J.D. Potié
CAMPBELL’S BAY
Feb. 19, 2019
On Feb. 19, around 15 Pontiac residents sat down for a two-hour information session, at the R.A. Centre in Campbell’s Bay, regarding forestry management and planning in the Outaouais.
Hosted by the Table Régionale de Gestion Intégrée des Ressources et du Territoire Public de l’Outaouais (TRGIRTO), the presentation was intended to give people an understanding of the methods behind forestry management across the region.
Presented by two members of the Ministry of Forestry, Fauna and Parks (MFFP), the session was used to provide Pontiac residents with insight on how they can influence wood harvesting projects, such as non-timber silvicultural work, and lumber roadways.
The first of three sessions in as many days, with the following two taking place in Bouchette and Gatineau, on Wednesday and Thursday respectively, provided for tense discussion among those present.
Ronald Godin, an Indigenous resident of Mansfield, criticized the MFFP for not keeping natural resources in the region, taking jobs away from locals.
“We want to stop wood from exiting the Pontiac,” said Godin. “We want to work for our Pontiac.”
Godin says he’s disappointed with the ministry for allowing logging companies to do projects in forests around Mansfield instead of finding ones in separate areas that could be as beneficial to them financially.
“Last year, they started cutting there,” said Godin. “And I told them, “why are you cutting here?” There are a ton of other places with enough firewood to cut.”
Rui Medeiros, a resident of Otter Lake said he has spoken directly with the MFFP in regards to minimizing the impact of logging projects happening near a property he owns. So far, he says he’s satisfied with the MFFP’s response.
“I’ve been engaged in initiating discussions with the ministry and the logging company to try and make sure our voice is heard,” said Medeiros. “And thus far, they’ve been paying attention which is good.”
Medeiros says he understands the purpose behind logging projects, as inconvenient as they might seem. With forestry management playing such an important role in the local economy, Medeiros remains optimistic that the MFFP is doing the right thing by listening to the public for guidance and input.
“Hopefully by engaging the community and people that are being impacted by this, and having a voice and having discussions with regards to alleviating as much as possible whatever concerns people may have, I think is a step in the right direction,” said Medeiros”.
Raymond Barrette, the event’s organizer and coordinator of the TRGIRTO said he enjoyed meeting with residents and hearing their opinions on the MFFP’s plans. But he also said that submitting verbal complaints wasn’t the purpose of the presentation.
“Tonight, we’re not taking those concerns,” said Barrette. “It’s just to explain to them how they can communicate their concerns.”
After the event, Barrette said he wished more people would have attended. However, he said he understood why the numbers were so low.
“I understand that it’s the first time we do [information sessions] in the Pontiac right now, since many years,” said Barrette. “Because many years before, [the MFFP] were doing it and nobody were coming. This is the first time that we’re doing it again, but we want to do it differently.”
The TRGIRTO is holding a public consultation in relation to Outaouais’ Plan d’Aménagement Forestier Integré opérationel (PAFIO), from Feb. 18 to March 15 2019. It will be an opportunity for citizens to voice their concerns about projects scheduled in the near future.
For any questions, comments or complaints concerning forest management across the region, Barrette says the best solution is to go to the TRGIRTO website and register a formal complaint through their database, to call the MFFP or go to their office to speak to a representantive face to face.
