One year out from the next municipal election, scheduled for Nov. 2, 2025, THE EQUITY checked in with the 20 people who have been voted in to lead the communities from Luskville to Rapides des Joachims, including the MRC Pontiac warden.

We published our interviews with these local leaders over the last six weeks with the goal of offering readers a sense of what their elected officials feel they’ve accomplished since their terms began, and what they hope to do with the last year before their seats are once again up for grabs.

Jane Toller — MRC Pontiac

Interview by Sophie Kuijper Dickson

When you ran for warden in 2021, what priorities did you campaign on?

I have 11 priorities. They are the following: to improve recycling and composting; to improve the coverage of internet and cellular; to increase agriculture; to improve tourism marketing; to increase forestry; to improve the roads infrastructure network; the Pontiac pool; to create a French CEGEP and a trades program in the Pontiac; the ATV trails network, to make sure they have a network; to improve the regional industrial park, which is Litchfield; and lastly to create small business and work on main street revitalization in our villages.

How much of this have you achieved?

Some are still in the works, and I still have next year, an eighth year, to hopefully say that everything has been done. So beginning with recycling and composting, we’re hard at that now [ . . . ] Now that we know what the municipalities are already doing we’re going to work on a coordinated plan.

Second [ . . . ] because of the provincial government funding we can now say we have improved internet, and we’re now working on improved cellular coverage which I believe will be accomplished by 2026. [ . . . ]

We’re seeing an increase in agriculture, largely through our agritourism [ . . . ]. Our tourism marketing, [ . . . ] and many new tourism businesses, [and] I think we could also say as a result of COVID-19, the Pontiac has really been discovered.

[On forestry] I worked for five years to get the Rapides mill open. I’m now doing everything possible to ensure that it can reopen [ . . . ].

In terms of the roads and infrastructure, I can say I had a lot to do with the reconstruction of the Pont Rouge, improvements to our PPJ and improvements to Highway 148 to make it safer, as well as the 301.

The Pontiac pool [ . . . ] We attempted two applications. Unfortunately the provincial government said no both times. They don’t seem to be funding more than one pool a year in the province, but I have not given up. [ . . .]

The French CEGEP? Well, still working on a satellite where students from the Pontiac would not be required to live in Gatineau and would be able to attend many classes in the Pontiac. [ . . . ]

Trades program [ . . . ] I really believe that the fact that we have the welding program, that needs to continue at PHS, and at ESSC, they have the equipment and rooms for all kinds of trades that could be taught [ . . . ]

The regional industrial area, well that continues to be the focus of many projects, at the moment Samonix. But it could very well be one of the locations for a solar farm. [ . . . ]

For the main street revitalization I was successful in getting $180,000, and each municipality received $10,000. [ . . . ] I’m pleased to say that by working with the mayors and the MTQ we were able to put a network together that allows ATVs to travel through the Pontiac.

*Editor’s note: This interview was conducted before the Commonwealth sawmill decided to stay open past Dec. 19.

What do you think has been your greatest accomplishment this term so far?

My greatest accomplishment has been to change the culture of the MRC building and increase transparency of the Council of Mayors and the combined MRC, and to also open up the opportunity for the local voice. And part of this has been through introducing ideas that have increased the interest of our population to be involved. [ . . . ] Another thing I am proud of is encouraging municipalities to work together.

What do you believe are the county’s greatest needs right now?

I’m very concerned about healthcare, concerned that we can reopen our unit for maternity as well as ensuring that we can continue to attract and retain enough personnel.
And to make sure that with our taxes and evaluations, that the Pontiac can continue to be an affordable place to live.

I also am concerned about people who are alone, our seniors. We lack facilities for better health in a proactive preventative way. I believe a pool is the one facility that people of all ages, and all abilities and disabilities, could use.

What are the challenges in meeting these needs?

It’s one thing to be a strong advocate and it’s another to have it translate into government funding, and unfortunately so much of it depends upon that.

Which of your ambitions do you plan to accomplish in the next year?

I would hope that in the next 12 months we will have a well executed plan for recycling and composting. I hope to see the abattoir open. [ . . . ] I hope to see significant increased forestry activity, and I hope to see a beginning of the construction of the Pontiac pool.

In previous conversations we’ve had, you’ve alluded to the challenges of being in public office at this moment. What are some of the greatest challenges for you, personally, in your role as warden right now?

During the debate about the energy-from-waste project I received criticism which I realized was in many cases personal. I think as an elected person we deserve to receive feedback, but it does not have to be personal attacks. I think that is what discourages people from running in elections. We need to give elected people credit for taking positions of service but I think in the future, at MRC Pontiac there should be zero tolerance for personal abuse and harassment. I believe for the Pontiac to move forward, we need to learn to work together, and be kind.