Dear Editor,
I could not believe my eyes what I read in your last two editions (Feb. 3 and 10 ) with regards to the biomass file that has been in the works at the MRC level for the last eight years. I was in total dismay to see our elected officials waste so much time, energy, and money for all that matter, on a simple word in a resolution that was . . .
tabled by one of the mayors and that was purely intended to try to save one of the most promising economic development projects that our region has seen since 1965. And this, following a resolution that was passed at the Nov. 25, 2020 council of mayors, which was to put an end to the contract between the MRC and the consultant, who has been working on this file since day one, if no official commitment was made by the Federal government and the main company at the centre of this project before the end of the year (2020).
Who are we to put out such an ultimatum against major funding sources? The reason put forward to “pull the plug” was the amount of money invested thus far in salaries for the consultant, but we did not even question the workload and results put out by this consultant. In my mind, this should have been an issue discussed, debated and voted on by the council of mayors throughout the last seven years or at one point in time. So, if this is the real issue, someone must have been sleeping at the wheel. I also question the reasoning behind the Nov. 25 resolution. If we were to question some salaries that are being paid out within the MRC’s bureaucracy, I think that one would be extremely uncomfortable in trying to justify them.
Another aspect that baffles my mind is the fact that some of the officials seem to have little knowledge about this file, even after several years of reign as a municipal official. Is it that the information is not circulating properly or is it simply because no questions are being asked, or simply that some don’t take notice or study the documentation that is normally sent before any meeting? I have not personally read any documents in regards to this file, but one thing I can easily make out is that we are talking about economic development and job creation. I can not understand how we can get so lost in confusion over a simple word – firmly – to have to hold a special meeting after having discussed it at the plenary meeting and still not come to a consensus.
I have been sitting on various boards, committees and municipal councils over the last 40 years and I have never seen such an embarrassing situation. I even reread certain parts of the articles out loud and my 14-year-old twins exclaimed themselves at the nonsense of certain comments put forward by some. Even they could not believe what they were hearing. Sometimes it’s to wonder if we are not chasing away investors instead of attracting them.
But the saddest thing in this saga is that this, and I “firmly” hope not, may have been the beginning of the end of a last chance at coming out of our economic and demographic decline before it is too late. And it is even sadder when you realize that the people who are running the ship cannot even give out proper directions to avoid the iceberg ahead because of a lack of knowledge of the files on which they are supposed to take decisions for the best interest of the majority that they represent, not only at a local level but mostly at a regional one. If there has been a lack of consensus amongst the members at the table twice over a simple word, one is to wonder if there is not a hidden agenda behind the whole situation.
One thing for sure, I would prefer to have my tax dollars spent on a consultant who is working professionally and competently on a file that will bring prosperity instead of a “fairy tale” project, like stated in your Feb. 3 edition.
By the way, since when is the Pontiac pool project an MRC priority? (Jan. 13, 2021 edition )? If I do not mistake, didn’t the table of mayors adopt a resolution supporting this project without ever questioning the “possible” financial implication by the MRC. Shouldn’t we be gambling on a chance at a source of income instead of a source of expenses?
Jean-Pierre Landry
Campbell’s Bay, Que.
