It must be said that the opposition parties have tirelessly questioned the government regarding the 46 old people’s homes (MDA).
Notably, Radio-Canada announced that ten projects due for completion in March and April have been postponed to an unknown date and that certain Caquist regions have more slots available than seniors looking for them.
Marc Tanguay, leader of the official opposition
Photo: Radio Canada
Chased by the leader of the official opposition, Marc Tanguay, over the delivery times for MDAs and the waiting lists for a place in a CHSLD, Prime Minister François Legault decided to reverse the question: I heard a certain journalist say this morning: “It’s mainly in the CAQ counties.” The question that needs to be asked is, “Has the Liberal government delayed construction in CAQ counties?”
“We had promised 2,600 places, we are in the process of building 3,480,” Mr. Legault said.
Christine Labrie, MNA of Solidarity, wondered to what extent there wasn’t partiality in the selection of sites for particular retirement homes, given the discrepancies between the actual need for long-term housing space and the number of spaces being created.
Christine Labrie, Solidarity MNA for Sherbrooke
Photo: Radio Canada
Health and Senior Citizens Minister Sonia Bélanger denied that the Legault government had favored events held by the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) to preserve senior homes.
We will not be political about a project so important to seniors in Quebec, Ms. Bélanger assured in an interview with 15-18 on ICI Première.
We have to be careful in the analyzes we do, to take a criterion, for example the number of people waiting in hospitals in Montreal, and to say, “That’s where we should have put the houses of the elders,” she warned.
While the waiting list for a spot is one of the criteria for establishing an MDA in one region and not another, other parameters have influenced government decisions.
The second very important criterion is the number of people aged 65 and over in a region. The third criterion is the demographics for the next 10 to 15 years. And the fourth criterion is the number of accommodation options already available in a certain area, she listed.
This explains the lack of MDA in Montreal, as it is the region where the population is youngest compared to the Quebec average, she argued. [C’est aussi] where there are the most places in CHSLDs compared to the over 65 group.
MDA not required on the islands
Earlier, Joël Arseneau, Parti Québécois MP for the Magdalen Islands, said during a press conference that he did not see the need for the planned construction of an MDA in the islands.
“I would like to point out that we currently have two CHSLDs, one newer and one private, and there is no need in our riding to build a retirement home there and at this price point,” he claimed.
According to the ministry and SQI, the 24-seat MDA in Cap-aux-Meules will cost $1.6 million per room.
Pascal Bérubé, MP for Matane-Matapédia of the Québécois Party
Photo: Radio Canada
His colleague Pascal Bérubé, from the municipality of Matane-Matapédia, added that he intends to seize the auditor general of the file.
“I’m submitting a filing to the Quebec Auditor General today so they can inquire about the criteria for building retirement homes,” he said. Have we voluntarily chosen not to have one in my equestrian sport? If so, believe me there will be sequels.