The National Assembly of Quebec unanimously asked the government to “urgently” carry out the work essential to the preservation and development of the childhood home of René Lévesque which is located in New Carlisle , in Gaspésie.
The motion adopted unanimously on Tuesday highlighted that the residence of the former premier of the province, which was acquired by the Quebec state in 2021, still requires “major repairs”. “Its owner, the government of Quebec, has the legal responsibility under the Cultural Heritage Act to “take the necessary measures to ensure the preservation of the heritage value” of the classified property in its possession,” it is specified. .
PQ MP Pascal Bérubé suggested that the motion he tabled be sent to the municipality of New Carlisle. Its mayor, David Thibault, described the interior of the building as “deplorable”, while mentioning the torn cladding and the mold which spills over to the exterior. “In my head, it is already too late” to save her, he emphasized, during an interview with Duty last Friday.
In a message published Tuesday on the social network X (formerly Twitter), the Minister of Culture and Communications, Mathieu Lacombe, however refuted this assertion.
Contacted by The dutythe Ministry of Culture and Communications explained that it had carried out “urgent work” in 2022 and 2023 to ensure the preservation and slow down the deterioration of this house built in 1905. “We had not originally planned work in 2023, but following findings, we intervened lightly on the building,” detailed the media relations team.
To date, a sum of nearly $105,000 has been invested by Quebec to preserve the residence.
“The interventions carried out include securing the premises, repairing the roof (rafters and covering), replacing uprights and runners, as well as rehabilitating the heating and controlling humidity,” writes the ministry. .
A “new stage” in 2024
A new stage is planned for the René-Lévesque house in 2024, said the Ministry of Culture and Communications. This phase concerns the “restoration and enhancement of the building”. The latter will, however, be inaccessible to the public for security reasons throughout the duration of the work.
Different scenarios are currently being analyzed regarding the possible use of the premises, adds the ministry. “The final project must ensure the sustainability of the house, while respecting its heritage values. »
He maintains that these reflections are carried out with stakeholders from the community, such as the team from Espace René-Lévesque, a museum located about a hundred meters from the house.
The motion adopted Tuesday in the National Assembly recalls that this property is an “essential witness to the history of modern Quebec”. René Lévesque, one of the fathers of the Quiet Revolution, spent his childhood there.
The fate of the René-Lévesque house has sparked discussions for years, without its future being assured. The residence was recognized as a historic monument in 1995, because of “its historical and architectural values”. It still continued to decline, even after being officially protected by the state in 2012.
With Jean-Louis Bordeleau and Jean-François Nadeau