(Quebec) The Solidarity MNA for Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne, Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, left “satisfied” and “reassured” after his visit to the Yvon-Brunet Accommodation Centre, which he had been denied access to two months ago. He also assures that the management of the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, which oversees the CHSLD, has made commitments to improve some of its failing infrastructure.
Guillaume Cliche-Rivard cites as examples a broken awning that limits outdoor activities for residents, a wing of the building that smelled “particularly of cigarette smoke” or even “an area that was not completely safe.”
“We reached an agreement and there were commitments from the administration on site on several fixes. I was also presented with a plan for major investments in the coming years. Which means that these two elements combined reassured me a lot,” he explained in an interview with The Canadian Press.
Last June, Guillaume Cliche-Rivard said he wanted to visit the Yvon-Brunet Accommodation Centre after a citizen expressed concerns about the dilapidated state of the establishment.
At that time, the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal had indicated that it had refused the MP access to the CHSLD, citing reasons of privacy, confidentiality, but also political neutrality.
Two weeks after the publication of a first article on the subject, the CIUSSS offered a visit to Guillaume Cliche-Rivard which finally took place on August 14.
The Solidarity MP claims that the information he had obtained prior to his visit regarding the state of the premises was “pretty much all validated on site”.
“I am very satisfied with the approach to the extent that I was able to obtain certain very concrete commitments which will improve the lives of residents and which for me confirm the importance and added value of this type of visit,” says the MP.
The elected representative in solidarity assures that he will follow up on the commitments made by the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal.
“I wish we didn’t have to make this public.”
The MP indicates that he would have “appreciated more collaboration upstream” from the CIUSSS. “I would have preferred that we not have to make this public and that I could do my job as I do every day in the constituency when I visit a CPE, a school, an organization or a shelter for women in situations of violence,” he lists.
Despite everything, Guillaume Cliche-Rivard said he had an “excellent relationship” with the CIUSSS management during the visit. “I was also assured of their collaboration in the future if I made the request to visit the three other CHSLDs in my riding,” said Guillaume Cliche-Rivard.
The CIUSSS did not respond to the Canadian Press’s request for an interview, preferring to send a written statement: “The elements to be adjusted – as there are regularly in a living environment – are minor. These elements are known to everyone (managers, employees, unions, residents and families) and are already being improved or will be shortly. We believe we have been transparent and consistent in all of our approaches to Mr. Cliche-Rivard,” said CIUSSS spokesperson Marianne Paquette.
Not the first time
A similar situation occurred with the Solidarity MNA for Sherbrooke, Christine Labrie, who was refused access to the Val-du-Lac youth centre a few months ago. She had then tabled a bill aimed at facilitating access for elected officials to public institutions.
The issue had sparked debate in the National Assembly. A few weeks later, she was finally able to visit the youth centre with the Minister of Social Services, Lionel Carmant.