CALEB NICKERSON
CAMPBELL’S BAY
Feb. 20, 2019
MRC Pontiac officials called for regular meetings of the local economic development taskforce at their last council of mayors meeting on Feb. 20, decrying what they regard as a lack of urgency in the group’s actions.
Warden Jane Toller put forth a motion to send a letter to Pontiac MNA André Fortin requesting a formal gathering of the entire task force, as well as regularly scheduled follow-up meetings.
“The point was made that the SWAT team as a large group has not met for quite a while,” she said, estimating that the last time the whole group met was around a year ago. “We think that with our investment attraction contract and all of the other economic development steps that we’re taking, we really need to know that there’s urgency.”
The GTI taskforce or “economic SWAT team” as it is known, was formed in the spring of 2017 and met for the first time on March 27 of that year at the MRC office in Campbell’s Bay. The group is made up of local business leaders, government officials such as Toller and representatives from organizations like Investment Quebec. It’s headed up by Ministry of economy, science and innovation Regional Economic Director Jeffrey MacHan.
Toller said that though some taskforce projects such as the abattoir in Shawville have come to fruition, she thinks that more regular meetings will spur more decisive action.
“There have been conference calls involving small groups of people but the group as a whole has not had the opportunity to meet [for quite a while],” she said. “I feel … that the more regularly a committee meets, it keeps the pressure up to get results.”
“Usually, when you have a SWAT team with police … it’s to get in and out quickly, to get things done,” she concluded. “I just… I don’t want to feel that we’re spinning our wheels.”
During the TNO council meeting, the council approved the purchase of a boat, trailer and off-road vehicle in accordance with the emergency plan for the territory. The Suzuki LT-A500 ATV ($9,427) along with the boat, trailer and engine ($10,114) were purchased from Bois-Fort Auto Parts in Mansfield.
To start off the regular council meeting, Toller recounted her activities over the previous month, from touring Chalk River Laboratories to meeting local business owners and even a rendezvous with the leadership of Renfrew County.
It was announced that a replacement had been found for long-time MRC clerk Nancy Dagenais, who will be retiring shortly. MRC Director General Bernard Roy said that the new hire, Travis Ladouceur, is currently a clerk with the federal government and will start on April 1.
The mayors approved changes to the major events financing policy, a move that MRC Economic Development Director Danielle Newman explained would clarify some text surrounding declining amounts available for returning applicants.
A request for $3,750 for the Festival Country Mansfield and Fort Coulonge was approved unanimously, as were two donations of $500 for local students skiing to Parliament Hill Feb. 24-27 (for security and food respectively).
The meeting closed with Toller recounting her meeting with CAQ MNA for Gatineau, Robert Bussière, who assured her that improvements to Rte. 366 are priority.
