utilities

Logements HAN: Telecoms knew for 1.5 years

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI

GASPÉ – Telecommunications companies have known since May 28, 2024, that a connection for telephone, internet, and television services would be required for the Logements HAN buildings at the end of Forest Street in Gaspé.

“As part of this project, as early as May 28, 2024, municipal authorities notified telecommunications services and Hydro-Québec that this project was coming. Hydro-Québec acted to connect the housing units as soon as they were ready. However, as far as telecommunications services are concerned, that doesn’t seem to be the case,” says Mayor Daniel Côté.

Tenants with disabilities have been moving in since August 1 and are still without telecommunications service. Furthermore, cell phone service is very limited in the area.

“It’s a shame, especially since we’re talking about a vulnerable clientele who can’t afford to travel like everyone else. These are people who need these services at home, probably more than the average person. It’s a significant need for them. I can’t explain the delays. I’m starting to find it long,” added the mayor.

The Town of Gaspé was contacted during the week of September 1, and the mayor on September 6.
“We started working (on the issue) at the beginning of the week,” says the mayor, noting that no deadline was available prior to the tenants’ media appearance.

It was a group effort to get the file moving. On September 9, Telus employees were seen at the location carrying out work to connect the housing complexes to the network.

The Canadian communications giant responded by email late in the afternoon of September 9. “We understand the Han Logement Group’s concerns. Our team, which has been on site since September 8, 2025, is making every effort to proceed with the installation and activation of services, and this should be completed quickly in the coming days, as planned. The complexity of the work, particularly the limited space within the complex, has caused additional delays and a revision of the initial plans. We thank our customers for their patience,” wrote Communications Director Jacinthe Beaulieu.

According to information obtained by SPEC, the network engineering in the area had to be revised because the line between Montée de Sandy Beach and the complexes, which runs via Forest Street, was not designed to accommodate 32 additional apartments.

A new wire must be installed before connecting the complexes. Its design is intended to eventually accommodate a Phase 2 project currently being planned for HAN Logements in this area.

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Gaspé informs publicutilities during major projects

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI

GASPÉ – With the recent mishap experienced with Logements HAN regarding the connection of telecommunications services, the Town of Gaspé ensures that when major projects are launched, public utility services are informed well in advance of development projects requiring additional capacity.
The question arises in connection with a major project underway by Gestion Bourgade in the Dean Creek area, near the downtown.

“There is a delegation of municipal work to the land developer. Normally, it’s part of the protocol that public utility companies are informed and prepare accordingly,” notes Mayor Daniel Côté. He notes that, in this specific case, there is no construction underway under a building permit.

Sophie Bourdages, Vice President of Gestion Bourgade, notes that the process is already underway.
“Since public utilities such as electricity, optical telephone lines, and cable television will be buried, work will be carried out in parallel with the construction site to provide water and sewer services to the neighbourhood, since this requires excavation,” the manager explains.

Distribution points have been planned at the entrance to each lot so that owners can connect to the services.The work is expected to be completed this fall.

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Tenants without telecommunications

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

Nelson Sergerie, LJI

GASPÉ – Tenants of the new Logements HAN complex, which opened on August 1, complain that neither Telus nor Cogeco offer them adequate telecommunications service, which they say is unthinkable in 2025.

“The problem is that we don’t have internet, television, or a telephone. There are people who need Médicalert services and they need the internet for that, and nothing works. We call the networks, and nothing happens,” says the tenant spokesperson, Gérald Fournier.

The complex accommodates people with disabilities, and for some of them, communication is essential.
Even the cellular network has difficulty functioning in the complex’s parking lot, at the end of Forest Street. Inside the apartments, the signal is practically nonexistent.

“We haven’t heard anything about connection. We try to get it, and often, people hang up on us. We need a phone, TV, cable, and the Internet,” says the tenants’ spokesperson.

The residents don’t even have confirmation of a possible connection date. “Two days ago, they started saying in a few weeks or a year or two,” says Mr. Fournier, who decided to alert the media. “It’s an essential service. This is not right,” he adds.

Housing HAN understands the situation of its tenants. “We usually contact service providers three to five months before the tenants arrive. When we start a construction project, the procedures are public. The providers are aware that we’re coming,” explains Logements HAN spokesperson Yves Comeau.

“In the case of Gaspé, we did this two to three months before the tenants arrived and we specified a move-in date of August 1. Hydro-Québec did what needed to be done. They haven’t had access to the internet, telephone, or cable for a few weeks. We’re a bit like tenants in this situation,” continues Mr. Comeau.

Logements HAN has been in contact with the providers, but hasn’t given a connection date. “In the past, it’s very rare for providers to be unable to connect before the tenants arrived. This is a first for us,” emphasizes the spokesperson.

The organization has projects in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Chandler, and New Richmond. It acknowledges the events in Gaspé. “We’re working with municipal governments. We’re aware of these events. When we start a project, these suppliers are certainly already included. We’ll continue our processes. What we can do to make a difference is that when we see that there are fewer people in certain neighbourhoods, we can ask companies to give us technical advice sooner. We’re a bit like consumers. We ask questions and depend on what they tell us,” notes Mr. Comeau.

On the technical side, a source told SPEC that engineering studies had to be conducted, and the conclusion was that the entire Forest Street line had to be redone to serve the 32 apartments, as the network wasn’t capable of providing such a volume.

The equipment arrived on September 4, and installation work began. Telus confirms that the equipment is currently being installed.

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