Quebec abandons the project of a seniors’ home in Palmarolle

The Quebec government will not go ahead with the construction of a seniors’ home in Palmarolle because the costs are considered too high.

A second call for tenders was launched in February to build a 24-bed building.

A first call for tenders was cancelled in 2022 due to the high costs. The Société québécoise des infrastructures (SQI) then received bids of $31.4 million and $41.6 million.

The IQ This time received offers from four bidders, between $24.3 million and $28 million for the construction of the building.

The Quebec government, however, estimates the total costs of the project at 38 million, due in particular to the purchase of medical equipment and other costs.

According to the director of communications in the office of the Minister responsible for Seniors, Mélanie Dallaire, abandoning the project is a decision economically responsible.

Other seniors’ homes in Quebec cost an average of $825,000 per door, according to the CAQIn the case of Palmarolle, it would have cost $1.6 million per door.

Ms. Dallaire assures that the government will evaluate housing options for seniors and recalls that the Macamic project is continuing.

A decision that does not pass

The citizens of Palmarolle have been waiting since 2018 for the creation of a new place of accommodation, after the closure of the CHSLD for security reasons.

A citizens’ committee was then formed to demand that services be maintained in the municipality of 1,400 inhabitants.

One of the members of this committee, Guy Fortin, is saddened by the abandonment of the project. I find it so disappointing, it’s frustrating.reacted Mr. Fortin, to whom Radio-Canada informed the news.

There will certainly be a lot of discontent and frustration with this decision by the government, which, for us, is unacceptable.

everything costs too much”,”text”:”We are a little helpless in the face of the decisions of a government that seems to have lost control. Money is only for the third link. For the rest, everything costs too much”}}”>We are a little helpless in the face of the decisions of a government that seems to have lost control. Money is only for the third link. For the rest, everything costs too much.illustrates Mr. Fortin.

We were counting on this to reassure our elderly, we keep getting asked questions. We’re going to have to inform them of this, so there’s certainly going to be a lot of discontent and frustration.concludes Guy Fortin, who adds that a group of around a hundred people are following the case closely and were hoping for positive news.