The people have spoken, though not as many as organizers were hoping for.
A public meeting last week aimed at giving residents of Rapides des Joachims a say on whether the municipality should move forward with securing a “remote” status designation from the province had a turnout of about 20 people, according to Mayor Roger Lafond.
“It wasn’t as big as I thought,” Lafond told the NRT.
“I was hoping for lots of people.”
Lafond campaigned on securing remote status during last fall’s municipal election, and told the NRT after being elected head of council that official recognition would entitle the municipality to increased funding from the provincial government.
It would also help the municipality in its quest for a policing agreement with either the Ontario Provincial Police or the Deep River Police Service.
As things stand now, neighbouring police services in Ontario can respond to urgent situations in Rapides des Joachims, but can only act in a limited capacity until officers from the Surete du Quebec arrive on scene from Campbell’s Bay, which is 90 minutes away on a good day.
MRC Pontiac recently passed a resolution supporting the municipality’s request to be recognized by the province of Quebec as a remote and isolated community.
Despite the low turnout at last week’s public meeting, Lafond said the people who did show up all signed a letter of support for the village to move forward with its push for remote status.
And the mayor said he will be seeking more signatures on the letter of support from Swisha residents who did not attend the meeting.
“I’m going to go to every house, if I have to,” he said.
Once that’s done, he plans on presenting them to both Pontiac MNA Andre Fortin and the riding’s Member of Parliament, Sophie Chatel, asking for their support in the matter…
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