nelson sergerie

Gespeg’s September 8 election to be contested

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI journalist

GASPÉ: – Two candidates who finished neck and neck in the September 8 election for Chief of the Micmac Nation of Gespeg are contesting the results. 

Initially, Mark Sinnett received 144 votes, Yan Tapp received 143, and Céline Cassivi received 122 votes. 

After three recounts, the result was established at 143 votes for each of the top two candidates. 

As outlined in the Electoral Code, a random draw will determine who will be elected Chief of the Micmac Nation of Gespeg, however, both candidates described that method as nonsense, during an interview on September 18. 

“We don’t want to participate in a draw to become the chief to represent our community. I don’t think that’s being well received, I don’t think it’s credible for our community. We want to unite our community and not divide it,” explains Mark Sinnett. 

According to the two candidates, the members didn’t all receive the pertinent information regarding the election.  “There was a serious failure, and the turnout shows that people weren’t even aware that there was an election in Gespeg,” adds Mr. Sinnett. 

“In all transparency, we discussed the election and the process and, at one point, we decided that enough was enough and that we had to contest the election as a whole. We believe that all members should have been informed at the outset of the election process to have an election that reflects the community,” adds Yan Tapp. 

Distrust had been circulating around the election since June when members of the Nation questioned a proposed amendment to the Electoral Code suggesting that, in addition to the chief, seven of the eight councillors remain in Gaspé. 

Confidence was shaken as several members had questioned a lack of transparency on the part of the Council in the last few months, and maybe even years. 

“We lost our chief about eight or nine months ago. It’s not a lack of intention on the part of the council, but when there is no leader, there are a lot of questions from our members about the leadership of the council at the moment,” explains Mr. Sinnett, referring to Terry Shaw’s resignation for personal and professional reasons in January. 

The Electoral Code provides that, in the event of a dispute, a committee of three individuals must make the decision. 

“We’d like to start over. We know it won’t necessarily unfold the same way. We know there will be a lot of contestation. Yan and I didn’t make this decision lightly. We talked to each other and decided it was the best decision for the community’s future,” continues Mr. Sinnett. 

Mr. Tapp also says it’s “for the good of the community. We are two people who are not there for our personal gain, but for the benefit of the community.” 

The returning officer will need to notify Gespeg’s administrator regarding the next step concerning the election. “We’re going to do what we must do to have a new, complete election,” says Mr. Sinnett. 

Out of the approximately 2,200 members of the Micmac Nation of Gespeg, only about 420 participated in the election. 

SPEC attempted to reach the president of the election but was unsuccessful. 

Gespeg’s September 8 election to be contested Read More »

Gaspé wins the gold medal for highest gas prices in Quebec

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – Oil companies continue to exploit drivers in Gaspé by charging the highest price per litre gas prices in Quebec, except for James Bay. 

According to data from the Energy Board, Gaspé’s price is $1.74 per litre for regular gasoline as of September 5.  James Bay shows a price of $1.89, based on published reports.  In other outlying regions, the North Shore advertised an average price of $1.69 and Abitibi-Témiscamingue $1.66.  The average price in the Lower Saint Lawrence region is $1.62. In the region, the average price in the Bay of Chaleur is $1.66 and $1.73 in Rocher-Percé. 

This means that for each litre sold on September 5, retailers are pocketing 24.8 cents in Gaspé, 24.3 cents in Rocher-Percé and 20.2 cents in the Bay of Chaleur.  The respective averages over the last year are 16.2 cents, 14.3 cents and 13.0 cents.  Taking into account the price at the pump and the average over the past year, the pump price should be $1.59 in Bay of Chaleur, $1.61 in Rocher-Percé and $1.64 in Gaspé. 

The mayor of Gaspé has been denouncing the situation since 2019.  “I would like us to get a little attention from the Competition Bureau of Canada. It’s their job to clean up and investigate this. It’s not true that He points out that investigators went to the Lower Saint Lawrence and Côte-Nord regions in the past year. 

“Why are they able to go to those regions and not to us?” questions the mayor.  “They’re not doing their job. That’s the heart of the problem. I’m not saying there are anti-competitive practices, but the numbers speak for themselves. When gasoline is more expensive in Gaspé than in the Magdalen Islands, when prices are at the same level as those in isolated communities in the Far North of Quebec, there is reason to scratch your head. It is impossible that this is just a game of supply and demand,” analyzes the mayor. 

In the Magdalen Islands, the posted price was $1.69 on September 5. 

Signed Collective Agreement 

The workers affiliated with you can investigate from an office in Ottawa,” notes Daniel Côté. the CSN and the Town of Gaspé signed the new five-year collective agreement Tuesday evening after 12 rounds of complex and arduous negotiations. 

The mayor did not participate in the discussions but notes that the parties came close to the breaking point, but the council unanimously accepted the agreement and the union members by 87% in June. “For us, it was important to offer working conditions that are at least equivalent to what prevails in the market. We rebalanced certain positions in terms of salary, in particular, because we were losing a lot of employees,” says the mayor. 

The agreement, retroactive to January 1, provides for a catch-up of up to $3.75 per hour for certain trades in the first year.  In subsequent years, salary increases will range from 2.45% to 2.75% depending on the CPI (Consumer price index) and will be cappe 

Gaspé wins the gold medal for highest gas prices in Quebec Read More »

Quebec government invests $6M in training for fisheries sector workers

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

SAINTE-ANNE-DES-MONTS – The Quebec government is investing more than $6 million to train up to 500 workers in the fisheries and marine product processing sectors in Eastern Quebec. 

This assistance was granted at the request of the Comité sectoriel de la main-d’oeuvre des pêches maritimes, a large group of employers, who felt that there were needs to be met in terms of ongoing training. The assistance announced on September 6 will meet the needs of approximately twenty companies in the Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands, Lower Saint Lawrence and North Shore regions. 

“This is a need that has been expressed. We know that there are technological changes currently, but we are also facing environmental changes that are forcing the entire industry to review its practices. We are responding to this with customized training for each company,” says Employment Minister Kateri Champagne Jourdain, who made the announcement in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. 

“Do we need to increase digital literacy? Do we need to train the workforce on new methods of doing things? It will be based on the needs of the company. Ultimately, we want people to be more versatile and to adapt to technological changes more quickly, or to changes in production lines. We want to better equip the workforce,” explains the minister. According to her, around fifteen companies have already shown interest in the program set up in collaboration with the Chic-Chocs, Îles, René-Lévesque, Moyenne-Côte-Nord and Litoral School Service Centres, as well as the Eastern Shores School Board. She hopes that others will join the initiative. 

This 315-hour paid classroom training promotes learning related to real-life work situations. 

“The fishing industry is going through a period of uncertainty, and its companies are facing multiple challenges. This assistance aims to provide additional tools to workers in the fishing sector, while the industry must focus on innovation to continue to stand out,” notes Stéphane Sainte-Croix, Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for Gaspé and Government Assistant for Fisheries. 

“It has been proven that improving basic skills makes workers better equipped to deal with unexpected and new developments. As climate and technological changes rapidly change the world of fisheries, this training will be very useful for staff and, consequently, for their employers. It will also undoubtedly help develop other skills such as adaptability, inclusion and problem solving,” says the executive director of the sector committee, Marjorie Chrétien. 

Workers will have the opportunity to accumulate insurable hours towards employment insurance benefits. 

Quebec government invests $6M in training for fisheries sector workers 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 »

Emergency department at Maria hospital remains a priority for MNA

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

CARLETON-SUR-MER – Modernizing the emergency and intensive care departments at the Maria hospital remains the top priority for Bonaventure Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Catherine Blouin as the fall parliamentary session began on September 10 at the National Assembly. 

Three companies have expressed interest in conducting studies to better understand the current infrastructure in anticipation of the new project and, consequently, to better determine its costs. 

The study will specifically assess the current state of the electromechanical, structural and civil components and determine whether they are able to handle the new costs anticipated, not only by the emergency and intensive care department project, but also the future developments of the hospital. 

“It’s reassuring. These are two separate projects. First, we have the modernization of the emergency and intensive care departments. The priority is the emergency and intensive care departments. I’m very happy to see that things are moving forward,” notes Catherine Blouin, who hopes the contracts will be awarded soon. 

Ms. Blouin is, however, hesitant to set a date. “The plans and specifications are not yet done, so I’m not going to comment on a timeline,” she says, mentioning that the CISSS (Integrated Health and Social Services Centre) has already managed a similar project at the Sainte-Anne-des- Monts hospital. 

Rail refurbishment 

is also a priority 

Ms. Blouin is not concerned about the refurbishment schedule extending beyond 2026, even though one of the four call for tender projects announced last fall has been postponed week after week since April. 

“For now, we’re staying the course. There are situations beyond our control, meaning that we cannot find enough bidders. There is a lot of work being done in parallel,” notes Ms. Blouin. 

Cell coverage 

On the issue of cellular coverage, the 2026 goal to cover areas in the region, not currently covered by a cellular network, remains on target. 

“I prefer to put the deadline a little further out and create nice surprises, but all the indicators I have are for 2026. I prefer not to raise expectations for nothing,” explains the MNA. 

Housing 

The Québec government has launched a call for qualifications for 500 prefabricated housing units. “An innovative situation,” notes the elected official. 

“We have experience acquired through the single-modular housing units delivered to Maria in nine months with contractors such as Habitations Mont-Carleton. We will be able to take advantage of it and we met with the minister (of Municipal Affairs),” mentions Ms. Blouin. 

Daycares 

The announced daycare spaces also remain a priority for the Bonaventure MNA. “I can tell you – without creating expectations – that things are moving forward,” notes Ms. Blouin. 

“We still have champions in terms of project managers with 71 spaces in Chandler where children will be entering in the coming days,” emphasizes Ms. Blouin. 

Other priorities 

Several other files are also on the MNA’s agenda. “What is important is to continue to get the message across. We have had several visits from ministers. We had the Premier at the end of June, the Minister for Seniors, the Minister of Housing, and that of Culture. Each of these visits brings its share of follow-ups,” explains Ms. Blouin. 

While the Premier clearly reaffirmed his support for wind power at his party’s caucus in Rimouski, the Bonaventure MNA indicates that it remains a priority. 

“We have social acceptability in Eastern Quebec. We have expertise, a renewal of existing wind farms to increase capacity. We are well positioned in the Gaspésie to move forward,” she says. 

Halfway through her term, Ms. Blouin notes that the electoral map has mobilized energy and received everyone’s attention. 

“We decided to review everything in a transpartisan manner with all the parties. It’s a source of pride but, also, the cell coverage with the national announcement in Saint-Elzéar and the modular units in Maria. It’s the work of collaboration and listening to the council of ministers. I may be a bit annoying talking about the realities of the Gaspé, but when we greet ministers, they understand the reality on the ground. There is just as much work, if not more, left to do over the next two years. We continue to move forward,” the MNA concludes. 

Emergency department at Maria hospital remains a priority for MNA Read More »

Stéphane Sainte-Croix’s priority is housing

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – As the fall session gets underway at the National Assembly in Quebec City, housing is the top priority for Gaspé Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Stéphane Sainte-Croix.

“We are working with our partners to ensure that we complete as many projects as possible so we can resolve our housing issues for as many customers as possible,” says Stéphane Sainte-Croix, acknowledging that it is a complex problem.

In August, when France-Élaine Duranceau, the Minister of Housing, visited the Gaspé, the MNA discussed the issue of housing with him.

“We looked at our issues, our projects, but it is an ongoing effort that mobilizes several stakeholders and the only way to achieve this is to do everything possible at the municipal, government and private levels to support the projects,” says Mr. Sainte-Croix.

The stakeholders in the region have suggested the possibility of tax credits for construction to the minister. “These are things that we will bring to the attention of our Minister of Finance. These are measures that could contribute to a search for a solution. Everything is part of the National Assembly session,” explained the MNA.

Fisheries Sector

The crisis in the fisheries sector remains a key aspect of the economy of the Gaspé Peninsula. The MNA mentioned the announcement of six million dollars to support worker training made during the first week of September in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. That money will allow them to be resilient in technological changes and processing lines. “This is a step in the right direction to support the fisheries sector but it must not stop there,” says Mr. Sainte-Croix.

The salmon situation also concerns the MNA, as the Federal Minister of Fisheries suggested last week, in Quebec, that action is needed due to striped bass intercepting the species as it enters and exits rivers.

“We have become aware of the low rate of salmon spawning. Striped bass appears to be a problem but also a solution for the fishing industry. The file has been sent to the Environment and MAPAQ (Quebec Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food),” explains Mr. Sainte-Croix.

Analysts are looking into the issue and the Parliamentary Assistant for Fisheries is conducting consultations to document the possibility of a project based and exploratory fishery.

“To see how we could quietly take advantage of this resource to perhaps ultimately arrive at a commercial fishery. But it is complex. We are at the beginning of the process and have been engaged for several months already,” says Mr. Sainte-Croix.

Wind Energy

Wind energy is the third major focus for the MNA,  especially since the Premier reiterated his commitment to this energy sector at his party’s caucus last week in Rimouski.   Wind power will be a strategic sector in Quebec’s future energy landscape.

There remains the issue of the insufficient capacity of transmission lines in Eastern Quebec to transport energy from the Gaspé Peninsula to major centres.

“It is obvious that the distribution line will have to be considered. It remains to be seen over time when these investments will actually be made but, one thing is certain, they will be dedicated in time and place,”  says Mr. Sainte-Croix.

Gasoline Prices

On the issue of gasoline prices, Mr. Sainte-Croix indicated that work is continuing within the government as retailers are collecting profit margins of around 30 cents per litre, compared to the 13 to 16 cents average over the last year.

“We proceeded with the abolition of the floor price. It remains to be seen what part of the information is available to consumers. We are thinking about it and we hope to come up with one or two measures at this level in the near future but, indeed, this is the observation we make regarding the price of gasoline and we are working on it,” said Mr. Sainte-Croix.

Stéphane Sainte-Croix’s priority is housing Read More »

GASPÉ MINES: Osisko says data points to a revival

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

Gilles Gagné, The Gaspé Spec Editor

 MURDOCHVILLE – Even though all the analyses are not yet complete, Robert Wares, president and chief executive officer of Osisko Metals, believes that with the current data, a revival of Murdochville’s Gaspé Mines is likely. 

On September 10, Mr. Wares made his third presentation in two years, aiming to showcase the progression of the Osisko Metals project over the last three years. Approximately 115 people attended the presentation, with the attendees mostly expressing support for the mine’s reopening. However, there were questions regarding the venture’s timeline and environmental aspects. 

Robert Wares stated that a revival of mining activities in Murdochville in the next six or seven years will largely depend on the rising price of copper, the main condition needed for  profitability. 

“We hope to have a minimum price of US$4.25 per  term. We hope it will go higher, to US$5.00. Several economists predict that the price will rise to US$5.00 and remain there for the next five years. At this price, it would be very profitable,” says Mr. Wares. 

Copper is currently trading at around US$4.10 per pound. The effects of a worldwide shortage could be felt as soon as 2025, added Robert Wares, specifying “This metal is vital for the decarbonization of the economy.” 

The preliminary economic study will likely be filed in February. An in-debt feasibility study will be required to find investors. However, $1.8 billion of capital will be needed to reopen the Mount Copper open pit and install an ore concentrator. The site of the former smelter will be used in the latter case.   Robert Wares mentions that $70 million will have to be raised between now and 2028 to move the venture forward. He is confident about that possibility as well. 

When Mr. Wares was asked if, with the current data, would the company launch the project today if it could, he was categorical in his answer: “In my opinion, yes. Yes, absolutely.” 

The environmental aspect still worries a few citizens, particularly the dewatering of the Mount Copper mine pit and the caribou protection line that encroaches on the mining area. 

In the latter case, the encroachment comes from the fact that Osisko Metals must submit two eventual locations for the mine tailings. One is situated east of the projected mine, at the original location  used by Gaspé Copper Mines, and the other is located to the northwest, encroaching on the caribou protection zone. 

“We have had very few questions about the long-term environmental impact. Minister (of the Environment, Benoit) Charette’s new caribou habitat regulation zone could potentially be a problem for the mining development of Mines Gaspé. We will file a brief in October to express our concerns and propose to the government to push the eastern limit of the residential zone, 10 to 15 kilometres further west to free up the territory,” explains Mr. Wares. 

“There is no evidence of caribou presence in this area,” he says, arguing that the will decide where the tailings will go. 

Open pit dewatering 

In regards to the dewatering of the pit and the discharge into the York River, the Osisko Metals president assures that he is doing everything in his power to limit the impacts, particularly on the salmon habitat. 

“The goal is to have zero impact on the river. The dewatering will be done over a minimum of two and a half years and the rate will be mitigated depending on the seasons and the volume of water. During the summer, sometimes, the level of the York River is dangerously low. This could be an opportunity to increase the rate to avoid that. We will do new tests this fall. And we believe that we have found a form of passive treatment for the water to reduce the copper levels in the water,” said Mr. Wares. 

This passive treatment uses limestone to clean the water to a certain degree. According to tests carried out over the last few months, the Mount Copper pit water contains 60 parts of copper per billion. 

“The goal would be to reach 20 parts per billion, which would be acceptable to all,” he adds, indicating that this would be under Directive 019 on the mining industry, which sets the acceptable monthly average concentration at 300 micrograms of copper per litre. 

“Salmon don’t react to a lot of other metals but they react a lot to copper. We will even try to reduce the concentration of copper to 15 parts per billion,” says Robert Wares. 

The Mount Copper open pit mine currently contains 35 million cubic metres of water, the equivalent of 35 billion litres. 

Transportation 

The ore produced in Murdochville will likely be transported by truck to Gaspé and would then be transported by ship to smelters located in Europe and by train to the Horne Foundry in Rouyn-Noranda in the Abitibi region.  “It will be up to Glencore to decide,” says Mr. Wares about the destination of the production.  Glencore, the former owner of Gaspé Mines, sold the property to Osisko under an agreement reached in 2022, retaining the right to buy 100% of the mine’s production. 

Jean-Claude Plourde, a resident of Gaspé asked about the impact of the heavy traffic on Road 198, Mr. Wares pointed out that despite “the trucks being bigger today, as they can carry 35 tons,” the number of trucks would also be higher compared to when the first Gaspé mines operated between 1953 and 2002. 

More drilling to come 

The drilling results carried out this year remain encouraging and will be announced by press release this fall. The exploration team drilled over 8,000 metres between the spring and the end of the summer. 

“Additional drilling will be carried out in 2025 in order to get more information about the size of the mine and confirm its copper content. We will drill on Mount Copper towards Mount Needle to determine the limits of the mining zone,” stresses Mr. Wares. 

Quality of life 

Most people who attended the September 10 meeting expressed support for Osisko Metals. Lise Cyr was among them. “I have lived here for 67 years. I think, between you and me, that we are very happy to see that there will be another mine.” 

Julie Lévesque, another Murdochville resident, inquired about the permits needed by Osisko Metals before starting the construction of the new mine and the ore concentration plant that will go with it. 

Robert Wares explained that securing all the permits needed to reopen the mine will take the same time, two years will be required for the company to secure the capital needed to bring the venture to fruition. 

Emmanuelle Desrochers-Perrault, a management consultant and project manager who lives in Murdochville, supports the project but is concerne about the social impact of the eventual mine’s reopening. 

“I am really interested in the environmental aspects of the project. This milieu will remain once we are gone. Our children will stay here. I care about the social impact the project could have for the people who have chosen nature, quietness and an access to the outdoors”, Ms. Desrochers-Perrault points out. 

Citizens who do not want to live in Murdochville could be offered to sell their homes to the company, as was done in Malartic, Abitibi, where Osisko Metals developed a gold mine. 

Mr. Wares hopes to see the mine restart at the end of 2030, but 2031 is more likely. 

GASPÉ MINES: Osisko says data points to a revival 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

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

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 »

Highway 132 erosion: no decree until 2026 for action

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – It will be 2026 before Quebec adopts a decree related to the Intervention Program for the Protection of Infrastructures Against Coastal Hazards by the Ministry of Transport (MTQ).

Studies have been underway since 2021 to protect, among other things, Highway 132 in the Gaspé Peninsula from erosion and coastal submersion.

Due to climate change, the ministry predicts that in Lower Saint Lawrence and the Gaspé Peninsula and the Magdalen Islands, 139 kilometres of roads will be vulnerable to erosion, and 176 kilometres will be susceptible to submersion.

In the project notice filed in July 2021, the ministry noted that recent events highlighted the need to ensure road user mobility and carry out preventive interventions. The document estimated 273 vulnerable coastal sites in the long term.

The impact study which has been in progress for nearly three years, is expected to be submitted by the end of the summer, according to the Ministry of Transport, which will indicate when the document will be available.

A series of procedures will follow before Quebec adopts the decree. Thus, the documents admissibility must be reviewed by the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks and the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) will also examine the document.

Once these two steps have been completed, the report and recommendations will be analyzed by the government, and the Ministry of Transport expects the decree to be adopted in 2026.
Routine interventions by the ministry, such as repairs to retaining walls along Highway 132 on the north side of the Gaspé will continue normally.

Every new project will have to be the subject of requests for different ministerial authorizations by the MTQ.
On the north side of the peninsula, specific issues related to the inhabited areas near rivers, access difficulties due to the topography with cliffs, high exposure of the coasts to winds and waves and the road’s dependence are the main factors in the reflection.

On the south side, *mariculture exploitation, the concentration of salmon rivers and maintaining water access are highlighted in the planning. The impact study will allow for segmenting sites according to the vulnerability and the planning of the required work.

Once the decree is adopted, several steps will need to be completed for the new intervention sites.
The feasibility studies should take between four and 16 months, followed by design studies lasting 12 to 36 months, plans and specifications for 12 to 36 months and the construction.

With a decree adopted in 2026, the work for the new structures would, at best, only begin in 2028 or 2029.
Consultations are still underway for the vast project, which has been divided into four sub-regions: Lower Saint Lawrence, Northern Gaspé Peninsula, Southern Gaspé Peninsula and the Magdalen Islands.

The link for submitting comments can be found on the ministry’s website. In an interview in early 2023, the former territorial director of the Transport Ministry, Yves Berger, indicated that riverbank erosion would be the biggest transportation issue in the Gaspé Peninsula over the next 25 years. He indicated that this issue would require “major investments”.

Projects are being prepared for both the northern and southern sides of the peninsula. Mr. Berger indicated that in recent years, $20 million has been invested to address climate change.

*mariculture – a type of farming in which fish or other sea animals and plants are kept or grown for food.

Highway 132 erosion: no decree until 2026 for action Read More »

Chantier naval Forillon makes a major transaction

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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 »

The Gaspé Peninsula needs 1,500 housing units

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Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – The Gaspé Peninsula faces an urgent need for 1,500 housing units in the very short term – within a year – to address immediate shortages. Despite this, the Gaspé Peninsula Table of Prefects estimates that there will still be a shortfall.

Several elected officials took advantage of the visit of the Minister responsible for housing to Maria on August 27 to take stock of the situation prevailing on the Gaspé Peninsula.

“This is very difficult data to obtain and we did some quick calculations and, at the very least in the short term, in the next year, 1,500 housing units would be needed and we know that each year, more will have to be added. It’s difficult to assess it. The needs are immense and the challenges are great,” says Mathieu Lapointe, president of the Table.

Mr. Lapointe believes that Minister France-Élaine Duranceau is aware of the region’s needs which have been conveyed many times.

“The particular challenge in the Gaspésie is the cost of construction, which is higher than elsewhere in Quebec. There are projects that come out at $600,000 or $700,000 per door. We have to find solutions and that’s what she’s working on to reduce costs. This means that we’re not able to complete the financial packages and carry out the projects,” notes Mr. Lapointe.

In the private sector, a four-and-a-half unit costs nearly $300,000 while social housing can reach $450,000.
On several occasions, the Table has proposed possible solutions to stimulate construction. “What the private sector is telling us is that it’s not profitable enough, especially the down payment, which is too high. That’s why we suggested various measures such as tax credits or enhanced depreciation that could make a real difference and apply only to our region,” says Mr. Lapointe.

“She (the Minister) is analyzing these measures and she was thinking about concrete solutions of this type or loan guarantees to encourage people to invest in rental housing without requiring a 20% down payment, which is too high given the return,” says Mr. Lapointe.

On August 22, the two levels of government announced a call for projects to build 500 modular units across Quebec to speed up construction.

“We wanted the details to position ourselves and for the region to benefit from it but the minister did not commit. As soon as we have solid files, we can go back to see her and present potential files to the municipalities. Her number one issue is to have additional housing quickly and we will position ourselves quickly to respond to this concern,” notes Mr. Lapointe.

In Gaspé alone, there is a shortage of 400 housing units. Last week, the Quebec government presented a strategy to build 560,000 housing units quickly in Quebec. The Mayor of Gaspé, Daniel Côté, believes that this could help with construction.

“It could help on the financial side in particular. In her statement, the minister asked the municipal sector to be more flexible. Here, we are doing it. We had a private meeting with her Monday morning (August 26) and she quickly understood that municipalities in Gaspésie were not the type to slow down projects,” indicates the mayor.

Mr. Côté highlighted the importance of flexibility in financial assistance. The Affordable Housing Program Quebec (PHAQ) could be revised.

“The program is good for nonprofit organizations. The private sector has access to it but few get on board because it is a bit complex. She understands that. She is ready to reopen the PHAQ program. When she talks to us about a new financial assistance program that is better adapted to reality, that speaks to us. If we are told that municipalities must adapt their regulations, that speaks to us less because we have already done so. In short, there is some good in what has been said. There are things that may be good for others but, for us, the financial assistance speaks to us,” comments Mr. Côté.

The minister believes that her program, which has two development axes, has been well received. She wants to create an environment conducive to construction, affordable or not.

“We have new financial tools to support groups so that projects can be built at a lower cost. While waiting for everything to be built, we want to help people who have difficulty paying their rent. There are a multitude of measures to help people while waiting for the housing supply to increase in Quebec,” mentions France-Élaine Duranceau.

The Gaspé Peninsula needs 1,500 housing units Read More »

Avignon-La Mitis-Matane-Matapédia abolition contested – not before 2025

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – The judicial review request following the decision to abolish the federal riding of Avignon-La Mitis-Matane-Matapédia will not be heard before the beginning of 2025 according to a report by Droits collectifs Québec following a management conference on July 25.

The judge asked the attorney for Droits collectifs Québec, François Côté, to file his brief on August 16.
“The case is continuing but, unfortunately, for a hearing in the fall, hopes have been dashed out of hand by the length of the legal proceedings,” explains Mr. Côté. The Attorney General of Canada contested Droits collectifs Québec’s right to act, a motion that Justice Alexandra Steele dismissed in July.

Thus, the Attorney General and Elections Canada will have until November 15 to file their complete case to defend the abolition of the riding.

“We must file a request for a hearing by November 29, 2024, at the latest. We have completed our steps and the ball is now in the court of the Attorney General and Elections Canada,” said Mr. Côté.
“I don’t expect to get through (to be heard) before November 29, even with a miracle. I would be surprised if there were dates available between November 29 and December 31. We are heading towards something a little later than I had hoped,” notes the lawyer.

In the event of an early election call, the application for judicial review may not have been heard. Voting is scheduled for October 2025.

“We can only find it unfortunate that the courts did not uphold our request for a stay during the proceedings. If we find ourselves in a situation where we win our case while an election is called, there are questions to be asked about the speed and manner in which the rights of voters will be guaranteed by the Attorney General and Elections Canada. For the moment, we are in a hypothetical situation. We will hope for a resolution in the best-case scenario and everything is going well,” says Mr. Côté.

The application for judicial review is based on an opinion rendered by the Supreme Court of Canada referencing the Provincial Electoral Boundaries in Saskatchewan and the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act.

“The basic argument is that of effective representation and effective representation is not just a question of numbers. Regions, communities, geographic areas and regional histories also matter. If we only had a system with one head, one vote, we would have a democracy where the large metropolises have all the political power, which means that the less dense regional entities could not make their voices heard in a democracy,” argues Mr. Côté.

“Our parliamentary system tries to balance the two by having a system based on the right to vote, but which also takes into account the regions, the regional specificities, so that the diversity of everything that makes up a society does not only take into account the simple number of the population, but also its variety,” he maintains.

The adopted map presented in the summer of 2022 provoked an outcry from the entire political community in the Gaspé Peninsula.

Avignon-La Mitis-Matane-Matapédia abolition contested – not before 2025 Read More »

Construction is underway for 32 social housing units in Gaspé

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – The official groundbreaking for the Han-Logement project, which will consist of building 32 affordable and accessible housing units, took place on August 26. This $10.3 million project, located on Forest Street, is set to accommodate individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities or those with autism spectrum disorders. The first tenants are expected to move in by July 1, 2025.

The Government of Quebec is providing $5.6 million to the project through the Société d’habitation du Québec and the Government of Canada is contributing $222,343 through the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund.

Desjardins is injecting $3.2 million in mortgage financing, the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ is injecting $800,000 in long-term capital, and the Town of Gaspé is contributing the land and a tax credit for a total of $443,000.

These homes will be affordable. “They are affordable because there is a subsidy from the various levels of government but also because we will offer the rent supplement program and tenants will not pay more than 25% of their income in rent,” explains the Minister responsible for Housing, France-Élaine Duranceau.
“We are looking to increase all types of housing in Quebec. This one is for clients who live with a disability and this group that is leading the Han-Logement project is a community group that is very effective in the way it builds housing and makes it available. We are delivering in a shorter time frame and within a tight and reasonable budget. For me, this is a project to support and see repeated elsewhere in Quebec,” adds the Minister.

The Han-Logement Gaspé development will consist of four buildings with 32 units, including 24 one-bedroom units and eight two-bedroom units. It will feature landscaped outdoor spaces, easy access, proximity to services and private parking.

Stakeholders are also planning for a second phase of the project. “We agreed with the Town to look at this. With the land acquired, there would be the possibility of adding units. When we signed for this land, we were given a challenge and we are looking at when it would be possible to do a phase 2. Maybe other projects. There are several requests,” says Han-Logement President and Chief Executive Officer Anik Roy Trudel.

The group’s goal is to raise $100,000 for each complex built. Dr. Thierry Petry has already contributed $100,000 to the Gaspé project. “It’s an excellent project. He wanted to move quickly. We organized ourselves to move quickly,” says Mayor Daniel Côté.

The project came to fruition in less than two years. “We worked extra hard to be on the fast track and we’re already seeing the results. A second phase is planned and we’re ready to hand it over. It’s a model to follow. The developer arrives with plans and specifications. He also has his builder and financiers attached. When he knocks on our door, he’s ready and needs land and for the zoning rules to be changed quickly,” says Mr. Côté.

According to the mayor, between 16 and 32 additional units could be added in a second phase. Each apartment costs around $300,000.

“We’re very rigorous. We have a model and here, it’s our 2.0 model that we’ve been using for six years. This allows us to know it very well and optimize costs. Our contractor is on the ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth building. He knows how much it’s going to cost him and how long it will take. That’s the predictability of the model. But it’s a challenge,” agrees Ms. Roy Trudel.

These new housing units in Gaspé are part of Han-Logement’s second project supported by the Desjardins Affordable Housing Initiative in partnership with the Quebec and Canadian governments, following a 24-unit affordable housing development in Rivière-du-Loup.

The developer also has plans for other locations in Gaspé Peninsula, with a potential project in Chandler. “We’re finalizing the details. There’s a whole preliminary project phase where we do analyses at the land level. We have to agree with the deed of donation of the land. Things are going very well despite some minor issues and we are hopeful of announcing the start of construction next year,” says Ms. Roy Trudel.
New Richmond and Sainte-Anne-des-Monts are also in the plans. “We want to go around the Gaspé and expand to the Lower St. Lawrence. We have several towns that are approaching us. You will definitely see us again in the Gaspé. The secret is a town that has the drive and wants to get on board with us. That’s the ingredient we need to start a project,” she concludes.

In fact, a building with 24 affordable housing units has been built in Rivière-du-Loup. It already accommodates people living with a physical or intellectual disability or with an autism spectrum disorder.

Construction is underway for 32 social housing units in Gaspé Read More »

End of independent workforce: CISSS prepares a plan to maintain services

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Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

CHANDLER – The Quebec government’s plan to gradually eliminate independent healthcare workers could lead to reduced services in the Gaspé Peninsula.

The Gaspé Peninsula Integrated Health and Social Services Centres (CISSS) is developing a plan in the event that the 200 agency workers who work for the organization are no longer present in October 2026, the deadline for ensuring the transition (away from agency workers) in the region.

The increasingly restrictive rules that will apply in the coming months raise concerns about the availability of resources to fill uncovered shifts. “If people from agencies are less interested in coming to the region, we could have needs that remain unmet and that would put us at a greater risk. That’s why we are looking at a critical services plan and being able to identify people in our organization to maintain these critical services. That would mean that other services would have to be slowed down to maintain critical services. It’s a plan. We want to prepare for the worst. We don’t want to be forced to deploy it, but we have to think about it to maintain 24/7 services,” says President and Chief Executive Officer Martin Pelletier.

Before getting to that point, the CISSS will attempt to recruit agency staff, particularly with the new working conditions established in recent collective agreements.

“We will solicit them to see if they would be interested in becoming employees of the CISSS de la Gaspésie. Some are in the region, but there are some in urban centres. It’s a big life choice to say that we’re moving to another region. We’re going to submit the new conditions to them. We’re able to show them what’s available now and they’ll be able to compare what they do in their agencies. They’ll understand that the network is becoming interesting in terms of money,” believes the CEO. So far, one or two people have chosen to work for the CISSS on their own.

Although about 80 international nurses will eventually join the workforce, the CISSS will not make any net gains. “We still have a large turnover of people retiring and we have many who are not very far from retirement. We’re in the process of making these projections. We hope the gap will be positive. It will all depend on the number of people we can retain from outside nurses,” says Mr. Pelletier, who also hopes that some individuals will delay their retirement.

The CISSS is registered for a third international cohort expected next spring. According to Mr. Pelletier, about twenty new candidates could move to the region.

End of independent workforce: CISSS prepares a plan to maintain services Read More »

Quebec once again asks Ottawa to collaborate in the fisheries sector

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – Quebec Fisheries Minister André Lamontagne took advantage of the annual meeting of the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers on August 15 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, to once again urge the Department of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to intensify its collaboration with fishermen, processors and the provinces, as climate change is impacting several fisheries.

While in Gaspé on July 5, Mr. Lamontagne deplored this lack of collaboration at a time when the industry is going through a crisis and must define its future.

He mentioned that the federal government does not seem to have a clear vision for the future.
In the current crisis, it is more than necessary that future actions be the subject of real consultation in order to ensure the sustainability of coastal communities, said Mr. Lamontagne.

Using the example of shrimp, the Minister mentioned that despite repeated calls from Quebec for increased collaboration between levels of government to respond to this crisis, the federal government has still not indicated its intention to offer substantial structural and financial support measures for struggling fisheries sectors, including Quebec’s shrimp fishery, as the Quebec Shrimp Fishermen’s Office recalled on August 15.

Last year, 4,500 tonnes of shrimp were landed by Quebec fishermen out of the 8,193-tonne quota. This year’s quota is set at 3,060 tonnes.

Another example is the resumption of redfish fishing, which should have benefited this sector. However, the 5,500-tonne quota currently allocated to Quebec shrimp fishermen is far too small to contribute to the restructuring of this fleet, which is in a very precarious situation.

The Minister also met with his counterparts from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island to discuss the pressing fisheries issues they share.

They agreed that federal government intervention was necessary to support shrimpers and any fisheries in difficulty, emphasizing the importance of joint management of fishery resources overseen by the federal government.

“Several fisheries are currently experiencing major upheaval. I saw this again during my recent visit to the Magdalen Islands, the Lower St. Lawrence, and the Gaspé Peninsula. In the middle of the fishing season, it is inconceivable that boats have to remain docked. I took advantage of the meeting to reiterate the federal government’s responsibility to contribute to the measures needed to ensure the restructuring of fishing fleets in difficulty, particularly shrimp fishermen. We must develop a common vision, which will be supported by jointly developed strategies and action plans. Silos have no place in fisheries,” says the Minister.

Mr. Lamontagne mentioned turbot, where the quota fell by more than 50% between 2021 and 2023, from 4,500 tonnes to 2,400 tonnes, with landings of only 179 tonnes last year.

He also mentioned that since 2023, fishing for winter flounder and yellowtail flounder in the Gulf of St. Lawrence has been subject to a moratorium. While the federal government is dragging its feet, the Minister mentioned that Quebec has stepped in to provide support to the various stakeholders in the shrimp sector since 2023, including the creation of a working committee made up of fishermen, processors and the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ).

Financial assistance of more than $3.5 million has been granted to the shrimp sector, including $528,000 to fishermen in difficulty.

In addition, the Quebec government guarantees loans to those at risk for an amount of nearly $20 million.
Projects to support the sector and hire resources, presented by associations and regional county municipalities, were also funded during this period.

Quebec once again asks Ottawa to collaborate in the fisheries sector Read More »

Gaspé Municipal Update: Town Hall renovations higher than expected

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Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ: – Steps are still being taken to potentially file a legal appeal against the architects and engineers who designed the plans for the ongoing work at the Town Hall.

“It’s still in the process. I can’t go into it any further,” said Mr. Côté.

When asked whether the parties are in discussions or if a formal notice has been served, the mayor once again remained cautious. “We’re at the legal level, so I’m going to keep a big reserve on my comments. We’ll let the legal specialists chat among themselves. I don’t want to interfere in the process,” replied the mayor, who is a trained lawyer.

The contractor in charge of the project had discovered a problem between the design of the building’s façade wall and what had been agreed upon during planning, a surprise that should have been noted by the engineers and architects when designing the renovation plans, Mr. Côté indicated in July.

The additional costs amount to $700,000. The Town had adopted a $4.3 million borrowing bylaw, which included plans and specifications, and the work contract was initially set at $2.9 million, representing a savings of $1 million.

“It had pleasantly surprised us, but the million has melted like snow in the sun. One of the issues we have is that we have no guarantee that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs will extend the missing amount. The ministry pays 65% of the bill after the call for tenders but now they do not want to go back up to the amount initially planned. It’s not our fault if there were errors in the plans and specifications,” said the elected official.

Rue des Touristes

Work to protect Rue des Touristes, located in the Anse-à-Valleau sector of Gaspé, will not be done until 2026. The street, which has been highly vulnerable since a devastating storm in December 2016, will face a ten-year wait before it receives adequate protection but, even then, the solution may not resolve all the problems, according to the mayor.

“It required financial assistance from Civil Security and it took a long time to agree on the principle of compensation in he case of bank erosion. It was a very long and painful process, from ministry approvals to everything. In short, it was endless,” comments the mayor of Gaspé, Daniel Côté.

Once this step was completed and a financial agreement was reached, in which Quebec pays 75% of the estimated $4 million cost, plans and specifications were ordered in June at a cost of $644,000.

“If we didn’t need environmental studies, the work would have been done before the end of 2025 but we know that environmental studies always have delays of a year, a year and a half, two years, which means that there will be no potential work until 2026,” calculates the elected official.

He hopes that work will begin in early 2026 to be completed by the end of the year. “The high tides have been around for eight years, and there is still about a two-year delay left. I understand the exasperation of the people in the area,” says the mayor, who considers himself lucky that no new storm has hit the area.
However, the battle to protect the coastline is far from over.

The Ministry of Public Safety only wants to pay for the riprap for the area affected by the 2016 storm, leaving the ends of the planned work vulnerable.

“We fear the end effects. When the water hits the riprap, it will affect the sides of the riprap and create new erosion zones. We fear this effect, our specialists have these fears, but the ministry does not want to pay. We will continue to make the ministry see reason,” says the mayor, who indicates that approximately 20% of the work remains to be completed.

The plans and specifications address this end effect, which is defined as the turbulence caused by water striking the ends of a structure and eroding the soil of unprotected neighbouring properties. Severe erosion zones could emerge, potentially leading to significant land loss for neighbours.

“If we let nature take its course, it would take away the road and relocate dozens of houses. In short, we would have had to practically close the village if we had listened to what the people from the ministry told us at the beginning. No one had noticed that the road was the next to disappear and right after that, it was houses. It took them a while to realize that it didn’t make sense to let nature take its course unless we decided to condemn the village of Anse-à-Valleau. As a town, we weren’t ready for that,” says Mr. Côté.
In the event of another storm causing further damage, the mayor believes that an emergency decree could be issued to bypass environmental regulations and allow for the street’s reconstruction.

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Increase in students at the Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – The Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles is expecting 1,279 students for the fall 2024 session, which began on August 19.

This marks an increase of 42 students compared to last year and 147 more than in the fall 2022 session.
“The CEGEP is doing great promotional activities in the Gaspésie but also in Quebec with some 250 students coming from other regions of Quebec. We have about 120 foreign students and we have better retention of students from the Gaspésie. It’s a multitude of factors,” explains the Director of Studies, Serge Rochon.

Among these factors, the Director notes the twenty or so programs offered, the small groups of students, and the close relationships between professors and students, which promotes success.
“We have positioned our educational institution well in recent years, and we have more and more students in our classrooms,” he continues.

New measures were put in place to allow foreign students to come and study in Canada despite strict rules.
“We are managing to maintain the number of international students. Last year was a record year. We are maintaining these students who come from France and African countries. This is good news for our study programs, as it allows us to maintain them,” explains Mr. Rochon.

The revision of the Childhood Education Technique program is still underway. “We are going to equip ourselves with a new version of the program. We started our work last winter and we will finish it this year. This is a program where we had no registrations last year. We are going to significantly modify the study program that we will present in a few weeks,” indicates the director of studies, recalling the significant need for workers in the region.

The same reflection will be done with the Aquatic Products Transformation program offered in Grande-Rivière. “The program has been suspended for several years. We are going to start a major project this year to try to look at it in depth and see how we can make it attractive for a relaunch at the UPAQ,” emphasizes Mr. Rochon.

The Police Technology program is under development at the Gaspé campus. “We are starting to hire our first professors. We have a version of the program that is not completed but is very advanced. We will be able to unveil it very soon because we will soon begin our promotional activities,” emphasizes Mr. Rochon.
The first policing students are expected at the start of the fall 2025 school year. The work to build the laboratories for this training will be done during the year. “We need to create some pretty specific laboratories. We’re talking about apartments, bars, and police stations where we do all sorts of simulations. We’re going to prepare everything over the course of the year to be ready for the start of the 2025 school year,” says the director.

As for the idea put forward this summer by politicians to train wildlife officers in the region due to a labour shortage, particularly in this region, the CEGEP has not been contacted.

“There are other CEGEPs in Quebec that offer this training. Sometimes, it’s difficult to set up the program everywhere in the territory. We have a lot of programs at the Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles, and sometimes it becomes difficult to add more since we already have Police Technology. We’re always listening and, if we can meet a need in the region, we’ll be there,” says Mr. Rochon.

International students

The CEGEP believes that it is too early to comment on the Quebec bill that would limit the number of foreign students in the province.

The Coalition Avenir Québec government intends to table a bill in the next parliamentary session to regulate the registration of international students in higher education institutions.
Since the content of the bill is not yet known, the CEGEP is unable to determine what the impacts of the legislation would be on its activities.

The college welcomes about 120 foreign students this year, representing nearly 10% of the student body.
The CEGEP indicates that it will monitor the situation closely.

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Ian Lafrenière visits the Gaspé Peninsula

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Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GESGAPEGIAG – The Minister responsible for relations with First Nations admits that there is still a lot of work to be done before trust can be reestablished with the government.

While visiting Gesgapegiag and Listuguj on August 15, Ian Lafrenière indicated that efforts are ongoing to improve relations with these communities.

“It’s obvious that these are difficult relationships. Why? We are talking about 400 years of history, punctuated by moments that have not been glorious as Canadians and Quebecers. There is certainly mistrust. I am not comfortable telling you that everything is fine, but I am comfortable telling you that we are moving forward. We are gaining trust one file at a time. It will take time,” says the Minister.
In Gesgapegiag, the first subject that was discussed between the minister and the community was the salmon fishing conflict that escalated in late spring.

An agreement that had provided compensation to members of Gesgapegiag for 16 years expired on March 31. “The Wildlife file was transferred from the ministry, and it was more complex. Together, we agreed that we need to reach a medium and long-term agreement to avoid this type of situation that creates uncertainty and tension. We want to reach an agreement to provide more predictability,” the Minister explained.
Given the difficulties in capturing other species, alternative possibilities were also discussed. Additionally, several other priorities were mentioned.

The Minister also took the opportunity to visit the memorial dedicated to Aboriginal Veterans, a significant moment for him as a veteran, and a project in which the Quebec government contributed.
In Listuguj, Mr. Lafrenière reviewed completed projects. “In all cases, these are projects that have respected both the budget and the deadline. I am thinking of the school and the police station. There is a lot of movement and it is very positive,” the Minister mentions.

However, Mr. Lafrenière did not visit Gespeg due to a tight schedule but also for another factor.
“We know that there is a pre-election period in Gespeg. That is why I did not continue my trip. I would say that in terms of schedule and geography, I couldn’t do it. And in addition to this pre-election period, I refrain from visiting the communities. It will be soon,” he says, adding that he has visited the 55 communities in Quebec.

“It’s important to see the communities. That’s where we learn things. It’s not in our office,” maintains Mr. Lafrenière.

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Caribou to remain in “temporary” captivity

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

SAINTE-ANNE-DES-MONTS – The ten female and three male caribou captured this winter, along with the six surviving calves, might remain in captivity at the Mount McGerrigle enclosure, in the Parc de la Gaspésie, longer than initially planned.

The Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks indicates that “recent observations regarding the low productivity and recruitment rates observed in recent years have led the ministry to consider temporarily keeping a portion of the Gaspésie caribou population in captivity in 2024, rather than using maternity pens involving the annual capture of pregnant females and their release with their calves at the end of the summer, as deployed in 2023,” states the response to an inquiry made by SPEC regarding the 19 caribous being held in captivity.”

Captivity is a final and temporary measure to protect isolated caribou populations in a very precarious situation,” mentions the ministry. The Minister responsible for Wildlife, Benoit Charette, indicated this spring in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts that there were only 24 caribou left in the Gaspésie.

“The presence of three males in the enclosure will allow one or more reproductive cycles to be carried out in captivity and provide the information needed to optimize recruitment while documenting the low pregnancy rates observed in the wild,” the ministry explains in its letter.
Various factors such as survival rates, physical condition, sex ratio or productivity could lead to occasional releases of caribou, as a proportion of nine caribou remain in the wild, assuming those not captured last spring survived predation and the winter.

“The duration of the use of this management measure will be assessed through a multi-criteria analysis taking into consideration, among other things, the parameters mentioned and the deployment of other complementary management measures, such as predator control and habitat restoration,” the ministry explains.

Temporary captivity aims to protect caribou from predators and increase their survival rates. “This reflection demonstrates the ministry’s attention to deploying a dynamic and adaptive management approach that relies on monitoring the biological indicators of the Gaspésie caribou population,” the ministry states in response to our inquiries.


The Haute-Gaspésie receives support

The Côte-de-Gaspé MRC is supporting the Haute-Gaspésie by asking the Quebec government to hold information sessions and public consultations in Haute-Gaspésie due to the impact of the proposed caribou protection measures. The Quebec government announced a pilot project for the caribou population in April and the Haute-Gaspésie is concerned that recreational tourism development could be significantly restricted due to the proposed measures.

Côte-de-Gaspé is also calling for interim measures to be lifted and for the public service to be given clear directives so that sustainable development can continue. The MRC is asking that the wind energy sector and access to territories be taken into account.

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Dr. Yv Bonnier Viger steps down from his role as Regional Director of Public Health

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – As of September 3, Dr. Yv Bonnier Viger, the Regional Director of Public Health for the Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands, will be stepping down.

Dr. Bonnier Viger, who is a preventative medicine specialist will take on the role of medical advisor. “We had been thinking about this for some time. We had to ensure a succession. The succession is ready and I will step down because I am a 1950 model. At some point, we simply have to make way for the succession,” says Dr. Bonnier Viger, who is 74 years old.

The physician will continue his work to support his successor in a smooth transition. Dr. Bonnier Viger has held this position twice: from 2001 to 2002, and since 2016. His tenure as Director of Public Health was especially defined by the pandemic. Dr. Bonnier Viger believes that his team is well-prepared to handle any future events. Lessons have been learned, and Public Health is now working on building a better response for what the future may hold.

“We are preparing plans and we will take the time to do simulations to be ready. We can be ready on paper, but if we have never tried it, that is when we can have surprises. The difference between theory and practice is considerable and we must take the time to properly practice what we have planned,” says Dr. Bonnier Viger.

Dr. Bonnier Viger does not want to talk about legacy, because he has not finished his work. “With my role as director, having a participatory management approach, geared towards always allowing others to do the best they can do, I think it’s a winning formula,” he says.

He says he might have a little more free time once he is no longer involved in management. “My time was already very limited. I may have weeks that are a little more normal, but I won’t have a lot of free time. There are a lot of files that we have to put a lot of time into. I’ll have my work cut out for me to continue working 60 to 80 hours as I do,” he says.

“I’m in great shape. When you get older, you’re more likely to get sick. It’s better to be in positions that don’t affect too many people at the same time if something happens,” he says.

After his first stint as Director of Public Health for the Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands region in 2001-2002, he left to create the Public Health Department in Cree territory, a role he held until 2008.
He was then recruited by Laval University as a part-time coordinator of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, while also serving as a medical assistant to the Director of Public Health in Chaudière-Appalaches. In 2010, he became the department’s director. Dr. Bonnier Viger returned to the Gaspé Peninsula in 2016.

In a 2020 interview, Dr. Bonnier Viger set himself the goal of getting public health back on track after the Barrette reform, with a younger management team and remaining a medical advisor, a role he will officially take on in September.

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