The Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) promises to give a facelift to third of the schools in poor condition – 600 out of 1,800 – during a second mandate.
To achieve this, the Quebec government will allocate an additional $2 billion to the $7 billion already provided for in the Quebec Infrastructure Plan (PQI) for the next four years, said CAQ leader François Legault.
“We are realistic. We are going to renovate 600 schools. I would have liked to do more, but you have to take into account the manpower that is available, ”he pointed out in the courtyard of the Ulric-Debien school, in Laval.
The renovation projects selected may include the addition of windows, the expansion of gymnasiums, the development of technological laboratories and collaborative work rooms, or the addition of grass, trees, plants and structures. games. “In many schools, there is a lack of windows. Second thing, more gyms! […] Our young people, our teachers have the right, deserve to have beautiful schools, ”argued Mr. Legault in the rain.
Barely 47% of school buildings are in satisfactory condition, that is to say they are rated A, B or C, according to data from the Ministry of Education compiled by Radio-Canada during the summer. The problem: the CAQ government had the objective that at least 50% of school buildings in Quebec obtain a passing grade before the kickoff of the election campaign.
The Minister of Education, Jean-François Roberge, was conspicuous by his absence in the courtyard of the Ulric-Debien school on Wednesday afternoon. “I wanted to leave all the room to our candidate,” explained Mr. Legault to the press. Valérie Schmaltz, who is seeking the vote under the banner of the CAQ in Vimont, was at his side.