The history of Regional County Municipalities (MRC)
MRCs were set up in 1979 under the Urban Planning and Land Use Act (LAU) to be responsible for land development. They replaced the former county corporations which originated with the creation of Quebec's first municipal institutions in 1855. Unlike county corporations, MRCs bring together municipalities regulated by the Cities and Towns Act (LCV) and those regulated by the Municipal Code.
Under the LAU, the Pontiac MRC has compulsory jurisdiction over:
- Adoption and maintenance of a development plan
- Land Use Planning and Development Plan review
- Enforcement of compliance measures
- Adoption of certain urban planning regulations for non organized territories (TNO)
Under another act, the Pontiac MRC has compulsory jurisdiction over:
- Waterways and lakes
- Preparation of real estate assessment rolls
- Property sale for non payment of taxes
- Administration of TNOs
- Management of the Waste Water Disposal and Treatment regulation
- Waste management plan
- Risk management framework
- Civil protection plans
- Aquatic territories
- Nomination of a mediator under the LPTAA
- Establishment of management and follow-up indicators
(Excerpt from La municipalité régionale de comté: Compétences et responsabilités published in March 2007. The document is available in French only on the Municipal and Regional Affairs Ministry website.)
