Dear editor,

I’m no longer a resident of the Municipality of Pontiac, Quyon a place where I called home for 23 years. In my near future I hoped to retire there. I’ve served my community as a firefighter for 17 years and as a municipal councillor for four. 

In the Oct. 13 edition of THE EQUITY’S front page, I was shocked to read that the council for the MOP passed a motion to purchase six radar cameras to be installed on Hwy. 148. I have an open question to any member of council who can explain to me or to their taxpayers why in heaven’s name are you using municipal tax dollars to purchase cameras to be installed on property that doesn’t belong to you. I’ve yet to read from any other municipal council meeting minutes along the western part of the 148 who is jumping on board of this ridiculous adventure. 

If the Quebec Government is so gung-ho on installing cameras then pay for it themselves. I’ve travelled up and down Hwy. 148 all my life and still do and it’s extremely rare that the traffic follows the posted speed limits. So, if you’re doing a few kms over you are getting a ticket.Simply put it’s a tax grab. Where is the infraction money going? Is it going to the courts, the Quebec government or the municipality or all three? Will you, like other cities, post signs warning motorists that the speed limit is monitored by cameras? 

After being rear ended many years ago, near the corner of Stanton Road and Clarendon St., while I sat on council I’ve received many complaints of close calls from residents in that same area. One resident appeared at my door with a signed petition from all the residents in that area to have two speed bumps installed. Council and I passed a motion to construct speed bumps. That cost me my seat on council and this was a safety issue not a tax grab. Take the hint members of council.

I’ve witnessed the village of Quyon slowly crumble when at one time it was a thriving village. For a village to thrive you need people to come in and spend money and the people need a reason to come to town. Today there’s isn’t much to attract you there. While I was on council an outside team and I sought out funds to construct a world class boat dock to attract boaters.  During the spring, summer and fall boaters dock their vessels and come into the village and many stop at Marcotte’s and Gavan’s. I went last weekend to the boat ramp only to find the docks pulled into the weeds.

So, rather than trying to support the heart of the municipality you install barriers and give reasons for tourists and visitors to completely avoid the MOP.

The responsibility of council is to represent the taxpayers and look out for the best interests of the residents and spend the taxpayers dollars wisely. Lucky for the taxpayers of the municipality there is an election, choose wisely.

Hawley Lepine Ottawa, Ont.

Editors note: The author of this letter is referring to an Oct. 13 article in THE EQUITY which stated that six speed radar cameras were purchased for use on Hwy. 148 by the Municipality of Pontiac. This was incorrect. Six speed radar displays (used to inform motorists of their current speed) were purchased and will be used on municipal roads. A full correction is on page five of this paper.