Author: Mickael

COURTESY TRANSLATION

Alma, October 22, 2025 – The Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean Regional Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development (CREDD), Environnement Côte-Nord, and the Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technologies (Centre TERRE) at Cégep de Jonquière announce that they have secured nearly $300,000 in funding to carry out a major research, outreach, and training project to reduce the use of non-renewable energy on public land north of the 49th parallel.

Public land occupies a very important place in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, North Shore, and Northern Quebec regions and includes tens of thousands of cottages with leases. Since most buildings are not connected to Hydro-Québec’s grid, generators (gasoline or diesel) and propane are often used to supply buildings with electricity and heating. In addition, the use of existing equipment, such as solar panels, is not optimal.

This project has two components, both of which aim to contribute to reducing the use of non-renewable energy sources:

1. Developing a portrait of the energy situation north of the 49th parallel

Using the online tool monchaletvert.com, the data collected will be used to flesh out the energy portrait of small installations north of the 49th parallel.

2. Information and outreach to users of public land north of the 49th parallel

2.1. Creation of a practical guide

In order to optimize daily consumption, a practical guide focused on the operation and maintenance of photovoltaic systems will be developed with the following objectives:

To provide a reminder of the different photovoltaic systems and their components;
To use a renewable energy system more efficiently in order to reduce generator use;
To maintain the photovoltaic system in order to extend its life (photovoltaic panel, battery, interconnection, etc.) and optimize its performance.

2.2 Training on renewable energy

Appropriate training will be provided in the various regions by June 2026. The theoretical component will be made available online, and a one-day in-person session will be scheduled in each of the three regions: Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Côte-Nord, and Nord-du-Québec.

2.3 Activities to disseminate results

The planned activities are:

A webinar for anyone who wants to use a simple method to size a new photovoltaic system based on the user’s daily consumption and period of operation.
Two webinars aimed at the general public and businesses interested in learning more about renewable energy and this project.
A conference on the results of this project, including the profiles created. The event will be finalized in the coming months and will be held in 2026.
Other activities may be added as opportunities arise.

This project would not have been possible without the financial support of the Société du Plan Nord through the Fonds d’initiatives nordiques, the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE) through the – Research and Innovation Organization Support Program – Support for Research and Innovation Infrastructure Funding (PSO, Component 4), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Cégep de Jonquière, MRC de Maria-Chapdelaine, MRC du Fjord-du-Saguenay, MRC de Manicouagan, MRC de Sept-Rivières, MRC de Caniapiscau, MRC de la Haute-Côte-Nord, and MRC du Golfe-du-St-Laurent.

Quotes:
I am proud of this project, which allows us to continue our efforts to reduce GHGs north of the 49th parallel and thus contribute to a smaller ecological footprint in this sensitive territory.

– Tommy Tremblay, Executive Director, CREDD Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean

The Centre TERRE at Cégep de Jonquière is proud to contribute to advancing knowledge acquisition and transfer in the field of renewable energy in isolated areas. This is a concrete example of how research can lead to solutions to real problems.

– Mr. Martin Bourbonnais, Head of the TERRE Center at Cégep de Jonquière

We are pleased to be participating in this project, as the North Shore region has many facilities on public land. I would like to thank all of our partners, especially the Société du Plan Nord for their financial support.

– Mr. Sébastien Caron, Executive Director of Environnement Côte-Nord

For more information:
Mr. Luc Chiasson
Director of Operations
CREDD Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
luc.chiasson@creddsaglac.com
418-480-8765

Ms. Samuelle Durocher
Project Manager
Environnement Côte-Nord
sdurocher@crecn.org
418-962-6362, ext. 8410

Mr. Louis-Michel Tremblay
Director of Communications
Cégep de Jonquière
louis-micheltremblay@cegepjonquiere.ca
418-540-8556

Update : September 30, 8:20 AM

Chevery, May 27, 2025 – Determined to break the chronic isolation of the Lower North Shore, the MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent is launching an analysis detailing the advantages and necessity of completing Route 138.

This measure is part of a series of initiatives taken by the MRC to advance this crucial issue for our region, including the hiring last fall of a development coordinator dedicated to the file, whose main role is to establish working relationships with all the players involved in the file of the completion of Route 138.

“Unfortunately, we can’t go back and rewrite the history of Route 138. We have to look to the future and change the narrative based on today’s economic and social realities. Fortunately, we, along with our Native neighbors, occupy a vast and generous territory with a wealth of resources in high-demand sectors such as energy, mining, fisheries, forestry and tourism. Exploiting these resources could yield major spin-offs for our region and for the entire province”.

– Glen McKinnon, Route 138 Development Coordinator for the MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent

The analysis will be carried out in collaboration with the Institut de recherches en économie contemporaine (IRÉC) and the public relations firm Mercure, and will be presented to the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable with the opportunities study document produced by the Groupe mobilité Basse-Côte-Nord.

Investing to connect: gains far beyond the North Shore

The MRC’s study aims to detail how the lack of a road link affects Quebec’s economy, and will focus on elements less studied to date, such as the cost of our isolation to the province of Quebec.

“Our territory is immense, rich in history, culture and resources. There’s a universal truth that time is money, so why is it that the population of the Lower North Shore has had to wait decades for the infrastructure that would allow it to exploit its resources and contribute to the vitality of the province’s economy? Who benefits from our isolation?”

– Glen McKinnon, Route 138 Development Coordinator for the MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent

The Quebec government’s lack of investment in the North Shore’s Road infrastructure is an injustice that residents have been experiencing for decades. The region contributes more than $9 billion to the province’s GDP (2022), and infrastructure investments barely exceed $300 million per year (2024-2026). This injustice makes the situation particularly critical on the Lower North Shore, where the lack of investment means that the population is trapped by substandard air and maritime transportation.

The MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent will therefore continue its mobilization efforts to advance this crucial project for the future of our territory.

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Source : Mrs. Gladys Driscoll Martin
Warden
418 787-2016
info@mrcgsl.ca

Each month, the MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent will share with you the highlights of the Council meeting to better inform the population about the work of the MRC Council.

Chevery, May 1, 2025 – The population of the MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent will elect a warden by universal suffrage in the next municipal elections. The MRC Council of Mayors has decided to change the suffrage method for electing the Warden during an extraordinary session on May 1, 2025.

« The MRC has decided to take a major step towards change by adopting this by-law concerning the election of the warden by universal suffrage. »
– Gladys Driscoll Martin, Warden of the MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent and mayor of Saint-Augustin

« This decision shows our commitment to developing the Lower North Shore and creating a brighter future for generations to come. »
– Colin Shattler, mayor of Blanc-Sablon

« This formula will be beneficial because it will allow the Warden to work full time on regional files. »
– Dale Roberts Keats, mayor of Bonne-Espérance

« The mayors will focus on their municipalities; the warden will get a head start on regional issues. It’s time to catch up to the rest of the province. »
– Gena Chubbs, mayor of Gros-Mécatina

« This decision is an opening towards the future and the development of the region. This represents increased citizen participation and, in my opinion, an important turning point in regional democracy! »
– Chantale Otis, administrator of the municipality of Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent

The next municipal elections will be held on November 2, 2025. Information regarding the candidacy process will be shared at a later date.

Source : Mrs. Gladys Driscoll Martin
Warden
418 787-2016
info@mrcgsl.ca

AUX CONTRIBUABLES DE LA MUNICIPALITÉ RÉGIONALE DE COMTÉ DU GOLFE-DU-SAINT-LAURENT

PROMULGATION DU RÈGLEMENT NO 18-AR982-2025