maria

Agreement between Quebec and Maria to replenish the beach 

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

place for beach replenishment work to begin in May to protect Maria’s shoreline from erosion and coastal submersion. 

On March 10, the municipal council approved a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Transportation for part of the work aimed at protecting Highway 132 between the municipal beach and the post office. The project will also coordinate with beach replenishment for the commercial sector between the IGA supermarket and the Lady Maria residence. “The storm water outfall, manholes, and engineering work are included in the beach replenishment memorandum of understanding,” says Mayor of Maria Jean-Claude Landry. 

Furthermore, the mayor is confident that the final authorizations for the work will be obtained under the direction of the Ministry of Public Security for the commercial sector. 

“It’s coming in gradually, and we should have all the requests made before the work begins,” says the elected official.  The authorizations are expected before the scheduled start of construction in late May or early June, with work continuing through November. 

For the commercial component, the government of Quebec granted $9.3 million in June 2022, while the municipality will need to contribute $684,000 to complete the financial package.  “I won’t give any figures because we’re in a call for tenders, but it should be included in the budget,” noted the mayor. 

The construction zone will span approximately 2.4 kilometers. However, for the Rue des Tournepierres area, Civil Security has determined that any work would serve no purpose in protecting residents, since the long-term effects of a construction project would be non existent. 

“The municipality is ensuring the protection of property and will support people,” he said. It’s difficult to predict what will happen next, but public services will be provided up to a certain limit. 

“Services will be maintained over time until it’s reasonable to do so. With climate change, we can’t predict what will happen in 10 or 20 years. Climate change will affect local residents,” the mayor explained. 

Approximately 53 residents live in the vacinity. Property owners could receive a maximum compensation of $385,000 to vacate the street.  Protecting this area was estimated to cost $41 million.  Last winter, three major storms severely impacted Pointe Verte residents. 

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Petition urges Quebec to address the needs of Maria Hospital 

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

MARIA – A petition launched on February 12 on the National Assembly website is once again demanding the reconstruction of the emergency and intensive care units at the Maria hospital. 

Elected officials are adopting resolutions to urge the Quebec government to move forward once and for all on this issue. 

The wording of the petition states that in 2012, a clinical and real estate master plan had noted the major functional deficiencies in the facilities, particularly those of the emergency and intensive care units, and that the Gaspésie Integrated Health and Social Services Centre had prioritized the construction of the emergency and intensive care units at the Maria hospital; that the dilapidated state of the premises does not allow for the confidentiality of user files to be respected and that infection prevention is difficult and that the prefects of Avignon and Bonaventure recognize the importance and urgency of carrying out this construction project. 

The conclusion of the electronic document asks the Government of Quebec to register, on the Quebec Infrastructure Plan 2025-2035, the construction of the emergency and intensive care unit at the Maria hospital. 

The municipality of Maria adopted a resolution on February 10 in support of the petition. 

“We are hopeful that this is the right one. The premier confirmed to us in November 2023 that it would be registered and it was not done. We are hopeful that this time, it will be done,” says Maria mayor, Jean-Claude Landry. 

On February 12, the MRCs of Avignon and Bonaventure added their support by each adopting a resolution in favour of the project. 

“The MRC adopted a resolution in support to invite the population to sign the petition. It is a major infrastructure. It is a priority for the CISSS, a priority for the MRC d’Avignon,” mentions Prefect Mathieu Lapointe. 

“This is a file that we have been following for several years. The Premier, the Minister of Health, everyone is aware. We expected it to be included in the PQI last year. We were very disappointed as a region. We know that the government is in the budget process. It was obvious that we give our support and invite the population to sign to remind them of the importance for the Baie-des-Chaleurs to upgrade the infrastructure,” mentions his colleague from Bonaventure, Éric Dubé. 

The prefect is aware that Maria is in competition with other establishments “while things are cracking everywhere,” illustrates Mr. Dubé. 

According to him, it could cost between $150 million and $200 million to rebuild the emergency and intensive care units, a structure that could be recovered in the future if a new hospital were to be built. 

The current emergency department was inaugurated in 1972. 

This debate has been ongoing for quite some time, not only for this component, but to rebuild the entire hospital which has been in operation since 1952. 

The latest evaluations suggested that a renovation of the current hospital would cost $330 million and the work would be spread over 15 years. On the other hand, a new hospital centre would take half as long to build, but it is estimated at $390 million. 

In 2021, it was mentioned that the new hospital would have more beds in order to eventually repatriate patients from Avignon-Ouest who are treated in Campbellton, New Brunswick. Premier François Legault was informed of the situation during a visit to Carleton-sur-Mer in July 2021. 

In June 2018, the Gaspé Peninsula CISSS Board of Directors adopted a resolution for a new centre, an idea that dates back to before the entity was even created, at the time of the CSSS de la Baie-des-Chaleurs. 

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Maria unsuccessful on two attempts at the MRC level

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

MARIA – The municipality of Maria suffered two setbacks at the MRC of Avignon Council of Mayors on February 12, regarding the election of a prefect by universal vote and the regionalization of the Carleton-sur-Mer arena. 

The mayor of Maria, Jean-Claude Landry, considered it relevant to get a new start on a prefect elected by the population, considering the responsibilities devolved to the MRCs at the end of the years have become important. Prefect Mathieu Lapointe, recalls that discussions have taken place five or six times since 2021. 

The issue was settled in June 2024. “After much thought, everyone was unanimously in favour of the current elective method, i.e. the prefect elected by his peers. What we did was simply adopt it by resolution, so that the position would be clear. We went back over the arguments that had been discussed. In the end, the elected officials wanted to maintain the current method,” says Mr. Lapointe. 

According to the prefect, everyone is playing their part well. “Things are going well. We are developing. We are on a good run. Avignon is doing better than ever. We wanted to maintain the current ways of doing things. What will it be like in a year, two years, five years? We will see,” he says. 

The other debate ended with Avignon elected officials refusing to regionalize the Carleton-sur-Mer arena. 

On February 10, Carleton adopted a resolution imposing a $1,200 fee on minor hockey and figure skating users residing outside of Carleton-sur-Mer to help cover the arena’s operating deficit. 

Maria wanted to see the infrastructure taken over by the MRC. “The MRC council quickly closed the door. The MRC does not want to interfere in the management of sports and leisure infrastructure and does not want to interfere in issues between municipalities. The debate does not concern the municipalities of the West,” said the prefect. 

“It’s disappointing. I admit it. However, it is a decision made by the MRC representatives,” said Maria Mayor Jean-Claude Landry. “There will be discussions at the Municipality of Maria on the follow-up to the responses received by the MRC,” the elected official mentioned following the meeting with his colleagues. 

Further discussions on all municipal infrastructure may take place. 

“The response was negative. Is there a need to come back to the charge? We will discuss it again at the municipality,” continued Mr. Landry. 

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COVID-19: CISSS handles protocols on case-by-case basis

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – The Gaspé Peninsula Integrated Health and Social Services Centre (CISSS) is adjusting its COVID-19 interventions according to the situation at each of its facilities. 

This is what the regional health network is reporting as cases persist at the Maria hospital and the CHSLD Mgr Ross in Gaspé, at a time when some people are calling for the widespread introduction of masks in health facilities. 

“The reintroduction of masks is being carried out in relation to the epidemiological situation in a territory. We are making this decision to protect the population, clients and residents. We base this decision on indicators related to community circulation,” explains the CISSS’s director of nursing, Maxime Bernatchez. 

Among other indicators are hospitalizations and the increase in cases in residences. 

“If we do it in a given environment and we don’t do it in another, it’s because we are a large institution and in the Gaspé territory currently, there are areas where there are no outbreaks and community circulation is lower,” notes Mr. Bernatchez. 

This is particularly the case in the Rocher-Percé MRC where the virus is not prevalent. 

The surgery department at Maria hospital and the CHSLD Mgr Ross have outbreaks, as well as in some seniors’ residences. 

As of September 25, there were six infections in Maria, and three units were affected at Mgr Ross. 

“At Mgr Ross, we are talking about a large majority of residents affected in Unit 300 and the prosthetic unit,” emphasizes the director. 

An outbreak in a seniors’ residence is managed differently than in a hospital centre. 

“We are in a living environment. We avoid isolating residents in their rooms. It is our health care workers who wear personal protective equipment,” explains Mr. Bernatchez. 

The infection prevention and control team provides recommendations based on the epidemiological situation in each facility. 

The Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands region experienced a spike in COVID-19 related hospitalizations during the week of September 15. 

According to the National Institute of Public Health (INSPQ), twenty-one people were hospitalized on September 21, a peak not seen since February. 

On September 24, 16 patients remained hospitalized due to the virus. 

INSPQ reports 14 new hospitalizations during the week of September 15, with no deaths recorded. 

COVID-19: CISSS handles protocols on case-by-case basis Read More »

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