The public meeting of both the TNO and MRC Pontiac started with a the a few words in honour of the recently-deceased former mayor of Campbell’s Bay, Cletus Ferrigan.
Finances
One of the most important parts of the meeting was the presentation of the audited financial statements of both the TNO and the MRC for 2021.
The financial reports were both given by Simon Thibault, a representative of Axè CPA, the independent auditor hired by the MRC and Annie Vaillancourt, the MRC’s accountant.
The TNO’s (which concerns itself with the territories that are not . . .
incorporated into any of the 18 municipalities) finances were the first to be reported at the meeting.
The audited statements found that the TNO ran a deficit of $10,213 in 2021 which was deducted from the area’s surplus of $581,255, leaving the TNO with $571,042 in the bank. This deficit was due primarily to taxes that had not been received, according to Vaillancourt.
For the MRC itself, the deficit was $2,199 for 2021. However, the council had budgeted $333,081 from its surplus to cover expenses in the 2021 budget, meaning that combined with the deficit the surplus of the MRC dropped from $1,178,810 in 2020 to $835,648 in 2021.
“If 2022 goes the same way as 2021, it means that we will have used close to $700,000 of our surplus in two years,” said Vaillancourt.
Vaillancourt explained that the expenses that surplus is budgeted to cover represents things like salaries and therefore are fixed, meaning the only thing that could offset the further loss of the surplus are shares from the municipalities or grants from the province.
Vaillancourt stated that a further $340,000 has been budgeted from the surplus for 2022, and as of now, is not expected to be offset.
The auditor found that there was no fraud in the finances of both the TNO and the MRC.
Beyond the two financial reports, the TNO and MRC council passed several other resolutions allocating funds to various purposes.
Here are some of them:
A resolution was passed to allocate $142,500 to the maintenance of prioritized roads in the TNO territory.
Two recommendations to spend the COVID-19 relief fund granted to the MRC by the province were passed. One was for the replacement of a computer which will cost $4,042.02 and another for the replacement of a printer and the purchase an extra-large ink cartridge to go with it for $9of 01.85.
The MRC passed a resolution providing $250 for MRC Pontiac representation at an artist retreat in Deep River Ontario that will be held on May 14.
A resolution was passed to donate $500 to support Ile du Grand Calumet Fête nationale celebrations.
A resolution was also passed to spend $180 to put an advertisement in the École secondaire Sieur De Coulonge’s yearbook.
Connexion Fibre Picanoc
The Council of Mayors approved a resolution to approve the Connexion Fibre Picanoc (CFP) to sell its infrastructure.
The CFP was established in 2008 as a public-private partnership to provide internet access to the MRC Pontiac, the MRC of Vallée de la Gatineau and both local French and English school boards.
The move to sell its infrastructure came after the CFP applied to the Quebec government to expand its service across the region, which failed, according to the resolution authorizing the sale.
The MRC resolution states that since its application was rejected, and that its clientele will be served by other providers, CFP’s business model is no longer viable. Because of this, the CFP board of directors opted to sell its infrastructure and share the revenue among its stakeholders.
Bernard Roy, the director general of the MRC, said that government subsidies going to private telecommunication companies will make running the CFP more and more expensive for the two MR’s and school boards that make up its shareholders.
“It’s a bit redundant,” said Toller about the current state of the CFP. “We had been working on a project with the fiber optic under the CFP. And if the Pontiac had been able to deliver this, just to the residents of the Pontiac, it would have taken probably three or four years to roll it out, and we would have required tax increases.”
An expansive fibre network is currently being built out by Xplornet in areas with both Federal and provincial subsidies. Xplornet claims that once its work is complete this September, 99 per cent of all homes in the Pontiac will be able to access fibre optic internet.
MRC’s total share in CFP is $157,076.
The board of CFP had two other options other than to sell its infrastructure, however the MRC did not provide that information to THE EQUITY before press time.
Miscellaneous
The warden mentioned that while the threat of serious flooding is low, it remains a risk as there is still some expected snow melt and incoming rain. She advised the mayors to notify her as soon as possible if they detect any flooding.
A resolution was passed to allow a lease for a resort on Brock and Clear lakes in the TNO.
A resolution was passed to call for tenders for the renewal of the MRC group insurance plan for its employees in 2023.
The council passed a resolution authorising the sale of eight properties for taxes.
A notice of motion was passed to advise that a resolution proposing to raise the rate MRC employees receive for their travel expenses would be introduced.
MRC intervention priorities were passed for 2022-2023. Some of these priorities include tourism, culture and heritage, archeology, economic growth, support for municipalities, agritourism, social housing, senior services, public transportation, forestry, and more.
A resolution to expand the MRC culture committee that meets standards set by the province. Two mayors, various civil servants and members of community organizations will all be represented on the committee.
A resolution was passed in support of signing a contract with a company to resurface a portion of the PPJ between Campbell’s Bay and Mansfield et Pontefract.
A resolution was passed to provide funds to organize a Fête de l’arbre (tree day) at the end of May.
