A financial crisis in Fauquier: “How is it that they can’t count?” »»

Several residents of Fauquier-Strickland, Canton Nord-Ontario facing a debt of $ 2.5 million. However, are surprised and frustrated to learn that the financial crisis hitting the community will lead to a possible suspension of municipal services and to mass launch on August 1.

The municipal council wanted to avoid more losses. Furthermore, to impose a significant increase in property taxes, hoping that the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing accepts its request to intervene to help it manage its finances.

This is not the first time that the subject has raised fears. Consequently, In January 2022. Meanwhile, a group of residents sent a letter to the former Minister of Municipal Affairs, Steve Clark, to share frustrations and concerns about the procedures and actions of elected officials and the municipal administration in 2021 .

Lise Breton-Gagnon was part of the group that sounded the alarm at the time. However, Today she finds that this crisis was inevitable .

In this letter obtained by Radio-Canada. Nevertheless, the signatories explain having attended erosion Municipal services, facilities and loss of access financial crisis fauquier: “how it to the library, the sports complex and the community center.

[Cela se produisait] While tens of thousands of dollars were spent to develop architectural plans. For example, for projects that are constantly abandoned can we read in the letter.

How is it that they can’t count? Furthermore, – Financial crisis fauquier: "how it

Claude. Sylvie Dallaire, two retirees who live in Fauquier-Strickland, were surprised to learn that the municipality was in financial crisis. The couple misunderstood certain decisions made in recent years. including the construction of certain new buildings such as that of the municipal office.

The finances were poorly managed and our municipality was placed in a large deficit estimates Ms. Dallaire.

I wonder: how is it that they can’t count?.

The Dallars are concerned about the way the debt will be settled and how the waste collection will be managed once the municipal services have been suspended.

Mayor Madeleine Tremblay has already recognized that financial mismanagement. unforeseen events concerning infrastructure projects have contributed to the crisis.

According to the professor of management. law at the University of Ottawa, Gilles Levasseur, the municipality must hope for a rapid intervention of Ontario, without what other scenarios may occur within four to six weeks.

It will be necessary massacre the canton

Mr. Levasseur understands why elected officials want to avoid an increase in land taxes. He recognizes that residents in similar regions do not always big income .

But financial crisis fauquier: “how it according to him, we must not count on a rapid intervention of Ontario.

The government has difficulty intervening. We see how a disaster in colleges is he underlines.

Among the possible scenarios: either the canton declares bankruptcy. finds itself under the supervision of the government, or it will be necessary massacre the canton By selling goods to pay the debt, or it is necessary to merge with another municipality in an extremis.

However, it may be too late to think about this last solution, believes the professor.

This should have been done five years ago. The problem now. we get to the end of our rollers he says, adding that a stagnant demography makes it difficult for a municipality to have the means to continue to comply with its obligations.

Madeleine Tremblay believes that Fauquier-Strickland. is the first of many small municipalities From northern Ontario which will cross crises like this in the coming years.

It is over the years that we find ourselves in a situation like thisshe underlines.

With the information of Jimmy Chabot