William Dale
Published online April 8, 2026, at www.pontiacjournal.com.
MRC PONTIAC – A profound silence has fallen over some of the region’s most vital service hubs. Across the Pontiac, doors are locked and red ribbons are pinned to lapels as local organizations join the provincewide “Le communautaire à boutte” (community sector at the breaking point) strike.
From March 23 to April 2, the movement — led by the Table of Provincial Associations of Community and Volunteer Organizations (TRPOCB) — saw 1,622 organizations across Quebec take part. The campaign culminated in a major demonstration at the National Assembly in Québec City, alongside rallies in Gatineau.
For the 2024–25 fiscal year, Quebec government spending totals $153.4 billion. However, additional funding for the core mission of the province’s 10,300 community organizations was capped at $102.9 million. That amounts to roughly $9,995 per organization annually — about $27 a day — to cover rising costs such as rent, utilities, insurance and wages.
“I think the provincial government is making a mistake by cutting back on funding for these groups because the need is greater than ever,” said Pontiac Warden Jane Toller. “We could never, as an MRC, deliver the services these agencies provide. They are a safety net, and we need to support them in every way we can.”
The impact of chronic underfunding has been visible across the region. Martin Riopel, executive director of the Jardin Éducatif du Pontiac, said the government’s offer falls short of meeting basic needs.
“It helps a little, but it doesn’t make much of a difference to employees’ working conditions,” Riopel said. “It doesn’t even cover a single pay period.”
While the Jardin Éducatif remained open for most of the campaign to provide essential services, it closed April 2 as staff travelled to Québec City for the main rally. Riopel and his team also attended the campaign launch March 23 and a family march March 28 in Gatineau.
In Fort-Coulonge, Lisa Danis of the Maison de la Famille suspended all workshops and closed the clothing depot April 2 in solidarity. Meanwhile, Bouffe Pontiac warned of the potential consequences of continued underfunding, stating on social media that some organizations may be forced to shut down if conditions do not improve.
For participating groups, the strike is not a day off but a “gesture of courage and social transformation.” The TRPOCB says that without an additional $460 million in annual funding, many organizations face a slow decline. It is calling for stable, long-term mission funding to replace short-term project-based support.
The movement argues that the government often treats community organizations as subcontractors rather than independent experts. “Going on strike is acting in accordance with our values,” the group states in its manifesto, emphasizing that principles of solidarity and justice apply to workers as well as the people they serve.
Despite the bleak funding picture, the Pontiac response has shown strong community support. On April 1, the Campbell’s Bay RA Centre was filled for the MRC Centraide fundraiser breakfast, highlighting local willingness to step in where provincial support is lacking.
Toller said the political effort is just beginning and plans to bring a resolution to the Council of Mayors calling on the provincial government to restore and increase funding.
“If there was ever a year to get the attention of politicians, it would be this year,” she said, pointing to the current election cycle.
Photo – Martin Riopel (left) marches for the Communautaire à boutte movement in Gatineau, March 28. (Jardin Éducatif du Pontiac)
