Author name: The Gaspé Spec

Nelson Sergerie

PERCÉ – The Town of Percé is still searching for a solution to maintain the Municipal Tourist Information Office, which has been cut due to 2024 budget reductions.

The mayor of Percé, Cathy Poirier, met on February 5 with staff from the office of the Member of the National Assembly for Gaspé, Stéphane Sainte-Croix, Tourisme et commerce Rocher-Percé, the Rocher-Percé MRC and Tourisme Gaspésie to explore possible solutions to maintain office.

Even if the Town of Percé is prepared to support a buyer to provide the service, the fact remains that the $230,000 in payroll is a significant obstacle to relaunching the office.

“It’s still a considerably high amount for the taxpayers of Percé who already have a fairly high tax rate. We had to cut all departments in the budget. Is the tourist reception office part of our obligations? No. Is snow removal part of our obligations? Yes. Is the fire service part of our obligations? Yes. The municipal council chose this way,” recalls the elected official who indicates that the tourist office represented a tax increase of 4.5%.

“Who should pay for this service? Is it the citizens? The industry? The visitors? We will continue to look to eventually find a solution,” she says.

The mayor plans to meet with Percé merchants. “We planned a meeting with some merchants. We don’t want to have the entire business community. We want to clarify possible solutions and see the interest in the resumption or continuity of operations of the tourist reception office,” explains the mayor.

The situation isn’t causing a significant mobilization in the merchants. “I don’t feel any movement being made. We are talking about it. People are still in shock. We maintain our commitment to participate in this maintenance. What we are asking for is help from the business community,” says the elected official who is still not able to define the form that the recovery will take.

“Are we going to find a hybrid way of doing it? If we can add partners to develop something else? Will it be digital?” wonders Cathy Poirier.

She, however, cautions that there is no government program to fund the operations of a tourist office.
A citizen intervenes

Citizen intervention

The co-owner of the Pit Caribou microbrewery spoke as a private citizen during the February 6 municipal council meeting after attending the January meeting.

“I believe that Percé needs to have this office. On the other hand, the budget is very tight. Incompressible expenses represent up to 90%,” mentions Jean-François Nellis.

In his opinion, the tourist fee was seen as a first step to reduce the tax burden on citizens and maintain infrastructure.

“There are 500,000 tourists who come to Percé every summer. At the moment, the majority of people who pay for infrastructure are citizens,” explains Mr. Nellis.

“That’s why I suggest we sit down and discuss. The fee went to court and was refused. The objective was commendable, but not the method used. The basis was to reduce the tax burden and I consider it important to discuss it,” continues the citizen.

“If we don’t have the tourist fee, what do we do? People come to criticize, but do we provide solutions? I only heard people venting about the town council. I would like us to sit down together and work toward a common goal,” says Mr. Nellis, who sees Ms. Poirier’s outstretched hand as an opportunity to do so.

Citizens present at the council suggested that Mr. Nellis’ intervention had been prompted by someone else. “I am capable of expressing my opinion as an individual and no one is going to control me,” he replies.

Nelson Sergerie

CHANDLER – The Superior Court rejects the motion to declare the Town of Chandler’s behaviour as abusive and dismisses the application instituting proceedings filed last April by former mayor Louisette Langlois.

Ms. Langlois was trying to put an end to the lawsuit filed by the Town of Chandler in January 2022, which claims $230,411 from her in the saga surrounding the 180-day sanction from the Municipal Commission from January to July 2021.

She also claimed $2,500 in damages to compensate for extrajudicial fees in connection with the application.

In support of her request, the former mayor cited the Town of Chandler and its lawyers for their inertia in advancing the case and, in particular, for their failure to promptly provide the various undertakings given during the examination for the discovery of a Chandler representative.

Ms. Langlois’ attorney, Charles Caza, noted in the application several delays since June 6, 2022, in the file, and that, in January 2023, the town’s attorneys filed a new request for an extension to submit the requested documents.

Subsequently, on March 14, “the plaintiff’s attorneys indicated that they were still in the process of gathering responses to the commitments,” the document states.

Ms. Langlois’s attorney argues in the application that “without notice and without having transmitted the commitments, the Plaintiff’s attorneys served a subpoena on April 12, 2023, directly to the Defendant to question her on two separate days, namely for April 20 and 21.

According to Mr. Caza, “such ways of doing things constitute maneuvers to prevent the defendant from having the right to a full and complete defence with the aim of depriving her of having access to all of the documents and other evidence.”

The documents, Mr. Caza argues, “go to the heart of this dispute and are necessary for the preparation of this case.”

For the attorney, “such delays demonstrate dilatory and abusive behaviour on the part of the plantiff.”
In the five-page decision rendered on February 2 following the hearing of the case on December 6, Judge Daniel Beaulieu notes that the parties accuse each other of not respecting certain of the deadlines provided for in the procedure.

He continues by indicating that on several occasions, the courts have been called upon to rule on this concept and the conditions to be met to obtain the dismissal of a request instituting proceedings.
“From these judgments and rulings emerge an almost unanimous consent, i.e. the obligation to act with “caution” before ordering the dismissal of a procedure,” writes the magistrate.

Subsequently, Judge Beaulieu details each of the stages in dispute on both sides and the deadlines which are not respected by both the former mayor and the town.

“In the opinion of the Court, there is no reason here to reject the Town of Chandler’s application to initiate proceedings, due to an abuse of process. Therefore, Ms. Langlois’ request must be rejected, with legal costs,” explains Judge Beaulieu.

“Although the details provided are in no way desirable, it appears that both parties have their respective faults regarding the progress of the case,” continues the judge.

As for the refusal to award $2,500 to the former mayor, the judge recalls “that the extrajudicial fees currently incurred for the representation of Langlois, including those incurred on the current request for dismissal, are assumed by the Town of Chandler. However, all of these sums are the subject of the claim on the merits in this case, a claim that the Court will then assess and award according to the criteria dictated by law and developed by case law,” mentions the decision.

The town launched complaint procedures against Louisette Langlois in January 2022. The resolution leading to the filing of the complaint by the town underlined in particular that the accusations against Louisette Langlois resulted from serious or intentional faults, by predominating her personal interest, from having taken actions in an intentional and premeditated manner, all to get her own way.

The argument was taken up in the request for initiation of proceedings for reimbursement of defence costs.
Chandler’s attorneys noted, in particular, that “the decision rendered (…) on December 21, 2020, is damning against the defendant and makes it possible to establish that the acts or omissions of the defendant are serious and/or intentional and/or separable faults of the exercise of her functions.”
They added that the former elected official “multiplied the procedures, some of which were useless, unfounded and truncated given the present evidence presented before the CMQ (Quebec Municipal Commission)”.

In December 2019, Louisette Langlois was cited for 21 violations of the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Chandler elected officials.

After hearings in July 2020, the commission concluded that the former elected official was guilty of 20 breaches, notably conflicts of interest, in December 2020. Before the sanction hearing, Ms. Langlois had tried to obtain a halt to the procedures, contested the notice of sanction issued against her going so far as to ask to reopen the investigation, requests rejected by administrative judge Sandra Bilodeau.

The former mayor took her appeal to the Superior Court where it was dismissed in July 2021 and suffered the same fate in October 2021 before the Court of Appeal.

To date, this saga has cost Chandler taxpayers $353,495. The town of Chandler reserved the right to adjust its claim.

Nelson Sergerie

GASPÉ – The mayor of Gaspé, Daniel Côté is now calling for the possibility of buying back licences for shrimp fishermen dealing with the turbulence in the fishing sector.

Daniel Côté notes that the two principles of not imposing a moratorium on shrimp fishing and lifting the one that was in force on redfish were a good idea.

“On the other hand, when we dissect the figures on granted or pre-granted quotas, the figures are too small to justify our shrimp fishermen taking off this year. No one would certainly have profitable operations this year,” says the mayor.

According to him, fishing companies need a boost for rationalization to remove shrimp fishermen from the fleet.

“So that the piece of the pie is distributed among fewer players rather than among all the current players so that a few can get their heads above water or make money,” says the mayor.

The buyback of licenses is the most likely avenue in his eyes. “There are fishermen who would be ready to get out of the industry and let others try to survive. But there is no desire to move in this direction from the federal government. The fishermen are sounding the alarm very loudly,” notes the mayor.

On the ground, the elected official has felt the economic impacts for almost two years, due to the already precarious situation in the shrimp industry.

“All businesses are suffering. People have less money so they spend less. Therefore, less investment in local shops and businesses. This crisis has a major impact,” says Mr. Côté

If the redfish quota increased to 150,000 or 200,000 tonnes, the elected official believes that shrimp fishermen would convert to redfish and a few would stick with fishing shrimp.

“We might (then) be starting to emerge from the crisis. Currently, this is not the case. People tell me that it’s great to go fishing for redfish, but as long as the markets and the processing capacity are not there, it’s useless. But the capacity for transformation can be done quickly after having spoken with stakeholders,” the mayor is told.

He believes that extra work will have to be done for marketing. “It is a collective challenge to ensure that redfish can find their place on the market. At the same time, if we take the redfish out of the Gulf, we remove shrimp’s largest predator and help restore the stocks. But if it stays at 25,000 tonnes, the fishermen will not convert and we know that we will give way to processing boats and that will not help our economy,” analyzes Mr. Côté

He is under the impression that the years 2024, 2025 and perhaps 2026 will be years of turbulence. “There are so many factors beyond our control. Are we going to succeed collectively?” asks the mayor.
Without a redfish quota announced as the fishing season is fast approaching, the mayor wonders what will happen in the short term.

“I can’t get my head around the quotas and how the fishermen are going to distribute them. If the fishermen do not go out (to sea), there are impacts on the economy,” he says, noting that 1,000 jobs are at stake in the fishing sector of Gaspé.

Diane Skinner

BARACHOIS: On Sunday, January 21 Stephanie Bond, artist and instructor, led a painting workshop that was funded through Vision Gaspé-Percé Now where Stephanie currently works. This one day activity took place at the Barachois Recreation Centre from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.. Participants were delighted that their workshop and all materials including acrylic paint were free of charge. Stephanie reminds future participants that the workshops are quite popular so signing up in advance is recommended because spaces are limited. The workshops are usually full, and the Midnight Deer workshop had 14 participants who were proud to display their finished products.

Though anyone over the age of 14 is welcome to sign up for the activities, the group was composed of all female artists, most of them were seniors and beginning level painters.

One of the participants, Judy Stiles, comments, “I had fun at Stephanie’s workshop. Everyone painted the same picture – but at the end they were all different. Overall, I was very pleased with my painting. Stephanie is a great teacher – she is very motivated and patient and she’s a wonderful artist herself.”
Stephanie says that the art workshops are impactful because, “Art takes our mind off things, and it is so relaxing and fun!” Aside from Vision, Stephanie also offers online painting workshops with other organizations.

About the artist

Stephanie was born in the village of Barachois in Gaspe, Quebec, in 1979. Her passion for the arts led to a degree in Graphic Design from Dawson College in Montreal. After that, she lived in Montreal and worked as a designer for 10 years and then decided to move back home in 2008 to work as a graphic designer in Chandler. During this time, she decided to start painting again, having taken a 10-year break from painting while in Montreal.

After experimenting with various mediums she gravitated more towards painting with acrylics and oils, with a specific interest in landscapes, wildlife, and historic seaside scenes.

Currently she is a full-time employee with Vision Gaspe-Perce Now for almost 10 years. Aside from doing Graphic Design for Vision, she also leads art workshops and takes care of the Barachois Wellness Centre for Seniors.

“Living on the scenic and beautiful Gaspé Coast, I am constantly inspired by our large skies, ancient mountains and breathtaking ocean views. With well over two hundred paintings completed, I hope to continue to represent and promote this unique region of Canada,” she proudly states. She is inspired by the environment and occasionally refers to old historic photos to create her paintings.

Stephanie Bond also makes small crafts for local markets, including Christmas ornaments and painted signs. When asked who her favourite Gaspesian artist is she admits that she admires many local artists but mentions both John Wiseman and Tennyson Johnson.

Looking ahead, Stephanie will continue to offer workshops about every month that will be sponsored by Vision and states that, “No one leaves my workshops with a frown!” She adds, “I still have the interest and drive to continue doing what I love to do – not planning on retirement quite yet!”

To learn more about Stephanie Bond visit her website at: https://bondsteph.wixsite.com/stephaniebond or search “Stephanie Bond” on facebook. Her home gallery is at 858 Rte. 132 East, Barachois. You are welcome to stop by, just make an appointment

PASPÉBIAC – Following heavy rainstorms in June and August, along with the lingering effects of Hurricane Lee on September 16 and 17, the town of Paspebiac will be examining the capacity of its infrastructure against increasingly severe weather events.

Between August 7 and 10, the area received 135 millimetres of rain resulting in damage to several municipal infrastructures and residences.

“It’s a good lesson. It’s when we realise that weather events can take us by surprise. The priority at the moment is public safety,” explains the mayor of Paspebiac, Marc Loisel.

The town wants to make sure that its municipal facilities are well-adapted to withstand intense, short-duration storms.

“We’re looking at the network and analyzing its capacity to handle such situations. It’s obvious that when there’s a sudden downpour like in August, there are municipalities with larger networks than ours that suffer fairly major impacts. The important thing is to ensure that our infrastructure is compliant,” continues the mayor.

Although some damage was recorded, Mr. Loisel does not yet have a precise estimate of the costs incurred by the completed repairs.

The government of Quebec has included Paspebiac in the decree offering financial assistance for towns affected by the rainfall, as published in the Quebec Government’s Gazette officielle. The municipality intends to submit invoices for the repairs in an attempt to obtain compensation for the expenses incurred as a result of the heavy rainfall.

The neighbouring town of New Carlisle experienced more extensive damage. Their mayor David Thibault estimated the cost of repairs to be around $200,000.

GASPÉ – The issue of housing jurisdiction for the MRCs should have been resolved, but new obstacles are emerging, according to the president of the Table of prefects de la Gaspésie.

Almost 18 months ago, the Gaspésie MRCs faced opposition from the Quebec Ministry of Housing, which would not allow them to provide funding or assistance for projects to promote the construction of apartments, one of the regional priorities.

At the time, Gaspé Member of the National Assembly, Stéphane Sainte-Croix, expressed a desire to find a solution to address the issue.

“The MRCs want to support the construction of private rental housing. After some political work, the Municipal Affairs Ministry came up with a proposal. After analysis, this proposal, which is a roundabout way rather than going directly to the field of competence, does not meet the objectives because it is too restrictive,” explains the Table’s president, Mathieu Lapointe.

During discussions in the past year, rather than introducing a bill to grant this competence, it was agreed to go through administrative channels.

As a result, under the existing rules, it would not be permitted to build outside urban perimeters or in areas not served by water and sewer systems.

“A large part of our territory is not served by these services. So, we are back to square one, and we ask that the MRCs be given jurisdiction to intervene,” Mr. Lapointe reiterates.

Again questioned on this issue, the MNA for Gaspé and assistant to the regional minister understands the concerns raised regarding the current rules.

“It’s important to remember that MRCs can delegate this responsibility to municipalities. When you look at the Haute-Gaspésie and the Côte-de-Gaspé, there are some major projects underway. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s possible under the current conditions but, obviously, something isn’t working for the representative of the prefects,” says Mr. Sainte-Croix.

The MNA suggests that the table des préfets president call on the Union of Quebec Municipalities and the Quebec Federation of municipalities to bring the issue to the attention of the Quebec government.

“We understand that, if this is the case, it has an impact on all Quebec municipalities, and I imagine that the Quebec government would listen carefully,” suggests Mr. Sainte-Croix, who understands some of the constraints mentioned by the president of the Table des préfets.

“We don’t disagree with Mr. Lapointe’s position, but there are objectives in terms of land use planning objectives, and Mr. Lapointe would do well to raise the matter with his counterparts,” adds Mr. Sainte-Croix.

The incentives totalling $2 million are working.

Each MRC has $400,000 to stimulate the construction of 40 apartments per territory at a rate of $10,000 per door.

“The entire envelope is reserved for the Haute-Gaspésie and Côte-de-Gaspé. There is still a little room in Avignon, Bonaventure and Rocher-Percé,” mentions Mathieu Lapointe, who expects the entire amount to be used by the end of the program in December 2024.

Despite very significant needs, the Table of prefects has not yet decided on phase 2 of this successful program.

“With the Regional-Rurality Fund, we still have some money left over from Phase 1, but it’s too little to provide the kind of support we have. We are working on other plans hence the idea of the MRC competence which has funds that could be used. We are working in other ways at the moment, and we will also look at the new fiscal pact,” mentions the resident.

GASPÉ – The Marinard shrimp processing plant in Rivière-au-Renard has been purchased by a numbered company formed by Bill and George Sheehan, of Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé. They are notably known as shareholders of the firm E. Gagnon et Fils with their father Raymond, who presides over the latter.

The information that had been circulating in the industry for several weeks was transmitted to SPEC on October 30 and confirmed on October 31 in a press release.

“There are still assets and facilities that correspond to our needs. We can talk about the cold room, the laboratories. With the plant, it’s certain that it will be a big challenge with the shrimp crisis, but we’re going to try to meet it,” says Bill Sheehan, Vice-President of E. Gagnon et fils.

The Sheehans are making a bold decision considering the confirmed shrimp crisis.

“A little, yes. Audacious, that’s the right word. Certainly, in the short term, we have storage needs. The warehouse made a big difference in the decision. We also have to think about the employees. If we think of the Gagnon plant, we have more than a hundred foreign workers. We are facing a labour shortage. The 140 employees at Marinard are resources that ensured that the transaction was possible on our side. The 140 people in the current (labour shortage) situation, I think it (the acquisition) is good positioning,” continues Mr. Sheehan.

“We intend to continue with shrimp but we will see what will happen in the coming weeks,” says Mr. Sheehan.

The goal was to restart operations on November 6. They were suspended on September 1 due to a shortage of shrimp to process.

“We will have shrimp coming from outside to conduct tests, and then there will be repackaging. We will do everything in our capacity to allow employees to complete their weeks. This is our priority,” says the vice president..

As shrimp is becoming increasingly scarce and with a possible return of redfish fishery, the plant could be adapted.

“We are always on the lookout for new species. My father got into salted-dried cod. We moved on to lobster, crab, and shrimp. Plants in Gaspésie have always adapted. If the opportunity presents itself, at Marinard, we have the location. The plant has already processed many of them (species). There’s a lot of refrigeration, cooking, flour mills. There’s a lot of possibilities. If the opportunity presents itself and it can be profitable, we will be there,” says Mr. Sheehan

The plant currently has a shrimp processing permit only.

The laboratory’s research activities will be maintained.

The value of the transaction between E. Gagnon et Fils, based in Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé, and Daley Seafoods of Newfoundland and Labrador, which announced the acquisition of the company on December 20, 2021, has not been disclosed.

E. Gagnon will take over the cold storage. A new company will be created to oversee Marinard Biotech, IT (technology branch), the fish market, and the processing plant.

“We are quite proud to repatriate a plant owned by Quebecers and even better Gaspesians,” says Mr. Sheehan humbly.

E. Gagnon is always open to opportunities that may arise.

“But we will still have good challenges to face with this plant which still has good potential,” concludes Mr. Sheehan.

Positive reactions

The political community, the shrimp industry and the workers are all optimistic about the news.

“We understand the intention of the new owners, who are people from the region, is first to secure the employees and ensure they qualify for employment insurance so that they can get through the winter,” says the mayor of Gaspé, Daniel Côté.

Mr. Côté notes that the new owners will be able to better control what happens in the fishing sector and bring the “luster” back to the plant.

“We want to look at other possible solutions to use all of the plant’s facilities. They didn’t buy it for nothing. They are savvy business people. I look forward to hearing about their plans,” the mayor continues.

In the context where shrimp is experiencing a sharp decline, Mr. Côté breathes a sigh of relief. “I have high hopes for the future,” adds the elected official.

The Quebec government was aware of the discussions between the parties and of E. Gagnon and fils’ intentions, however, the provincial government was not called upon to intervene in the matter.

“We’re very happy with the outcome. We understand that this was a priority issue for the riding,” says Gaspé Member of the National Assembly, Stéphane Sainte-Croix.

“We’re proud of the company’s return to Quebec and, more specifically, to the Gaspé region, and for our employees, we’re helping to secure their situation in the short term,” continues Mr. Sainte-Croix. “We didn’t want to lose this asset in the fisheries,” he adds.

The buyer mainly processes lobster and crab, and the purchased plant processes shrimp. If E. Gagnon et fils requested new permits to make the plant profitable, the Quebec Government would be open to assisting.

“We will have to evaluate the ins and outs of all that. We will have to let the committee do its work and make the necessary recommendations. These are discussions which, I imagine, will take place over the coming weeks,” explains the MNA.

The Quebec Shrimp Fishermen’s Office is delighted for the plant’s workers who will be able to qualify for employment insurance.

“We will see what the new owner will do in the shrimp sector which will change over the coming days. It will be interesting to see how the new owner positions himself in the context where the resource will be limited next year,” reacts the director of the Quebec Shrimp Fishermen’s Office, Patrice Element.

“This is very good news, and I think everyone will be happy,” says Luce Jean, the president of the union representing the plant workers affiliated with the CSN.

“I think it should go well over the next year. I hope that the new owners will meet us soon to discuss where we are going and to find out if we are going to work this winter,” continues Ms. Jean.

GASPÉ – What everyone feared has been confirmed: shrimp quotas will be significantly reduced for the upcoming season.

This was the outcome at the meeting of the Shrimp Advisory Committee in Quebec City to discuss scientific surveys and the various scenarios presented by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

As suggested, the worst case scenario would involve approximately 325 tonnes for the Sept-Îles area, 240 tonnes for Anticosti, and 50 tonnes for Esquiman as quotas for next year.

However, there is no assessment available for the Estuary due to a lack of scientific data.

Quebec fishermen should expect the worst, according to the Quebec Shrimp Fishermen’s Office.

“We more or less confirmed the figures we previously had. There are no figures for the Estuary zone. With the decline in other zones, the Estuary will become the most important zone for Quebec fishermen even if historically, it’s the smallest fishing zone. Depending on the minister’s decision, we risk ending up with a quota for Quebec fishermen including First Nations of between 0 and 1,300 tonnes. When we think that there are fishermen who had quotas of 500 or 600 tonnes in 2015, that shows you the scale of the decline or the catastrophe,” states the director of the office, Patrice Element.

“1200 tonnes is not enough to support a fleet of 35 or 40 shrimp boats. We are talking about a handful of fishermen who will be able to go fishing, if it is possible to distribute them among the fishermen. Will a processing plant want to open? When we talk about 1000 tonnes, that’s two million pounds. Last year, which was not a good year, the three processors produced 15 million pounds. If we go back 10 years, each of the Quebec plants processed 13-14-15 million pounds,” explains Mr. Element.

“The question arises: will fishermen be able to go fishing? Will processors be able to open their plants? That’s the question,” the director adds.

The warming of the water, the drop in oxygen levels and especially the rising presence of redfish explain the decrease in shrimp.

“There’s not much we can do with the water temperature or the drop in oxygen. But we can have control over the redfish. We need to start catching this fish as soon as possible,” Mr. Element strongly suggests.

The committee focused on the shrimp situation, but many of the attendees were preoccupied with the redfish fishery.

Given current findings, it is unlikely to see a recovery of shrimp stocks in the coming years.

“In the medium term, if there are fewer redfish, perhaps the shrimp biomass will recover. These small animals are very resilient, and perhaps the shrimp can recover. The redfish will be there next year. Even if we start fishing for them, the water will stay warm and the oxygen will stay low. No, there is no short-term recovery,” Mr. Element concurs.

Faced with these facts, support will be needed for the shrimp industry and also the communities that will be affected in Eastern Canada.

With a quota of 1000 tonnes, would a moratorium be appropriate?

“No one in the industry, and not many people in the federal government, want to consider a moratorium because we are falling into administrative complexities, and we will not be fishing for a long period. It’s difficult to answer this question honestly, but with a quota of 500 tonnes or 1000 tonnes, there are several people who will ask themselves the question you are asking,” says Mr. Element in response to the question.

The stakeholders hope they will receive a quick answer from the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Diane Lebouthillier, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands.

“I was able to read the most recent scientific assessment of the state of shrimp stocks in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, which was presented at the advisory committee meeting in Quebec. The conclusions are clear and are a concern. Three of the four shrimp stocks in the region are currently in the critical zone, and only 38% of the total quota has been fished this year,” writes Ms. Lebouthillier.

She mentions that the findings do not come as a surprise but they will allow for the next steps to be taken.

“Over the coming weeks, DFO will finalize the analysis of all scientific data, industry comments, and the economic impacts of the various scenarios before submitting a recommendation to my desk by December,” says the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Ms. Lebouthillier has stated that the game plan will be submitted no later than after the holidays in January, and her department will maintain contact with the industry, as well as with all levels of government while awaiting its decision.

PERCÉ – Serious allegations surrounding the Director of Urban Planning and Land Management for the Town of Percé led to his suspension by the municipal administration on October 30.

According to information obtained by SPEC, Ghislain Pitre is suspected of fraud, theft of large sums of money from the municipality and the falsification of documents, prompting the launch of an administrative investigation.

The executive is suspended with pay while the investigation is being carried out.

The attorney for the Town of Percé, Simon Cossette Lachance, points out that an independent and impartial firm has been tasked to conduct the investigation.

A report is expected to be produced as soon as possible.

Sources indicate that the alleged incidents extend over a lengthy period of time. They also say the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC) has taken an interest in the case, a fact that is being denied by the Town of Percé.

When contacted, Mr. Pitre declined to comment regarding the allegations, referring SPEC to the Town of Percé.

This is a delicate situation for the mayor of Percé, Cathy Poirier, considering the fact that Mr. Pitre is her spouse.

Ms. Poirier also refused to comment on the situation.

The Town of Percé attorney says the mayor was not informed of the investigation’s administrative procedures.

NEW RICHMOND – Agricultural production in 2023 has been the worst in 20 years, according to the outgoing president of the Gaspé Peninsula Magdalen Islands Union of Agricultural Producers.

The poor production doesn’t paint a rosy picture for producers. “The impacts of Mother Nature have really been unfavourable. If we talk about hay, vegetables, potatoes, at all levels, it’s really a disaster,” explains the outgoing president of the Gaspé Peninsula Magdalen Islands Union of Agricultural Producers, Michèle Poirier.

“In the last 20 years, we haven’t seen this disastrous temperature as we have this year,” she adds.

Producers are taking measures to adapt to climate change. “They are moving toward regenerative farming. They are changing the way they farm, the way they nourish their soil. They’re going to try to make it soft so that if there are disasters, the soil reacts less abruptly,” stresses Ms. Poirier.

Stakeholders involved in agriculture in the Gaspé Peninsula are prepared to work together to find solutions.

Another factor that will impact agricultural producers is the significant increase in interest rates in recent months. “What worries me are the interest rates because there will be (loan) renewals. I think it will hurt because the rates are very high and the worst is yet to come. We’re not there yet,” analyzes the outgoing president.

She criticizes the Quebec government and the Minister of Agriculture, André Lamontagne, for seemingly not understanding the difficulty experienced by producers. “I don’t feel listened to enough by Minister Lamontagne. You know, it’s quite different when you sit in an office and when you work on the ground. I think next year will be decisive,” says Ms. Poirier.

At the next UPA congress in Quebec, Ms. Poirier highlights that pressure will be made in hopes of getting the attention of politicians. “Once they have listened, perhaps they can take action,” adds the outgoing president.

After six years at the helm of the organization, Ms. Poirier completed her term as president of the regional UPA.

The word “succession” is frequently mentioned in her interventions and interactions with the presss

“I’m very proud of that. There is a very good team at the UPA which is capable of transitioning with a new president who will bring new blood and new ways of working. I think it will go well,” says the outgoing president who passed the torch to Sylvain Arbor at the October 30 annual general meeting.

Relations with Gaspésie gourmande, the MRCs, the agri-advisory networks, and field workers are also elements mentioned by the outgoing president. “I believe we have the right tools to organize ourselves,” says Ms. Poirier.

The UPA president is a member of the regional Employment Table. “We are trying to advance agriculture so that we can make a good living from it and be able to feed our world.”

A dairy farm and a beef farm will soon be added to the list of Gaspesian producers. “I think we have big gains coming in agriculture,” says Ms. Poirier.

GASPÉ – Four investors have joined forces to acquire the Le Foyer de Gaspé seniors’ residence, thus ensuring the continuity of activities.

“For at least a year, we had been evaluating the opportunity to acquire the home. We have four complementary profiles. The need in the community is essential. There was a lack of succession. We seized this opportunity despite the major challenges we have encountered with the pandemic in recent years,” explains one of the partners, Marc Frenette.

The three other shareholders are Martin Boulay, Dan Gleeton and Jimmy Marticotte, specialists in construction, customer service and operations.

The residence, with 53 places, accommodates both independent and semi-independent seniors. Currently, forty-seven people reside there under the care of 23 employees.

The residents

seem happy

“For us, having people who are happy is important. The relationship that we will build is a key to the success of the establishment. It’s essential,” continues Mr. Frenette.

The new administrators were not afraid to embark on this new challenge, despite regulations having been tightened since the fire at the Résidence du Havre de l’Isle-Verte, which claimed 32 lives in January 2014, and the increased scrutiny following the upheaval in CHSLDs and RPAs during the pandemic.

“Here, we are compliant and we have everything we need. This was clearly part of the risk assessment in relation to the acquisition. There are the building and financial issues. There are a lot of factors. Yes, it scared us but the relationship with the CISSS, making sure we know the laws, knowing the points of contact, having a good network to ensure that we maintain services, and, above all, having a compliant establishment is what we want to ensure,” says Mr. Frenette.

Since 2021, around 500 seniors’ residences have closed their doors.

“It’s very risky. It’s very ambitious, but it’s a necessity to have these residences in the region. These are people who have needs. We are an aging population. The future was clearly uncertain if we had not invested,” says the group’s spokesperson.

The new owners do not wish to disclose the value of the transaction.

The residence has been in operation since 2017.

In addition to Foyer de Gaspé, the group of entrepreneurs has its sights set on other businesses in the region.

“We want to invest in the community and evaluate different scenarios for business succession projects in the region,” explains Marc Frenette. “We are aware that entrepreneurial succession is sometimes rare. For the continuity of our operations, we are evaluating the possibility of taking over companies in different sectors if the need arises.”

PASPÉBIAC – Following heavy rainstorms in June and August, along with the lingering effects of Hurricane Lee on September 16 and 17, the town of Paspebiac will be examining the capacity of its infrastructure against increasingly severe weather events.

Between August 7 and 10, the area received 135 millimetres of rain resulting in damage to several municipal infrastructures and residences.

“It’s a good lesson. It’s when we realise that weather events can take us by surprise. The priority at the moment is public safety,” explains the mayor of Paspebiac, Marc Loisel.

The town wants to make sure that its municipal facilities are well-adapted to withstand intense, short-duration storms.

“We’re looking at the network and analyzing its capacity to handle such situations. It’s obvious that when there’s a sudden downpour like in August, there are municipalities with larger networks than ours that suffer fairly major impacts. The important thing is to ensure that our infrastructure is compliant,” continues the mayor.

Although some damage was recorded, Mr. Loisel does not yet have a precise estimate of the costs incurred by the completed repairs.

The government of Quebec has included Paspebiac in the decree offering financial assistance for towns affected by the rainfall, as published in the Quebec Government’s Gazette officielle. The municipality intends to submit invoices for the repairs in an attempt to obtain compensation for the expenses incurred as a result of the heavy rainfall.

The neighbouring town of New Carlisle experienced more extensive damage. Their mayor David Thibault estimated the cost of repairs to be around $200,000.

GASPÉ – The issue of housing jurisdiction for the MRCs should have been resolved, but new obstacles are emerging, according to the president of the Table of prefects de la Gaspésie.

Almost 18 months ago, the Gaspésie MRCs faced opposition from the Quebec Ministry of Housing, which would not allow them to provide funding or assistance for projects to promote the construction of apartments, one of the regional priorities.

At the time, Gaspé Member of the National Assembly, Stéphane Sainte-Croix, expressed a desire to find a solution to address the issue.

“The MRCs want to support the construction of private rental housing. After some political work, the Municipal Affairs Ministry came up with a proposal. After analysis, this proposal, which is a roundabout way rather than going directly to the field of competence, does not meet the objectives because it is too restrictive,” explains the Table’s president, Mathieu Lapointe.

During discussions in the past year, rather than introducing a bill to grant this competence, it was agreed to go through administrative channels.

As a result, under the existing rules, it would not be permitted to build outside urban perimeters or in areas not served by water and sewer systems.

“A large part of our territory is not served by these services. So, we are back to square one, and we ask that the MRCs be given jurisdiction to intervene,” Mr. Lapointe reiterates.

Again questioned on this issue, the MNA for Gaspé and assistant to the regional minister understands the concerns raised regarding the current rules.

“It’s important to remember that MRCs can delegate this responsibility to municipalities. When you look at the Haute-Gaspésie and the Côte-de-Gaspé, there are some major projects underway. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s possible under the current conditions but, obviously, something isn’t working for the representative of the prefects,” says Mr. Sainte-Croix.

The MNA suggests that the table des préfets president call on the Union of Quebec Municipalities and the Quebec Federation of municipalities to bring the issue to the attention of the Quebec government.

“We understand that, if this is the case, it has an impact on all Quebec municipalities, and I imagine that the Quebec government would listen carefully,” suggests Mr. Sainte-Croix, who understands some of the constraints mentioned by the president of the Table des préfets.

“We don’t disagree with Mr. Lapointe’s position, but there are objectives in terms of land use planning objectives, and Mr. Lapointe would do well to raise the matter with his counterparts,” adds Mr. Sainte-Croix.

The incentives totalling $2 million are working.

Each MRC has $400,000 to stimulate the construction of 40 apartments per territory at a rate of $10,000 per door.

“The entire envelope is reserved for the Haute-Gaspésie and Côte-de-Gaspé. There is still a little room in Avignon, Bonaventure and Rocher-Percé,” mentions Mathieu Lapointe, who expects the entire amount to be used by the end of the program in December 2024.

Despite very significant needs, the Table of prefects has not yet decided on phase 2 of this successful program.

“With the Regional-Rurality Fund, we still have some money left over from Phase 1, but it’s too little to provide the kind of support we have. We are working on other plans hence the idea of the MRC competence which has funds that could be used. We are working in other ways at the moment, and we will also look at the new fiscal pact,” mentions the resident.

GASPÉ – The annual average price of gasoline in the Gaspé Peninsula was among the highest in Quebec for three of the last five years.

This is what emerged in the notice on the price differences and marketing margins between the Quebec City region and the other regions of Quebec, released on October 25 by the Energy Board.

Upon consulting the document, it is learned that, with the exception of the Northern Quebec region, the Gaspé Peninsula posted the highest annual average price in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The Energy Board established the price per litre at $1.0871 in 2020, $1.3763 in 2021, and $1.8196 in 2022.

Furthermore, prices in 2018 ($1.3124) and 2019 ($1.2569) placed the region in fourth place in the province, just a few tenths of a cent from first place.

The region drops in the Energy Board’s 2023 ranking because the Bay of Chaleur area lowers the average due to much lower prices compared to the rest of the Gaspé Peninsula.

Another finding in this Energy Board notice is the estimated retail margin of Gaspesian retailers has increased much faster than the Quebec average.

In 2018, the average Gaspesian margin was 9.08 cents, compared to 6.35 cents for Quebec, representing a difference of 2.73 cents more in the region.

In 2023, the Gaspesian average is 13.80 cents so far, compared to 9.83 cents in Quebec, a difference of 3.97 cents.

The increase in the gap between 2018 and 2023 was determined to be 4.73 cents by the Energy Board, while this increase was only 3.48 cents in Quebec.

The net margin, that is, the retailer’s profit once operating costs determined by the Energy Board are eliminated, is 8.30 cents this year, compared to a provincial average of 5.26 cents.

This means that Gaspesian retailers, on average, make a profit of 3.04 cents higher than their counterparts.

The profit margin was 7.46 cents (5.68 cents in Quebec) in 2022, 5.76 cents (2.06 cents) in 2021, 6.91 cents (2.65 cents) in 2020, 4.58 cents (1.38 cents) in 2019 and 5.58 cents (2.85 cents) in 2018.

One factor that could explain the larger margins in the region is the lower competition.

The region has only eight distributors, the lowest number in the province.

The number of franchises is only 11 – tied with Northern Quebec, also the smallest proportion in the province.

The day after the report was published, retailers in the Gaspé area had a retail margin of 18.7 cents, those in Rocher-Percé 17.5 cents, and those in the Bay of Chaleur area had 13.8 cents.

Gasoline was selling for $1.75 in Gaspé and Rocher-Percé and an average of $1.69 in the Bay of Chaleur area.

Some gas stations in the New Richmond, Bonaventure, and Paspebiac areas even advertised a price of $1.66.

CAA-Quebec estimated the regional average price at $1.70.

In light of these findings in Quebec City, the Minister of Energy, Pierre Fitzgibbon called on the five main retailers in the region to justify their profit margins.

He also asked the Competition Bureau to open an investigation.

In the Gaspé Peninsula, CAQ elected officials took the same step in July and reiterated their request in September.

The Competition Bureau responded that elected officials needed to demonstrate collusion in the region.

They did not accept this response and were considering approaching the office again.

Minister Fitzgibbon does not seem eager to intervene by setting a cap on retailer margins.

GASPÉ – The mayor of Gaspé is formally appealing to Energy Minister, Pierre Fitzgibbon, to regulate gasoline prices in Gaspé.

Week after week, the situation remains the same, as motorists in Gaspé continue to pay the highest gasoline prices in Quebec.

On October 31, retailers were advertising $1.75 per litre for regular gasoline. Only the Magdalen Islands and Northern Quebec had higher prices.

The price at the pump dropped to $1.66 on October 31 in the Rocher-Percé MRC, in Grande-Rivière and Chandler, less than an hour’s drive from Gaspé.

This price also prevailed in the Bay of Chaleur area, in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts and Matane. In contrast, Rimouski had a price of $1.69.

This data comes from numbers compiled by the Energy Board

According to the organization, the retail margin for a Gaspé retailer was 18.2 cents per litre. In the Bay of Chaleur, this margin was closer to 12.3 cents, while in Rocher-Percé, it was 10.8 cents.

“That doesn’t make any kind of common sense. This has often been said for the Gaspé Peninsula. We see that in the other sectors, excluding Gaspé, prices are falling and following a market curve and Gaspé still pays the most expensive price for gasoline,” denounces the mayor, Daniel Côté.

“I am convinced that there is someone who controls the price of gasoline. At some point, someone will have to find them and slap them on the fingers,” exasperates the elected official.

“Every time we make media outbursts, they get scared and the price drops because they are afraid of the Competition Bureau or the Energy Board. We have the Competition Bureau and the Energy Board who have decided not to give a damn. During this time, they have raised the price of gasoline solidly in Gaspé while elsewhere in the region and in Quebec, it is lower,” denounces the elected official.

“I appeal to the Minister of Energy to clean up this mess,” demands the mayor.

“Independent retailers do not decide the price of gasoline. They are told it by someone at the top. If there is someone who controls the price, you have to find them and kick them out,” says the mayor.

“If I had the power, I would make every effort to find the culprit. Our people shouldn’t have to pay so much for gasoline. It’s absurd,” says the mayor.

In other remote regions, it was $1.65 in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and $1.66 on the North Shore on October 31.

PASPÉBIAC – Former Deputy Premier and Member of the National Assembly for Bonaventure, Nathalie Normandeau, is now denouncing the high profit margins taken by gas stations in the Gaspé Peninsula region.

“The margins that retailers are taking on each litre of gasoline sold in the Gaspésie are a scandal. It’s outright a rip-off,” states Ms. Normandeau unequivocally during her weekly appearance on Intersection Program at CHNC on October 17.

On the evening of October 19, retailers in the Gaspé, Chandler and Paspébiac sectors raised the price of a litre of gasoline from $1.68 to $1.75.

However, data from the Energy Board (Régie de l’énergie) indicates no variation justifying such a price.

CAA Québec estimated the average price in Gaspésie to be $1.69.

The former politician proposes to CAQ (Coalition avenir Québec) MNAs in the Gaspésie to introduce a private bill in the National Assembly.

“They could very well introduce a very very short bill that would contain provisions to cap the margins that retailers can take for each litre of gasoline sold in the Gaspé,” suggests Ms. Normandeau.

“I think this would be a very convincing way of taking action, and it would be much quicker than the Competition Bureau, which often takes years to conduct its investigations and deliver the results of its inquiries,” she continues.

“Will they have the political courage to do it? Will they have the political will to do it? That’s another matter,” challenges Ms. Normandeau.

Resolution in Rocher-Percé

The mayors of the Rocher-Percé MRC are also getting involved in the debate by adopting a resolution on October 18 denouncing high gasoline prices.

“Sometimes the price is much higher in the Rocher-Percé MRC than in other regions of Quebec and even in the Gaspé. We want the government to address this situation and provide answers,” says Prefect Samuel Parisé. According to him, the Competition Bureau and the Energy Board need to get involved.

“I don’t think it’s normal for my citizens to pay more than people elsewhere in Quebec,” adds the prefect.

“In every meeting I have with residents, I talk about housing, childcare services, and gasoline prices. These are the priorities for our MRC,” says the elected official.

The mayor of Gaspé, Daniel Côté, is not giving up the battle, having launched the fight in 2019.

“There is a price control that seems very clear to me. It’s certain that sitting in an office in Ottawa, you will never find the problem in the Gaspé,” he says, commenting on the letter received by the CAQ Members of the National Assembly for the Gaspé from the Competition Bureau, which, in a way, asked for some evidence of collusion in the gasoline market in the region.

MONT-JOLI – The 2023 summer tourist season in Gaspésie exceeded expectations.

In the spring, Tourisme Gaspésie expected a slowdown in the number of visitors after three busy summers marked by significant measures restricting travel outside the province.

But this was not the case, as the vacation intentions of Quebecers were expected to decline combined with the resumption of international travel, the slow resumption of arrivals of international tourists, and inflation.

“We actually thought it would be lower than last year but, at the moment, in terms of overnight stays in the region, it’s a little higher. However, we haven’t compiled September’s figures. We’ll have more accurate data at the end of October,” explains the director, Joëlle Ross.

According to preliminary data at this time, for the months of May to August, approximately 487,000 visitors came to the Gaspé Peninsula, which could represent an increase of 6.7% compared to 2022 and 6.24% compared to 2019.

Occupancy rates for July and August are slightly down but the organization has noted an increase in available units, which distorts the data.

To assess the variation in actual visitors, Tourisme Gaspésie focuses on occupied units where increases have been observed.

Thus, May records an increase of 18.3%, June 4.2%, July 6.9% and August 4.4%.

According to a survey of tourism businesses, more than 80% of them view the season positively and the main concern of businesses is inflation and rising operating costs.

Visitor behaviour is changing

“We’re honouring our favourite tourist region, but we’re not going out as much as before to eat, we’re doing fewer activities, and we’re going to museums less, which is why it’s a bit harder for these activities. We’re probably going to the grocery stores more and doing our own thing, which means that people have come, but they haven’t travelled in the same usual way,” analyses the director.

Regarding the restaurant sector, Ms. Ross notes that the labour shortage means that some restaurants have to restrict their activities.

“In terms of visitors, we’re going to have more of the same, but in terms of economic spin-offs, we’re certainly going to be down,” expects Ms. Ross.

Last year, 570,000 visitors came to the region between May and September, generating around $340 million in economic spinoffs.

“Quebecers are still fond of the Gaspé, and those who discovered the Gaspé during the COVID years were happy with their stay and are coming back to see us again. Customers from outside the region have started to come back. This allows us to stretch out the season. September should be very good, and May started quite early,” she mentions.

From March to October, Tourisme Gaspésie has invested more than $700,000 to promote the destination to Quebecers and the population of the Maritimes.

A full report will be presented at the Gaspésie Tourism Industry Symposium (Colloque de l’industrie touristique de la Gaspésie) in Matane on November 22 and 23.

Preparations for the winter tourist season are well under way.

“And soon we will be working on our spring campaign, which is our biggest campaign of the year,” concludes Ms. Ross.

GASPÉ – The National Assembly is speaking with one voice in asking the Electoral Representation Commission to reconsider its recommendation to merge the ridings of Gaspé and Bonaventure.

A motion was filed by the Member of the National Assembly for Magdalen Islands, Joël Arseneau, jointly with the Member of the National Assembly for Bonaventure, Catherine Blouin, on October 17 at the National Assembly in Quebec City.

The motion requests that the National Assembly take note of the commission’s proposal to merge the electoral divisions of Gaspé and Bonaventure into a new electoral division that would stretch from the Plateaux de la Matapédia to Grande-Vallée.

The motion emphasizes the vastness of the territory, its remoteness, the length of distances to be travelled, and the dispersion of the entire population of this region. It argues that such a vast territory would further distance citizens from their representatives and would affect the quality of services offered in the constituency offices, and could not adequately reflect the many regional characteristics of this riding.

It concludes by pointing out that any loss of political weight suffered by our Quebec regions jeopardizes the democratic health of our nation.

The motion was adopted unanimously by the parliamentarians present.

The MNA for Matane-Matapédia, Pascal Bérubé, requests that the motion be transmitted to the Chief Electoral Officer.

This is another action taken by the MNAs in connection with the proposed electoral map reform submitted on September 19.

The commission proposes annexing Haute-Gaspésie to the expanded electoral division of Matane-Matapédia and grouping the MRCs of Côte-de-Gaspé, Rocher-Percé, Bonaventure, and Avignon into the new riding of Gaspé-Bonaventure, which would result in a loss of one seat for the Gaspésie in the National Assembly.

The delimitation exercise involves dividing Quebec into 125 electoral divisions of approximately 51,000 electors who have, as much as possible, common characteristics.

The Election Act stipulates that an electoral division can have up to 25% more or fewer voters than the average. Thus, the minimum must be 38,021, and the maximum 63,368.

As of April 30, Bonaventure had 35,898 voters, and Gaspé 30,131, far below the minimum threshold. The respective differences were -29.2% and -40.6%.

Gaspé thus ranked third among the least populous electoral divisions, behind the Magdalen Islands, which has exceptional status, and Ungava.

The commission will hear from the public on October 24 in Gaspé and has added a public hearing on October 26 in New Richmond following pressure from the MNA for Bonaventure and the minister responsible for Gaspésie, Maïté Blanchette Vézina.

The MNA for Gaspé, Stéphane Sainte-Croix, and his colleague from Bonaventure will appear before the commission, as will several municipal elected officials.

CARLETON-SUR-MER – Pressure is mounting on the government of Quebec to initiate the modernization of the emergency department at Maria Hospital, as the Avignon and Bonaventure MRCs and the municipalities served by the hospital centre will be called upon to adopt a resolution to that effect.

Municipal officials will follow in the lead of the board of directors of the CISSS de la Gaspésie, which adopted a resolution on September 28 to have the renovation included in the Quebec Infrastructure Plan (Plan québécois des infrastructures) this fall.

“It’s a priority for the Avignon MRC. It’s also a priority for the CISSS. The Bonaventure MRC is on board too. What we want is a new emergency department and intensive care unit. The needs are undeniable,” explains the prefect of the Avignon MRC, Mathieu Lapointe.

“The file is complete. It’s in Quebec City. We want the project to be included in the PQI (Programme québécois d’infrastructures), the investment plan of the Quebec government,” says the prefect.

“We now know that it’s at the political level that this project will move forward. All the municipalities that have Maria as their referral hospital will be asked to adopt a resolution to request a complete refurbishment of the emergency department and intensive care unit in the coming weeks,” adds Mr. Lapointe.

The project has been on the table since 2018.

“It really is time. Even the premier said so when he came (to Carleton-sur-Mer in July 2020), and Minister Dubé (Christian, Minister of Health) also visited the facilities last year. Everyone is aware of the dilapidated state of the facilities. It’s a priority for the CISSS de la Gaspésie,” adds Mr. Lapointe.

He cites narrow corridors, a lack of confidentiality during care, and the fact that the emergency department and intensive care are not physically adjacent as examples.

It took 20 years for the reconstruction project of the Gaspé hospital emergency department to become a reality in July 2021.

“We’ve been calling for a new hospital, a new emergency department and intensive care unit for several years now. All the work and the arguments are done. We’re really at the political stage,” says the prefect, who received a visit from the president of the board of directors of the CISSS, Richard Loiselle, the same person who had the board of directors adopt a resolution to urge Quebec to act.

In brief, the resolution requested that the Board of Directors and its president take steps to ensure that the Maria emergency project is included in the PQI this fall, and to take steps to obtain strategic support to ensure that the project was recognized as a regional priority.

At the time, Mr. Loiselle indicated that the process could allow for intervention with political authorities, considering “that this project is highly strategic for the quality of healthcare for people using the Maria hospital”.

The chief executive officer (CEO) and President of the CISSS, Martin Pelletier, had withdrawn from the debate since, as a voting member of the Board of Directors, he did not want to be in a conflict of interest regarding his functions.

Mr. Pelletier had brought this priority to the forefront upon taking office in May 2022.

He had initiated the file when he was the Director of Technical Services during the creation of the CISSS in April 2015.

GASPÉ – Despite the Competition Bureau’s reluctance to investigate gas prices in the Gaspé region, the Coalition avenir Quebec (CAQ) Members of the National Assembly from the region will rekindle their efforts with the federal agency in light of a letter that does not convince them.

In a letter responding to the one sent in September by the MNAs for Bonaventure, Catherine Blouin, and Gaspé, Stéphane Sainte-Croix, the bureau asked the elected officials for evidence of anti-competitive behaviour before launching an investigation.

“I must confess that I am surprised by this response. I consider that the role of an MNA is not to provide evidence, but to bring forward elements that seem relevant or worrying so that the authorities concerned can do their job,” said the MNA for Gaspé in reaction to the letter sent by Acting Deputy Commissioner Pierre-Yves Guay.

“We will communicate again with the stakeholders to express our surprise at this response, and we will continue to make representations because we still feel that we do not have the answers that will enable us to understand the cost discrepancies. We don’t think it’s any more acceptable today than it was yesterday,” says Stéphane Sainte-Croix.

The Acting Deputy Commissioner wrote of the concerns expressed by the elected officials that “these differences are not necessarily indicative of anti competitive behaviour,” explaining several reasons to justify his response, adding that maintaining competition in the gasoline sector is a priority for the bureau.

“We always come to the conclusion, after several years, that the Gaspé region is subject to cost differentials that appear questionable compared to the entire territory. This is still the case today. This situation has been going on for some time now,” analyzes Mr. Sainte-Croix.

“We’ve reported enough indicators in recent years that we found it rather strange. There are one or more things we don’t understand, and we’re going to ask for more work to be done,” continues the elected official.

In September, Catherine Blouin and Stéphane Sainte-Croix had enclosed with their letter to the Competition Bureau the 2019 Gaspé gasoline price surveillance report drawn up by the Régie de l’énergie.

In the document produced on December 19, 2019, the Régie wrote that the margin was 9.4 cents per litre in 2019 in the region, compared with 4.8 cents in Quebec.

The Régie also noted that between 2014 and 2019, the Gaspésie was, in 19% of cases, the region with the highest price in Quebec. For 2019, the percentage rose to 34%.

For the last six months of 2019, the price of gasoline in the Gaspésie region was the highest of all the regions of Quebec, except for Northern Quebec due to its special status.

In the document, the Régie noted that the cost of transporting fuel to the Gaspésie is higher than in the major centres, but the region benefits from a tax credit to offset this factor. Net, the estimated minimum price level for Gaspésie, “should be similar to that of the entire Quebec area”, noted the organization.

The Régie concluded its 35-page report by stating that “ it cannot conclude that higher gasoline prices in the Gaspésie region are caused by specific parametres establishing acquisition costs significantly higher than in the rest of the province”.

“Although the Bureau is not responsible for regulating gasoline prices – a provincial responsibility – it does oversee the application of the Competition Act,” continues Mr. Guay.

Since 1997, the Régie has had a mandate to establish a minimum price at which a retailer cannot sell gasoline lower than. This has been called the “estimated minimum price,” an exercise that the organization carries out every day on the basis of the price of crude oil.

The Régie calculates the cost of acquisition at the refinery, the cost of transportation and the various federal and provincial taxes to establish the daily indicator of the cost of acquisition, which becomes the estimated minimum price.

If a retailer sold below this estimated price, other retailers could take legal action against their competitors who were engaging in abusive practices.

More than 25 years later, it might be appropriate to review the mandate of the Régie.

“I think we could take this opportunity to review certain aspects of pricing. Too often we talk about the transport associated with the resource, but there are compensation mechanisms, so that shouldn’t be part of the equation. There are undoubtedly other reasons why the situation persists. It would be appropriate to review, if necessary, the mechanisms by which costs are set,” cautiously suggests Mr. Sainte-Croix.

GASPÉ – The Marinard shrimp processing plant in Rivière-au-Renard is reportedly on the verge of being sold.

The information has been circulating for several weeks now in the industry, with discussions said to be nearing completion between E. Gagnon et Fils of Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé and Daley Seafoods of Newfoundland and Labrador, which had announced the acquisition of the company on December 20, 2021.

For the time being, the Vice President of E. Gagnon et Fils, Bill Sheehan, refuses to comment on the state of negotiations when contacted by The Gaspé Spec, however, it has been learned that it is only a matter of days before everything is finalized.

“In the current context, where there probably wouldn’t be enough shrimp to run three processing plants in Quebec, and with what is currently happening at Rivière-au-Renard, we can’t be against it. E. Gagnon et Fils seems to have a clear idea of what it wants to do with the Marinard plant. E. Gagnon et Fils is probably one of the groups best placed to ensure the continuity of operations,” cautiously comments Patrice Element, the director of the Quebec Shrimp Fishermen’s Office.

The mayor of Gaspé has heard the rumours circulating. “It’s reassuring to see that there could be a change of hands, that regional interests could take control of Marinard. It could be interesting. I’m not in the habit of commenting on rumours but, as this is a huge potential transaction, I’m looking favourably on it,” says Daniel Côté, who has not had contact with potential buyers.

Faced with the current shrimp crisis, the mayor believes that the company could be more sensitive to workers.

“Could it diversify? Could it look elsewhere? This regional sensitivity in terms of shareholding will certainly help us find a solution to get our people working and find a solution to the current crisis,” says Mr. Côté.

Marinard had suspended operations on September 1 due to a shortage of shrimp for processing, leaving about 150 employees without income.

MARIA – In a resounding call for change, Gaspé Peninsula nurses have delivered a powerful message to the government of Quebec by voting overwhelmingly at 97% in favour of an unlimited general strike.

Since September 18, members of the Union of Nurses, Auxiliary Nurses and Respiratory Therapists from Eastern Quebec have voted throughout the Gaspésie territory, signaling their readiness to employ this significant measure during negotiations with the Quebec Government.

President of the union, Pier-Luc Bujold, articulates the frustrations stating, “What the government wants to do with its clawback offers in the pension system is impoverish the seniors of tomorrow and force people to work longer before obtaining their retirement. Salary offers of 9% over five years do not hold water when we know that the inflation forecast over the next five years is 16.4%. It’s laughing at people working in the health sector.”

Mr. Bujold underscores the critical need for increased funding to address the shortage in the health network and improve working conditions. This should lead the government of Quebec to release additional funding envelopes to keep people in the network.

“To improve working conditions, both in terms of work-family balance, adjustment of schedules, staff-patient ratio or mandatory overtime, it takes solid investments to retain people in this sector and attract people and it is not the peanuts the government is proposing that will consolidate health services in the Gaspé Peninsula,” analyzes Mr. Bujold.

He notes that current proposals fall short and fail to prioritize the frontline workers who have been the “guardian angels” during the pandemic.

While light pressure tactics, such as wearing negotiation sweaters, are already in play, Mr. Bujold assures that the strike will unfold “in the coming weeks.”

From a regional perspective, the union calls for the Gaspé Peninsula to be recognized as a remote area, acknowledging the unique challenges it faces in attracting and retaining health professionals.

“The highly significant difficulties of attraction and retention compared to the distances with large centres must be recognized once and for all to consolidate our workforce in Gaspé Peninsula,” states Mr. Bujold.

Addressing the government’s intention to end the use of agencies in the health network by October 2026 in the Gaspé Peninsula, the union demands the return of funds paid to agencies to enhance the conditions of regular staff.

“There are double standards at the level of salaries in the private sector versus the public and regarding working conditions. The government has announced that it wants to eradicate the independent workforce, but all benefits that have been paid in recent years must return to the public network,” declares Pier-Luc Bujold.

“We are seeing more and more service disruptions. Everything must be consolidated to provide care in quantity and quality in the region for the coming decades,” concludes Mr. Bujold.

As Gaspé Peninsula nurses voiced their concerns about working conditions over the last three years including compulsory overtime, salaries and the use of agency nurses.

The Union of Nurses, Practical Nurses and Respiratory Therapists of Eastern Quebec (SIIIEQ-CSQ) declares that all healthcare professionals in Gaspésie are on the brink of a strike. Since September 18, the members represented by the SIIIEQ-CSQ were invited to voting assemblies throughout the Gaspé region.

“With a 97% vote in favour of an indefinite general strike, it is a clear message that our members sent us. Enough is enough!” explains Pier-Luc Bujold, president of SIIIEQ-CSQ.

(With the collaboration of Gilles Gagné)

MATAPÉDIA – Following in the footsteps of the eastern sector, the western part of the Avignon MRC has initiated discussions regarding the establishment of an intermunicipal fire protection board.

Presently, the municipalities of Pointe-à-la-Croix, Matapédia, and the Plateaux sector already share the same service manager.

“The municipalities to the west of Pointe-à-la-Croix have met in recent weeks with a similar objective to that of the east,” says Nicole Lagacé, the mayor of Matapedia.

“For the fire chief, it’s four different budgets and four different accountability reports. We could amalgamate all that into a single budget for all the municipalities concerned,” says the mayor.

A study has been commissioned from Icarium, which had already conducted a study in the Avignon MRC.

“Right now, the work is done, and people’s safety is well established. However, I think we need to go beyond the status quo to improve our service. That would benefit everyone,” says Ms. Lagacé.

Each municipality with a fire station has committed, by resolution, to continue the analysis.

It’s hard to believe that any amalgamation would happen quickly.

“Obviously, it would have been easier to do it at the beginning of the year. At this point, it may be a little too late. We’ll see how we can pursue this, but the objective is to do it as quickly as possible,” she says.

“If it’s more efficient to implement it by January 1, it will be in 2025 but, in 2024, there is a likelihood that major decisions will have to be made,” she adds.

The loss of 3,300 jobs has caused the unemployment rate to rise by 2.1% in September, reaching 6.8%.

GASPÉ – The loss of 3,300 jobs has caused the unemployment rate to rise by 2.1% in September, reaching 6.8%.

According to Statistics Canada, the losses occurred, both among full-time and part-time employees, as well as due to more than 2,600 people leaving the active job search in the last month.

A total of 2,800 full-time positions were eliminated from the job market last month.

At 32,800, the figure remains higher than the 29,500 people at the same time last year. However, the number of part-time positions decreased both in the last month and compared to last year.

There were 4,500 part-time positions in September, compared with 5,000 in August and 5,600 in September 2022.

The number of unemployed individuals increased from 2,000 in August to 2,700 in September.

There were 2,600 unemployed individuals a year ago.

Taking into account that the labour force, i.e., individuals employed or actively seeking employment, decreased from 42,600 in August to 40,000 in September, the unemployment rate climbed from 4.7% in August to 6.8% in September compared to 6.9% a year ago.

An intermunicipal fire protection agreement is about to be concluded between four municipalities in the eastern part of the MRC Avignon.

CARLETON-SUR-MER – An intermunicipal fire protection agreement is about to be concluded between four municipalities in the eastern part of the MRC Avignon.

In October, Escuminac, Nouvelle, Carleton-sur-Mer and Maria will adopt resolutions formalizing an intermunicipal agreement to consolidate their fire safety services.

Carleton-sur-Mer will assume management of the service as of January 1.

“Our aim is to optimize our services, improve our practices and be more attractive for recruiting and retaining firefighters. We are very pleased with this progressive step, which will enable us to provide an enhanced service throughout the territory,” explains Mathieu Lapointe, mayor of Carleton-sur-Mer.

A service director will be hired, prevention will be transferred from the MRC to the régie intermunicipal administrative body, and a full-time training officer will work within the organization to improve practices.

“We will benefit from the combined expertise that will be added to the team,” says the mayor.

The four municipalities will consolidate their fire safety budgets, and participation will be slightly increased. “But, above all, there will be a huge increase in the service offered. We’re getting up to speed. We had some challenges in terms of upgrading prevention, among other things. We had a lot of work to do to improve our practices. By consolidating our budgets, we will be more efficient,” notes Mr. Lapointe.

Among the benefits highlighted are the reduced duplication of administrative structures, standardized working conditions for the 60 firefighters, maximized resources available throughout the territory during the day, and standardized prevention and service operations.

An advisory committee has been established to oversee the service.

The municipalities will retain responsibility for their fire stations and rolling stock, while the rest of the equipment will be pooled within the integrated service.

The new authority is also seeking funding from the Quebec government, which encourages such collaborations.

“The Department of Municipal Affairs has programs for service pooling. We are aiming to secure up to $250,000, which will assist us during the first five years of this new integrated service,” suggests the mayor.

The initiative commenced eight months ago following a fire safety study that recommended the creation of two units within the MRC.

The mobilization continues to demand an overhaul of employment insurance, as another demonstration took place on October 11 in front of the Marinard plant and in the streets of Rivière-au-Renard.

RIVIÈRE-AU-RENARD – The mobilization continues to demand an overhaul of employment insurance, as another demonstration took place on October 11 in front of the Marinard plant and in the streets of Rivière-au-Renard.

This marks the third event since the forced layoffs of plant workers on September 1 due to the lack of marine products, essentially shrimp, to process.

About forty individuals gathered to urge a comprehensive revision of the system to avoid a seasonal black hole at the end of the benefit period.

“We sent a letter asking for a meeting with Randy Boissonnault (Minister responsible for Employment Insurance). We thought he would have responded to us. He seemed to want to meet with us, however, it hasn’t happened,” explains the coordinator of the Mouvement action chômage Pabok, Nadia Mongeon.

“We can see that if he had wanted to make a reform now, he would have told us, ‘Let’s meet, and I’ll tell you what’s going on.’ We get the impression that he’s always stalling,” adds Ms. Mongeon.

No indication has been given that a reform will be tabled, despite the promise to move forward in 2023.

“It’s at a standstill. Nothing is happening,” deplores the coordinator.

“We’re hoping that, by taking action at some point, they’ll take action with results. But for the time being, we’re not hearing anything,” she adds.

Respecting seasonal workers in Eastern Canada remains the central element of the future reform.

The demands include qualifying with 420 hours, for 35 weeks of benefits, benefits calculated based on 70% of the salary, and considering work in seasonal industries.

Meanwhile, approximately 30 Marinard workers who could not qualify for employment insurance when operations were suspended on September 1 still have no help.

“There are no plans or opportunities to help these workers in the short term,” says Dave Coulombe, Treasurer of the CSN Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine Central Council, who met on October 10 with Fisheries and Oceans Minister Minister, Diane Lebouthillier, to assess the situation following what is now referred to as the shrimp crisis.

“We’re going to keep up the pressure and demand that the government help us reform employment insurance,” says Mr. Coulombe.

Luce Jean, president of the CSN-affiliated Marinard employees’ union, points out that several dozen people have been unemployed since September 1.

“Around thirty workers have been unable to qualify for unemployment benefits. We’ve had all sorts of promises since September 1. The federal government told us it would help us, also the provincial government, but in practice we’ve got nothing. We’ve been waiting 41 days for the results of these promises and we’ve got nothing. Forty-one days without pay is a long time,” explains Ms. Jean.

Nothing is currently planned in the event of a moratorium on shrimp fishing.

“She told us that when she has answers, she will speak publicly to inform us. There is no program in place at the moment, nothing on the table, nothing at all,” continues Mr. Coulombe.

“We heard Ms. Lebouthillier say ‘no’ to these workers. That’s why we’re continuing to exert pressure,” stresses Ms. Mongeon.

The mayor of Percé remains confident about the future of the Geoparc, which experienced a major financial crisis in 2022. According to Cathy Poirier, 2023 has been much better.

PERCÉ – The mayor of Percé remains confident about the future of the Geoparc, which experienced a major financial crisis in 2022. According to Cathy Poirier, 2023 has been much better.

The mayor, who has been involved since the beginning and who has chaired the organization, did not want this situation to arise.

“I think financial difficulties happen to a lot of organizations. Interest rates make a huge difference on a $2 million loan. That’s just one factor among many. I think we’ve come to a reflection to improve the situation,” comments the mayor.

The organization is seeking a general manager who specializes in restructuring after recording a deficit of $350,000 in 2022.

“The Geoparc had a very good season, with very good visitor numbers. We had a general manager who did a very good job of restructuring. No one thinks that the future of the Geoparc is in jeopardy,” the mayor continues.

The pandemic years were busy, but on the other hand prevented any development.

“The Board of Directors is very committed and very present, with a new chairman, Daniel Leboeuf. This is excellent news for Percé. He was involved in the initial discussions and in the birth of the Geoparc. Now that he’s retired, he has all the time in the world to devote to the Geoparc,” says the elected official.

The organization aims to find stability in the general management after several people have occupied the position since 2020.

Finding the right fit is difficult in the current labour shortage.

Rue du Piedmont

Work will finally begin on Rue du Piedmont, which will connect Route 132 and the Geoparc.

The first phase involves building the water and sewer infrastructure for a project that the mayor did not have in her plans when she took office in 2017.

In 2016, the population rejected a $2 million project proposed by the former administration in a referendum.

“We worked on an eco-responsible project, which changed the game for developing the commercial street and a different way of subdividing the land and financing the project. We embraced this project,” explains Ms. Poirier.

“It took a while with the Ministry of Culture, the subdivision and the pandemic. The processing of the file slowed down during this period. The subdivision is finished, and we don’t want to go ahead with a global project. We want to phase it,” continues the mayor.

The start of the work will allow the sale of four of the six remaining plots still available.

“There are still plenty of people interested. People are asking around. We’re very confident that the sale of the four plots will enable the second phase to get underway,” explains the mayor.

Meanwhile, the recipe for making asphalt from recycled plastic has been found.

“The studies have been conclusive. An initial trial will be carried out in the autumn to conduct laboratory tests,” she says.

A good tourist summer

Contrary to previews, the summer of 2023 was better than expected, while elsewhere, a certain slowdown has been noticed or a decline was expected after three intense years.

Without having any concrete figures, the trend looks good.

“The Sépaq (Société des établissements de plein air du Québec) indicated that it is equal to or better than 2022. That’s what the tourism industry seems to be telling us. A very, very good season. Maybe a little less extreme traffic in the middle of the summer season, but an earlier start and a season that’s not over yet. What we’re hearing is that the season will be equal to or better than 2022,” says the mayor.

Seeing the tourist season extend is perceived as excellent news.

“It’s a trend we’ve been working on for a long time. When the Geoparc opened in 2016, the plan was that we should stay open all winter to attract new investors. As well as those that are very seasonal, we’re seeing more and more businesses open all year round,” suggests the mayor.