Over the past few weeks, THE EQUITY sat down with each of the candidates running to become MRC Pontiac’s next warden in the Nov. 2 election. We asked them to take us to place in the Pontiac that is somehow special to them, with hopes this would help you all get to know them a little better.      

Josey Bouchard

Who are you and why did you choose Chutes Coulonge for this interview?

I’m a teacher by trade but have been an activist with Pontiac Voice, also sitting on council in Campbell’s Bay. And for me it was the next logical step to run for warden. I feel that we need some changes and that’s why I put my name in. 

I came [to Chutes Coulonge] because, first of all it’s a beautiful site, but I think it represents the way the Pontiac has sort of changed over – what was the Pontiac before, what it is now, and what it could be in the future. I think it shows how we can renew ourselves. When one industry dies, there is a hope and a way to be better at what we do. 

Why are you running for warden?

I’m running because I feel I have a vision for tomorrow’s Pontiac. The Pontiac right now is at a crossroad. We do have a few little industries but we need to do a better inventory of all that we have and how we can help support those industries and go up one level. 

I think we also need to have a strong voice. The Outaouais has always struggled to have a strong voice in Quebec City. The more of us there are stomping our feet and making our issues known, it will help. 

What do you see as key to the role of warden?

I see the role in twofold. One is being representative in the Outaouais and in Quebec City to make sure our issues are brought forward, and the other role is really getting all the mayors to work together, and to make sure we commit to different intermunicipal agreements, because the taxpayers deserve all the services they need, at a reasonable cost. 

Why would you make a good warden?

I think the fact that I’m fully bilingual, and I would even go so far as to say bi-cultural. The mindset of francophone versus anglophone, there are differences. 

I think being an advocate and spokesperson for Pontiac Voice, we got our issues heard. We had journalists coming up and inquiring all the time, so in that sense I think I have a credibility, and we can get our message across through the media, which is an essential component nowadays, in both languages. 

Also, I’ve been a principal, I’ve been a vice-principal, I’ve been dealing with a lot of people, I’ve been a conseiller pédagogique, so I’ve worked in all different kinds of sectors in education, and I think a big part of that is assuming leadership with people and getting them to understand why we need to do certain changes and where we’re heading with all of that. 

What would be your priorities in your first year?

[Translated from French:] For me the priority in year one would be to sit down and do an analysis of the current situation, and make decisions that people may not appreciate, or they will be surprised or happy. I think having more inter-municipal agreements will be essential. To make sure people who are very good at grant applications for infrastructure become of service to our municipalities [ . . . ] to make sure everyone is helping everyone. 

Ideally, in my dream, in the first two years we will have grouped what can be grouped, in terms of services. Not in terms of municipalities or councils. 

What do you see as step one to bringing economic development to the Pontiac? 

We need to help small businesses to be a bit bigger, so they can hire a bit more people, so we can start having more people coming back to the Pontiac. 

Large industries will not come back in most places in Quebec. We’re fighting right now against Brazil, where trees grow twice as fast as here and people are paid one tenth of what people used to have. So we have to create small industries. Again, to move forward we need to know where we stand right now.

If you have a small industry that’s building kitchen cupboards, what can feed it? It’s to try to see how we can intertwine the different components we have. And they stay alive because they’re interdependent. So even if one has problems, you might lose five to 10 jobs, but you’re not going to lose 600 jobs like when Smurfit Stone closed up. 

And we have to move away from natural resources, because the international market is so up and down, it doesn’t guarantee much of anything. 

We just have to make sure we grow with industries that will remain viable, 20, 25 years from now. 

How will you shift your focus from what’s good for Campbell’s Bay to what’s best for the whole county?

For me it is a preoccupation that people don’t assume I will give preferential treatment to Campbell’s Bay because I’m from Campbell’s Bay. For me, we need to look at the region as a whole, so each area has their strength and that’s what we need to [develop]. I’m not going to favour anyone. What’s the strength of that community, what does it bring to the Pontiac, and how can we better that? 

Why vote for Josey Bouchard?

You vote for Josey Bouchard because she wants to get the job done, she wants the Pontiac to be better and that people are heard, and that we take into consideration everyone in the Pontiac. She’ll be there for you and she’ll have your back. 

Jean-Pierre Landry

Who are you and why did you choose the Litchfield rest stop for this interview?

I’ve been living here in Campbell’s Bay for almost 60 years now. We moved up here ‘67 with the pulp and paper mill in Portage. The Pontiac is my hometown. I have a bachelor’s in industrial relations, I’ve done a professional training course in pulp and paper, I’ve been with the Campbell’s Bay-Litchfield Fire Department for 25 years. My career was here in Campbell’s Bay at Service Quebec. I was also teaching part time for the past two years. 

I’m here today in this beautiful spot, the Litchfield halte, which brings back memories for me, from as far as when I was a teenager. We’d come at night, sit around the fire, and one of the things that I like is the view. It shows to me the immensity of our territory, which I’ve always appreciated and loved, and that’s why I’ve been in the Pontiac for almost 60 years now. 

Why are you running for warden?

I would say the main reason is I’m tired of seeing us going down the hill, as one of the poorest MRCs in Quebec. More or less we’re not moving ahead. It’s not by feuding and battling and wasting time on petty matters that we’re going to get out of our lethargy. That’s what’s getting to me. There’s so much that can be done, and it’s not being done. I don’t promise to change the world. But I can’t do worse than what’s been done in the last eight years, which is not much. 

What is key to the role of warden?

You need to be close to the people. You need to understand their needs. And also you have to be bilingual, at least. You’re dealing with the provincial government. Everything takes place in French. I think that by not being bilingual or French, you’re missing out on a lot of things. 

We need to revive the patriotism of Pontiacers. The more you have people behind you, supporting you, and the more pressure there is, the greater the chances of you having results. So I think it’s to try to get the community behind you. But for that you have to be transparent, and relay the information. Also, to be able to take criticism, accept your faults, and respect people, those are certain values I think can help make a good warden. 

What would be your priorities in your first year?

First the biomass file, which was axed a few years ago. For whatever reason, it was turned down. I won’t get into that subject but I find it very unfortunate. We need to find a niche, a specialty. Not two-by-fours, with all due respect, but you just look and almost every week there’s a sawmill that closes. I had seen some of the studies and documents that pertained to that [biomass] project, and it was very interesting. So I would explore that avenue, if there is any chance of reviving it. 

What do you see as key to economic development in the Pontiac? 

One of the big deterrents to our economic development is our electricity, because without any electricity we can’t attract any big businesses, or even household development. After the public consultation that took place last spring with Hydro-Quebec, I found out that from the Cadieux station in Bryson all the way to Allumette Island, more or less it’s a big extension cord. So that would be one of the major priorities economically wise. Again the other thing too is communications, all types of communications – internet, cell phones, roads and trail

I understand you were fired from your job at ESSC because of an altercation with a student. What happened? 

A very unfortunate and regretful incident happened in one of my classes where there was an altercation with a student, which I truly regret, but there was a whole context to it which people aren’t aware, and that could explain how the incident happened. I know that what happened is inexcusable, but sometimes when you don’t look after your personnel, these things can happen. 

It’s very unfortunate. I was willing to go back teaching the very next day, but they told me to wait for a call. I was suspended with pay in the meantime, and never heard back since. 

I had a turbulent class. They were all piled up at the door five minutes before the end of class and anxious to get out. I was trying to hold them back and one of my students kept kicking in the door. After numerous times that I told her to please stop doing that, she won, so I hit her on her leg that she was using to kick the door. But like I say, I’ve never heard back since, never had a chance to explain myself, that’s why I say there’s a whole context behind it, which people aren’t aware. 

Why vote for Jean-Pierre Landry?

Because I’m good! I’ve always worked for the provincial government and we dealt with many agencies, so right there that’s a good base. I’ve been a municipal councillor, so I have the knowledge in municipal affairs. I’ve sat on many board of directors, so I’m very at ease and familiar with assembly procedures and decorum. I know the needs of the area, and I’m perfectly bilingual, which I think is a major asset in this position. 

My leadership, my ambition, the pride I have for the Pontiac. The best I can do is give it my best and see what comes out of it.

Bruno St-Cyr

Who are you and why did you choose the Pontiac Hospital for this interview?

I come from Quebec City. I’ve worked in Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto. I’ve moved a lot because work called me to travel and to get some new challenges. Now I am in Pontiac since approximately 20 years, and I love the countryside, and there’s a lot of things to do. It’s for that reason I’d like to be the warden of the Pontiçois and Pontiçoises. 

We’re in front of the Shawville hospital because I’m a member of the user committee for the Pontiac, and I represent the Pontiac at the Outaouais user committee. [The committee] is a place to try to change things, and also to check if everything is okay, and to try to get a better service from our healthcare. But it’s not easy, but it’s coming. User committee in the Pontiac closed it’s doors a few years ago. So we are a new group. We now know each other. 

The [life expectancy] in the Outaouais is two years below the average of the province of Quebec, and four years below the highest one. In the Pontiac, you don’t want to know. There is no reason that in the Pontiac we cannot live more than 84 years old. So there is something to do [about this] and I’m sure I’ll be able to do that. I came from the medical research centre in Quebec City, so I know a lot of things there and if I need something more I can call them. 

Why are you running for warden?

[Translated from French:] My first goal is to bring economic development – a necessity for the Pontiac. Here we have all sorts of good natural resources. There are many things that can be done, but we need to work all together towards a common goal to make the Pontiac a better place to live. It’s not normal that we be one of the last MRC’s in the province in terms of wealth, jobs, in terms of all sorts of things. It’s not normal. Years ago, we weren’t one of the last. Why not return to how we were? We have to return to a higher quality of life. 

What’s key to the role of warden?

I don’t want to be a warden to push projects. Every mayor has to bring projects around the table for their municipality. They know their people. They know their facilities. They know what they have in their community. I think every municipality needs to get an objective of at least one development project per year. Because it’s not up to the warden of the MRC Pontiac to do that, the projects have to come from the people. 

Why would you make a good warden?

I did my university degree in business administration, before that I did a certificate in philosophy and theology, and before that I did a diploma in pedagogy. I think that I’ll be able to do this job. In every job I did before it was always in business development – when I was in the energy sector, when I was in building products, when I was in the research centre, because I worked at the centre de recherche industriel de quebec, and yeah, when I worked at the medical research centre. I was always in business development, and Pontiac needs something like that. And with that, I got a lot of contacts, which could help. 

What would be your priorities in your first year?

I think the first thing would be to put some goals, per municipality. With goals, we have results. If each municipality has a goal of one or two development projects per year . . . and if they need my help, I’ll be the guy to help them. But I think there is no small economic development project. All development projects will be good. I know that we cannot get the big ones. But we are in 2025. Businesses are not the same as the last five years, 10 years, 15 years. It’s always in movement. But we can do something. And I can help a lot, with the contacts that I have. 

What do you see as key to economic development in the Pontiac? 

Every industry outside has to be reopened if it’s possible. Mayors have to listen to entrepreneurs projects and work with it. Sometimes they have the information, sometimes not. If they don’t, they can ask the MRC, but I’m sure that it’s possible. We all know that in forestry sectors we need a lot of things to operate. It’s not easy. But in our region, because the quality of the resource is there, it may be possible to do something. 

We need to do exactly what the minister wants to do. We cannot push spaghetti. If people in Quebec City see an opportunity for this region that we didn’t see before, why not listen, and work with it?

I’m not there to do what I think could be done. I’m there to open my ear and check what we can do with what we have. If we want the MRC to do something for the whole Pontiac, we can wait, but until when? And do we have time to wait? I’m sure not. 

Why vote for Bruno St-Cyr?

I’ve always wanted to be a winner. Sometimes we’re not, but we try. And I feel I really want to be a winner for MRC Pontiac. With the knowledge I have, with the education I have, with the people who are in the Pontiac, I feel completely at ease to do what needs to happen here, as much on the healthcare side as on the economic development side. 

Jane Toller

Who are you and why did you choose Chutes Coulonge for this interview?

I’m currently the warden of MRC Pontiac and I’ve chosen the Chutes Coulonge as my favourite place in the Pontiac because I feel in many ways the forestry started here. And I’m really proud to be from the Bryson family. There are two pictures [in this museum] – my great-great-grandfather and my great-grandfather, also a George Bryson Jr., and in many ways I feel I’m here to continue their work. Because when they were here Pontiac was one of the wealthiest and largest counties in Canada, and when I arrived here things had crashed, and I found people very much in despair. I decided when I ran in 2017 for warden to say forestry is not dead. 

Why are you running for warden?

I have the energy, I have the interest, I have the motivation, and also, I have started a few projects. I haven’t really talked about them because I don’t like to overpromise and under deliver. In particular I’m focused on a forestry project. I have my eye on the Jovalco mill. And I do have investors, and we do have a plan, and it will be to address the pulp and biomass. 

What is key to the role of warden?

It’s a very important role. I really think the most important qualification for it is energy, because to really be effective and do your best for the people of the Pontiac, you need to be willing to work seven days a week. I will say I’ve realized you can’t accomplish things as quickly as you had hoped. I thought that with my mandate of my 11 priorities in my first term, that they would all be finished by the end of four years. You have to understand it’s not one person, it’s not a dictatorship: I wouldn’t ever want that anyways. You’re working with 18 mayors. And when you come to important decisions you need to have a majority of mayors agreeing. And I’m not the only person that comes up with ideas. I need to be a good listener, especially if we’re not going in a direction that’s supported by the majority of people in the Pontiac. 

What are two things you’ve accomplished as warden?

One of the priorities was revitalization of our villages in our various municipalities. What I was able to do initially was to get $10,000 for each one of them through an FRR 1 fund which allowed for new signage and in some cases some street scaping. The best thing has been the FRR 4 money which has given us 5 million over the last five years, and we can see the evidence of the revitalization in all of our municipalities. I did not provide that money but I did make a case for rural Quebec to not be forgotten. 

I had [also] said one of my priorities was to increase recycling and composting. I think the talk from energy from waste has played a very prominent and positive role to now finally getting us all engaged in what are we going to do with our waste. I give a lot of credit to Nina [Digioaccino], who is on our staff. And through that every municipality now has a plan for composting and recycling. 

Did you learn anything from the criticism and push back your incinerator proposal received?

It taught me something I’ve always known, and that is you need to listen. What concerned me about that issue was the whole notion of it being very unhealthy and it was frightening people and I hated to see that. We would never have proposed something that was dangerous or unhealthy. I have no regrets. It was an experience. You never know until you try. And it took courage to be the person who was promoting it. But let’s not forget – for a good part of that period we had 18 mayors in support. Where things fell apart was I think the fear was being spread. People were attending the council meetings and mayors and councils had never seen that kind of opposition. In the end, I’ve actually decided that this beautiful wilderness doesn’t need an incinerator. When reality becomes that there are a significant number of people who are worried about health or are upset, then either you haven’t communicated it well to begin with , or it’s just not worth pushing forward anymore.  

What would be your priorities in year one?

[Translated from French:] The two most important priorities for me for the next four years are economic development and health care for MRC Pontiac.

But I have seven priorities – putting an end to frequent power outages by insisting on better infrastructure, stimulating job creation, protecting our existing health care workers and demanding equal pay with Ontario, putting in place a taxi service, promoting sharing of municipal services, opening local agricultural infrastructure, and eliminating dead zones using satellite coverage promised by the provincial government. 

Why vote for Jane Toller? 

I believe people know that if I’m reelected I’ll work hard and I’m working for them.  I’m always available to listen and we have a  lot of work to do. My reason for being here is because these are my roots, because I was willing to be an investor, but my main reason is to try to do my best to ensure the Pontiac becomes a successful place again to live work and play, to improve the quality of life for everyone so everyone can afford to live here.