Bonnie Portelance Local Journalism Initiative
Published in the Pontiac Journal on April 22, 2026
MRC PONTIAC – The MRC Pontiac’s council of mayors held its monthly meeting April 16 at the MRC headquarters in Litchfield.
Flooding
Flood risk was front of mind, with discussion at both the beginning and end of the meeting. The MRC and municipalities most at risk said they were monitoring the situation closely.
Warden Jane Toller said the remaining snowpack in the Pontiac was within 5–10% of the annual average, with up to 100 mm of rain forecast over the following four days. Lac Coulonge was expected to reach 108.35 m by April 19, compared with 108.52 m during the 2017 floods.
Toller said the Bryson, Rapides-des-Joachims and Rocher Fendu dams were fully open and reiterated the need for a large upstream reservoir to help control flows.
She also relayed a message from MRC public security manager Julien Gagnon, who said minor to moderate flooding was expected in some areas. Residents were advised to take the situation seriously and stay informed.
Cooler weather, with overnight temperatures below freezing, was expected to provide some relief by slowing the upstream freshet during the week of April 20.
Gagnon advised affected residents to document everything and keep photos, receipts and invoices.
Transportation
The MRC shared updates on public transit.
Toller said TransporAction is receiving a new wheelchair-accessible bus with capacity for 18 passengers, expected to arrive in May.
MRC director general Kim Lesage announced a second bus has been added to the Transcollines 910 route serving the Pontiac. An early morning bus currently leaves L’Isle-aux-Allumettes at 5:17 am and arrives at the CEGEP in Gatineau at 7:30 am.
The new service runs between Aylmer and Campbell’s Bay, departing Campbell’s Bay at 7:53 am and returning at 4:08 pm. It also loops through Shawville with a stop at the hospital. Service began April 20.
Municipal court
The MRC has applied for funding from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to enter into an agreement with the MRCs des Collines, Papineau and Vallée-de-la-Gatineau to provide municipal court services.
Funding would come through the Municipal Cooperation and Governance component of the Regions and Rurality Fund (FRR 4). MRC des Collines would act as the lead organization and provide the service.
The municipal court for the MRC Pontiac would be held at the Campbell’s Bay courthouse. Speaking after the meeting, Toller said the service would improve bylaw enforcement.
Committee updates: Environment
The 2022 greenhouse gas emissions inventory has been completed. It includes data from municipalities on emissions from municipal buildings, vehicles and infrastructure.
An action plan addressing identified risks has been developed, and a bilingual public consultation is planned for early May before submission to the Ministry of Environment.
A bylaw outlining procedures for curbside recycling collection is also under review by municipal director generals. MRC environment manager Kari Richardson expects to present a draft to the committee in May.
Unified fire services
A transition and analysis committee has been formed to examine a potential merger of fire services into a four-sector structure.
The committee said any future model must maintain service levels, protect firefighters and the public, preserve local identity and reduce administrative duplication.
At a March 30 meeting, members reviewed several intermunicipal service models and further considered a four-sector unified structure. Additional data is needed before any decision is made.
Next steps include confirming municipal representatives, validating the four-sector approach, beginning a financial analysis and consulting external experts.
Canada Post
A resolution requested by the postal workers’ union sparked significant debate.
The resolution calls for an immediate halt to service cuts pending a full review of Canada Post’s mandate, including nationwide public consultations. Concerns raised included job losses, the end of home delivery, potential post office closures and changes to delivery standards.
It also calls on the federal government to explore alternative revenue sources, such as postal banking, electric vehicle charging stations and expanded local services.
Some mayors said the resolution favoured the union’s position.
Shawville Mayor Bill McCleary said, “The union wants to tie the government’s hands and not let them make any cuts. They won’t even look at ending daily or home delivery. Canada Post has to do something, or we won’t have a postal service.”
Thorne Mayor Terry Murdock added, “All that Canada Post is going to do is make sure that everybody has a mailbox at the corner. The alternative is to go bankrupt.”
Otter Lake Mayor Jennifer Quaile supported the resolution, saying it was important to consider how proposed changes would affect rural residents, seniors and people with disabilities.
Nine mayors voted in favour and eight opposed: Valerie Twolan-Graham (Bristol), Donald Gagnon (Chichester), Pierre Cyr (Fort-Coulonge), Corey Spence (L’Isle-aux-Allumettes), Sandra Armstrong (Mansfield), McCleary, Murdock and Jordan Evans (Waltham). Rapides-des-Joachims Mayor Roger Lafond was absent.
Although the resolution received a majority of votes from mayors, MRC decisions are typically governed by a double-majority system, requiring both a majority of mayors and a majority of the population represented.
In this case, the municipalities voting against the resolution represent a larger share of the population, raising questions about whether the second threshold was met.
Acting as a tie-breaker, Warden Toller cast a vote in favour of the resolution, causing it to pass. MRC clerk Travis Ladouceur said he will review the applicable rules and confirm the official result at the next plenary meeting.
Recyclable materials
Council approved a resolution allowing Crush Waste Management to assign its contract for the collection and transportation of recyclable materials to McGrimmon Cartage.
Crush was awarded the contract in August 2025 after initiating the purchase of McGrimmon Cartage, but the deal fell through last December.
The contract includes transporting recyclables from transfer stations to the Tricentris sorting centre in Gatineau, as well as container rentals for municipalities that do not own their own equipment.
The next council of mayors meeting is scheduled for May 21.
