Dear Editor,
In just four months, our small village of 300 has risen to the occasion and put a glaring provincial issue front and center. The 370% Evaluation Taskforce recently returned from the Fédération québécoise des municipalités (FQM) annual event in Quebec City where their voices were heard. Municipal Director General Isabelle Cardinal and Councillors Sidney Squitti and Guy Bergeron did an exceptional job representing Alleyn and Cawood in Quebec, proving that we are not just spectators in this fight—we are leading it.
They met with hundreds of officials, including Premier François Legault, Minister Andrée Laforest, and FQM President Jacques Demers, making it crystal clear that the comparative factor is a flawed and outdated system that has to go. Not only does it unfairly inflate property evaluations, but it also forces municipalities to reduce mill rates and cut municipal services to balance their budgets. They spoke to many officials from elected to administrative, and it became very clear that this is happening all over Quebec. This isn’t just a local issue.
If we succeed, it won’t just be a win for Alleyn and Cawood—it will save hundreds of dollars for ratepayers across Quebec and thousands for municipalities that are being pushed into an impossible corner. I am very proud of the team and wanted to share and give credit where it is due.
Our village may be small, but we’ve taken this fight all the way to the top, and we are proud to be part of the awareness and solution to a widespread provincial problem. The message delivered at the FQM event was clear: we are determined, we are effective, and we will not back down.
What’s even more impressive is that they had a highly productive meeting with Minister Laforest’s office last Friday morning. Her official took the time, listened with interest, and committed to working together toward a solution. This is the kind of momentum we need to bring about real change at the provincial level. But we need everyone—every ratepayer, every concerned citizen—to get involved and make their voices heard. The petition to the National Assembly got their attention, but we need the support of all municipal officials. The more voices, the better. Only together can we effect change.
Alleyn and Cawood is a small but mighty success story to date, and we’re showing that even a village of 300 can move mountains. If we win this fight, the entire province wins. We urge you to follow the journey and support the cause on Facebook (370% Evaluation Taskforce).
Together, we will make sure this flawed system is eliminated once and for all.
– Julie Vaux, Alleyn and Cawood
