Published in the Pontiac Journal on January 14, 2026.
Bonnie Portelance
Local Journalism Initiative
MRC PONTIAC – The Council of Mayors (CoM) held its monthly meeting December 17 at MRC headquarters in Litchfield, with the 2026 budget as a central focus.
Public question period
While no members of the public were present, Rapides-des-Joachims Mayor Roger Peter Lafond used the question period to apologize publicly to Alleyn-et-Cawood Mayor Sidney Squitti for comments he made at the November meeting. Lafond had implied that debate over Alleyn-et-Cawood’s contested municipal shares was taking up too much of council’s time.
In his apology, Lafond said he had since reviewed the issue and recognized its importance. He called on fellow mayors to support Alleyn-et-Cawood in seeking a resolution outside of court.
Budget 2026
The MRC Pontiac adopted a balanced 2026 budget of $11,104,323, up from $8,913,136 in 2025. This represents an increase of $2.19 million, or roughly 25% year over year.
Last year’s budget had declined compared with 2024 due to lower grant revenues, while the 2026 budget reflects a return to expansion. Warden Jane Toller said the increase is not driven by growth in core spending, but by a significant rise in external grant funding.
Revenues
Revenues total $11,104,323, with the largest share, 47%, coming from transfers. These consist of external funding, mainly from the province, earmarked for specific programs and projects. Development grant revenue increased by approximately $1.77 million, rising from about $1.9 million in 2025 to $3.7 million in 2026.
Funds from surplus were used to balance the budget, accounting for about 3% of revenues, or $402,100. Toller said the surplus was used to limit the increase in municipal shares, which rose by 3.24% to a total of $4.34 million. Some surplus funds were also used to cover legal costs.
Expenses
Total expenses match revenues at $11,104,323, as required by law. Development projects represent the largest expense, accounting for about 45% of the budget, up from roughly 38% in 2025. Funding through the Regions and Rurality Fund (FRR) streams rises to $2.41 million in 2026, compared with $875,370 last year. The increased grant funding will allow the MRC to approve and manage a greater number of projects.
Administration accounts for about 21% of expenses, with administrative salaries and benefits increasing by $144,677. The increase reflects the addition of a new reception
employee who also assists with administrative duties, additional support for fire safety administration, higher collective insurance costs, and increased legal fees tied to ongoing files.
Property evaluation represents about 13% of spending. The MRC hired an additional inspector, and staff are working on approximately $300,000 worth of revision files. Software, professional services, and human resource costs also increased in this department.
Public security spending declined, with fire and civil protection funding dropping by more than $28,000, while animal control costs increased slightly.
Capital expenditures remain limited, falling from $27,000 in 2025 to $15,000 in 2026, indicating that the budget increase is not tied to infrastructure investment.
Overhead and financing pressures
Total overhead expenses rose to $326,661, up from $295,766. The increase was driven primarily by building and grounds maintenance, replacement of electrical panels
in the old wing of the MRC building and the main building at Parc des Chutes Coulonge, which is owned by the MRC, as well as higher snow removal costs.
Financing costs also increased after the MRC refinanced its building loan. Higher interest rates led to increased interest expenses.
Questions about recycling contract
Under miscellaneous business, Clarendon Mayor Ed Walsh raised questions about McGrimmon Cartage of Shawville.
The waste management company had been sold and rebranded as Enviro-Crush Waste Management in early summer 2025, but reverted to the McGrimmon Cartage name on December 15.
In August, Enviro-Crush had been awarded the contract for transporting recyclables from municipal transfer stations to the Tricentris sorting centre in Gatineau. The contract also included the rental of collection containers for municipalities that do not own their own. Walsh asked what implications the failed sale might have for the contract. At the meeting, Toller said the development was news to her and suggested the issue be revisited once more information was available.
Speaking in the new year, MRC Director General Kim Lesage told the Journal that the contract remains in force and will continue with McGrimmon Cartage. She said recycling collection at transfer stations is proceeding as usual.
McGrimmon Cartage declined to comment.
The next Council of Mayors meeting will be held
January 29 at MRC headquarters in Litchfield.
