Riding Profile

The Pontiac County is situated in the western part of the Outaouais. This county's limits are: in the west, the Temiscamingue;
in the north and the east, Gatineau County; and in the south, the Outaouais River which separates Quebec and Ontario.

The geomorphology of the Outaouais is of a plain and a dry plateau. The plain is pretty narrow and is surrounded by Montebello in the east, Allumettes Island in the west, the Ottawa River in the south and the Laurentian plateau in the north. The plateau has many stigmata caused
by erosion. It is dotted with hills that don't exceed a height of 400 metres and the plateau has of basins that are joined together by valleys.

Over a million years ago, the region lived through three periods that determined its present face. First of all, there was the arrival of big mountains chains during the Precambrian Era, then the big floods of the Palaeozoic Era caused some of the erosion that shaped the
Laurentians, and finally the slow moving glacial drift of the Quaternary period. It was only around 11 000 years before our time that the
glaciers finally started to melt and the first people settle came to in the Outaouais.

The Pontiac valley occupies only 10% of the whole area of the Outaouais region, but it has some very fertile soils and it represents the
biggest agricultural potential of the Outaouais Valley. The Laurentian plateau covers nine tenths of the territory, which include its rich
forests with its thousands of lakes which are drained by the Moine, Coulonge, Black and Quyon Rivers.

Economy

The Pontiac's economy is mainly based on the exploitation and the primary transformation of natural resources. The forest is characterized
by a heterogeneous population where the leafy trees are an important factor. The forests of the Pontiac have a strong exploitation potential
and many forest industries are taking advantage. According to a study done by the Ministry of Natural Resources in 1994, the region depends
on this industry for 92.3% of its jobs.

In the forest, we find an abundant and varied fauna which includes many species of mammals, water-fowl, insects, batrachian, etc. This vast territory is principally composed of public land and it is used for hunting, fishing, outdoors activities, boating, etc. This is the region's
commercial and tourist industry resource. The necessary sub-structures for the tourism industry are in full development and many tourist
projects are on their way to being finished. For example, the opening of the Ottawa River (waterway), the management of the interpretation
site of the Coulonge Falls and the management of the PPJ Cyclopark (old railroad).

The agricultural environment also makes up an important part of the regional economy. The fertile lands of a territory maintain the large cultivation, and the extensive breeding, mostly of cattle. Also, the Pontiac is placed first in Quebec for cattle breeding.

For transportation, the regional Municipality of Pontiac County is relatively well served. The municipalities are linked to the national net through Highway 148, and to the regional net through Highways 301, 303, and the 366. Those roads are the spine of the transportation system for Pontiac's residents.

Population

The population of the Pontiac is about 15 736 inhabitants. Since the 1970s, the population decreased, but at the moment this has stabilized.
The population of the Pontiac can be characterized by an exodus of youth, the return of people 35 years and over, and the aging of seniors.

Population: 89 950
Number of electors on the list: 77 772
Area: 30 959 km2


Map of the Riding of Pontiac:
http://www.elections.ca/scripts/pss/maps/C24050.pdf


Municipalities in the Riding of Pontiac

1. Aumond: http://www.mrcvg.qc.ca/textes/mun-aumond.shtml
2. Blue Sea: http://www.mrcvg.qc.ca/textes/mun-bluesea.shtml
3. Bristol: bristolmunicipality.com
4. Bryson: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=9
5. Bois-Franc: http://www.mrcvg.qc.ca/textes/mun-boisfranc.shtml
6. Bouchette: http://www.mrcvg.qc.ca/textes/mun-bouchette.shtml
7. Campbell's Bay: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=10
8. Cantley: http://www.cantley.ca/
9. Cayamant: http://www.mrcvg.qc.ca/textes/mun-cayamant.shtml
10. Chelsea: http://www.chelsea.ca/
11. Chichester: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=12
12. Clarendon: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=14
13. Danford Lake: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=15
14. Déléage: http://www.mrcvg.qc.ca/textes/mun-deleage.shtml
15. Denholm: http://www.mrcvg.qc.ca/textes/mun-denholm.shtml
16. Egan Sud: http://www.mrcvg.qc.ca/textes/mun-egansud.shtml
17. Fort Coulonge: http://www.fortcoulonge.qc.ca/
18. Gracefield: http://www.mrcvg.qc.ca/textes/mun-gracefield.shtml
19. Grand-Remous: http://www.mrcvg.qc.ca/textes/mun-grandremous.shtml
20. Île aux Alumettes: www.isle-aux-allumettes.com
21. Kazabazua: http://www.mrcvg.qc.ca/textes/mun-kazabazua.shtml
22. L'Ange-Gardien: http://www.ville.lange-gardien.qc.ca/
23. Lac-Ste-Marie: http://www.mrcvg.qc.ca/textes/mun-lacstemarie.shtml
24. La Pêche: http://www.villelapeche.qc.ca/
25. L'Île du Grand Calumet: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=17
26. Litchfield: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=18
27. Low: www.lowquebec.ca
28. Maniwaki: www.ville.maniwaki.qc.ca
29. Mansfield: http://www.mansfield-pontefract.qc.ca/
30. Messines: www.messines.ca/
31. Montcerf-Lytton: www.montcerf-lytton.com
32. Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette
33. Otter Lake, Leslie, Clapham et Huddersfield: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=19
34. Pontiac: http://www.munpontiac.com/
35. Portage-du-Fort: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=20
36. Rapides-des-Joachims: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=21
37. Shawville: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=22
38. Sheenboro, Sheen, Esher et Malakoff: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=23
39. Ste-Thérèse-de-la-Gatineau: http://www.mrcvg.qc.ca/textes/mun-stetherese.shtml
40. Thorne: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=23
41. Val-des-Monts: http://www.val-des-monts.net/
42. Waltham: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=26

 

MRC in the Riding of Pontiac

1. MRC des Collines: http://www.mrcdescollines.com/
2. MRC du Pontiac: http://www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/
3. MRC Vallée de la Gatineau: http://www.mrcvg.qc.ca/