"We're at a crossroads... It's going to unite us, or divide us". For the mayor of Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot, Danie Deschênes, the mandate given to a law firm to conduct a study in connection with a major restructuring of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC is an opportunity to open the discussion.

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"In my opinion, this is an opportunity to review what's important for the region. We're an expensive MRC that doesn't satisfy all the towns. It's important to point out that there are currently no signed commitments. There is a process of reflection underway," she confided to Néomédia on Thursday. 

On January 29, Néomédia published an exclusive article on the process undertaken by certain towns in the MRC to analyze the possibility of dividing the MRC according to whether or not it joined the CMM (Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal). 

Comprising 23 towns, the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC includes 11 towns in the CMM. These are L'Île-Perrot, Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot, Pincourt, Terrasse-Vaudreuil, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac, L'Île-Cadieux, Pointe-des-Cascades, Les Cèdres, Hudson and Saint-Lazare.

Ultimately, the project, if accepted by the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation, would bring these 11 towns together in a new RCM. 

"All the mayors of the cities included in the CMM were invited to discuss the idea. I can confirm that meetings were held with elected officials and general managers, and that everyone agreed to give the mandate to the experts. At the moment, only one municipality disagrees," said a source familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity.

For Ms. Deschênes, it's clear that a regional discussion is needed. "To date, there have been no meetings between the 23 mayors on this subject. Rather than talking separately, my wish, as mayor, is that all elected representatives sit down together to discuss and question each other. Apart from separating from the MRC, are there other avenues that would suit everyone?There are clearly issues to be addressed before we announce the separation.We're at a crossroads.We need to ask ourselves what we want for the region and find common ground."

Saint-Lazare mayor Geneviève Lachance agrees. "It's an interesting concept overall that deserves to be explored, but we can't commit ourselves or take a position until we've grasped all the impacts, positive and negative... It's extremely complicated and I think it's going to be a long process.It's extremely complicated, and in my opinion, it's going to be a long process. Many discussions must take place not only between the 11 municipalities of the CMM, but also between the 23 municipalities of Vaudreuil-Soulanges," she said by e-mail.

Back to basics

One of the reasons for the discussions being held by the elected representatives of the towns included in the CMM is the fact that they pay twice for certain competencies.

By law, cities included in the CMM are obliged to contribute to the CMM for planning, economic development, artistic and cultural development, social housing, metropolitan facilities, public transit, waste management and the environment. 

On the other hand, the law requires towns within an MRC to pay quotas, this time to the MRC, for the following competencies: development, management of watercourses and hydric environments, assessment roles, waste management and elaboration of the risk coverage plan. 

However, in addition to these compulsory responsibilities, all the towns in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC pay for economic development, artistic and cultural development and social housing.In the end, the 11 towns included in the MRC pay twice for six competencies. 

"We have an MRC that has acquired a lot of regional competencies, so yes, the CMM cities pay twice and assume the lion's share of regional bills.I'm thinking, for example, of geomatics. We have a very large geomatics department at the MRC. The problem is that the CMM towns pay for it to the CMM and the MRC. Do we really need all this? We're due to sit down and validate whether, in 2024, we need to pay for all this. There are regional competencies that could clearly become municipal," says Danie Deschênes.

Strength in numbers

Comprising 23 entities with different realities, Vaudreuil-Soulanges is the second largest MRC in Quebec in terms of the number of municipalities. The diversity of its territory, both urban and agricultural, poses major challenges for the council.

"It's sometimes difficult to move forward and define a regional vision, especially when these 23 municipalities present such different realities. Our ultimate goal, as elected officials, is to make the best possible decision for our citizens, which is why we are currently in the data-gathering phase," stresses Saint-Lazare's mayor.

"We have to look at things pragmatically and consider our regional importance.Strength in numbers counts when you want to speak to Quebec City.Our voice is stronger with 23 entities, that's obvious," explains Danie Deschênes. "A separation would also have a major impact on our tourism, community and cultural organizations, to name but a few.We're all important within the MRC, we just have to see it," she adds.

Next steps

At present, the file has been entrusted to a legal firm to assess the feasibility of creating a new MRC. This is the first phase. Meetings are also planned with the municipal councils of the towns involved, after which it will be up to them to pass resolutions saying whether or not they agree to go ahead. 

"While maintaining the status quo is always easier, I think it's important to always look for ways to improve and do better, whether as one RCM with 23 municipalities or as two separate RCMs....To be continued", concludes Geneviève Lachance.