Last weekend, Valérie Plante thought she could drop out by carrying out renovations with her spouse at one of her three tenants. As she is used to doing, she decided to immortalize this intimate moment by posting a photo entitled “mayoress and ceramic installer” on social networks.
Posted at 7:00 a.m.
We can see the mayor in front of a wall half covered with a new ceramic.
Result: what was supposed to be a moment of relaxation turned into a storm. The Mayor of Montreal has sunk into a quagmire as thick as ceramic glue.
“You can imagine that I did not do any work before making sure if it corresponded to the building codes and also with the borough, she said to Patrick Lagacé, Monday, on the airwaves of FM 98.5. As these are works for less than $20,000, we as owners have the possibility of carrying out renovations. All in all, I am proud to maintain the apartments for my tenants. »
SCREENSHOT OF A STORY BY VALERIE PLANTE
Tuesday, Mélanie Malenfant, spokesperson for the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ), came to contradict the mayor and tell Paul Arcand that the regulations are “complex”. It’s the least we can say.
We must remember that in our property, we are free to do what we want. But in a rental space, which you own, you have to stick to “maintenance and repair” work.
But what differentiates “renovation” work from “repair” work? you ask me, discerning readers.
By redoing the walls of her bathroom, are the mayor and her spouse “renovating” or “repairing”? It very often happens that work is done because the condition of the walls, floors or ceilings has deteriorated.
In this case, do we repair or renovate?
Mélanie Malenfant gave as examples of maintenance work the sanding of a floor, the replacement of a counter or the painting of a wall. Beyond that, we fall into renovation.
I wanted to untangle this with Mand Philippe Farley, who published the long message on Facebook at the origin of this uproar. Specialized in the field of construction, the lawyer made me dive with him into the countless articles and regulations available to the Régie du bâtiment (building law) and the CCQ (Act R-20).
After five minutes, I had a headache.
I take from this that the mayor is partly right. On the website of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), we can read that “the builder-owner is not required to hold a license if the work he plans to carry out or have carried out concerns only the renovation, the repair or maintenance of his property and that they are estimated at less than $20,000”.
But for the rest, nothing is less certain.
Valérie Plante has the right to do work on her property, but for the CCQ, she must have it done. According to Law R-20, “for the owner-occupant of a duplex, triplex or quadruplex, only voluntary maintenance or repair work is permitted in the building (not to be confused with renovation)”.
I invite you to go to the RBQ website to see the regulations and then consult the R-20 law (plan for Tylenol). Many entrepreneurs (many to react to the publication of Mand Farley) are not there.
However, this case has a positive aspect, that of precisely highlighting this incredible mess and discussing it. Because if there is a subject that animates Quebecers, it is the famous renovation work.
A huge clarity operation is needed. I would like to believe that we have adopted hundreds of rules after decades of corruption and commissions, but we have to admit that it is the little ones, once again, who are paying the price.
But beyond all that, this case brings us back to the question of the use of social networks by political figures. Valérie Plante tends to very often pinch the cord of intimacy to seduce the public.
This game is dangerous and we have proof of it. One shot too many and bam! it is slippage.
I thought the same thing the other day when I saw this video of the mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand, doing a choreography in his office on the song Jump of the Pointer Sisters. At first, I found it funny and charming.
But when I saw this video again when Quebec was preparing to be besieged by truckers, the effect was no longer the same.
It pays to dance in your office or show off on social media gluing ceramics. But we must not forget that a tile can also fall on us at the same time.
When is the Tranquille skating rink?
On January 26, I asked Valérie Plante’s communications team to tell me when the Esplanade Tranquille skating rink would finally be open to the public. I was treated to a long radio silence.
I remind you that the place was officially inaugurated on August 30th. This refrigerated rink, which should in principle extend the skating season, should therefore have been operational for quite some time.
However, it is February 9 and the ice is still deserted.
So I insisted with the mayor’s communications team. And there, as if by magic, a press release fell on Sunday. We are told an official opening on February 21 (but skaters will be able to start testing the ice from the 14th).
PS When I visited the Esplanade Tranquille facilities for the first time last summer, I named the main collaborators of this project except the landscape architects Fauteux & Associés whose final work we can’t wait to see in spring.