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AFFORDABLE HOUSING: A new way of project development to reduce costs 

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – The Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine Collective Housing Resource Group is testing a new approach to building collective housing projects in an effort to save money. The Quartier du havre of the Habitations de la montagne project aims to construct 84 housing units built near the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) offices, on the montée de Sandy Beach in Gaspé. 

The project has already secured funding from both the government of Quebec and the federal government’s Affordable Housing Program. 

What sets this project apart is that the contractor has already been chosen before the end of the plans and specifications process. “Traditionally, for the past 30 years, the contractor has been chosen at the end of the process during a traditional call for tenders. In this case, the contractor was chosen much earlier so that he could participate in the planning with the professionals on the project,” explains the director of the resource group, Ambroise Henry. 

Marcel Charest et fils, a company from Saint-Pascal in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, was selected from six companies that participated in a call for tenders for services. 

“By arriving at the beginning of the planning and construction of the plans and specifications, the contractor can offer its input, bring his expertise, and can ensure that all the professionals find solutions to build a real estate complex where we will save costs instead of being changed after a call for tenders and modifying plans. That can make a big difference, in our opinion,” says Mr. Henry who is enthusiastic about the recommended formula. 

The process is expected to be more effective than traditional performance-based estimates. 

“Even in terms of performance and criteria, it will be part of the discussions to make decisions on the various elements. It’s a little more advanced than the performance specifications,” notes Mr. Henry. 

There were concerns that construction costs per unit could reach as high as $800,000. 

“We think that by working this way, we’ll bring it into a slightly more acceptable range in the sense that when we have a contractor who responds to a call for tenders, he has to take into account a lot of risk elements. By having it from the start, we’ll eliminate certain risk areas. We have to do the process to see if it’s effective,” explains Mr. Henry. 

The group is aiming for a construction cost of under $500,000 per unit. 

“We’re taking all the paths to get there. Experience will tell us,” says the director, who points out that this is the group’s biggest project in 40 years of existence. 

Les Habitations de la montagne will be housing for all types of residents. If all goes well, construction should begin in 2025, with an inauguration in 2026. 

The Federal and Quebec governments are covering 80% of the project’s cost, with the remainder coming from the municipal level. 

The town of Gaspé has provided the land for the project, as well as technical assistance and a tax credit worth approximately $8 million. 

With an estimated construction cost of $500,000 per unit, the total value of the project is approximately $42 million. 

The organization has about fifteen projects in Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, with funding in all the region’s MRCs. 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING: A new way of project development to reduce costs  Read More »

Impact study questioned by environmental group

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

Environnement vert plus has raised concerns about the credibility of a study conducted by Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, which was commissioned by the Regroupement des MRC de la Gaspésie. The study claims that the caribou pilot project could result in significant job losses and an economic downturn of $23 million in Haute-Gaspésie. 

Spokesperson for Environnement vert plus, Pascal Bergeron, criticized the report stating, “We find that the report is alarmist and the consequences in terms of job losses are overestimated. The report lacks credibility.” 

The environmental group mentions, in particular, a title in the document which states that “Several other projects will be put at risk because of the caribou conservation measures.” Among these are, La source Isabella, the exploitation of critical minerals and Ressources Minières Pélican. 

“Regarding Pélican Mineral Resources, we called the promoter and he told us that his project is not on the territory targeted by caribou protection. Of the three projects that were presented and that are at risk, none are actually at risk. For me, statements like that take away a lot of credibility from the report,” says Mr. Bergeron. 

“What we feel is that a mandate was given to the firm to find all the possible holes where there could be job losses, make a big addition and produce a figure that would scare people. It succeeded in scaring people, but it has little credibility for the rest,” adds the environmentalist. 

Mr. Bergeron is aware that the recreational tourism component could be impacted but blames the Quebec government for its lack of communication following the presentation of the pilot project in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts in April. 

“The government did not communicate anything afterward. Benoit Charette, instead of touring Ottawa to prevent the federal government from issuing a decree on a species that he is supposed to protect, should come to Haute-Gaspésie to explain the measures that he wants to implement, to seek out the concerns of people on the ground and to adapt,” suggests Mr. Bergeron. 

According to him, Ottawa considers that certain recreational tourism activities are compatible with the protection of caribou. 

“Of course, we will not go ski-dooing or four-wheeling on Mount Jacques-Cartier, but for off-trail skiing, there is plenty of room. Areas that have already been devastated by the forestry industry could be used for off-trail skiing. Quebec is doing things halfway,” mentions the spokesperson. 

“It would be appropriate to reduce the distribution area, but to increase protection in the immediate perimeter of the Parc de la Gaspésie. We should take the area around the park to restore the habitat rather than having 98% of the telemetric data that imply the same protection measures that do not take into account the uses of the territory,” maintains the environmentalist. 

On the forestry aspect, Mr. Bergeron emphasizes that the plan to recover 5,000 hectares of forest damaged by a windfall last December is misleading. 

“What science tells us is that it is not in our interest to come and disturb a habitat that has been naturally disturbed. When we read what is said about forest fires, we are going to recover the wood, we are affecting the soil, we are creating entry routes for predators… It is not a good idea. This proposal must be studied more rigorously,” believes Mr. Bergeron. 

According to him, the forestry economy is undergoing complete restructuring while there is a major crisis, maintaining that some Quebec sawmills that closed for summer maintenance have not restarted their activities. 

“The unions are asking for consolidation because there is too much industrial capacity for the remaining wood. Even if we don’t protect the caribou, would the Gaspésie sawmills stay open? We should stop blaming the caribou for everything and hold a (Quebec-wide) general assembly on the forest,” suggests Mr. Bergeron. 

A public consultation regarding the project will conclude on October 31. Mr. Bergeron expressed uncertainty about how much weight Quebec will give to the feedback received. “We understood that there was a strong political game at the Council of Ministers that prevents the work from being done properly. What will be taken into account? The CAQ (Coalition Avenir Québec) will go where the wind blows,” illustrates Mr. Bergeron.

Impact study questioned by environmental group Read More »

Early Childhood Education course will once again be offered at Gaspé Cegep

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – Suspended since 2020, the Early Childhood Education course will return to the Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles’ Gaspé campus in the fall of 2025. 

To attract candidates to the program at a time when there is a significant shortage of educators, the college is introducing paid internships and employment integration measures, including part-time work in Gaspé’s two Centres de la petite enfance (CPE), which have collaborated to upgrade the program. 

“We were inspired by CEGEPs which implemented this new paid internship formula. We went a step further and told the CPEs, ‘Could we integrate them right away with a part-time job?’ and they responded positively. So there’s the paid internship and access to employment,” explains Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles Director of Studies Serge Rochon. 

“There’s a desperate need (for early childhood workers),” says Mr. Rochon. Students who take this program are trained to work in childcare centres, as well as, school daycare services. 

A vast advertising campaign will be launched not only in the region, but also throughout the province and even internationally. 

While consulting with students during group meetings, they showed an interest in such a program. “We think there are people who might be interested in studying in Gaspé. For Quebec students, the Parcours bursary, which helps students move from one region to another, can offer a three-year bursary of $22,500 for students located more than 60 kilometres from Gaspé,” points out Mr. Rochon. This could even attract students from the Bay of Chaleur. 

Ultimately, with scholarships and paid work and internships, the cost of students in Gaspé could be mostly covered. 

There is a possibility that the CEGEP could relocate the training if the need arises. “But the teaching team wanted to keep the program in-house, since it was simpler to organize the courses. Could the program be relocated to other campuses? These are issues that are on our work table,” says Rochon. 

“Educational childcare services are in great need of qualified personnel. We’re delighted to partner with the Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles to help create a unique program that will stand out and attract young people to the profession,” says Mylène Côté, director of CPE Les Butineurs. 

Her counterpart at the CPE Le voyage de mon enfance, Gilles Chapados, adds: “The new formula proposed by the CEGEP will enable future educational childcare providers to quickly put their learning into practice, while being remunerated. It’s a win-win situation.” 

To relaunch the program, the CEGEP must receive at least seven registrations by March 1, 2025, the admissions deadline. Classes would begin in the fall of 2025. 

Early Childhood Education course will once again be offered at Gaspé Cegep Read More »

WIND ENERGY: Gaspé Mayor Discusses with Quebec Government 

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – On October 14, Gaspé Mayor discussed with the Minister Delegate for the Economy, Christopher Skeete, the importance of including Quebec and regional content in Hydro-Québec’s upcoming agreements for 10,000 megawatts of wind energy set to be produced by 2035. 

This follows the mayor’s earlier push at the end of September, which led to a debate in the National Assembly. However, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government refused to debate a motion from the Parti Québécois on October 10, closing the door on a formal discussion at that level. 

Despite this, Daniel Côté sees a form of openness after the discussion with Christopher Skeete who was accompanied by Gaspé Member of the National Assembly (MNA), Stéphane Sainte-Croix. “There are different possibilities that I perhaps didn’t see at the outset. There are legal mechanisms that allow the government to have a certain form of protectionism. That’s not how it’s written in the law but it gives the government a certain amount of leeway than I had initially estimated,” says the mayor. 

“But I still feel the absence of mandatory local, regional or national content. Nothing would prevent Hydro-Québec from buying blades in China. I understand that, politically, they will want to support Quebec’s purchase of Quebec components, and I understand that there is a political orientation. I am partially reassured, but I would also like people in the industry to be reassured. It’s too important to say that I’m throwing in the towel and closing the file,” he says, recalling that Quebec will never be able to compete against China, which could dump manufactured products from Asia. “If our products are good elsewhere, they should be good for Quebec. If they are competitive on the American and global markets, they should be for Quebec,” adds Mr. Côté. 

The vice-president of the Eastern Energy Alliance and mayor of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Simon Deschênes, indicates that the organization has already had these discussions. 

“We have not taken a clear position on regional content or Quebec content. Where I have a reservation is that if I take the example of LM Wind Power, 100% of their production was exported outside Canada. By imposing Quebec content, we must ensure that we are not played tricks by other countries that our companies export to and also do good business in these countries. We must find a way through but, yes, I am in favour of Quebec content,” declares the vice-president. “Our basic mission is to promote the development of the wind energy sector in Eastern Quebec and to invest to obtain significant economic benefits for each of the communities of Gaspésie, the Magdalen Islands, Bas-Saint-Laurent and the MRCs of l’Islet and Montmagny,” recalls Mr. Deschênes. 

“It is up to Quebec companies to position themselves well with the predictability that we currently have with the development of the wind energy sector,” says Mr. Deschênes. 

Participatory budget 

Gaspé’s first participatory budget initiative, which allows citizens to submit and vote on local projects, has proven to be a success. Seventeen projects were submitted, with six qualifying and five advancing to a public vote. 

“It is a very good turnout. We are in a test year. I will admit: we were very unstructured this year and, despite everything, it is a big turnout with several projects submitted,” comments the mayor. 

Projects up for public voting include a local product sales point in Douglastown at a cost of $50,000, the development of a multi-sports field at Sandy Beach estimated at $17,000, a drinking water system at Charlie O’Brien Park via a cistern system in Haldimand that would cost $30,000, new play modules at Saint-Paul School in the Saint-Maurice-de-l’Échouerie sector at $50,000 and a pickleball court in Cap-aux-Os at an expense of $23,000. 

The town of Gaspé had budgeted $50,000 for this first edition. 

“There are projects under $50,000. It is possible that if two projects under $50,000 are ranked in the first results, we will carry out more than one,” maintains the elected official. Voting will end on November 14. 

Without officially announcing the return of the participatory budget in 2025, Daniel Côté clearly wants it to return. 

“We haven’t made a final decision at the council but, seeing the enthusiasm, I think the council will have a favourable bias for 2025,” suggests the mayor. 

WIND ENERGY: Gaspé Mayor Discusses with Quebec Government  Read More »

Concerns about the quality of service at the future Gaspé blood testing centre 

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

 GASPÉ – Users of the Côte-de-Gaspé local health network are concerned about the quality of services at the future blood testing and vaccination centre that will soon be operating at a shopping centre in Gaspé. 

Patients feel that the chosen location, the Place Jacques-Cartier shopping centre, “is not very healthy” and that parking there is already very difficult. 

It is also noted that the escalators providing access to the upper floors are often out of service. Others mentioned that the elevator would not allow paramedics to evacuate patients from this location. Hemodialysis care activist Jean Lapointe had already expressed reservations about the development of the centre in a commercial complex, questioning the quality of the services that will be offered there due to these issues. 

At the Gaspé Peninsula Integrated Health and Social Services Centre (CISSS), spokesperson Lou Landry wrote by email that “the owner of Place Jacques-Cartier has added parking spaces for people with disabilities, and the elevator is accessible. The Gaspé Peninsula CISSS places great importance on the accessibility of the location it uses and will continue to evaluate all possible options to improve this situation, according to the needs of the population,” states the email. 

The CISSS explains that the transfer from the hospital centre to the new site is necessary because the spaces currently used will be required to provide patient care. The e dubbed a “multi-service centre” by Quebec last spring aims to create a service hub in a single location. In addition to Gaspé, the CISSS is targeting similar sites in Paspebiac, Grande-Rivière, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Pointe-à-la-Croix and New Richmond. 

In the Quebec government plan, these sites will offer vaccinations, blood tests and screening services. The Quebec government believes that the establishment of these centres will improve access to preventive health services. 

Paying to get care 

A patient who requested anonymity for the moment deplores being forced to pay for travel expenses between the Bay of Chaleur and Gaspé to receive care specific to his condition. The individual must travel 372 kilometres round trip to obtain recurring treatment. However, the travel does not fit into the pilot project launched in the spring to support people who travel more than 200 kilometres to receive a series of treatments for the same care on a three-month basis. 

The patient mentioned that the treatment was recurrent, but administered as needed. He received treatment in May and again in August, exceeding the three-month limit. 

The person appealed to the Gaspé Peninsula CISSS Complaints Commissioner to try to draw attention to his situation. 

The CISSS responded that the formula was more generous than elsewhere in Quebec and that an analysis would be conducted at the end of the project, on March 31, adding that no further developments were planned.  

Concerns about the quality of service at the future Gaspé blood testing centre  Read More »

The arrival of the first train in Gaspé might only happen in early 2027

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI journalist

 GASPÉ – The Gaspé riding Member of the National Assembly (MNA), Stéphane Sainte-Croix, makes no secret of the fact that the first train may not arrive at the Gaspé station in December 2026, as previously announced in June 2023. 

The last of the four major calls for tenders for the railway refurbishment between Port Daniel-Gascons and Gaspé, which were launched in March, opened on September 18. The announcement for that stretch was first made in November 2023, by Premier François Legault during his visit to the Gaspé Peninsula. 

However, according to the Quebec government’s electronic tendering site the contract has not yet been awarded, 

The estimate indicates that the expected duration of the contract without options is 28 months, which means the deadline is February 2027. 

“Following the opening, we are faced with the possibility that we will push back the agreed schedule. We will see with the selected bidders the state of play along the way but, indeed, we may have a challenge in terms of the schedule for the rest of things,” says Stéphane Sainte-Croix. “It is hasty to agree on the schedule, considering the discussions that will take place with the selected company, but it (a delay) is a possibility,” he adds. 

The commitment to refurbish the railroad to Gaspé remains strong. “Our objective has not changed: ensuring the complete connection of the Gaspé Peninsula railway to Gaspé remains a priority for all elected officials in the region and for mobilizing the government. That has not changed,” assures the MNA. 

His colleague from Bonaventure is a little more optimistic. “When I ask questions (to the Ministry of Transport), they tell me it’s possible,” affirms Catherine Blouin. 

After nine deadlines for the opening of bids for the call for tenders launched on March 21, the envelopes for two proposals received by the Ministry of Transport were opened on September 18. Pomerleau is requesting $258 million, while Partenariat Ferroviaire Gaspésie is proposing $286 million to carry out the projects in the plans and specifications. 

The work involves repairing two bridges in Gascons, the long bridge between Gascons and Newport, and another such structure in Newport, as well as the one in Douglastown at the mouth of the Saint-Jean River. Additionally, one of the two bridges between Grande-Rivière and Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé must be replaced and a retaining wall in Pabos Mills is part of the bid. 

Quebec announced $872 million to rehabilitate the rail between Matapedia and Gaspé on June 27, 2023. The section between Caplan and Port-Daniel-Gascons must be fun  tional at the end of the current year. 

Exploramer’s expansion still assessed by the Quebec government 

Meanwhile, despite comments on social media to the effect that the additional aid requested to build the shark pool at the Exploramer museum in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts had been rejected, the MNA for Gaspé says that is not the case. 

“The file remains at the same level. We are still waiting for the update of the reviewed and corrected project in terms of the business plan and new financial assistance to be received,” mentions Mr. Sainte-Croix. 

According to him, communications are still happening, and the documents are pending. 

The MNA hopes that this matter will be resolved quickly in order to not compromise the 2025 tourist season. 

“Haute-Gaspésie cannot afford to lose its economic assets. This is an important one for the tourism industry. We hope to reach an agreement soon on the revision or maintenance of the assistance already granted. That is our wish,” he adds. 

Quebec had already granted $11 million of the initial $18 million for the renovation and construction of a pavilion dedicated to the museum’s St. Lawrence sharks. 

In March, after a meeting with stakeholders from Haute-Gaspésie, Stéphane Sainte-Croix mentioned that the project had changed significantly, as the aquarium expanded substantially without having previously notified the ministerial authorities, increasing the cost of the aquarium from $2.7 million to $12.7 million, “an increase of 370%, this is not normal,” adds the MNA. 

In this context, the MNA added that the Quebec government could not assume the new project alone. 

Exploramer is facing cost overruns of around $6.8 million. The museum has indicated it is prepared to make an additional effort by borrowing an extra $1 million. 

The arrival of the first train in Gaspé might only happen in early 2027 Read More »

Midwifery service celebrates fifth anniversary

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – Accès Sage-femmes Baie-des-Chaleurs highlights the progress made in developing the midwifery service, which was established five years ago. 

“There was a citizen mobilization 10 years before the service took shape. A first midwife was hired to develop the service, which was set up in 2019 to provide pregnancy follow-ups,” recalls the organization’s spokesperson, Caroline Hamelin. 

The service has caught-on, with around thirty follow-ups each year, representing approximately 10% of births in the Bay of Chaleur area, quite high compared to the Quebec average of 4%. “The service is very popular. The objective in Quebec was 10% while it is at 4%,” notes Ms. Hamelin. 

“People are very satisfied with the service. Sometimes, there is a waiting list because the demand is high,” illustrates the spokesperson. 

According to the organization, a stabilization phase is necessary to maintain the service.“There’s a certain amount of turnover due to hiring conditions, which is also the case across Quebec, and there’s also the distance from major centres. There’s also a minimum number of midwives needed to avoid a break in service so that people can choose where they want to give birth. Two midwives are required to have a home birth. On-call midwives are needed for that,” says Ms. Hamelin. 

There’s a strong possibility of offering a place to give birth outside of a hospital centre, but the volume of births in the Gaspésie does not allow the creation of a Birthing Centre. “It’s the number one choice for families where it’s available as a place to give birth. In the Gaspésie, 70% of families say it would be their first choice if there was a place outside of a hospital,” says the spokesperson. 

Accès Sage-femmes is monitoring the development of a birthing room in Gaspé with interest. “There are different regions that are working on developing a birthing room outside of a hospital. It has to be a model that takes into account the regional reality. We’re looking at what’s happening elsewhere to try to find a model that could work in our situation,” says Ms. Hamelin. 

Currently, the service has two midwives and a midwife who coordinates the service. At one point, there were four midwives in the Bay of Chaleur area. “The goal is to have enough midwives to be able to offer the service (to everyone who wants it),” concludes the spokesperson. 

Midwifery service celebrates fifth anniversary Read More »

Striped bass are not a threat, according to the Department of Wildlife

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – The striped bass is not considered one of the main threats to salmon in the Gaspé Peninsula according to the Department of the Environment, Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks. 

While some anglers cite striped bass as a reason for the declining salmon runs, the department explains that the fear expressed by some stakeholders associated with the salmon fishing industry is linked to a scientific article published in 2018. This study assessed, using telemetry data, the consumption of smolts by striped bass in the Miramichi system in New Brunswick. 

“However, the main conclusion of this study is that predation rates by bass vary considerably from one year to the next and that the spatial and temporal overlap of the two species is a determining factor in this annual variation,” explains the department by email. 

“In addition, the situation is very different in Quebec, because the level of interaction between smolts and striped bass is much lower than that of the Miramichi. Indeed, studies show that the majority of smolts have already left the rivers when striped bass arrive at their mouths in the spring in the Gaspésie,” adds the ministry. 

Striped bass are opportunistic predators that feed on a wide variety of prey. Between 2014 and 2019, the ministry carried out several projects examining the diet of striped bass in Quebec. 

As observed across its range, the diet of striped bass consists of a wide variety of forage fish and crustaceans, as well as worms, insects and other invertebrates. 

A 2022 report confirms that striped bass in freshwater can consume a certain number of juvenile salmon in freshwater. “However, the presence of striped bass in the freshwater portion of the salmon rivers of the Gaspé is relatively limited and highly variable from year to year, thus minimizing the impact on salmon populations,” maintains the ministry, which adds that another study carried out in the Miramichi system and on the diet of striped bass, published in 2020, concludes that the narrow window of spatio-temporal overlap of the two species means that juvenile salmon represent an insignificant contribution to the striped bass diet. 

The report includes findings from a project carried out in 2016 and specifically focused on the diet of striped bass in areas conducive to the presence of juvenile American lobsters. 

This species was observed in the stomach contents of 16% of striped bass that had consumed prey. It represented 1.2% of the number of prey ingested and 13% of the total volume. However, the relevance of these findings is limited since the sampling targeted areas identified as “nurseries” for lobster, and lobsters were not found in the stomachs of striped bass caught elsewhere in the Gaspé Peninsula. 

As for crab, some were found in the stomach contents of striped bass analyzed as part of the department’s projects. 

However, they could not be identified as the species. Given their marine habitat preferences, it is unlikely that they are snow crabs, as they prefer deep and cold waters, while striped bass are more commonly found in coastal waters. 

“With regard to the low salmon runs observed in 2023 and 2024 in Quebec rivers, predation by striped bass is not one of the potential causes. The impact of significant predation, if any, would likely be felt locally on one or a few rivers concerned and not in a generalized manner throughout the species’ distribution area, as has been observed for two summers in Quebec,” explains the ministry. 

The striped bass observed in the Gaspé Peninsula mainly belongs to the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population, whose main spawning ground is located in the Northwest Miramichi River. 

Their migration has been monitored via telemetrically since 2013, which allowed for an updated knowledge about the distribution of the two striped bass populations in Quebec as of 2018, leading to updates in recreational fishing areas. 

Monitoring of the abundance of adult striped bass is conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Region, particularly in the Miramichi River. Additionally, the ministry has implemented a monitoring program in recent years to assess the presence and relative abundance of this population in Quebec. Other projects are also underway, including the annual monitoring of recreational fishing in Quebec through a survey of fishermen. 

These projects provide information on the distribution of striped bass in the Gaspé Peninsula as well as their frequentation of the territory. 

The ministry emphasizes its commitment to maintaining favourable conditions for the stock of striped bass that visit the Gaspé Peninsula, which supports the recreational fishery valued by fishermen in the region and elsewhere. 

On this subject, the annual fishing survey shows that about 80% of the recreational fishermen surveyed come from other sectors of Gaspésie, contributing significant economic spinoffs to the region, according to the ministry. 

Striped bass are not a threat, according to the Department of Wildlife Read More »

Gaspé takes over non-residential waste management

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – Starting in January, the Town of Gaspé will take over the administrative management of waste collection for commercial, institutional and industrial sectors. 

Twelve years ago, the Town transferred this collection to the private sector with the contractor reaching an agreement with the customers regarding billing. 

However, circumstances have changed. “Everything was going relatively well until a year or two ago when the prices for waste collection skyrocketed,” says Mayor Daniel Côté. The Municipal Hall then started receiving complaints. “After seeing examples where bills were double, triple or even more, we said to ourselves ‘why not take it over’? We had it analyzed and, in the end, for businesses, industries and institutions, it would ultimately be cheaper for them to have these collections on their tax bill instead of dealing with the private sector,” explains the mayor. 

On September 16, the municipal council adopted a 90 day notice effective January 2025. A clause in the contract allowed the Town to do this. 

“It will still be Matrec that will do the collection, but instead of the business paying a bill to Matrec, they will pay it on their tax bill. In the end, it will end up being much cheaper for them in all the specific cases studied. The Town has fixed and global rates with Matrec, which allows for cost advantage savings,” calculates Mr. Côté. 

Residential pickup 

The general collection contract for residents will expire in a little over a year. 

Complaints have been decreasing, which indicates that the situation has been resolved after the contractor experienced many difficulties in carrying out the collection, including many delays. 

Given the surge in waste collection costs, the idea of municipalizing the collection will be analyzed again. 

“It was looked at last time and we arrived at similar costs, but entrusting it to the private sector removes a lot of management. The situation has changed. Probably before returning to the call for tenders, we will probably have an option to do it internally,” says the mayor. 

The Intermunicipal Waste Management Board would have to buy trucks and hire staff to collect and maintain the vehicles. 

“It has to be calculated in advance, but with what we’re seeing, with the number of complaints we’ve had for some time with the contractor in the last year and a half, with what’s happening in the industry and the trade with billing that has more than doubled, and with costs that have skyrocketed in the latest calls for tenders, the time has come to review once again and look at the best option,” says Mr. Côté. 

The options will include either managing it internally, having a call for tenders, or a combination of both scenarios. 

Gaspé takes over non-residential waste management Read More »

 Vision celebrates 20 years at AGM 

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , , ,

Cynthia Dow, LJI Journalist

 enthusiastic crowd gathered on Thursday, September 19, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Vision Gaspé-Percé Now at Destination Gaspé. “Twenty years is a long time to survive for a community organization,” President Tony Conoley told the crowd, “The support from the government has grown, the network of partners has grown, and the number of programs we offer has grown as well.” 

“And I don’t want to quote Donald Trump, but the number of clients is beautiful, beautiful!” exclaimed Mr. Conoley, garnering a laugh from the attendees. 

The President went on to express his appreciation for the group’s partners, board members, staff and volunteers. “This past year we continued to work hard to offer a large diversity of services and programs. We are building a youth program. We have increased our mental wellness activities and we are studying the feasibility of buying our building our own place.” 

A representative from the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages was the guest speaker for the evening.  Alexandre Renaud presented the results of a recent study which indicated how myths and misperceptions about anglophone and francophone Quebecers are still a common occurrence. SPEC will have an in-depth look at that report in our next issue. 

Every year Vision invites nominations for Volunteer of The Year. Executive Director Jessica Synnott indicated that there were eleven nominations this year. “Volunteers are very much at the heart of any community organization.” The winner was Rhonda Stewart, who has worked diligently with Camp Fort Haldimand. 

In the absence of the auditor, board member Connie Jacques presented the annual financial report. “The auditor found no problems with the report. We have a $4,000 surplus, much like last year,” Ms. Jacques explained. The AGM approved the reappointment of Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton as auditors for next year. 

Vision’s communications officer, Emma McGinnis, then took the attendees through a game of Kahoot with a series of questions to emphasize the impact of the organization. Participants discovered there were almost 100 sessions for the training and retention of healthcare workers with Dialogue McGill, and three recipients of the McGill Bursary: Amy Briand-Fournier, Madison Dorion, and Gabrielle Labbé. 

Vision has added a fifth Senior’s Wellness Centre: Douglastown now joins Gaspé, Murdochville, Maison Quartier, and Barachois as a location for these activities to support seniors’ physical, cognitive and mental health. 

The Bright Beginnings program held 29 activities for children, and 10 prenatal sessions were held. Vue d’Ensemble is a two-year project to bring French and English youth together for activities such as a drama club and lunch hour games. Eight activities were held. 

More than 13,000 frozen meals were delivered to seniors last year, up an astounding 33% from 2022-23. The number of seniors also increased by 31% to 929. 

At the end of the meeting, two new board members joined the group, bringing the total to ten with one seat remaining vacant. This year’s board will include newcomers Shauna Simpson and Linda Jean, with Tony Conoley, Connie Jacques, Deborah Adams, Larry English, Jonathan Côté, Diane Kennedy, Nancy Briand, and Jonathan Jean repeating. 

 Vision celebrates 20 years at AGM  Read More »

A midwifery birthing room in Gaspé 

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – Gaspé’s Maison de la famille Parenfant will be the first facility of its type to have a birthing room. Since the number of births in the Gaspé Peninsula does not justify the creation of a birthing centre, the Maison de la famille has come up with a solution to offer the service itself. 

“It is indeed a version adapted to the Gaspésie and Côte-de-Gaspé region,” says Parenfant coordinator Marie-Andrée Nadeau. 

The current Maison de la famille will be expanded, essentially doubling its space to include a birthing room, labour room and a new large multipurpose room. This project will enhance services already offered for the past three years and is the second phase in developing midwifery services in the Côte-de-Gaspé. 

“It consolidates other activities. For three years, we have offered the social perinatal service including pregnancy monitoring with a medical team at the Maison de la famille. Now we are adding services to offer births in the birthing room and a labour room in which couples living further away in the Côte-de-Gaspé can come and spend the first stages of childbirth before going to the hospital,” explains Ms. Nadeau. 

“That’s what we want in the Côte-de-Gaspé MRC to have a team as large as in the Bay of Chaleur, to offer complete midwifery services including births in a birthing room,” she says. 

A job posting for a midwife is listed on the Gaspé Peninsula CISSS (Integrated Health and Social Services Centre) website. The project is innovative as it does not exist elsewhere in Quebec. 

“We hope it will set a precedent for remote regions like ours,” says the coordinator. This offers families the chance to give birth with midwives in a neutral place, outside of a hospital environment. 

“Since the arrival of the social perinatal service, the CISSS has always supported it and discussions are going very well for the expansion,” says Ms. Nadeau. 

The services continue to be appreciated by the population and the addition of services will meet a need. 

“That’s what we saw in the two surveys that we conducted a birthing room, a service that does not exist at all; and a labour room, for families further from the Côte-de-Gaspé; and a large room will meet many of the demands because we will finally be able to offer collective cooking activities and we will be able to increase the number of people participating per group with the expansion,” the coordinator asserts. 

The $1.2 million project is funded by partners, and a public fundraising campaign will be launched in October. Plans are advanced, and construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2025 with an opening projected for the winter of 2026. 

A midwifery birthing room in Gaspé  Read More »

Chandler: Louisette Langlois hearing, not before 2025 

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

CHANDLER – The ongoing legal saga involving the Town of Chandler’s claim against former mayor Louisette Langlois is dragging on as the case is not expected to be heard before the spring of 2025. 

A hearing scheduled for September 3 was postponed because the judge required that the parties be present, which had not been initially requested. This forced a new postponement of the case. 

The judge will then resolve the remaining legal rules and will hear the case on the merits at the same time. In the best-case scenario, a decision is not expected before the summer of 2025. 

Suspended in January 2021 for 180 days, the resolution adopted at that time stated that the accusations against Louisette Langlois were the result of serious or intentional misconduct, by giving precedence to her personal interest, by having committed actions intentionally and, premeditatedly, all to achieve her ends. 

In January 2022, the Town filed a motion claiming $230,411 in legal fees to defend the former mayor before In addition, the motion accused her of having multiplied the procedures thereafter. 

The Town hasn’t ruled out readjusting its claim to request all the costs incurred by the case.  The total cost of this saga now exceeds $375,000. 

$2.7 million in asphalt 

Lately, there has been much criticism of the condition of certain municipal roads. However, the town of Chandler has recently announced it will invest a little over $2.7 million in street paving. 

Several streets, including some high traffic areas, will be repaved. “Our streets need love, for example, Polyvalente Street and Hôtel-de-ville Street. They need to be redone because they are in an advanced state of deterioration,” notes Mayor Gilles Daraiche. 

The resolution includes work on Bellevue, Baie-Bleue, Lapierre, Mgr Ross, Hôtel-de-ville, Daignault, Plage, Cormier, McGrath, Détente, Arcelles, Anse-aux-Canards, Germain and Lantin Streets. 

The mayor mentions that four small sections of asphalt were done this year at a cost of $70,000. 

The loan settlement process is underway and the mayor hopes for a quick response from the Quebec government in order to do the asphalt work this fall. 

In 2021, $2.3 million was invested in asphalt work in the Town of Chandler. 

Newport water treatment project 

The water treatment project in the Newport district is not progressing very quickly, making development in this sector difficult. 

The mayor explains that the water treatment project is complicated. “The system can’t take any more. There are people who want to add services, register other land, and build houses. This is a file that is dragging on and we will work hard so that at least there is work at the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026,” says Mr. Daraiche. 

government assistance with a request for a minimum of 90% funding. The project has been included in the Town’s Three-Year Capital Plan for several years at a cost of $12 million. With inflation, the project could reach $20 million, while an amount of $15 million had been mentioned in 2022. 

“Unfair” competition? 

The Town is upset with the programming offered by Chandler’s Camp Bellefeuille. Some activities proposed by the camp duplicate those offered by the Town, despite a promise. 

The mayor does not want to make a war out of it but says he’s disappointed. “I spoke to the director who told me that each activity at Camp Bellefeuille would complement the Town’s activities. Unfortunately, that is not the case. We do yoga, they do yoga. We do fitness, they do that too. It’s the same thing as us. That’s not what was said,” complains Mr. Daraîche. 

The mayor maintains that registrations for the Town’s activities, both at the sports complex and the arena, are full. 

Chandler: Louisette Langlois hearing, not before 2025  Read More »

Town of Gaspé is close to dropping housing developer

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – The Town of Gaspé is issuing a serious warning to the developer Logements CVP regarding the construction of 144 apartments near Carrefour Gaspé, as announced in September 2021.

“The municipal council tells me that the elastic is stretched to the limit. We were supposed to have a working meeting today (September 3) on this subject that unfortunately did not take place. The council is starting to get exasperated. The land has been acquired for three years,” explains Mayor Daniel Côté.
According to the elected official, there have been changes in the developer’s partners.

The mayor is hoping to have a quick follow-up. “We have no choice but to put pressure back on. We had applied pressure by giving notice of the exercise of our termination clause, which allowed us to take possession and full ownership of the land we had ceded,” Mr. Côté mentioned.

The elected official hopes for a positive, credible and solid response by mid-September. “Not a day goes by without citizens or developers contacting us. We are concerned and we hope to see progress on the file. There will be a meeting – I hope – within the next two weeks, that this will be resolved and that buildings will be raised,” the mayor adds.

“It is not the Town that is delaying the process. We have placed a lot of hope in this project. We still hope that this project will be carried out, but our patience has reached its limits,” the elected official clearly stated.
In February, the Town of Gaspé had already mentioned its intention to exercise its termination clause. A termination clause is a contractual mechanism that allows for sanctions for a party’s failure to meet its contractual obligations, by providing that the contract will be terminated at the fault of the party that has failed to respect its commitments.

In September 2021, Logements CVP purchased the municipal land for $300,000, when its assessment at the time was $566,000, to create Le Domaine de la Baie.

The investors also deposited a $266,000 security deposit, repayable in four installments each time a complex was built.

The project includes four buildings with 36 units each, to be built at a rate of one building per year until 2026. CVP had promised to start construction on December 31, 2023. In fact, the first foundation was to be poured by that date, which did not happen.

The project ran into technical issues due to the steeper-than-expected slope, which forced the developer to go back to the drawing board, erasing hopes of starting construction as early as 2022.
The pandemic also caused delays for materials, shifting the construction start date to the original plan of 2023.

Initially estimated at $25 million, the project could now reach over $40 million in its current form.
The announcement had been made with great fanfare, and the project was presented as the largest real estate development in Gaspé in 50 years.

The site offers an exceptional view of Gaspé Bay, is close to a shopping centre, and is less than five minutes from the heart of downtown and an equivalent distance from the LM Wind Power blade plant.

144 housing units: Developer responds to Gaspé’s ultimatum

The developer Logements CVP, which plans to build 144 housing units near Carrefour Gaspé, attributes the delay in the project to the Town of Gaspé.

On September 3, Gaspé issued a serious warning, demanding that the project announced in September 2021 be completed. The mayor said the town council was getting frustrated by the slow pace of development.

“We are really disappointed with what is happening with the Town of Gaspé. They are threatening us. I have been asking for a meeting with the council for over six months to explain that the constraints put in place by the town are too restrictive,” says one of the administrators, Allyson Cahill-Vibert.

The potential land reclamation included in the contract is the element that causes problems. “It’s really restrictive for us from the point of view of financial institutions. We’re taking enormous risks,” she says, bringing up the initial dispute with the Ministry of Natural Resources to complete the transaction. “There was a clause with the Environment (ministry). The town couldn’t sell it to us. We lost a year right there. We changed our plans several times to adapt them with the town. We have to connect to a pumping station that still doesn’t exist. The CPE (Centre de la petite enfance) was imposed on us. We tried to work with them. We wasted a lot of time and energy with the Ministry of Families and the CPE to give them a head start on the ground so as not to lose 80 daycare spaces. We’re working very hard. Our plans are made,” notes Ms. Cahill-Vibert.

The developer is looking for a contractor to move the file forward as well as a new partner. “But as long as the Town of Gaspé leaves clauses such as the repossession of the land in their favour or the performance bond penalties, we cannot move forward, we are blocked,” she continues.

Furthermore, the nearby project of 80 affordable housing units is pulling the rug out from under their feet. “We were supposed to collaborate with the Town of Gaspé and not work in opposite directions,” she says.

In the event that the Town carries out its threat, the developer is reserving its options. “If the Town takes back the land from us, we will analyze all the options on our side,” warns Ms. Cahill-Vibert, who indicates that she could build apartments elsewhere in the Gaspé Peninsula.

Town of Gaspé is close to dropping housing developer Read More »

Gaspé: First step in reconfiguring York Boulevard West in the Sunny Bank sector

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Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – The Quebec Ministry of Transport (MTQ) has issued a call for tenders for the redevelopment of York Boulevard West in the Sunny Bank sector of Gaspé.

The ministry wants to carry out the first step, which is the environmental impact study of the project, necessary to rebuild the road. In June 2022, the Sunny Bank Flood Committee won a class action against the Ministry of Transport (MTQ) and the court ordered it to carry out corrective work to maintain an adequate level of service for a flow of 600 cubic metres/second over the next six years and to build a river flow measuring station within two years.

The ministry had already committed during the proceedings to undertake about $8 million in roadwork to improve the situation within six years.

In a project notice filed with the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks for the “Redevelopment of York Boulevard West in the Sunny Bank sector in Gaspé” last fall, the MTQ detailed each of the upcoming steps for the construction site.

The ministry is aiming, in particular, to replace the bridge currently characterized by an opening of 11 metres by a bridge with a 60-metre opening as well as to dig and widen a secondary arm of the York River over 200 metres long and 54 metres wide upstream of the planned bridge.

In addition, the road embankments will be widened over 300 metres where there is a hydric environment due to the road being raised by 0.5 metres, and the ditch will be reprofiled over 400 metres along the eastern side of the Sunny Bank Street intersection.

A 70-metre long ditch and the construction of a new six-metre wide culvert are also in the plans, along with the replacement of four other culverts.

In its notice, the MTQ also proposes three other solutions as part of the impact study. The first option is the complete removal of all road embankments and the relocation of the road four kilometres upstream in a less dynamic part of the York River.

The second option is the complete removal of all road embankments and the construction of a multi-span bridge.

The last scenario, which could have a considerable impact, involves expropriating all residents in the flood zone.

According to the preliminary project schedule, the environmental impact study, a BAPE review, and obtaining the environmental decree should be completed by the fall of 2027.
In the preliminary project schedule, the environmental impact study, a BAPE and the environmental decree should be completed by fall 2027, with the environmental impact study being the first milestone in the process.

The pre-project study, concomitant with the environmental impact assessment, is scheduled for completion in spring 2028. The final preliminary design study is expected to be completed by spring 2029.
This will be followed by plans and specifications to vacate the rights-of-way between spring 2029 and spring 2032, with final authorizations to be obtained in spring 2033. The tendering and awarding of the contract will take place in spring 2033 for construction slated for summer 2033 and fall 2034.
The Ministry is not ruling out the possibility of completing the project by 2035.

Between the judgment rendered in June 2022 and the final work schedule, at least 12 years will elapse.
The road, rebuilt in 1977 which connects the Sunny Bank and Wakeham sectors, slows the flow of the York River.

Previously, it was a road at water level and, during floods, the river would overflow onto the roadway.
Raised by 1.5 metres in 1952, it was noted that the road partially blocked the river’s flow.

In 1977, the road was raised by two metres, making water evaluation even more difficult. The 2010 flood was the straw that broke the camel’s back. From December 13 to 15, 2010, approximately 246 millimetres of rain fell on Gaspé. Residents filed their lawsuit in 2013 and the court authorized it in 2015. Since its reconstruction in 1977, floods have occurred in 1977, 1980, twice in 1981, 1983, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2017.

Gaspé: First step in reconfiguring York Boulevard West in the Sunny Bank sector Read More »

Chantier naval Forillon makes a major transaction

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – There has been a consolidation in Gaspé’s marine industry with Chantier naval Forillon acquiring Entreprises maritimes Bouchard of Rivière-au-Renard.

“This is good news for Chantier Naval Forillon,” says President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jean-David Samuel.

The transaction, the value of which Mr. Samuel hasn’t disclosed, was completed at the end of July following several months of discussions. The sale includes the shipyard buildings as well as the rolling stock. All jobs have been maintained.

“It was part of our strategic plan to acquire a new company to increase our production capacity along with our labour pool. It was a dream and it all has come to fruition,” continues Mr. Samuel.

“For the future, we will continue to serve local fishing customers. We also want to diversify activities with private shipowners, and public companies such as the Société des traversiers du Québec, and take advantage of pillars two and three of the federal government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy with recent announcements of several billion dollars for the construction of small vessels and the renovation of its fleet,” says the President and CEO.

The transaction could represent a bold challenge given the ongoing crisis in the fishing sector.
“It’s a cycle. We believe that, in a few years, it will come back. In between, there are a lot of boats to build, repair and renovate. We believe in it,” he says.

The company employs about 90 workers in Gaspé and hopes to add 40 to 50 more in Rivière-au-Renard in the medium term. There were only seven employees in Rivière-au-Renard a few weeks ago and the shipbuilder currently has 18.

“We want to create jobs, in all types of trades. We will provide in-house training for people who do not necessarily have a trade. There is a new training program taking shape in Quebec with other shipyards,” says Mr. Samuel.

Chantier naval Forillon considers itself a medium-sized shipyard in Quebec and is not afraid of becoming prey for major shipyards such as Groupe Océan, which acquired Chantier maritime Verreault in Les Méchins in 2022, or Davie in Lévis.

“We work together. We collaborate with other shipyards. The goal is not to become prey. There is enough market for all companies. Everyone can grow. We want to work together with Naval Québec, an association of suppliers, to reach out to the Canadian and even global market. Everyone gets their share of the pie and we are able to grow together, rather than against each other,” says Mr. Samuel.
The manager believes production could increase by 30% in the short and medium term and 50% in the longer term.

The shipyard’s order book is impressive: it includes the delivery of the eighth of 10 boats for the Canadian Coast Guard’s search and rescue and a boat to be lengthened in Rivière-au-Renard. There is also the new federal government fisheries research boat to build, a contract announced last October, and a boat under repair from Newfoundland and Labrador.

“And other contracts that we are currently working on,” continues Mr. Samuel. The federal government has awarded $157 million in contracts to Forillon Shipyard to date, which has allowed it to reach a pivotal stage in its development.

“Above all, it has allowed us to have a long-term vision. Today, we can say that we are a large SME (Small Medium Enterprise): a team able to have long-term, innovation, continuous management, a human resources department, project management, and finance. Instead of looking for contracts every six months, we have a long-term vision and be able to diversify and invest without always being on the brakes,” analyzes the CEO.

The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for the Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands, Diane Lebouthillier, visited Rivière-au-Renard to attend the transaction announcement.

She praised the Forillon Shipyard’s ability to deliver the goods. “We have a long and fruitful collaboration. Having spoken to senior officials, it is a security for them to work with Chantier naval Forillon, really take credit for it,” says the federal elected official.

The inability to launch larger ships is a barrier to the development of the shipyard. “We are not necessarily looking at dry docks. We are always talking about lift equipment,” he maintains, without closing the door on a distant future for this type of infrastructure.

The mayor of Gaspé, Daniel Côté, is happy with this announcement and this new perspective. “These successes on the initial site of the shipyard founded by the eminent Michel Pouliot and propelled by Robert Côté, whom I saw earlier, these successes are now being transposed to Rivière-au-Renard, the maritime fisheries capital of Quebec, to give new impetus to this site set up by another eminent Gaspésian, Camille Bouchard,” notes the mayor, adding that this transaction is positive given the ongoing shrimp and turbot crisis.

The Rivière-au-Renard shipyard was bought from four fishermen, brothers Nicol, Bertrand and Richard Desbois, from Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé, as well as Mario Côté.

Chantier naval Forillon makes a major transaction Read More »

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