MRC de Papineau: services, programs and news

What the MRC does

Property assessment: The MRC is in charge of the assessment rolls for every municipality, and has contracted the work to Servitech since 1980, with a local office in Papineauville. If you disagree with your assessment, they suggest talking it over with Servitech first, then filing a review request on the official form (in person or by registered mail, with the fee set by bylaw). Forms are available in English. →
Regional land-use planning: The MRC maintains the land-use and development plan (schéma d'aménagement), which sets the broad zoning for the region and the rules every town's planning bylaws have to follow: farmland, shorelines, flood zones, tree cutting. A rewrite is under way; a draft of the first two parts was tabled in May 2026. →
Business support (Réseau Accès PME): The economic development team helps people starting, buying or growing a business: project feedback, financing plans, grants and loans, and a toolbox of resources. Best move is to call them before you fill out any forms. →
Funds and programs (FRR and others): The MRC manages several funding pots, including Québec's Fonds régions et ruralité (FRR), which pays for regional projects, support for struggling communities and business grants. Calls for projects are posted on the Funds and programs page. →
Paratransit and shared rides: The MRC has held responsibility for shared and adapted transportation since 2009, but the day-to-day service is run by the Corporation des transports adapté et collectif de Papineau under an agreement. For bookings and routes, contact them directly (tacpapineau.ca). →
Waste management: The MRC writes the regional waste management plan (PGMR 2023-2030), which sets recycling and compost targets for every town. The area's garbage is trucked to the landfill in Lachute, since there's no disposal site in the Outaouais. For pickup schedules and drop-off sites, check with your municipality. →
Waterways: The MRC is legally responsible for keeping streams and rivers flowing. In practice, each town has a designated person, so for a blockage, a beaver dam or work in a waterway, call your municipality first. →
Fire safety and fire risk plan: Since 2011 the MRC has run a regional fire prevention service that inspects higher-risk buildings and does public education. It also coordinates firefighter training and the regional fire risk coverage plan, in force since May 2019. →
911 and trail emergencies (SUMI): 911 calls from the area are answered by the MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais call centre. Along the 847 km of snowmobile and ATV trails, numbered signs help rescuers find you, so keep track of the last one you passed. →
Municipal court: Traffic, parking and off-road vehicle tickets issued in Papineau are handled by the MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais municipal court. Hearings are held at Papineauville town hall, 188 rue Jeanne-d'Arc: October 23, November 20 and December 8, 2026, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Toll-free: 1-833-477-2687. →
Tax sales: Once a year the MRC auctions properties with unpaid municipal taxes (the 2026 sale was June 4). Owners can pull their property by paying before the auction, and still have one year after the sale to buy it back. Registration forms are bilingual. →
Arts and heritage: The MRC keeps the inventory of heritage buildings built before 1940, helps parishes and towns trying to save or repurpose a church, and runs a heritage fund. A $1.56M agreement with Québec signed in 2026 helps restore, among others, the Montebello church and the old rectories in Montpellier and Papineauville. →
Tourisme Petite Nation: The MRC runs Tourisme Petite Nation: the petitenationoutaouais.com website, the regional events calendar, the printed maps (Petite Nation, Montebello, Cycl-O-Route) and the tourism newsletter. It also helps event organizers, and is aiming for 1.5 million visitors a year by 2030. →
Housing and renovation: A housing officer works on the affordable housing shortage. On behalf of the SHQ, the MRC also runs RénoRégion (major repairs for lower-value homes) and the home adaptation program for people with disabilities. →
Public land and cottage leases: The MRC manages cottage leases, sand and gravel pits, and the small public land parcels inside municipalities. Cottage lots on Crown land are handed out by lottery, and there are no new ones available right now. →
Bowman Forest Regional Park: A regional park of nearly 700 hectares of public land in Bowman, with seven lakes, six hills, lookouts, old-growth stands and climbing walls. Hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing. →
Agri-food and L'ARTERRE: An agricultural officer supports farms and new farmers. L'ARTERRE, a free service, matches would-be farmers with landowners or farms with no successor. The MRC also runs the Agro Lab Petite Nation, which gave birth to the Petite-Monnaie local currency. →
Social and community development: The MRC coordinates the Table de développement social Papineau (food security, school success), backs the Corporation des loisirs de Papineau and has a youth strategy. Its site also has resource directories for families and for local CLSC services. →
Pharmacy hours: Handy page listing hours and phone numbers for the pharmacies in Chénéville, Papineauville, Ripon and Saint-André-Avellin. →

Programs and funding

Fonds tremplin (start-up and buyout grant): Non-repayable grant up to $5,000 (50% of eligible costs max). A business plan and financial forecasts are required. (For : People starting or buying a business · deadline En continu, jusqu'à épuisement des fonds) →
Fonds horizon durable (sustainability grant): Up to $5,000 for sustainability projects (50% of costs, 80% for social economy enterprises). (For : Private businesses and social economy enterprises · deadline En continu, jusqu'à épuisement des fonds) →
Digital and tech upgrade grant (ADN): Up to $5,000 for a website, digital tools or new technology when a business's digital side is missing or outdated. (For : Private businesses and social economy enterprises · deadline En continu, jusqu'à épuisement des fonds) →
Consultant fund: Up to $5,000 toward hiring a specialized professional (50% of costs, 80% for social economy enterprises). (For : Local businesses · deadline En continu, jusqu'à épuisement des fonds) →
Social economy development fund: Up to $10,000 (80% of costs max) for collective projects that meet a community need. (For : Non-profits and co-ops (CDROL social economy certification required) · deadline En continu, jusqu'à épuisement des fonds) →
Local investment funds (FLI and FLS loans): Loans to start, expand, buy or stabilize a business: up to $150,000 from the FLI and $100,000 from the FLS per project. (For : Businesses based in, or moving to, the MRC (Québec enterprise number required) · deadline En continu) →
Emergency SME aid – U.S. tariffs (PAUPME): A loan or loan guarantee to keep the business going. The MRC handles the applications. (For : Small businesses hurt by U.S. tariffs · deadline 2028-03-31) →
RénoRégion (home repair grant): Covers up to 95% of major repairs (roof, foundation, windows, wiring, plumbing...), capped at $20,000 or $25,000 depending on the household. Have your tax returns and property tax bill ready. (For : Owner-occupants of homes assessed at $150,000 or less) →
Home adaptation program (PAD): Financial help to make a home accessible. Run by the MRC for the SHQ. (For : People with disabilities) →
Éconologis: Free energy-saving advice and small fixes at home. Only offered October to March. (For : Lower-income households, renters or owners · deadline Octobre à mars) →
PADF – multi-use road repairs on public land: Open call for projects to repair priority multi-use roads on public land. Budget of $114,535. (For : Municipalities, snowmobile or ATV clubs, non-profits) →
Outaouais agri-food sector agreement: Funds projects that fit the Outaouais agri-food development plan 2025-2030. (For : Agri-food projects) →

Useful documents

MRC news

2026-10-01 Fire Prevention Week
The 2026 theme puts the responsibility on each of us. Fire prevention staff are visiting local stores from October 9 to November 7, with a draw for a $200 home safety kit.
2026-09-30 Job posting: accounting clerk
Permanent position at the MRC. Apply by noon, October 16, 2026.
2026-09-25 Centraide Outaouais benefit evening
October 20 at Salle Desjardins in Papineauville: a talk by journalist Nancy Audet plus local testimonies, raising money for seven Papineau organizations.
2026-09-04 Provincial election: the MRC's priorities
The mayors asked candidates to commit on local health care (CLSC emergency, Papineau en santé), twinning Highway 50, cell coverage, affordable housing and schools.
2026-08-31 Help for small businesses hit by U.S. tariffs
The PAUPME emergency program offers loans and loan guarantees; applications go through the MRC until March 31, 2028.
2026-08-19 Tribute to police officer Denis Gauthier
The mayors honoured this retired officer, who put his life on the line to protect a family during a call.
2026-08-18 Welcome passport for newcomers launched
A hundred passports for newcomers who moved into the MRC within the last year: 31 discounts or freebies at local businesses and organizations, plus $15 in Petite-Monnaie. Sign up through a form.
2026-08-13 Survey of local businesses released
The SADC Papineau-Collines, the MRC and Services Québec released a profile of local businesses, their workforce and their needs over the next three years.
2026-07-14 New three-year heritage agreement
A $1.56M deal with Québec to restore heritage buildings, including the Montebello church and the old rectories in Montpellier and Papineauville.
2026-07-09 Vitality fund call for projects
Open to municipalities, co-ops and non-profits until September 25, 2026, for projects that improve community life. The call is now closed.
2026-06-17 Papineau en santé presented to Santé Québec
The only MRC in the Outaouais without a hospital is pushing for, among other things, a 12-hour-a-day, 7-day emergency room in Saint-André-Avellin. The head of Santé Québec Outaouais said he backs the approach.
2026-06-04 Draft of the new land-use plan
The first two parts (regional profile, 2050 vision, spatial concept) were tabled at council on May 20.

Summary by La Petite Nation from the MRC’s website (2026-10). For official information, see mrcpapineau.com.