Highlights of 2018 …

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Lionel Tessier (tr. AB)

January


Lionel Tessier (tr. AB)

January

Heavy rains cause flooding in the Black River area – Pontiac MNA André Fortin announces $5.1 million to refurbish the Marchand Bridge – Citizens complain about the effects of CISSSO’s centralization of health care – Residents in Pembroke and Ottawa protest the creation of a near surface radioactive disposal facility (NSDF) in Chalk River – Sheenboro receives a half-million dollar grant from CNL to improve their emergency plan – Complaints against massive logging on the Pontiac’s
public lands, with the logs transported and processed elsewhere.
February
Proposal for a nuclear reactor landfill in Rolphton – CISSSO reviews their decision to close the kitchens at the Pontiac Community Hospital – LiveWell obtains permission from Litchfield to build a cannabis research center on the former Smurfit-Stone mill site.
March
$909,000 upgrade to endoscopy unit in Shawville – Construction begins on Dialysis Unit at the Pontiac Community Hospital in Shawville – MNA André Fortin announces  736,000$ grant for the construction of the Pontiac Slaughterhouse in Shawville – $1.2 billion to revitalize the Chalk River nuclear site.
April
$150,000 grant to improve Luskville Park – The L’ARTERRE program, pairing owners of unused land with apiring farmers, is launched – Shawville council refuses a referendum on the slaughterhouse – CNL in Chalk River receives a 10-year operating license and a federal decision paves the way for the
construction of the Chalk River NSDF.
May
LiveWell project moves forward, land purchase finalized – 82 municipalities in Québec oppose the construction of Chalk River’s NSDF – Municipalities prepare for spring flooding – PPJ culvert wash-out – Several fires in mid-May lead to a ban on open fires.
June
Bell Canada installs redundancy system in Upper Pontiac – Émilie Chazelas leaves after 10 years at the MRC Pontiac – Environmental clean-up begins at the Litchfield Industrial Park – Warden Jane Toller holds a series of public meetings – Senior hockey returns to the Pontiac with the Comets.
July
Over $6 million in federal funding announced to improve internet access in Pontiac and Gatineau Valley (16 communities) – MRC hires full-time engineer – $400,000 is available to low-income households for major repairs to their home – Open fires are prohibited and residents are asked to conserve water – Pontiac receives 5% of provincial envelope for municipal road maitenance.
August
Pierre Fréchette appointed to CISSSO Board of Directors – MAPAQ gives $200,000 grant to the Pontiac Slaughterhouse – First International Women’s Film Festival in Fort-Coulonge – Second PPJ Jamboree – Formation of a committee to study the creation of a national park on the Lafontaine Islands – New seal of quality for Houblon Pontiac – Candidates announced for provincial election – Pontiac Pool acquires land – 162nd Shawville Fair.
September
Additional protected areas in the Pontiac (Black and Coulonge rivers and Mont O’Brien) – 10% increase in the Territorial Development Fund (FDT), maximum of $1,143,857 for the MRC Pontiac – CHSLD employees protest shortage of personnel – Candidates Forum for the provincial election – Health and education are underfunded in the Outaouais: the Ministry in doubt, Équité Outaouais is convinced.
October
Pontiac Country Fair organized by the Municipality of Pontiac and NCC – Coalition Avenir Québec wins provincial election, André Fortin retains his seat as Pontiac MNA – 100% of members vote in favor of merging the Chapeau and Fort-Coulonge Caisse populaires branches – Local producers honored with Agricultural Merit – SAQ employees vote for 18 day strike – Pontiac Journal Readers’ Choice gala – LiveWell activity stalls as they adopt a new strategy – The Municipality of Pontiac continues consultations on the treatment of compostable materials in 2019.
November
The community is invited to tour the new Pontiac Slaughterhouse – Door-to-door compost pick-up raises mixed reactions in the Municipality of Pontiac – Promutuel Assurances La Vallée to merge with Promutuel Insurance de l’Outaouais in 2019 – MP Will Amos presents a bill (M-280) to examine digital infrastructures – The MRC denounces illegal dumps in the TNO – Brauwerk Hoffman in Campbell’s Bay opens.
December
Auditor General of Canada finds digital connectivity is lagging in rural areas – Mansfield’s BMR wins Canada’s Outstanding Retailer Award for Best Building Supply or Home Centre – Unveiling of the Pontiac Dialysis Unit – Livewell subjected to legal mortage – Bouffe Pontiac’s annual food drive – MRC Pontiac and Pontiac Tourism Association join forces to form tourism committee.