The final version of the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent’s strategic vision statement was adopted by the members of the regional council during their regular meeting on May 20 in Huntingdon.
The statement outlines the hopes and expectations for the MRC and its future development to the year 2050. The process to elaborate the text, which began over a year ago, is part of the ongoing work to revise the regional government’s land-use and development plan.
A draft of the vision statement was approved by the regional council in November of 2025. The first version was produced following an extensive consultation process involving over 100 citizens from municipal, economic, cultural, and environmental organizations and groups.
A series of public consultations on the draft statement also took place earlier this year in the municipalities of Dundee, Hinchinbrooke, Ormstown, Saint-Anicet, Saint-Chrysostome, and the town of Huntingdon. These meetings were led by MRC project manager Claudia André, who is responsible for the revision of the land-use and development plan.
André confirmed that the consultations yielded numerous comments and proposals, which were summarized in a report that was presented to the regional council at the time of adoption. The original text was then adapted to reflect some of the information and priorities brought forward during these gatherings.
“The changes made to the draft vision primarily concern the protection of ecosystems, biodiversity, and water resources; the vitality of economic sectors, particularly those related to tourism; and the sustainability of agricultural land,” André explained.
Hot topics such as concerns regarding water availability and its sustainable use as well as the possibility of wind farm development within the Haut-Saint-Laurent are somewhat addressed in the final version. According to André, “An introductory paragraph, aimed at adopting an ecosystem-based planning approach that supports water protection, seeks to address certain concerns.”
The regional council is also working to incorporate residents’ concerns as part of the plan’s overall revision, such as wind energy development, which is currently restricted by the MRC’s interim control measures in effect.
André said the 13 mayors also participated in the elaboration of the final version. “The regional council took ownership of the vision statement by proposing adjustments that allowed them to better identify with the adopted statement,” she said.
The council’s approval effectively completes the collaborative process of developing the vision statement in compliance with the Act respecting land-use planning and development. The next step in the revision process will involve the establishment of specific planning objectives.
“Courses of action and a monitoring mechanism will follow, and all of this will be integrated into a first draft of the revised land-use and development plan, which is scheduled for adoption in 2027,” said André.