Assembly of August 13 2023

Several strategic initiatives were considered and some received the approval of the majority of the assembly.

1. A pro-forma budget was accepted and a minimum membership fee of $25 was unanimously accepted.

2. It will be payable by Interac transfer to the account of the Association du Memphré-Rural, opened with CIBC Bank.

3. It was agreed by members that political lobbying for annexation must continue on two fronts. First: increase the number of members and the involvement of landowners in District-6. Second: conduct a proactive campaign to inform residents of Stanstead Township, and develop with them the interests and priorities that we have in common.

4. Solicit volunteer IT, media and Web help to prepare an annexation petition, a new website and create a social media presence (Facebook).

5. The case of Lake Lovering, currently divided in two between Magog and Canton de Stanstead, was discussed with interest. The fact it could become entirely under the jurisdiction of Canton de Stanstead is seen as an important improvement. It would allow better preservation of the ecology and buildings which are integral parts of the charm of the environment of Lake Lovering. It could alleviate some real estate overbidding which seriously threatens this area.

See a summary video opposite.

Association Memphré-Rural

Assembly of August 25 2024

The A.M.R. held its 3rd annual meeting at the Hermitage Club on August 25. Here is a summary of the highlights presented by the executive, and important points raised during the discussion with the members.

The presentation by President Allan Smith covered the year's achievements, recent news and strategic projects under study. Allan noted that during the year, the Memphré-Rural Association (A.M.R..) reached a high level of maturity, with more than 700 members and friends, amounting to a little less than half the population of District 6. Among the activities, carried out in 2024, we noted the adoption of a logo representative of the association, the appointment of a separate secretary (Deny Bertrand), but above all, a postal mailing to each of the more than 1,600 property owners, which contained a survey regarding our requested annexation by the municipality of Canton de Stanstead (CdS). The responses to this survey were extremely significant on two levels: the vast majority of respondents approved and supported our approach; and moreover, the respondents originated from the entire geographic territory of District-6.

Allan also pointed out that the A.M.R. website has become our best reference instrument and advertising tool. He thanked the volunteer team who designed and maintained this site.

As far as the envisaged role of the CdS is concerned, the situation is a little more complicated. Allan Smith and Bernard Casiez had met with the mayor in the spring, and their exchanges indicated a neutral approach on his part. He said he expected us to submit a formal request for annexation, and the executive had begun the preparation. However, before our request could be submitted, the mayor and members of the council published a letter to their citizens in the Le Reflet du Lac, stating their refusal to discuss the annexation of District 6 of Magog by CdS. Citing mainly the difficulty of managing such a project, and the desire not to upset the peace of mind of their citizens but neglecting to mention the potential benefits.

This rejection has not deterred the A.M.R. executive, particularly as the citizens of CdS were not consulted. We therefore intend to pursue this option, but by other means, notably by compiling figures on the benefits to CdS of annexing District 6. It simply seems impossible to us that the citizens of CdS don't have a more dynamic vision of the future than simply maintaining the status quo.

Our Treasurer's (Guylaine Raby) presentation highlighted the fact that only 130 homeowners out of the 700 who responded in favor of annexation, contributed the voluntary fee of $25, and that $3,231 was volunteered by executive members, for a cumulative total of $8,727.

Expenses for the past year were as follows:

- Consulting fees $593

- Bank charges $178

- Website hosting $596

This leaves a surplus of $7,405.

A discussion among the members resulted in three principal lines of the A.M.R.'s strategic plan for the coming year:

1. The new Bill 30, adopted by the Quebec National Assembly, now allows municipalities to adjust their property tax rates within their territory. As a result, we will attempt to renew our dialogue with the city of Magog with a view to reducing District-6's property tax rate, but this time with the support of a lawyer specializing in municipal law.

2. We will prepare well-founded arguments to present to the citizens of CdS, and hire a firm of accountants and land surveyors to prepare a pro-forma budget demonstrating the fiscal advantages for CdS of annexing Magog's District-6,

3. We will closely monitor the election campaigns for Magog and CdS (2025), and act in our best interests.

It was clear to the members present at the meeting that the A.M.R. does not have the financial means to carry out all these projects, and various solutions were discussed. The executive concluded by proposing an annual contribution of a minimum of $100, or 1% of the property value, for A.M.R. members.

Finally, we would like to solicit the collaboration of our members to attend public municipal meetings in Magog and CdS, to ask questions and follow up on items relevant to the A.M.R. mandate.