In 2014, the municipalities of Saint-Hilaire, Baker-Brook, Clair, Saint-François, Lac-Baker and their respective local service districts (DSL) asked the government to conduct a feasibility study with a view to creating a rural community that would encompass all of Haut-Madawaska’s territory.

A first plebiscite was held in November 2015. The municipality of Lac-Baker and the Saint-Hilaire DSL voted against the amalgamation.

Because a majority of electors from the municipalities voted in favor of the merger, with the exception of the municipality of Lac-Baker, and in accordance with the Municipalities Act, LRN-B 1973, Chapter M-22, Article 14(1): “On the recommendation of the Minister and after the study of a feasibility report, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council (b) may amalgamate two or more municipalities;” and the Article 14(1.1): “Notwithstanding subsection (1), after January 2, 1998, the amalgamation of two or more municipalities shall be effected by an Act of the Legislature unless the councils of the municipalities that would be affected adopt a resolution in favor of the amalgamation.”

The DSLs were then asked to take another referendum since they could not proceed by way of resolution. In every plebiscite and amalgamation process, the DSLs involved are considered as a single region.

The feasibility study was updated by excluding the municipality of Lac-Baker. A second plebiscite took place in November 2016 throughout the concerned DSLs. Most of them voted in favor of the amalgamation, and each municipality affirmed their engagement by way of resolution, as prescribed by the above-mentioned Municipalities Act.

The election of the new Council membership took place on May 15^th, 2017. The Council was sworn in on June 5^th, 2017 and took office on Canada Day July 1^st, 2017, also the year Canada celebrated its 150^th anniversary.