Daniel Rémillard no longer sleeps at night: this citizen of Val-Morin lives in a little paradise, on the shores of Lac Raymond, in the Laurentians, but his house risks being demolished by the Ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ), without any compensation, due to a disagreement on the lease of the land.
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
“It’s an oasis of peace, but it’s become a nightmare,” says Daniel Rémillard, his voice trembling, the 61-year-old retiree. “I’m going to lose everything and find myself on the street! »
His residence, acquired in 2008, is built on land belonging to the MTQ, along the P’tit Train du Nord bike path.
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PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
The house of Daniel Rémillard, in Val-Morin
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PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Daniel Rémillard observes the lake in front of his house.
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PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
The P’tit Train du Nord bike path, a few steps from Mr. Rémillard’s house
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Since the purchase, Mr. Rémillard paid rent of $500 a year to the MRC des Laurentides, which acted on behalf of the government. The previous owner had been paying the same rent for a number of years.
But in January 2014, the MTQ imposed a new contract on him with a rent increase and numerous conditions. Among these conditions: the prohibition to sell his house without the authorization of the Ministry, which in practice removes all value from his property.
If I had known from the start that they would forbid me to sell, I would never have bought the house in 2008. I would have had to know this condition before buying.
Daniel Remillard
After negotiations, the rent was increased to $1000 per year.
The contract also stipulates that the MTQ may terminate the agreement “if the premises are required by the Government of Quebec” or if the occupant does not respect one of the conditions of the agreement.
” I panicked ”
Mr. Rémillard then made the mistake of signing the contract. But he claims to have accepted under duress.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Daniel Remillard
At the Ministry of Transport in Saint-Jérôme, I was told: “If you don’t sign today, you will be expelled!” I panicked. I don’t know the law, so I was afraid of being expelled automatically, the next day. Besides, it was the day before I left for Mexico.
Daniel Remillard
In 2020, the MTQ asked the citizen for a renewal of the agreement under the same conditions, with another rent increase, to $3,000 per year. Daniel Rémillard then refused to sign again.
He received, in January 2021, a notice of non-renewal of the agreement, followed, in April 2022, by a notice of eviction and demolition of his house, without compensation, from the Superior Court.
He therefore took a lawyer to defend himself in court against the MTQ, but he fears not to make the weight in front of the big government machine.
What Mr. Rémillard wanted, from the start, was to buy the land to regularize his situation and put an end to the uncertainty. But the Ministry refuses to sell to him.
Why does the MTQ refuse to sell and why does it want to recover the land by demolishing the house that is built there? Is there a project for this land?
At the Ministry, I was told that they did not have to give me a reason. It’s a tiny piece of land, they can’t do anything with it.
Daniel Remillard
The Press asked the same questions. “No comment will be given on the subject, since the file is judicialized”, replied the communications manager for the MTQ in Laurentides-Lanaudière, Nathalie Nolin.
Daniel Rémillard contacted his provincial deputy, the caquiste Nadine Girault, to try to get help, without success.
“Will I have to picket outside François Bonnardel’s office? [ministre des Transports] or in front of that of François Legault? he asks, discouraged.