#CPE

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – The second daycare centre project approved in the summer of 2022 in Gaspé, at the CPE des Butineurs by the Ministry of Family Affairs, will not open until January 2027.

Several technical issues have delayed the development process.

The application was submitted in January 2022, and 73 places were approved, 80% of which are reserved for members of the Micmac Nation of Gespeg.

The construction of the facility, initially planned for Nation land near the Saint-Majorique administrative centre, has proven complicated.

From the beginning of the proceedings with the Town of Gaspé in the fall of 2022, two different maps emerged, raising concerns about a potential unmarked watercourse and wetlands on the selected parcel of land.

“We had to have everything evaluated and characterized. In the end, there was no watercourse, but there were two wetlands. We had to discuss it again and select a new location,” explains Mylène Côté, director of the CPE des Butineurs and project manager.

Once the second site was selected, still on Nation property, but behind the administrative centre, further testing was required.

“We had the issue of the well and septic tank in that area. We had to conduct characterization tests to see what kind of treatment system would be possible. Each study had to be approved by the Department of Family Services before moving on to the next one. That’s what caused the delay,” continues Ms. Côté.

All these tests had to be conducted during the summer season.

Once these steps were completed, the feasibility study was submitted in January, and the CPE now hopes to open the new facility in January 2027.

“We will need the ministry’s approval to continue. We have hired architects and engineers. Everything is proceeding as normal. Each step is taking a little longer than expected,” notes Ms. Côté.

The facility will be a traditional construction, unlike the CPE Le Voyage de mon Enfance near Carrefour Gaspé, which is currently under construction as part of a pilot project using prefabricated buildings.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2026.

In 2022, the Quebec government allocated a budget of $3.3 million for the project.

“We’ll see when construction will take place. There is always a small indexation. For the moment, that’s the budget we have,” calculates the director.

By comparison, the CPE project under construction near Carrefour Gaspé will cost $6 million, after several delays pushed back its completion.

The shortage of educators in the job market remains a major challenge.

“It’s a big and exciting challenge. It’s a real concern. We’re working on it every day. We hope that the beauty of the project will attract people to the region,” says Ms. Côté.

About 15 educators and three support staff will be needed. “We hope to have members of the Nation (filling these positions),” she says.