HEALTH. The MP for Drummond-Bois-Francs, Sébastien Schneeberger, welcomes the visit of Liberal MPs yesterday to the Sainte-Croix hospital, but specifies that the project for the new hospital center is progressing behind the scenes, even if it is not yet registered to the Quebec Infrastructure Plan (PQI).
In his opinion, it is encouraging to see the opposition support a project as crucial as that of the new hospital center. However, the MP does not fail to recall that during the 2022 elections, under the leadership of Dominique Anglade, the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ), opposed the creation of this hospital.
“It’s really a change of direction that we’re seeing today.”
Sébastien Schneeberger also wants to put the history of the case into perspective, noting that the PLQ had several years to act, without ever prioritizing this hospital.
“When the CAQ (Coalition Avenir Québec) came to power in 2018, the project was not even on the radar of the Ministry of Health. The Liberals took no action in this direction over the previous 15 years. At the time of the Barrette reform, the centralization of services took place in Trois-Rivières, precisely because the facilities in Drummondville did not allow it. However, they never did anything to improve their fate. It is only since 2019-2020 that we (the CAQ) have prioritized the file,” he notes.
Regarding the progress of the project, the politician emphasizes that no “delays” are to be reported and that it remains a priority.
“Two studies began last spring, the feasibility study and the one to resolve current problems. Field research is also being done in parallel. All this, generally, is done when the project is registered with the PQI. In my opinion, we are not late, on the contrary, we have taken the lead and continue to press for its inclusion in the next budget, in March. Moreover, I remind you that I obtained a one-hour meeting with the Prime Minister a few weeks ago at the start of the parliamentary term solely on the subject of the hospital. I really made him understand that among all the files, it’s the hospital that it takes. Drummondville has often been left aside, but now, it is clear that there is no longer any bargaining chip on this issue,” he firmly argues.
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