Nearly half still does not have sprinklers

Courtesy
François Paradis and owners of residences for the elderly have called on the government to change the assistance program for the installation of sprinkler, Sunday.

Arnaud Koenig-Soutière

Sunday, 10 December 2017 22:39

UPDATE
Sunday, 10 December 2017 22:45

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The Coalition avenir Québec calls for changes in “today” in the program which is designed to help seniors homes to have sprinklers, calling it ” too rigid and poorly adapted “.

In January 2014, 32 seniors died in a fire in their residence for seniors in L’isle-Verte. Nearly four years after the tragedy, approximately half of the residences in the province do not have sprinkler, while 902 homes are still not equipped.

The law requiring residences to have come into force as from December 2020.

“We approach. We are at the dawn of 2020, that goes very quickly “, warns François Paradis, member of parliament for Lévis and spokesperson of the CAQ in terms of health and seniors.

Currently, the owners of residences for the elderly must take out a loan from a financial institution of their own. The CAQ believes that this approach night the more small households, who do not have the financial means to ensure such an amount, so that the work can oscillate between 50 000$ and 200 000$.

“Our hope is that the grant to be awarded when there are plans and specifications signed by a professional engineer recognized. When one has accepted the submission of a certified contractor, we should be able to secure the grant before the start of work to ensure that these people can begin to make the changes, ” offers Mr Paradise.

“This is not for lack of effort that the owners have not yet done so, according to the deputy caquiste. This is because they are not able to meet the criteria of the program, which requires them to take on their shoulders the financing of the work. “

The program currently in effect promises a refund to the owners of residences, but only once the work started. It is spread over a period of five years, with two payments per year.

In march 2015, the government planned a budget of$ 116 Million over five years to support the installation of sprinklers.

“At a time when they are talking, they have made payments which totalled $ 136 000$ to a few homes who have completed the work, and who will receive a total of 1.17 million in 10 instalments. There is almost nothing to be disbursed. This is where it loses its meaning, ” said Mr. Paradise.

“The government should today, now, announce a change, and adapt the program to the needs of owners “, claims the mp caquiste.
 

Area / Homes that have sprinkler / Residences that remain to squirt
 

Bas-Saint-Laurent

56

88

Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
60
38

Capitale-Nationale

97
65

Mauricie

86
109

Estrie

80
47

Montreal

135
76

Ottawa

22
42

Abitibi-Témiscamingue

19
32

North Shore

3
3

Nord-du-Québec

1
2

Gaspé and the Islands
17
33

Chaudière-Appalaches

87
91

Laval

29
20

Lanaudière

46
62

Laurentides

53
72

Montérégie

135
122

Total

926
902