After being open to studying this idea initially, the Township of Stanstead ultimately rejected the Memphré-Rural Association’s request during the summer of 2024, citing logistical and administrative challenges.
As the Township of Stanstead would double in population by annexing district 6, the Municipality would also have had to significantly increase its staff in order to ensure services and public safety on its territory.
Despite his disappointment at the refusal, the president of Memphré-Rural, Alan Smith, still believes that this project will eventually see the light of day. “We will certainly try in the municipal election campaign in the Canton of Stanstead to convince the people who are running for office of the advantage of a merger,” he indicates.
“This idea may have died in the minds of the Stanstead Township municipal council at present, but the entire population was not consulted. “It’s a decision made independently by the council without really consulting their ratepayers.”
According to him, the Township of Stanstead would have “all the benefits of merging with us” and the current municipal council has lacked flexibility. “They didn’t want change.”
“The revenues we bring in with our municipal taxes more than covered the costs of having a larger township.”
— Allan Smith, president of Memphré-Rural
Even today, Mr. Smith has difficulty understanding why the Township of Stanstead has not explored this possibility further. “It was more of an emotional reaction without taking the trouble to make a theoretical budget to see how much it would cost them,” he judges.
The president of Memphré-Rural considers that the reasons given are insufficient. “This is the type of administration that we would like to be affiliated with,” he also specifies when talking about management in the Township of Stanstead.
Asked if one of the members of his association planned to run for councilor in district 6, Mr. Smith immediately ruled out this scenario. “Even if we had our candidate, he would be in the minority on the council. After all, there are eight districts.”
Aborted steps
When the Memphré-Rural Association learned a few months ago that the new land roll in Magog was increasing by 46%, Mr. Smith said he was concerned about the potential effects on the tax bill in his district and even raised the possibility to use law 39 to further adjust taxes according to the use of services.
Allan Smith’s battle against municipal taxes began in similar circumstances in 2022 during the previous filing of the land roll. (Maxime Picard/Archives La Tribune)
In Magog’s 2025 budget, the municipal council lowered its tax rate per $100 of assessment to limit major increases, a decision welcomed by Mr. Smith who is no longer considering the option of Bill 39 .
“The executive [du Memphré-Rural] decided to abandon these steps as the town hall decided to reduce the tax rate. That’s what we wanted.”
— Allan Smith, president of Memphré-Rural
“Even with the reduced rate, our district remains the most taxed in all of Magog,” he notes. We are well beyond [de la moyenne]. The dissatisfaction continues.”
