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.