On Monday, September 15, Harrington Township council unanimously endorsed a Vidéotron telecommunications tower for installation near Lac des Esclaves (Slavery Lake), despite some concerns raised by residents.
Telecommunications towers are exclusively a federal responsibility. Therefore, municipal governments may only adopt resolutions in support or in opposition to their installation.
Josh Carriere, President of the Slavery Lake Residents’ Association, told The Review that residents are concerned about the environmental impacts of the proposed tower in the Harrington Valley.
On safety, Carriere said, “This is not about rejecting safety or connectivity. Residents want reliable service. For residents of Slavery Lake, this decision deserves real scrutiny, not a rushed approval that sacrifices our landscape when viable alternatives exist today.”
Carriere referenced the federal government’s Supplemental Mobile Coverage by Satellite Framework, passed in February 2025, which allows the satellite spectrum to be accessed by regular cellphones. Phones would be able to connect to a satellite when users are out of reach of regular cellular towers below the 58th parallel.
Harrington is expected to be fully covered, since it is situated well below that line.
Carriere also created an online petition requesting Vidéotron relocate the proposed tower site, noting that over 50 of the 70 residents of Slavery Lake had signed.
“We want to ensure our property values and the environment are protected, and that we are free from light pollution and the negative visual impact,” he said at the council meeting.
In response to residents’ concerns, council agreed to add conditions to the by-law, including prohibiting Vidéotron from installing the tower on wetlands. Council confirmed that Vidéotron would also be required to remove the site when the technology becomes obsolete or reaches its end-of-service date.
“We are also requiring Vidéotron to prove that the selected site is the best possible accessible location and that the site is fit for installation,” Mayor Gabrielle Parr said.
“We are asking Vidéotron to consider the visual impact of the tower for residents. Council has also highlighted that the company, not Harrington Township, will be responsible for dismantling the tower once it is no longer being used,” she continued.
Currently, there is no timeline for the tower’s installation. Council also noted that there would be no costs for the township.
