On Wednesday, December 10, the Municipalité régionale de comté (MRC) d’Argenteuil released its 2026 budget, emphasizing balanced development, environmental protection, recreation, and infrastructure improvements. MRC d’Argenteuil Council Prefect Bernard Bigras-Denis, alongside Director General and Treasurer Éric Pelletier, announced a total budget of $22,807,874 that was unanimously adopted at the November 26 council meeting.
The 2026 budget contains a spending decrease of 1.59 per cent, or $369,698 less than 2025.
Pelletier said that the budget includes $5,683,370 for operational costs of the telecommunications non-profit Fibre Argenteuil, and that nearly 70 per cent of the MRC’s funding comes from reserves, surpluses, and grants from the federal and provincial governments.
Excluding Fibre Argenteuil funding, the remaining 31.6 per cent of expected 2026 revenue comes from the MRC’s nine member municipalities, totalling $5,416,163—a 5.2 per cent increase over 2025.
Bigras-Denis attributed this increase to development and environmental projects planned for 2026, investments in road infrastructure, and a rise in operating costs due to inflation and routine increases in pay and benefits.
“With the revision of the Development Scheme, we are committed to a large collective project that will make it possible to realize our vision of thoughtful, balanced, and coherent development aligned with the values and aspirations of our community,” Bigras-Denis said.
“These budget forecasts mark the beginning of a year of concrete achievements that will directly contribute to the vitality of our environment and the quality of life for our citizens,” Bigras-Denis concluded.
Several major projects are planned for 2026, including:
- Implementing the Regional Plan for Wetlands and Waters
- Beginning a new Local Road Infrastructure Intervention Plan
- Continuing support for local entrepreneurs and industries
- Maintaining the free Argenteuil/Saint-Jérôme transportation circuit for students
- Continuing support of various regional, cultural, sports, and recreational organizations
- Implementing the Housing Strategy and helping to finance the low-rent housing reconstruction project
- Analyzing the viability of relaunching the Bell Falls hydroelectric station in partnership with the Municipality of Grenville-sur-la-Rouge
Bigras-Denis said, “The announced projects will result in tangible actions on the ground, whether it is to protect our natural environments, support our entrepreneurs, improve our infrastructure, and strengthen our services to citizens.”
