During the comparatively quick meeting presided over by MRC Pontiac Pro-Warden and Mayor of Mansfield-et-Pontefract Sandra Armstrong in Warden Jane Toller’s absence, a few notable resolutions were passed.

Two resolutions were passed adopting a report on the municipal fire coverage plan for both the MRC and TNO (territoire non organisé). This report documents last year’s activities under the coverage plan as required by the province. The coverage plan outlines how the MRC’s fire departments respond to fires based on where they are in the MRC’s territory and are revised every five years.

The Council of Mayors officially adopted the collective agreement between the MRC and Syndicat de la fonction publique et parapublique du Québec (SFPQ) that promises MRC employees a 14.75 per cent salary increase over 5 years. The agreement emerged after MRC Pontiac employees held a one-day strike in November.

Another resolution was passed that requested Hydro Quebec set $100 million aside out of a $5 billion fund dedicated to infrastructure projects to build a substation in the Municipality of Waltham. According to the resolution, a new substation would help prevent power outages, like the one that occurred last month. Currently, there is a privately owned generation station in Waltham owned by the company Evolugen (Brookfield).

A budget was passed for the Regions and Ruality Fund (FRR) Stream 2 agreement with the MRC Pontiac for a total of $1,546, 805. Of that money, $189,339 is available to local organizations for the “implementation of sustainable development projects aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens.”

The funds are available to non-profit organizations, cooperatives, First Nation band councils and municipalities.

Those interested in submitting a proposal must meet with a Commissioner for Economic Development between March 20 and April 11, 2023. The deadline for applications is noon on April 18, 2023.

Organizations interested in applying to this program are invited to contact the MRC Pontiac’s economic development department at (819) 648-5689 Ext. 122 or developpement@mrcpontiac.qc.ca.

A resolution was passed requesting the Quebec Ministry of Transportation provide a $100,000 grant for maintenance on the PPJ bike trail which would supplement the $100,000 already committed by the MRC’s budget.

Finally, the Council of Mayors received an update on a pilot program to recycle the clear plastic used by farmers to wrap their hay bales. According to the MRC, since the project began, 27 agricultural producers received a plastic press, which compresses the hay bale plastic into bales of plastic that can be transported. Thirty-six bales of plastic, or about 15 tons, have been transported to Lachute to be recycled so far. The project was launched in 2021 with funding from Desjardins.

You can watch the whole Council of Mayor meeting on the MRC Pontiac’s Facebook page.

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