William Dale
Published online June 3, 2026, at www.pontiacjournal.com
FORT-COULONGE — Hydro-Québec presented three possible routes for a new 30-kilometre transmission line during a public consultation held May 20 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, outlining plans for a major infrastructure project aimed at improving power reliability in the Upper Pontiac.
The project includes rebuilding the Cadieux substation in Bryson and constructing a new substation to serve the Fort-Coulonge and Mansfield area. The facilities would be connected by a new 120-kilovolt transmission line. Hydro-Québec says the project will strengthen the region’s electrical network and reduce its reliance on synchronization with Ontario’s power grid through the privately owned Waltham generating station. The need for improved reliability has become a growing concern following frequent outages in recent years. During a major cold snap in January, an equipment failure linked to the regional system left approximately 2,500 Upper Pontiac customers without power.
Gauthier Malinowski, a Hydro-Québec project manager and engineer, said the new substation would receive electricity from the transmission line and reduce the voltage before feeding it into the local distribution network.
According to Hydro-Québec’s schedule, the project remains in the planning phase, with technical studies and public consultations continuing through 2026. Regulatory approvals are expected between 2026 and 2028, followed by construction between 2028 and 2030. The utility expects the project to be operational by 2031.
Mansfield Mayor Sandra Armstrong welcomed the project but acknowledged residents may be frustrated by the timeline. “This winter we had problems… we had outages all over the Pontiac,” Armstrong said. “Some people are happy that this problem will end by 2031, and some people might not be so understanding — and that’s their right.” Armstrong said communication between Hydro-Québec and municipal officials has improved significantly over the past year, giving local leaders more information to share with residents.
Many questions during the consultation focused on the proposed transmission line routes and their impact on private property. Hydro-Québec representative Benoit Charette said the proposed corridors were designed to avoid residential areas where possible while minimizing impacts on landowners and difficult terrain. While public feedback could influence the final placement of pylons, he said the overall route between the substations would remain largely unchanged.
Charette added that Hydro-Québec plans to use independent evaluators and forestry experts to determine compensation for affected property owners. “We make sure that they don’t lose money,” he said. “It’s not about making people richer, but being sure they are compensated fairly.” Hydro-Québec will continue collecting feedback before selecting a preferred route.
Photo 5 — Gauthier Malinowski, a Hydro-Québec project manager and engineer, discusses proposed transmission line routes with residents during a public consultation at the Knights of Columbus Hall, May 20, in Fort-Coulonge. (WD)
