to be distributed is $203,554.49.

Piscine Pontiac pool project

The mayors moved to support steps taken by Piscine Pontiac to establish a public swimming pool. The Piscine Pontiac organization will be submitting an application for funding to Quebec’s Financial Assistance Program for Recreational, Sports and Outdoor Infrastructure (PAFIRSPA) on December 5. MRC Warden Jane Toller said that an answer is expected in June.

The proposed facility includes two swimming pools, but no gym, as previously planned. The project is expected to cost $12.2 million with 90% funded by the provincial government. Piscine Pontiac will need to raise the final $1.2 million for the build. Toller said the pool will be set up as a non-profit organization and its operation and maintenance will not be taxpayer funded. Operating costs are expected to be covered by fundraising and donors as well as potential membership fees.

Legal action

Council moved to hire a law firm to “put an end to defamatory, tendentious, and derogatory comments made against the MRC and its employees on Facebook and to request the retraction of these comments.” Earlier this month, the MRC’s lawyers issued a formal notice to Pat Goyette of Fort-Coulonge regarding comments that he made on his Pontiac Independent Facebook page. The notice ordered Goyette to “immediately stop publishing any postings which call into question the integrity and transparency of the MRC” regarding Goyette’s questions about the employment of a specific staff member and their possession of an MRC credit card. The notice also ordered Goyette to retract his comments, which he later did, stating that he was doing so under duress as he couldn’t afford a legal battle with the MRC.

Photo: New Rapides-des-Joachims Mayor Lucie Rivet Paquette takes the mic at her first Council of Mayors meeting November 22.

Bonnie James
Local Journalism Initiative

Bouffe Pontiac will be collecting donations for their annual Christmas basket campaign on December 7 at four locations: on Hwy 148 in Campbell’s Bay and L’Isle-aux-Allumettes and in Shawville on Main Street and Rue Argue. Look for firefighters or police officers at the drop off locations. Donations can also be dropped off during regular business hours at the Bouffe Pontiac office, but they request that you call in advance: 819-648-2550. Director Kim Laroche said the items most needed for the baskets are peanut butter, jam, canned tuna, canned meats, and other non-perishable proteins.

The baskets will be distributed to families and individuals in need from December 17 – 21. The baskets include everything needed for a traditional Christmas dinner and breakfast: A turkey or ham, stuffing, meat pie, potatoes, beans, vegetables, cake mix, coffee, pancake mix, bacon, and eggs. The baskets also include other staples such as fruits, vegetables, and protein to go beyond Christmas.

Laroche estimates that between 250 – 280 baskets will be distributed. The Campbell’s Bay Sûreté du Québec (SQ) and volunteers will help with deliveries to families and individuals with no vehicle. Those with a vehicle are asked to pick up their basket at Bouffe Pontiac in Campbell’s Bay.

Individuals or families who wish to receive a basket can register by calling 819-648-2550 by November 20. Proof of address and identity are required as baskets are only available to residents of MRC Pontiac.

Volunteers are needed to help with all aspects of the campaign. Call Kim Laroche at the number above.

Photo: Christmas basket prepared by Bouffe Pontiac.