Site from Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital | Under pressure, Quebec flips

(Quebec) The pressure had become too strong: the Legault government unlocks the money to launch this year the site of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital (HMR). He also relaunches the work of the Hôtel-Dieu d’Arthabaska, where a by-election will be held by September.

Posted at 5:00 a.m.

The other regions are not to be outdone: Quebec also allocates funds to avoid the closure of around thirty project offices to enlarge hospitals and modernize infrastructure.

According to our information, Quebec revises its roadmap in infrastructure, the Quebec infrastructure plan (PQI), to make room for these new projects and allow “chips” to activate in 2025 on the grounds in the east of Montreal.

The press was able to confirm that the 19 billion budget envelope, which is intended for all the projects included in the PQI for this year, will be reviewed. This means that money has been removed in other sectors – be it education, culture or transport – to give more to Health.

According to our sources, no infrastructure project, however, would be sacrificed in return. How ? Québec found “part of the solution” by identifying certain projects where he anticipates spend less during the year, which allowed him to “generate a room for maneuver”.

This room for maneuver would be worth for a “fraction” of the 1 % of the total envelope of the PQI, which means less than 190 million, according to our information. From this sum, 85 million will go to HMR to launch the first phase of the project, the construction of parking, as François Legault pointed out last week at the Red Salon.

In the aftermath of the Girard budget, the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, had caused the surprise by admitting that he had given the green light to the enlargement of HMR in a “precipitated” manner. His statements sowed consternation in Montreal, considering the advanced dilapidation of the building, but also surprised due to the relatively modest sum in question to launch the site.

Quebec also counts on Ottawa’s money to give it some air while public finances are dark red. New Prime Minister Mark Carney has promised a generous plan to invest in infrastructure, and Quebec expectations are high in anticipation of the next federal budget.

In the pharmacies in Quebec, discussions have intensified in recent weeks between the Prime Minister’s office, the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, and Jonatan Julien, in infrastructure. The “solution chosen” will be presented Wednesday at the Council of Ministers.

While the study of budgetary credits of the Ministry of Health, Christian Dubé is, began a painful session on Tuesday on Tuesday. Doctors of HMR, representatives of the Foundation and business people in eastern Montreal will be in the National Assembly on Tuesday to put pressure on the government before the exercise.

The wind turns

The situation had become untenable for the Legault government. Last week, strong winds and violent thunderstorms struck this nerve infrastructure which serves 10 % of the population of Quebec.

A power failure almost caused a disaster and images of the water flowing from the ceiling and the exploded windows have gone around the media. Under pressure, François Legault had telegraph his intentions to find 85 million in the current envelope to start the site¹.

However, he said he did not want to undress the regions, which also hit foot while projects to modernize operating blocks and emergency enlargement are ready to start everywhere in Quebec, as in Mont-Laurier, La Malbaie and Sept-Îles.

Quebec believes that it has managed to identify an “fair” solution which will calm the discontent in the east of the metropolis and which will avoid the postponement of projects in the regions. He also escapes tensions in his caucus.

Behind the scenes, we hypothesize a problem of planning projects at the PQI. We would have become aware of the magnitude of the situation when sending the CEOs of health establishments confirmation of their budget for the coming year. The missives have never left.

Quebec is changing itself in Victoriaville

As The press The reported in April, Quebec intended to give a brake on all projects in the planning stage, like HMR. The situation was going to sow the discontent everywhere. Several projects had already been the subject of government announcements, and the environments are mobilized to advance them².

Québec therefore also releases funds to maintain project offices activities that will be able to continue planning around thirty projects. It is a major reversal. This explains why the CEOs of health establishments are still in the dark about their budget in infrastructure.

In addition to projects at the planning stage, Quebec planned to repel the schedule of four projects in the process of being carried out, including the enlargement project of the Hôtel-Dieu d’Arthabaska, in Victoriaville, which was not to receive funding in 2025-2026.

However, the government returns to its decision, we learned. The press has not been able to confirm the sums that will be invested specifically in this project this year.

Arthabaska is of capital importance for the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) when a by -election will be triggered by September due to the resignation of Caquist deputy Eric Lefebvre. The CAQ will have a lot to do to keep its fortified castle: a three -way fight is emerging while the conservative party of Quebec (PCQ) and the Parti Québécois have already launched hostilities.

The head of the PCQ, Éric Duhaime, confirmed last week that he will be in the ranks to try to enter the National Assembly.1. Read the article “HMR: Legault tries to find 85 million to launch the work” 2. Read the article “Projects postponed throughout Quebec”