Quebec City, tenth and last in the ranks, was not selected for the Mission Unitaînés real estate project of the Luc Maurice Foundation because of the presence of a valuable wetland on the proposed site. Before Quebec, this privilege was offered to the City of Saguenay, but the latter refused to take advantage of it. Understand who can.
Because this was indeed a privilege for a heavily indebted city like Saguenay, whose rental vacancy rate is at rock bottom. A city that has also experienced a scandalous 37% increase in its rental rate over the last three years, courtesy of greedy and inhumane speculators.
And, had it not been for the vigilance of their local daily, the Saguenay residents, distracted as they are by a beautiful summer season, would have known nothing of this missed meeting by our elected officials nor of the outraged reactions of citizens always on the lookout for things in the city.
If you were told that you were the lucky winner of a large lottery prize, you would, of course, run away and claim your prize immediately. Saguenay: No.
Like nine other cities, it received a tempting offer — impossible to refuse in my opinion, unless you have lost all lucidity — for the free construction of a social and affordable housing building for disadvantaged seniors, this by a developer associated with the provincial and federal governments. This, too, is on condition that certain environmental and urban planning requirements are met.
Cities will save millions and collect new property taxes thanks to their participation in the Mission Unitaînés project. Some municipalities quickly jumped on the bandwagon to meet the requirements. Saint-Hyacinthe and Rimouski will pay $3.6 million and $3.2 million respectively, Shawinigan, $2 million.
Small fry as a basic investment to decontaminate your land and install water and sewers, in order to obtain, for free, a brand new building at a price defying all competition. You have to think big to adhere to certain projects; which leaves me perplexed by the political and administrative management of Saguenay.
The City, through its mayor, Julie Dufour, stated that it had declined the offer because there was no available land that met the required conditions. Yes, you read that right! A futile argument as empty as the desert that makes up a large number of territories in a city that is otherwise devoid of density. Territories that would be more than happy to feel the first shovel of earth being broken by construction companies.
Is it to exonerate herself or to make the best of a bad situation that the mayor apologized profusely and declared that her city would recover when the train returns? In my opinion, it will not be soon, judging by the developer’s comments; the current project is still on the drawing board. Furthermore, he said he would not promise anything more.
Cities that have scrambled to get going, such as Rimouski, Granby, Shawinigan, Lévis and Montreal, will soon be breaking ground. While in Saguenay, citizens were treated to a first-class burial.
Among the municipal councillors of the Jonquière borough, the mayor’s stronghold, only one objected to this inexplicable opportunity that had not been seized. The other five aldermen of the borough remained silent as carp. Were they stunned by this revelation from the mayor? If so, let them come out of their summer torpor and imitate the one among them who stood up to demand accountability from her.