As the MRC’s election day approaches, one person will be named warden for the next four years. Speaking during an Oct. 21 debate, the two candidates running for the MRC Pontiac warden sat down at Club De L’Age D’Or on rue Baume to discuss various issues facing the Pontiac region.

As of the 2017 election, the warden is elected by universal suffrage, rather than chosen by the council of mayors, as done in the past. The MRC Pontiac is the second to do so in the Outaouais region after the MRC Vallée-de-la-Gatineau.

This year, Mike McCrank is running for warden for the first time, though he was chosen as warden under the old system. He was a municipal councillor in Litchfield for eight years and then mayor for another 14 years from 2000 to 2013.

He believes there is “room for improvement” in regards to how the council of mayors is run and that they need to “unify the diverse individual perspectives [and find a] shared vision and collective voice,” said McCrank.

Jane Toller, rebutted by saying that she disagrees with McCrank’s comments in terms of the MRC Pontiac not working as a unit and said “I have made a point to make sure that the Pontiac region is on the table in Quebec City and that we are currently represented by the Liberal Party.”

Toller, who is a former Toronto city councillor and Toronto school trustee, found her way back to MRC Pontiac, a place she used to visit as a little girl, back in 2012. She was the first warden in 2017 to be elected taking 47 per cent of ballots cast. Her closest rival, Raymond Durocher, came in second with just under 18 per cent.

When asked about their priorities, McCrank spoke first highlighting that if elected as warden he will “bring the regional council together and commit to work[ing] together for the betterment of all citizens and all of the municipalities of the MRC.”

In regard to creating more jobs, McCrank said “I never make promises about new jobs until the jobs are sure to happen. So I don’t make false claims.”

Toller highlighted that one of her priorities is tackling the population boom and being ahead of it and making sure there is adequate housing available. “We’re really low on rental housing, and I’d like to have a very aggressive program… and encourage that in all municipalities,” said Toller.

Toller is an advocate for the waste management file, she said the Pontiac has a great chance to benefit from this project that will help save over one million dollars a year trucking garbage to Lachute and provide 50 jobs at home, said Toller.

“We just cannot continue with landfill [as it] is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases,” Toller said.

One file that both wardens seem to see eye to eye on is forestry. Toller has been advocating to reopen the mills as part of her platform, she said forestry is what built the Pontiac and that it should be a player in this industry once again, adding it is important for “our psychological revitalization.”

“I agree, forestry is not dead,” said McCrank.

But it will be a different type of forestry, said Toller, “it will be green forestry, it will be related to energy production, and it will have many transformations, but it will create jobs here.

Echoing that sentiment, McCrank added that there is great wealth in this industry, but it must be looked at using green technology.

McCrank said he would be the best for the job because he’s not afraid to knock on doors, “I believe I have a good capacity to steer our team to the right people at the right time and come up with good outcomes.”

Toller cited her experience as warden and said “I think that I have a proven track record,” along with highlighting the relationships she created in the past four years.

In his closing statement, McCrank reminded his constituents that, “I’m in it for you,” repeating his campaign slogan.

For folks looking to vote in advance, polls will be open on Sunday, October 31. General election day is Sunday, Nov. 7.

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