Dear residents of the Pontiac,
We are so delighted that the vaccination process has begun in the Pontiac. As of March 11th, at the Campbell’s Bay RA Centre, there are 6 stations set up for the COVID-19 vaccination. They expect to accommodate 6 people per hour, 5 days a week, 7 hours a day. Their first goal is to be able to vaccinate 200 people per day, but the CISSSO are quite certain that, as time goes on, they will improve that number. The process begins with people over the age of 85, moving on to between 80 and 84, and they are now taking appointments for people over 70. There are two options for making an appointment: you can visit http://xn--qubec-csa.ca/covidvaccine or you can call 1-877-644-4545. We are so fortunate to have a central location in the Pontiac that is convenient for everyone. I visited the vaccination site alongside Mayor Maurice Beauregard last week and their set up was quite impressive. The MRC and TransporAction Pontiac are working with the municipalities to ensure that any vulnerable people without means of transportation will be able to get to their vaccination appointment. All costs will be reimbursed by the CISSSO. I am glad to know that our number of cases continues to be very low. As of today, we have had 32 historic cases since March 2020. The virus has only touched 8 of our 18 municipalities, which is due to the vigilance and determination of the great people who live here. Yesterday, March 10th, was the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of COVID‑19. A ceremony was held outside of the Quebec parliament to honour and pay tribute to the victims of COVID‑19, as well as to their families and friends. I am happy to know that many of you respected the moment of silence at 1 p.m. to honour the lives lost throughout this pandemic.
This week we received great news from Hydro-Québec, the long-awaited reconstruction of the Bryson Dam is going to begin this spring and will run until 2023. This will be great for economic development in the Pontiac because restaurant, accommodation, and retail businesses will benefit from the out-of-town workers staying in our area. I have confirmed with Hydro-Québec that they will be offering local jobs (carpentry, construction, etc.) for the project. When we receive notice of these positions, they will be advertised on the MRC website. Another opportunity for local jobs with Hydro is the vegetation control unit. The cutting of trees and branches around hydro lines has a direct impact on decreasing power outages in our region. Hydro-Québec have informed us that our number of hours for outages has decreased by 7 in the last year with the help of this unit. We unfortunately still have, on average, 26 hours of outages a year. I have asked that priority be given to Pontiac entrepreneurs, landscaping companies, and forestry workers, etc. when applying for these positions.
I’d like to remind you that the Municipal/Regional Forum will be held virtually on ZOOM on Monday, March 22nd at 6 p.m. This forum is for non-elected people who want to learn more about the MRC and municipal proceedings. Registration in advance is required and you can do so on the MRC website at this link: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/en/registration-virtual-municipal-regional-information-forum/. Kim Cartier-Villeneuve, Mayor of Otter Lake and Pro-Warden of the MRC, will be discussing the many municipal responsibilities and services that a mayor and councillor undertake in their posts. This will be coming from an Otter Lake perspective, as all municipalities can be different, but many of the duties are similar. A representative of the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation (MAMH) will also be present to speak about municipal responsibilities and procedures. I will discuss the many aspects of my Warden position and the mandate and duties of the MRC as a whole.
The next sitting of the TNO council and the Regional Council of Mayors will be held on March 17, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. on ZOOM. The meeting will be broadcast as usual on Facebook Live from the MRC Pontiac page, we invite you to tune in. There is a form on the MRC website where you can submit your questions for the Public Question Period at the beginning of the meeting. The deadline for submissions is on Monday, March 15th at midnight. You can do so at this link: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/en/public-questions-for-the-tno-council-and-the-regional-council-of-mayors-held-on-march-17-2021/
Please continue to keep the health of the Pontiac in your thoughts and prayers. I hope you all enjoy the warmer weather and have a wonderful weekend!
-Jane Toller
