The land of the Sisters of Charity, a huge agricultural rectangle overlooking the St. Lawrence in the heart of Beauport, will become state property. The government undertakes to acquire it for the sum of 28.7 million dollars and to preserve its “nurturing vocation”.
The sisters, owners of the site since the end of the 19th century, thus ceded 203 hectares of agricultural land of excellent quality. The government intends to develop an agro-park there and aims to make it an “exceptional agricultural showcase” capable of inspiring “the whole world”, said Thursday morning the Minister of Agriculture, André Lamontagne.
The government will launch consultations, over the coming months, with the City of Québec, experts and the population.
The mayor of the national capital, Bruno Marchand, hailed the conservation of the agricultural vocation of these lands, conceded at the time of New France, three and a half centuries ago.
“We have never been so well placed to grow extraordinary fruits on this ground,” he said.
The purchase offer “duly accepted” by the congregation is now on its way to Rome, indicated the mother superior of the Sisters of Charity, Monique Gervais, in order to obtain the final authorizations.
“We could have obtained much more for these lands, added Sister Gervais, but for us, it is not the money that counts. There is a part that we leave to society. »
A citizen cooled the enthusiasm surrounding the announcement, denouncing the fate reserved for the 600 victims of abuse that would have been perpetrated at the Mont d’Youville orphanage by the sisters.
“Millions are traded here [quand] We have been in court for more than four years, ”denounced Jean Simard, himself representing the applicants in the legal process.
“I find it a little immoral,” he continued. The victims are completely absent from the debate. I sit here today because there are no places given to victims anywhere. »
More details will come.