Development of an Integrated Action Plan for Frelighsburg, QC

In 2015, Frelighsburg considered its future and how to guide its strategic development on a solid base of sustainability. The municipality now wants to develop an integrated sustainability action plan to support achievement of its strategic vision 2035. This action plan is linked to the MRC Brome-Missisquoi development plan and encompasses the principles in various official municipal documents, such as its 2014 development plan and 2000 architectural integration plan. The MRC and its local development centre have been involved in the process since the beginning and representatives will continue to participate in the strategy committee meetings throughout the project. The action plan will be integrated and cover all aspects of sustainability (economic, environmental, social and governance). Frelighsburg’s citizens and local socioeconomic stakeholders will be involved. The municipality’s planning process will take many sustainability issues into account, including ecological balance and protection of biodiversity, climate change, energy efficiency, public health, affordable multigenerational housing, water, air and soil quality, stormwater and wastewater management, alternative transportation and waste management. For each of the four development priorities determined while planning the strategic vision 2035, priority actions will be identified and an implementation schedule established based on available human, financial, material and technical resources. Frelighsburg will also have access to a management information system suited to municipal reality to facilitate deployment of the action plan and a scorecard. Implementation of the action plan will be facilitated by an updated municipal Web site and communication tools, as well as a public reporting process. This plan will profoundly change the municipality’s governance model, which is very rare in Quebec for a small municipality. (Project description from original funding application)