Chris Lowrey
PONTIAC July 26, 2017
One of the most often cited statistics in local politics in the Pontiac is that our MRC is the second poorest in the province.
One of the main markers determining the socio-economic standings in different regions of Quebec is disposable income. Although the MRC has made progress, the numbers have the Pontiac as the fourth poorest in the province.
The data comes from the Panorama des régions du Québec, which marks the changes in Quebec’s regional demographics, socio-economic indicators and living conditions between 2011 and 2016.

In the Pontiac, the disposable income per capita currently sits at $22,306, which puts the Pontiac at 84 out of 87 MRCs province-wide.
Rounding out the bottom three positions are the MRCs of Kativik ($19,734), La Haute-Gaspésie ($21,665) and La Tuque ($22,236).
MRC Warden Raymond Durocher said he is unsure about how disposable income is calculated.
Additionally, the worker rate in Pontiac sits at 63 per cent. This comes in more than ten per cent lower than the rest of the province, whose worker rate is 76 per cent.
Durocher chalks up the lower worker rate to a decline in important industries in the region.
“The reason is that the economy has slowed down in the Pontiac,” Durocher said. “Major industries left us and we’re trying to create momentum.”
The Panorama also states that over 11 per cent of the Pontiac population sits in the low-income family rate.
“We’re climbing slowly,” said Durocher. “I think what we’ve been doing for the last couple of years is starting to pay off.”
Durocher made sure to point out the fact that these numbers do not show the full picture of the current reality. Since the Panorama des regions du Quebec looked at 2011 to 2016, it hasn’t factored in several initiatives like the economic SWAT team.
Durocher, although he admitted he wasn’t thrilled with the numbers, says that they provide evidence that things are improving in the Pontiac, even if it is at a slow pace.
“Although it’s bothersome, I’m still very optimistic because there have been quite a few things that have been put in place [to help].”
Durocher pointed to the tourist routes in the region, the revision of Pontiac 2020, the economic SWAT team and the financial support the MRC has given to local businesses.
“I think the game plan that was put in place four years ago when I was elected Warden is starting to pay off,” Durocher said. “I was more worried about the stats in 2016 than I am about these stats right now because there is a momentum going on.”
Although Durocher said that the private sector has an important role to play in creating a favourable economic situation in the Pontiac, he says he is a firm believer that local government has a role to play.
“The status quo is not an option anymore, this is the new reality,” Durocher said. “We need to adapt to the new reality of the MRC Pontiac.”
Durocher said he understands if people have a sense of dread when they hear politicians talking about a need for “change,” but something has got to give.
“Change is important, change is a bit worrisome,” he said. “But if we don’t change, nothing happens.”