The discussion began when Warden Jane Toller called for a vote on a resolution to contract consulting firm Nova Sylva a contract to create a strategic forestry plan for the MRC Pontiac. The firm had presented its offer of service at the closed-door plenary meeting in August.

Speaking to the motion, L’isle aux Allumettes Mayor Winston Sunstrum stood to present his concerns, which he had sprovided in writing to the Council before the meeting. Sunstrum explained that his own research led him to believe that Nova Sylva had limited experience with developing forestry action plans and believed that other companies might be better suited to serve the MRC’s needs.

He added that the company’s offer of service mentioned only three sawmills, and did not address other forestry-related projects — such as the Pontiac Regional Industrial Park or bio-refineries. In an interview with THE EQUITY, Sunstrum explained that many other provinces have shifted towards bio-refineries and that since the offer of service didn’t address these sorts of newer technology, it raised his concerns.

The MRC director of land use planning, Jason Durand, later responded to this point, explaining that while the offer of service did not outline specific plans, but instead gave examples as to what the firm could do.

“We’re not just talking about two sites. We’re talking about the whole big picture,” said Durand.

Litchfield Mayor Colleen Larivière also raised concerns that Nova Sylva’s offer of service did not mention having prior experience with strategic planning or action plans. She added that the offer allocated only four days to identify and address all studies related to the mandate, which she said could be difficult for a company from outside the Pontiac.

“I think four days is not a lot of time to learn the full history of forestry in the Pontiac,” said Lariviere.

Sunstrum said that he had concerns over political influence involved in the contract. He said that he believed the item had become a “political issue” and called for a halt to forestry items until the new mayoral term.

“We all know there has been a great deal of conflict and division about forestry at the Council of Mayors,” said Sunstrum. “Staff have been caught in the crosshairs of this conflict and division. For their sake and to avoid putting more stress on their shoulders, I suggest that we shelve all resolutions dealing with forestry until a new council of mayors is elected.”

Mayor Sunstrum added that he was open to a compromise and suggested the MRC go to tender to seek offers of service from other firms, rather than proceeding with this sole source contract.

Warden Toller said that the council had previously agreed to follow Durand’s lead on the project, that she was confident in his choice and wanted to proceed with the firm he suggested.

She explained that approval for the contract would mean the firm could begin developing a strategic plan right away, which could then be presented to the new council after the upcoming municipal elections, before being granted approval.

“When the study is done, they’re going to come back to the next Council. And they’re going to say, ‘what do you think of this? Do you agree with it?’” said Toller. “There’s no risk in moving forward.”

Toller did agree with Sunstrum, however, on his point that Nova Sylva should address other forestry projects not mentioned in the offer of service, making clear, however, that she did not want to delay moving forward with the project any longer, as the decision had been postponed at the August meeting of mayors.

The warden proposed to include in the resolution the missing items listed by Mayor Sunstrum, and called for a vote on the amended wording. Amid the confusion that ensued, it was suggested that the wording of the original resolution adequately referred to the wider scope called for by Sunstrum and did not need to be amended. The vote on the amended version was abandoned and a vote was held on the original resolution.

The vote was split nine to nine, with representatives of Otter Lake, Fort Coulonge , Mansfield, Alleyn and Cawood, Portage du Fort, L’Île du Grand Calumet, Thorne, Rapides des Joachims and Waltham voting for it, while those from Litchfield, Bristol, Campbell’s Bay, L’Isle aux Allumettes, Shawville, Sheenboro, Chichester, Clarendon and Bryson voted against.

Warden Toller cast the tie-breaking vote in favour of the resolution, resulting in the MRC passing the resolution and granting the mandate to Nova Sylva.

In an interview with The Equity, Toller said that she thought every mayor should have been in favour of the resolution, saying that there was little risk to moving forward and that it had been discussed long enough.

“That’s what I call being political because we’re in an election year,” said Toller, referring to the upcoming election for warden for which she announced her candidacy two days prior.

“And the whole point of this was to challenge me, and I understand that, but I will not allow games and politics to stand in the way of progress for the MRC Pontiac to serve the people of Pontiac.”

“We have to just complete the work that’s expected of us. We have from Oct. 8 to Nov. 7 to think about the election.”

Litchfield Bio-Park

Later in the meeting, the mayors discussed a resolution asking the federal government to ensure the continuity of funding, and that resources be maintained, for the research and development of the Bio-Park project in Litchfield.

Mayor Larivière pointed out that a similar resolution had been brought forward earlier this year and had resulted in a nine-to-nine split in the mayor’s votes, which the warden resolved by voting against the motion.

“In January 2021, a resolution was brought to the table of mayors that asked for support of the Bio-Park and it was flatly refused,” said Larivière. “I just find it very peculiar that we are here tonight and you are putting this on the table. And now I’m just wondering if the nine mayors who voted against it last time will vote against it again.”

Lariviere, who supports the initiative, moved the resolution and it was passed unanimously.

Miscellaneous

Three mayors, Debbie Laporte of Fort Coulonge, Gilles Dionne of Mansfield et Pontefract and Serge Newberry of L’Île du Grand Calumet were absent from the meeting and instead represented by their pro-mayors.

Early in the meeting, an item regarding funding for cell towers was added to the agenda due to its time-sensitivity. A Bell representative explained at the closed-door plenary meeting a week prior that with $4 million, five cell towers could be built around the Pontiac to eliminate no service areas. A resolution to request these funds from the federal government was passed unanimously.

It was resolved to replace two members of the Regions and Rurality Fund analysis committee with Mayor Laporte and NPO representative Karim El Kerch. Later in the meeting, the mayors voted that after Raymond Barrette retires as coordinator of the Regional Table for Integrated Resource and Territory Management of the Outaouais, Charles Blais be named coordinator.

The council resolved to have the pre-existing investment committee serve as an advisory committee for Enterprise Access Quebec. The Council also approved of naming Mayor Dionne of Mansfield et Pontefract to the committee to serve as the representative of the MRC’s most populated municipality.

The mayors voted to develop 12 lots at Lake Gillies and to develop roads for the lots. Durand explained that the roadwork would cost $1,300 in stumpage fees, $31,700 for road development and $25,300 to gravel the roads. He added that funding would come from the Fonds de mise en valeur du territoire.

Following up on a request last month from Mayor Sunstrum, Mayors voted to request that the CPO hold regular public meetings. Warden Toller said she was happy to take this forward and added the CPO had recently decided to create something similar to the Regional Conference of Elected Officers of the Outouais (CREO), and that roughly 15 organizations will sit in on it.

It was agreed that an additional $850 would be given to Cletus Ferrigan as a sponsorship for the Country Isolation Jamboree. The event had been scheduled to take place this summer in Campbell’s Bay, but was postponed due the use of the recreational centre as a vaccination clinic. The sponsorship contribution was given to help with costs related to the event’s postponement.

The MRC granted permission for the Shawville Figure Skating Club to use a portion of the PPJ as a temporary parking lot during the 2022 Shawville Fair.

TNO Meeting

During the meeting dedicated to matters pertaining to the MRC’s unorganized territories (TNO), it was reported that approximately $50,890 had been paid since the last meeting, consisting of roughly $33,000 going for roads, $3,500 for a culvert and $14,000 for a boat washing station.

It was also resolved to use a leftover stock of gravel to “recharge” sections of Jim Road, which would require about 141 loads and less than $6,000.

Council received $198,000 from the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks for four bridge and culvert restoration projects discussed at last month’s meeting of mayors. Costs related to the project were higher than initially expected, causing the ministry to make a higher donation than originally outlined. Another $72,000 from the TNO fund will be required to complete the projects.

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