Jorge Maria
Pontiac July 21, 2021
The MRC Pontiac launched a survey of TNO population last week as a preliminary step to providing air rescue services to residents living in the remote region.
Quebec air rescue service Airmedic reached out to the MRC Pontiac in order to explore the possibility of providing emergency evacuations services for residents of the Unorganized Territory (TNO) of Lac-Nilgaut.
On July 21, the MRC released a press release announcing the tentative plan and launched a survey of “affected vacationers in order to determine the level of support for this proposal before making a decision,” the statement said.
If enacted, leaseholders would see a $15 increase in their annual property taxes to cover all future rescues of leaseholder, tourists and vacationers.
The population of the TNO, which excludes the ZECs zones d’exploitation contrôlée, is just over 820 but covers a massive and often inaccessible area.
In an interview with THE EQUITY, MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller said it was a much-needed service for the TNO. “If someone is lost or has an issue on one of the rivers or lakes, it would be very difficult for us to locate the person and to be able to see them from the air is a huge advantage,” Toller said.
The three ZECs which partially overlap the Pontiac already have Airmedic service as part of their membership payment. The TNO is the last remote area in the Pontiac without the service.
The results of the survey will be discussed at the next plenary meeting on August 7.
