MRC de Pontiac Family Policy - Guiding Principles

The MRC Pontiac's Family Policy uses an approach based on life cycle needs to adequately meet the needs of individuals and their families in the context of their community.

The family policy requires partnerships with community players to achieve the optimal management of our infrastructures and our human and natural resources, by means of complementary actions that function well together. Partnerships allow for a necessary balance between the various living spaces, private and public, work and family, education and employment, and the balance of time and financial resources.

The partnership of elected officials, Public Institutions, Community Organizations, Private Business, and citizens, allow us to remember that we are all citizens of a collective space, the MRC Pontiac and our town, and also citizens of a private space : the family.

What is the Municipal Family Policy

A municipal family policy (MFP) is a document that outlines a vision, objectives and an action plan for families and seniors. This document is consulted by council members to guide their decisions concerning the well-being of families and seniors in their community.

Why a MFP?

Adapt municipal services to families, young and older adults, by supporting the creation of a community conducive to their well-being.

MFP Implementation Steps

1. Program registration. Municipalities wishing to participate in the program must apply to the Ministère de la Family et des Aînés.
2. Create a family committee. Upon acceptance to the program, the municipality must create a family committee composed of community partners and citizens representing families, teens and seniors.
3. Once the family committee is in place, it takes inventory of the community's services, activities and resources available to its families and seniors, and looks at what can be adapted or initiated on their behalf.
4. Mission, objectives and action plan by municipality.
5. Public Consultations. The family committee's proposed plans are submitted to citizens for their views, ideas, improvements and recommendations.
6. Council approval. Once everything is completed, the policy and proposed action plan is presented at council for adoption.
7. Family committee follow-up. The family committee monitors the action plan and may make recommendations to council over time.

Participating Municipalities and Officials

Each municipality appoints one elected official as the person responsible for family issues (RFI). The RFI works with the family committee, which is made up of community partners, to prepare the content of the family policy.

Family Committee Mandate

• Write the MFP within 18 months;
• Consult citizens on issues of family and seniors;;
• Propose to municipal council the contents of the MFP, a three year action plan and associated budgets;;
• Once the MFP is adopted, monitor to ensure the continuity and sustainability of the policy, and recommend annual priorities at municipal council;
• Support municipal council in discussions affecting families and seniors;
• Help council develop a "Think and Act Family" mentality in all actions within the scope of the municipality and in any proposed new project;
• Participate in the promotion of the MFP with all other MRC Pontiac family committees.

The five family committees

• Fort-Coulonge and Mansfield-et-Pontefract
• Otter Lake and Thorne
• Shawville and Portage-du-Fort
• L'Isle-aux-Allumettes and Waltham
• Bryson, Campbell's Bay, Ile-du-Grand-Calumet and Litchfield

Questions and information

Melanie Pieschke, Commissioner rural developement
MRC de Pontiac, 819-648-5689 ext. 126
mpieschke.cld@mrcpontiac.qc.ca

Family Committees

Les comités familles

Fort-Coulonge and Mansfield-et-Pontefract Community

Otter Lake and Thorne Community

Shawville and Portage-du-Fort Community

L'Isle-aux-Allumettes and Waltham Community

Bryson, Campbell's Bay, Ile-du-Grand-Calumet and Litchfield Community