The Pontiac MRC is participating in the implementation of a flood adaptation plan.

The Pontiac MRC is participating in the implementation of a flood adaptation plan.

Last July, the Pontiac MRC announced the launch of a project to develop a flood adaptation plan for the region after receiving $50,000 in financial assistance from the Quebec government. This investment by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAMH) is part of the Flood Protection Plan and is primarily aimed at finding sustainable solutions. The MRC has formed a partnership with the Conseil Régional de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable de l’Outaouais (CREDDO) to coordinate the project and lead a working committee.

“The floods of 2017 and 2019 took a heavy toll on our communities, but they also cemented our determination to take action. Thanks to the support of the Quebec government and the mobilization of our partners, this adaptation plan will enable us to protect our citizens, our built heritage, and our agricultural land while preparing a more resilient Pontiac for future generations,” said Jane Toller, Prefect of the Pontiac MRC.

 

This two-year project (2025-2027) aims to develop a flood adaptation plan for the Pontiac Regional County Municipality. Ultimately, it will define strategies for implementing resilient and sustainable solutions that aim to enhance the safety of people and protect property. Flooding in the Pontiac has had socioeconomic consequences, including damage to the built environment (e.g., demolition of residential and commercial buildings, vacant lots, etc.) and the psychosocial health of communities (e.g., post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, etc.). “At a time when the past no longer guarantees the future, we must adapt and collectively prepare our territory for flooding. Thanks to close collaboration with municipalities and local stakeholders, we have the opportunity to build a promising strategy, rooted in the reality of the Pontiac and geared toward resilience,” said CREDDO Executive Director Benoit Delage. Over the next two years, the ADAP-Floods committee will meet regularly to develop objectives and actions for the territory’s flood adaptation plan, while ensuring their consistency with existing planning tools, to gather available documentation (data, studies conducted) concerning the issue of flooding, and provide expertise in terms of knowledge of the environment and land use planning.