CAQ would replace ‘dreaded’ CHSLDs with seniors’ homes
SALABERRY-DE-VALLEYFIELD A Coalition Avenir Québec government would overhaul Quebec’s entire CHSLD nursing home network and replace it with a series of brand new seniors’ homes.
Shifting his focus to seniors on his second campaign day, CAQ Leader François Legault announced the idea Friday morning during a stop in the Beauharnois riding, southwest of Montreal.
The idea, called Maisons des Aînés, was described as several smaller seniors’ homes equipped with air-conditioned rooms that would replace Quebec’s “dreaded” CHSLD nursing homes.
Speaking outside a rundown CHSLD in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Legault committed to building 30 of the new homes in Quebec during the party’s first mandate, representing 2,600 new places for seniors. He estimates the first phase of the project would cost $1 billion, followed by $245 million a year in operating expenses.
“The state has a responsibility to house our seniors and we need a new direction,” Legault said. “We must do it in a humane way. We owe it to our elders who built Quebec.”
Legault said the homes, which would house between 70 and 130 seniors each and be in smaller buildings, would replace all CHSLDs in Quebec within the next 20 years.
Quebec’s network of CHSLDs (Centres d’hébergement et de soins de longue durée) has been criticized by some for poor care and lengthy wait times to get in.
As for already existing CHSLDs, Legault said that if his party is elected, it would continue the Liberal government’s current $150-million plan to renovate the ones in need.
Though he said he’ll be announcing measures later in the campaign for seniors living at home who need assistance, Legault also hinted at proposed help coming for caregivers.
“Right now a person who goes into a CHSLD costs $86,000 per year,” Legault said at a midday meeting with seniors. “Between $86,000 and zero, there must be a way of helping caregivers help people stay in their homes.”
Later in the afternoon, Legault travelled south of Montreal to announce two new candidates and, at least unofficially, put an end to a question that’s been following him all week: who would lead Quebec’s health sector under a CAQ government?
Legault introduced Danielle McCann as the party’s candidate for Sanguinet and businesswoman MarieChantal Chassé for Châteauguay. McCann, the former head of the Montreal Health and Social Services agency, is believed to be a potential candidate to head Quebec’s health ministry if the CAQ has its way in October.
McCann was introduced shortly after Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard made an announcement of his own: Quebec Health Minister Gaétan Barrette will not be continuing in that role after the election, and the Liberals would hand it to new candidate Gertrude Bourdon if elected.
Bourdon, the former president of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval, chose to run for the Quebec Liberal Party this week after being heavily courted by the CAQ.
While announcing McCann’s candidacy, Legault stopped short of saying she would be named health minister if elected, but said she has “all the qualities” needed for the job.
“She has a lot of experience in managing hospitals, but also in what we call first-line services,” Legault said. “She knows what the problems are. We’ve discussed the solutions and agreed with the plan we need to put in place.”
Asked about the CAQ’s courting of Bourdon this week, McCann said she didn’t feel like a “Plan B.”
“I feel like Mr. Legault’s first choice right now,” she told reporters, earning applause from supporters.
McCann said her first priority is the people of the Sanguinet riding. As for the health sector, she said she would like to see measures taken to “once and for all” make it so every Quebecer has access to a family doctor when needed.
When it comes to having someone other than Barrette heading the health ministry after the election, something Legault had been demanding from Couillard, the CAQ leader said only one question remains.
“Why now?” Legault asked. “Why did he have to wait four years?”
The state has a responsibility to house our seniors and we need a new direction.