Santa's Village in Paspebiac More Popular Than Anticipated

Contract 400119680 ESTABLISHED • MAY 1975 VOLUME 46 / NO 50, DECEMBER 16, 2020 $1.50 (Tax included) Santa’s Village in Paspebiac more popular than anticipated

Gilles Gagné PASPEBIAC – Paspebiac’s initiative to put up the North Pole Village at the municipal rest area is generating such popularity that the expectations of the town’s culture department are already shattered, in a positive way! Close to 200 children had deposited a letter for Santa Claus two weeks prior to Christmas. Chantale Robitaille, the Town’s director of culture, explains that the initiative was organized in the same spirit that prevailed for the recycled bicycles that decorate the municipality in the summer, a project for which Paspebiac won a Quebec-wide award among the Villages-relais of the province. Cont'd on page 29

Siblings Jace (9) and Kayliey Whalen (6) of Port Daniel, were eager to sit on the ski-doos at Santa’s village.

Friends Kylianne Horth (7) and Danika Huard (9) of New Carlisle, check out Santa’s clothesline.

Cole Flowers- Fitzgerald (10) of New Carlisle was one of many local children who mailed Brothers Chase Reid (12), letters to Santa Chance Reid (8) and in the special DeShown McWhirter (2) drop box. of New Carlisle. Time spent s with f aamily is an opportunity to e cartak e of yourself

These uncertain times may lead t negativo e emotions or anxietyy.. Regularly engaging in physical activities that you enjoy,y, especially outdoors, could help you feel betterr..

Québec. ac /gettingbetter Info-Social 811

Page 2, December 16, 2020 - Spec The court suspends Police report Louisette Langlois’ requests Nelson Sergerie Charles Caza, as well as those most basic tender for a revised Isaac Moffat-Swasson, 30, from Listuguj, charged with armed rob- of the Town and the commis- complex in the Pabos Indus- bery, forcible confinement and uttering three death threats, has CHANDLER - The Superior sion accepted the decision ren- trial Park. found a lawyer. Most of his court appearances this year were delayed because he did not have a defence attorney but on December Court is suspending Louisette dered in half an hour on Less than $500,000 sepa- 9, he informed Superior Court Judge Raymond W. Pronovost that November 26. rate the seven companies that Langlois’ request to squash Marcel Guérin will now represent him. A resident of Sorel, Mr. the October 9 decision by the made a proposal, the highest Guérin has represented other people from the Gaspé Peninsula in Municipal Commission relat- A contested appeal being nearly $4 million. the past. ing to the request for a stay of The Municipal Commis- Councillor Bruno-Pierre The charges laid against Isaac Moffat-Swasson are linked to proceedings and to contest the sion had filed a request for a Godbout, who campaigned for events that occurred on February 21, 2019, in Listuguj. He will re- notice of hearing on sanction declaration of abuse and dis- a smaller infrastructure, is sat- turn to court on April 8, 2021, at which time a trial date could be set. which had been rejected by missal a few days before the isfied. "I said last spring that Initially, the trial in that case was scheduled to take place in De- Judge Sandra Bilodeau. hearing. the revised project would cember but it was repeatedly postponed because the accused could Judge Pierre Nollet consid- The commission consid- open the door to several bid- not find a lawyer. Isaac Moffat-Swasson will also return to court on December 18 ers this action premature since ered that the mayor's request ders and that we would have a for the charges laid against him in another case, the April 30, 2019 is without legal basis, refer- project acceptable to citizens. the sanction has not yet been damage he allegedly caused at the New Carlisle prison. He presum- issued against Chandler ring to the many requests The outcome proves us all ably broke a toilet bowl, a sink, pipes, smashed electronic devices Mayor Louisette Langlois by made during the proceedings right,” says the elected offi- and other prison equipment. A wing of the prison was closed fol- the commission, which had before her. The commission cial. lowing those actions. found the elected official argues that the mayor's ap- The mayor, Louisette Lan- Marcel Guérin is expected to represent him in that case as well, guilty of 20 of the 21 breaches proach is only intended to glois, is waiting for the ana- points out Maxime Rocheville-Paradis, the crown prosecutor for the of the Municipal Code of save time, as her term expires lyzes of the submissions to be two files. Ethics. in less than a year. completed before comment------The court expects a judicial ing. Until Janaury 4, the Sûreté du Québec is conducting a province- review appeal once the sanc- A $3.5 million garage The elected official would wide concerted operation to stop driving under the influence of alcohol, or drugs or both. The operation’s importance is increased by Chandler could build its fu- have liked the original proj- tion is issued and will allow the absence of driving services like Nez Rouge this year because of amendments to the motion up ture municipal garage for $3.5 ect at a cost of $5 million to the pandemic. to 30 days after the commis- million, taxes included. be carried out because it bet- On an annual basis between 2014 and 2018, collisions attribut- sion’s decision. The firm Habitat Construc- ter meets the needs of the able to alcohol consumption have caused 90 deaths, which corre- Both the mayor's lawyer, tion Matane Inc. presented the Town. sponds to 26% of fatal road accidents. Accidents caused by alcohol also seriously injured 210 people, for 13% of the total. They also slightly injured 1,750 people, for 5% of the total. During the same stretch, 36% of the drivers that died in road accidents had consumed legal or illegal drugs. Also, 21% of the deceased drivers had cannabis in their blood. Moreover, 37% of the deceased drivers aged 16 to 24 had cannabis in their blood, as well as 18% of the drivers aged 25 or more.

PUBLIC NOTICE RENOREGION PROGRAM INSCRIPTION

RÉNORÉGION program

INSCRIPTION PERIOD The town of Gaspé wishes to inform the household owners that they can subscribe to the RÉNORÉGION program from January 18 to Jan- uary 29 of 2021. The program provides financial assistance in the form of a grant that varies, depending on household income, between 95% and 20% of the cost of eligible work.

ADMISSIBILITY CRITERIA

The new swimming pool at the Pavillon des sports in Gaspé Sergerie N. Photo: TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT, UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $ 12,000, HOUSEHOLD OWNERS SHALL MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: • The building must be occupied as the main residence; • The municipal evaluation of the residence cannot exceed $ 115 000 Inauguration of the new swimming (building only); • To be eligible for a maximum grant, have an annual household in- pool at the Pavillon des sports in Gaspé come not exceeding $ 24 000 for a household of one (1) person or couple and $ 45 000 for a household of twelve (12) people or more (according to the 2019 assessment notices); Nelson Sergerie ity," says CEGEP director tributed $900,000, the Town • Not having received financial assistance from the RénoVillage or Yolaine Arseneau. of Gaspé advanced $700,000 RénoRégion Program during the last 10 years. GASPÉ - The new swimming The new pool is 2.8 cen- and the MRC de la Côte-de- pool at the Cégep de la timetres longer permitting the Gaspé $200,000. People who are interested may make a phone appointment with the responsible to fill in the registration form. Gaspésie et des Îles sports times achieved by swimmers “Having a healthy swim- pavilion in Gaspé welcomed in competition to be certified. ming pool in an environment Urbanism department: its first swimmers on Novem- It has been given a new coat- like ours makes an important ber 30. ing and the water drainage contribution to improving Phone: 418-368-2104 ext. 8530 The $3 million project pipes have been changed. The the quality of life and the Email: [email protected] provided the CEGEP and the entire floor covering of the betterment of our citizens. Town of Gaspé with a mod- aquatic complex has been re- It’s also a vector of attrac- BEFORE the appointment, the responsible must have received: done. The changing rooms tion,” suggests the mayor, ern facility. • Notices of assessment federal and provincial for 2019 of "Our aquatic infrastruc- have been renovated and are Daniel Côté. EVERYONE who lives in the house tures now comply with safety more accessible to people Since it was built in 1973, and development standards with reduced mobility. the pool was used 95% of the N.B. Other eligibility conditions may apply and the granting of financial and are more inclusive for Quebec contributed $1.2 time by the citizens of the assistance is conditional on the sums being allocated for this pro- people with reduced mobil- million, the CEGEP con- Greater Gaspé area. gram by the Québec government to the Côte-de-Gaspé MRC. Page 3, December 16, 2020 - Spec Daniel facility is merged, or absorbed, by Saint Mary’s tional characteristics have been avoided with a plant Cement, the Caisse will certainly make profits, now neatly designed at the beginning? Could better storage Editorial section that a seasoned operator will preside over the Gaspe- capacity have been planned before building the facility? sian plant. We might know one day. So far, those “improve- Gilles Gagné That facility stands a chance to be very profitable ments” were always explained through the same canal, in the near future. It is a modern plant in a world of “cement is selling well and we need to expand.” Fine, Commentary mostly old and very old plants. A look at the other fa- but the plant still has not reached its projected capacity. cilities of Saint Mary’s Cement illustrates quite well that Do we see there another planning shortcoming? reality. The Saint Mary’s, Ontario, plant was built in From the outside, with very little information from 1912, while the other facility in the same province, at Votorantim and the Caisse de dépôt et de placement, Bowmanville, was built in 1968. In the United States, speculations rule. the plants of Dixon, Illinois, and Charlevoix, Michigan, Competitors will keep complaining for a while be- McInnis Cement: opacity were respectively built in 1906 and 1967. cause Votorantim Cimentos now buys for a low price So a plant erected between 2014 and 2017 like an almost brand new cement plant whose initial de- makes it hard to assess Port Daniel’s stands a good chance of being more signing flaws have been mostly corrected with para- the upcoming deal profitable than the old facilities of the company. If Vo- public money. Opacity has often been the rule since the McInnis Ce- torantim Cimentos is to close a facility in the foresee- Environmentally speaking, will the Quebec government project was officially announced, on January 31, able future, it will likely be in Ontario or in the United ment, through Investissement Québec among other 2014. Despite the humongous amount of public and States, although some of those plants have been up- ways, negotiate to make sure that the emissions com- para-public money injected into it, the presence of one graded. ing out of the Port Daniel plant can be monitored in a private investor at the onset of the venture, the The Bowmanville and Charlevoix cement plants are continuous way and through data sharing with the pub- Beaudier holding, has put a lid on most information located along the water, which provides them, like Port lic? Let’s bet that this option has not been thought of that would be interesting to know, considering the di- Daniel, a net advantage, as shipping is the cheapest by governmental authorities. rect and indirect participation of Quebecers in the deal. way to deliver cement. The old plants of Saint Mary’s The Port Daniel plant is here to stay. Things could “Direct” because Investissement Québec injected and Dixon would therefore appear more vulnerable, at have been handled quite differently over the last $350 million in the project, a loan of $250 million and first glance. decade. The three different political parties that formed $100 million in shares. It is the financial arm of the The important aspect to watch with regards to Port the Quebec government during that span were not al- Quebec government and, by extension, of Quebecers. Daniel is how Votorantim will consider a plant that has ways clever in the way they envisioned regional devel- Until very recently, it was not possible to get a glimpse been acquired for a relatively low price, given the fact opment. of what was happening to that money. that an important creditor like Investissement Québec A financially leaner project could have been imple- Finance minister Éric Girard provided a hint when is currently not receiving money after investing a lot in mented in Port Daniel had the Parti Québécois and the he said on November 12, while presenting Quebec the project. Liberal Party not been obsessed by political gains. As government’s economic update, that we had to expect The Gaspé Peninsula has seen initiatives that have for the Coalition avenir Québec, François Legault spent a $378 million hit on the Investissement Québec folded after an acquisition at a cheap price by a com- two terms in the opposition while hammering on wind money that supported McInnis Cement. So Quebecers pany supposed to rejuvenate a plant. Tembec was energy and McInnis Cement to make electoral were not given hints in close to seven years and then, practically given the Chandler paper mill in 2001 and progress in Montreal and Quebec City, where Gaspé poof, that money has vanished. neglected the plant’s modernization project to such an Peninsula bashing is a popular activity for some peo- Economy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon, who is experi- extent that in January 2004, it was stopped after en- ple. His government might have approved the coming encing ethics problems these days but who has the gulfing $312 million of private and public funds. The of Votorantim as a way to embarrass the other parties. quality of expressing things clearly, admitted on De- private part mainly came from the Solidarity Fund of Hopefully, further improvements will turn the Port cember 10 that the accounting loss of Investissement Quebec’s Federation of Labour, not Tembec. Daniel plant into a cleaner and more profitable facility. Québec looks more like a $472 million hole, including The same pattern almost killed McInnis Cement. Montrealers will eventually care about something else. the running interest on the $250 million loan announced Flaws in its conception and the opacity that sur- in 2014. Considering its low rank as a creditor, there is rounded the initial stage of the Port Daniel facility con- a slim chance, he added, that Investissement Québec struction led to a $444 million cost overrun. It must also Note: This is the last paper of 2020, a year that will will see again a small part of that money, maybe 15 be noted that since the plant’s production debut in stand out for many reasons, not always good ones. years down the road, if the joint venture is very prof- June 2017, “improvements” of close to $200 million There is one thing that has proven good for the Gaspé itable. Let’s not hold our breath on that possibility. were added to McInnis Cement in Port Daniel and in SPEC over the years and it is the contribution of the Now, the Caisse de dépôt et de placement, the in- new terminals. volunteers, in many aspects of our production. Some direct part of public support because it is supposedly Why were those “improvements” needed two years of our volunteers have not been able to deliver their run independently from the government, remains in a after production start? How is it that some of the input usual contribution because of the COVID-19 pandemic better position of recuperating some of the $415 million has to be unloaded in Belledune, New Brunswick, and but this crisis will have an end, and we will be glad to or so invested and lent to McInnis Cement. With a trucked at a high cost to Port Daniel, thus hampering greet you again. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New stake of 17% in the new enterprise once the Port the plant’s capacity to turn profits? Could those opera- Year to all of you.

Perhaps I find the local barns so intriguing because the Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen. If civil liberties and Guest Commentary there were none where I grew up. Whether we are just police integrity were casualties of Joh’s reign, so too Emma Buckley driving up the road or taking a trip further afield in Que- was cultural heritage. bec, I always look for them, tucked away behind the Under Joh’s governance, Brisbanites awoke to find houses. The barns near our house are over a hundred that iconic buildings had simply disappeared, wiped out years old. They have their own particular beauty, with overnight by the wrecking ball wielded by Joh’s their long form and sloping gambrel roofs, but more im- portantly, they speak to us. They narrate a chapter of Continued on page 22 the past, revealing the way our ancestors lived and Keeping the past present worked, helping us to understand and appreciate their Looking out the kitchen window the other day, I real- lives. For me, they spark the imagination. ized something had changed, though I couldn’t put my The families that built houses in our area early last BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Publisher: JOURNALISTS: President: Roger Wise Penny MacWhirter Nelson Sergerie finger on what it was. Still the same golden field, rising century built their barns at the same time. The barns Vice-President: Elaine Sexton Diane Skinner Treasurer: Ray Venables News Editor: gently toward a line of dark fir trees on the horizon. Still near our place originally housed machinery, animals - Secretary: Maria Chatterton Gilles Gagné CONTRIBUTORS: Cynthia Dow, Directors: Hayden Sams, Office Manager the same large barns, their roofs coppery with rust. most families kept some cattle and chickens - and kept Bonita Annett, Bethany Paetkau, Jeanie LeLacheur Suddenly, I realised what was amiss. Normally I see the hay dry. A barn was essential to a life on the land. Patricia Ste-Croix Annett Joan Imhoff 208-B Gérard D. Levesque SPEC welcomes letters to the editor on subjects three barns. This morning there were just two. Since then, the way we live and work has fundamen- relevant to topics covered by the paper. Letters New Carlisle, Que. must be kept within 300 words or less and may The barn’s disappearance caused a surprising sad- tally changed. We buy our meat and milk at the super- G0C 1Z0 be edited for clarity or to remove any slanderous, Tel: 418-752-5400 sexist, racist or homophobic statements. We re- ness. I searched on my computer for some photo- market. A life lived off the land is now an exception, not serve the right to reject any letters. Opinions or let- [email protected] ters published do not necessarily reflect the graphs of it I had taken a year ago. In the photos, its the norm. The raison d’être for most of these barns has thegaspéspec.com editorial policies or beliefs of this newspaper. All letters must bear the handwritten signature of the faded planks glow in the afternoon light, and two gone. Additional factors such as maintenance costs, Published every Wednesday by: writer and include the address and number(s) for Les Publications de la Côte Inc. verification purposes. (Address & phone number insurance, and gradual neglect all propel this structure (Sea-Coast Publications Inc.) will not be printed.). The Publisher shall not be horses feed contentedly in front. How I enjoyed having liable for slight changes or typographical errors toward its slow demise. (Taxes included) that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. this timeless, rural presence in my day-to-day! My 1-year (paper or digital): $46 The Publisher's liability for other errors or eyes kept returning to the newly naked spot in the Sometimes the destruction of our historic buildings 6-months (paper or digital): $25 omissions in connection with any advertisement Outside Canada: is strictly limited to publication of the advertise- 1-year paper $165 digital: $46 ment in any subsequent issue or the refund of landscape, marked only by a scattering of beams on is not gradual, but quite deliberate. In my 20’s I lived in any monies paid for the advertisement. the ground. How long had the barn been standing Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, on Australia’s We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. We acknowledge special funding from the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications. there? How many days of hard work took place in and east coast. Today, Brisbane is a diverse and cosmo- around it? How many children had run through it, politan city, but forty years ago it was the seat of a

laughing? highly conservative and repressive government, led by Member of: CMCA QCNA , CARD AUDITED Page 4, December 16, 2020 - Spec Statistics show that Gaspesian lobster fishermen had another banner year despite COVID crisis Gilles Gagné a price to their fishermen, while gion delivering large lobster others were paying $2 per quantities, the North Shore, SAINT-GODEFROI – Gaspe- pound. In New Brunswick, a presented a profile similar to sian lobster fishermen experi- quota was imposed to hundreds the two others, an increased enced another banner year in of lobster fishermen because of volume, 423 metric tonnes in- 2020 despite the COVID crisis. the apprehension that the mar- stead of 384.2 metric tonnes a According to Fisheries and ket would not take the prod- year ago, but a lower average Oceans Canada’s preliminary ucts. price, $4,75 per pound com- statistical report, the volume of In the Magdalen Islands, pared to $5.73 in 2019. The catches countered, in great part, another record was set as 6,214 10% rise of volume was more a decrease in prices. metric tonnes of shellfish were than offset by the 17% price The landings of the 160 lob- delivered to the wharves. It is fall, for an 11.9% decline in ster fishermen of the region in- 15.5% more than the 5,364 total revenues - $4,431,251 creased by 21.25%, from 3,026 metric tonnes of 2019. The this year instead of $5,031,107 metric tonnes in 2019 to 3,669 price fell by 25.56%, from last year. Photo: G. Gagné metric tonnes in 2020. The $6.65 to $4.95 per pound. The The significant catches price declined sharply due to overall revenues of the 325 made around Anticosti Island The catches reached record levels in the Gaspé Peninsula this the pandemic, a 23.9% drop Madgalen Islands lobster fish- are redistributed according to year and the price did not plummet as sharply as expected. from $6.78 per pound to $5.16. ermen fell by $10.8 million, to the place of residence of the The value of those landings $67,700,154. However, the fishermen. dalen Islands data will likely million, thus taking first place nevertheless reached Magdalen Islands fishermen Quebec-wide, the lobster change Quebec’s overall pic- among commercial fishing $41,706,690, compared to often receive a significant end landings reached an all-time ture somewhat. species. $45,034,228 in 2019. It is a of season price adjustment, record of 10,306 metric tonnes, For the first time since Fish- The overall snow crab rev- 7.4% drop, but at the beginning says Ali Magassouba, econo- which is 6.5% higher than the eries and Oceans Canada has enues might still increase sig- of April, the fishermen were mist for the Federal Depart- 9,376 metric tonnes of 2019. started keeping accurate track nificantly at the end of the year wondering if there would be a ment of Fisheries and Oceans. The revenues decreased by of annual economic data in though, as Gaspé Peninsula and season, considering the low The figure of $67,700,154 20%, from $142.2 million to 1984, the value of lobster land- Magdalen Islands processing prices on the market. should, therefore, increase for $113.9 million because of a ings in Quebec, $113.9 million, plants usually pay the final ad- The landings of 3,669 met- the next statistical report of the 24.8% drop in prices. Ali Mag- has surpassed the value of justment around Christmas ric tonnes represent an all-time ministry, over the first quarter assouba stresses that the Mag- snow crab landings, at $93.7 time. record for the region. The pre- of 2021. vious record had been attained “In the Gaspé Peninsula, the in 2019. price was $5.15 per pound and To selfemployed workers The good results of the in the Maggies, it was set 20 2020 lobster revenues in the cents lower, at $4.95. I expect and small businesses Gaspé Peninsula are essentially the Magdalen Islands price to attributable to the fishermen’s climb close to the price paid in You need cash to survive the current crisis? decision to postpone the begin- the Gaspé Peninsula,” says Mr. ning of the season by two Magassouba. You haven’t received any assistance via the weeks, from April 25 to May 9. Such an adjustment in the The COVID crisis looked Magdalen Islands would add Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) from banks? far from promising in March, about $2.7 million to the total considering that some Nova value of their lobster landings. Scotia buyers were not offering The only other Quebec re- Your Gaspé SADC No big surprises in Gaspé budget can help you! Nelson Sergerie GASPÉ - The 2021 budget of the Town of Gaspé will be very similar to the previous budget. Nonetheless, this last period before the November 2021 elections will still be complex due in large Working capital loan from $5,000 to $40,000* part to the current pandemic, says Gaspé mayor, Daniel Côté. • 5year loan Development work continues, but will not contain major ex- penses or major cuts. There is no question of speculating on the • Interestfree unl December 31, 2022, advantageous rate thereaer tax rate. “We cannot presume. There is a new assessment role that • 25% nonrefundable if 75% of the principal is repaid before will come into effect - the airport's operating deficit, etc. How are December 31, 2022 we going to deal with it on budget? Will there be government compensation? There are too many unanswered questions to Main criteria comment on the status of tax increases," says the mayor. • SADC support must be used only to address immediate (oneme) financial pressures The Rivière-au-Renard Industrial Park on cash flow (working capital or cash flow requirements) and must be a consequence Gaspé is opening the door to relaunch discussions with the of COVID19. Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to munici- • The need for assistance must not exceed 6 months. • The enterprise must offer a prospect of being viable postCOVID19 palize the Rivière-au-Renard Industrial Park. The Town is placing conditions on an update of the 2013 study on infrastructures when the work was estimated at the time Nonrepayable financial assistance is also available* at $6 million, an upgrade of the 1996 management agreement, in- To assist with the cost of technical support from professionals to deal with a challenge cluding indexation of the payment of a sum of $50,000 which arising from the pandemic has never been adjusted; and to reimburse the invoice for the maintenance work which is approximately $250,000. Once these conditions have been met, the Town will be ready Contact us now: to discuss matters. "We will not agree to do the work for the min- 4183682906 and press 3 istry. We have already done that with other ministries with the re- [email protected] sults we know and the discussions generated. Let me give you the Form available at: example of the Anse-au-Griffon wharf. Once that is all done, we sadcgaspe.ca/rrrf2 can sit down and negotiate a handover. If none of that is done, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions offers a financial they will organize themselves with their park,” said Mayor Côté, support to the SADC without any hesitation. *Eligibility criteria apply

Page 5, December 16, 2020 - Spec Gaspé: Construction of the new Ministry of Transport service centre will begin in the spring

Nelson Sergerie doors on the side of the Rolling Equipment Management Cen- GASPÉ - The future Ministry tre and three doors on the Min- of Transport service centre in istry of Transport side. It will Gaspé will cost $22.9 million, also contain an unheated ware- including the plans and speci- house for the ministry. In the fications. centre of the building, a three- The tender for the building storey office section will be was launched on September shared between the centre and 14. At the start of the pan- the ministry. There will also be demic, this issue was included an area for storage of abrasives in Quebec's Bill 61 in order to and other materials. speed up work. It no longer ap- Work will begin in the peared in the Bill 66 tabled in spring and the centre will be September. ready in fall 2022. "That's ex- The lowest construction bid cellent news. It’s been talked was submitted by Marcel Gaspé will consult the population to determine the future about for several decades and Charest et Fils of Saint-Pascal of the site which will be left vacant by the MTQ. now it’s happening. I hope we de Kamouraska for $13.2 mil- Photo: N. Sergerie can consult people at the same lion. time as the new sports centre. It Six companies have shown large lot on rue des Pommiers, chase of the land have not been des infrastructures, which en- will be an opportunity to see interest in the project which opposite the LM Wind Power finalized with the Town of sures the compliance of the what people want to do with will be carried out in the Au- plant. Gaspé. lowest bidder, indicates that the their downtown area,” explains gustines’ Industrial Park, a Negotiations for the pur- The Société Québécoise centre will have three garage Gaspé Mayor Daniel Côté. Family Ties named Quebec Charity of the Year

Diane Skinner dian Heritage Official Lan- guages Community Spaces NEW CARLISLE: - New Fund, Caisses Desjardins and Carlisle: Family Ties has the MRC of Bonaventure. been named “Quebec Charity This plan will improve access of the Year” by CBC Radio. to the building, including Heather MacWhirter, Execu- moving the kitchen and li- tive Director was very excited brary to the main floor as well to hear that Family Ties was as the creation of a designated chosen holiday charity for youth space. Many of the 2020. She tells us that every- members have a wide range one works so hard to support of physical disabilities or their members and the com- challenges. This project will munity. She adds this refers address key priorities of uni- not only to the dedicated versal accessibility and safety staff. She is quick also to by moving core programs and thank a wonderful Adminis- services to the main floor trative Council, and the sup- Participants in the Baby & Me program at Family Ties. From left to right: Elliott Arsenault- level. Heather adds, “This port of over 70 volunteers and Briggs, Rayna Almond, Rayah Main, Thomas Leblanc-Gonthier, Jasmine Thompson-Flowers has been asked for by our families who helped to ac- and Kaleb Hayes. members for years and now complish their mission. we can finally make it a real- Heather points out that they with Revenue Canada. book page. vites everyone to check it ity, however, the condition of are also grateful for great The next day she received During the pandemic, out. New content is added the building is worse than partners and an inclusive a phone call to say that they Family Ties, a “Maison de la daily, and they are proud of previously thought, therefore community. were in the running and then Famille,” is considered an es- the site. Community mem- translating into additional Family Ties is a grass another call came. It con- sential service. Many of the bers continue to make many costs; in fact, about $100,000 roots community organiza- firmed that Family Ties was programs are still offered positive comments about in additional costs! Despite tion and being recognized indeed chosen. Normally only with sanitary measures being how Family Ties has contin- this, we are committed to this will highlight and showcase one Montreal-based charity is respected. This is done by re- ued to support them through project as it reflects the needs the work they do for the en- chosen but this year for the ducing the number of partic- the pandemic. These include of our members and we plan tire province. first time two charities have ipants on site and not “Family Ties makes us feel to accomplish it this year.” Carolyn Taylor, an em- been chosen: Tyndale St- recruiting new members. like family and gives us pos- Heather and the staff of ployee at Family Ties, was Georges Community Centre Munchkin Mansion Play- itive motivation.” Family Ties would like to say, driving to work one morning in Montreal and Family Ties school, youth groups, Desti- The next step in the evo- “Merry Christmas to our fam- and she heard that CBC was from the whole province of nation Family, collective lution of Family Ties is a new ilies and the community and looking for nominations. She Quebec. cooking and Baby & Me are building restructuring plan thank you for your trust and listened to the guidelines and As part of this recognition all still happening physically. thanks to funding from Cana- support throughout the year.” thought that Family Ties and honour, during the weeks The Canadian Heritage Pho- should apply. of December 7 and 14 a vari- tography project Now You Heather received a mes- ety of interviews with staff See Us is virtual through sage from CBC asking ques- and members will take place Zoom at the moment. The Treat yourself to tions about Family Ties and to be aired on three CBC pro- Trading Post is still open by The Gaspé Spec how they would accept dona- grams: Breakaway, CBC appointment only. tions. The organization is a Quebec A.M. and the Morn- Their website is up and registered non-profit in Que- ing Show. These will be operating and they are able to bec and a registered charity shared on Family Ties face- accept donations. Heather in- thegaspespec.com Page 6, December 16, 2020 - Spec Life Association fundraising stymied by COVID times

Cynthia Dow the first time,” she told SPEC. Place happy. “It’s a very and dinners and so on. We get want to be able to offer the The association has two happy place. You can feel the a lot of donations by writing summer camp activity in “Our finances are alright, but budgets: one which covers the atmosphere when you go in to various organizations and 2021. we’ve had a poor year raising operations of the residence, there. It’s very friendly and churches, but we didn’t do “Our biggest expenditure money because of COVID,” Vimy Place, and its foster par- warm. They have a huge liv- that this year because of the is the summer camp: we pay Shirley Duncan said of the ents, Peggy Dalgleish and ing room and, in the summer COVID situation. Normally five or six aides and a very situation of Life Association, Clayton Smith. This budget is in the backyard, they have a we’d raise $3,000 with our favourable rate at the Bible an organization that runs a entirely covered by the swing, a small swimming fundraising activities and an- Camp. We try to have other foster home in New Carlisle provincial government under pool, and a gazebo.” other $3,000 or so from dona- activities as well, such as as well as providing various the auspices of the Centre de A second budget under the tions. This year we’ve only summer games on the beach, activities for adults with intel- readaptation located in control of the association cov- had two donations so far, a visit to the Bioparc and lectual challenges. Bonaventure. On a regular ers repairs to the building, $500 each from the New Christmas dinner for all the Mrs. Duncan has been the basis social workers, nurses, which they own, and special Richmond Rotary Club and ESSB students in the program president since the group’s es- educators, and inspectors visit activities for the members, six the Cascapedia Women’s In- at The Anchor. tablishment about 25 years to make sure Vimy Place is of whom live at Vimy Place. stitute.” We are hoping once spring ago. She noted they had held run properly. Other members attend the Mrs. Duncan explained comes, we’ll be able to have their annual general meeting Mrs. Duncan said the asso- summer camp and the social- that the association has a fundraising campaign to on November 24 by Zoom, a ciation is very happy with ization class provided at The enough resources to get cover these costs.” first for their organization. “It their live-in foster parents, Anchor by Eastern Shores through their fiscal year until Should you wish to donate was quite successful. We were “who are meant for the job School Board. June 30, but they will have to to the Life Association, their impressed with ourselves for and go above the call of duty” “We normally raise a lot of hold a fundraising campaign Treasurer is Richard Flow- trying something like this for to keep the residents of Vimy money ourselves through teas this coming spring if they ers. Federal aid for airports: well received in Gaspé

Nelson Sergerie the federal government is working on,” says the mayor. GASPÉ - The mayor of Gaspé Daniel Côté still hopes for is pleased with the openness the help as mentioned by the shown by Ottawa in helping Quebec Minister of Transport, airports, but remains cautious François Bonnardel, however, after the announcement in the concrete signs have not yet economic update presented on been given. November 30. The losses at Michel- Daniel Côté notes that the Pouliot Airport are caused by envelope will be insufficient. the suspension of commercial "If Gaspé has a deficit of $1.6 flights last summer continuing million and there is $65 mil- into the fall. lion for all of Canada, I don't On November 2, Gaspé The departure of Air Canada created a significant think we will be able to com- passed a resolution calling for deficit at the Michel-Pouliot airport in Gaspé. pensate for all the losses, aid from Quebec. Mr. Côté hence the importance to have says the main customer of the Photo: N. Sergerie the provincial (government) in airport during the heart of the and air transport is federal. At the time, the elected of- government came to support the background with a com- pandemic was health services. This justifies their requests for ficial mentioned a tax increase the Town of Gaspé on this plementary program to what Health services are provincial aid. of 10 to 15% if no level of issue.

Marked drop in traffic at Forillon Nelson Sergerie GASPÉ - Forillon recorded a 14% decrease in the number of visitors, but daily admissions have risen sharply. The decrease in attendance can be explained by the opening being delayed and the camping capacity being cut in half due to the pandemic. This explains the drop in attendance. In total 146,200 visited the park. The occupancy rate of campsites was almost 100% in July and August, but only 53% of the sites were available to comply with sanitary regulations “We expected fewer, considering the decrease in our (rental) accommodations since we welcomed fewer campers. All in all, this is a perfectly acceptable decrease considering the circum- stances,” explains manager Frédéric Sainte-Croix who is in charge of visitor experience. Daily admissions rose 5% in July, 20% in August and 21% in September, but fell 70% in October due to the absence of cruise- ship passengers and Europeans. No visitors or employees contracted COVID-19 during the season that ended on Thanksgiving. Parks Canada will adapt the services offered in 2021 according to the health rules that will be in effect next spring. Conse- quently the reservation centre will only open on April 21 rather Wishing you peace, love and joy than January. This postponement is to avoid the situation experi- this holiday season and enced in the spring of 2020 when early reservations had to be throughout 2021. cancelled due to the imposition of strict rules last March. In 2019, the park welcomed 169,984 visitors, which was a 3% increase from 2018.

Page 7, December 16, 2020 - Spec CASCAPEDIA-ST-JULES: Construction of new railway bridges to be accelerated Temporary bridge on Road 299 to be ready within five weeks

Gilles Gagné of trees piled up and touched parts of the new and old CASCAPEDIA-ST-JULES – bridges. The logs had to be Quebec’s Department of cleared before carrying out an Transport announced on De- inspection on the bridges. That cember 9 that the construction operation took three full days. of the two new railway This is when the Gaspésie bridges in Cascapedia-St-Jules Railway Society consulted will be accelerated so that they Transports Québec to acceler- will be completed by Decem- ate the completion of the new ber 30 at the latest. bridges, due to the pointless- The acceleration of the ness of putting efforts into re- bridges’ construction was ne- furbishing bridges that will be cessitated by the December 6 replaced. permanent closure of the two The windmill blade train old railway bridges, which supposed to pass on Decem- had been constructed between ber 6 will remain in New Richmond until the end of the 1890 and 1894. Workers of the Gaspésie Railway Society are giving a hand to Hamel Construction in the Photo: G. Gagné The east bridge was dam- rush undertaken to finish the two new bridges before the end of December. month. An empty windmill aged slightly by the flooding blade train scheduled to arrive that occurred on December 1 ways. capedia River flood, will be “We were expecting a de- on December 12 or 13 will be and 2, but as a result of that, a After that the Gaspésie replaced within four to six livery of the bridges over the loaded in Nouvelle just west more a serious problem in- Railway Society made the de- weeks. Considering that the spring. The fact that they are of the Leclerc siding which is volving structural damage was cision to permanently close announcement was made on delivered at the end of the the terminal where cement discovered. the two old bridges, and con- December 9, it will be less month is really ideal,” reacted cars initially loaded in New Preliminary tests and in- tacted Transports Quebec to than five weeks, by mid-De- Éric Dubé, president of the Richmond, are filled to capac- spections on the old bridges advocate expediting the com- cember. Gaspésie Railway Society, the ity. took place on December 5 and pletion of the two new As for the two railway transporter in charge of oper- Until the new bridges in at that time the structural dam- bridges. bridges, they were supposed ating freight trains between Cascapedia-St-Jules are func- age was not apparent. While announcing the pos- to be open to traffic for the Matapedia and New Rich- tional, all the cement is and On the morning of Decem- itive decision about the new summer of 2021. Since under- mond. will be loaded in Nouvelle. ber 6 during the passage of railway bridges, Transports taking the $22.4 million job in Freight trains cannot circu- “In January, there will be three locomotives, a test be- Québec also stated that the July 2019, the contractor, late between New Richmond no limitation of loads on the fore the expected circulation Kilometre 12.5 bridge at Hamel Construction, was able and Nouvelle since December of a windmill blade train, a White Brook, heavily dam- to carry out their construction 1 because the flood created Cont'd on page 9 structural beam moved side- aged by the same Grand Cas- faster than expected. such a log jam that hundreds

Page 8, December 16, 2020 - Spec FLOOD: tion of the new railbed, a few Cont'd from page 8 metres to the south. The standoff continues Cascapedia-St-Jules bridges. A temporary bridge at between nurses and the CISSS We will pass on new bridges. White Brook soon We will be able to load all the As for the Road 299 bridge Nelson Sergerie cement in New Richmond,” at White Brook, it will be re- points out Éric Dubé. placed by a temporary struc- GASPÉ - The nurses are ask- Since 2017, because of the ture before the end of January, ing the Board of Directors of limited bearing capacity of the adds Ms. Pouliot. the Gaspé Peninsula Inte- Cascapedia-St-Jules old rail- “The work is already grated Health and Social way bridges, the Gaspésie started,” she says. The remains Services Centre (CISSS) to Railway Society was forced to of the former bridge have been make ten commitments to en- share cement car loading be- used since the day following sure the safety of staff and tween two terminals, in New the flood as a passerelle for the users during the pandemic, Richmond and Nouvelle. 11 people residing between but the members of the board Transports Québec, the Kilometer 12.5 and 17. rejected this request at the owner of the line since 2015, A better passerelle was in- time. imposed a restriction of 10 stalled and was functional as of The document from the fully loaded cars per week on December 12. Union of Nurses, Auxiliaries those structures, but no weekly Claire Pouliot says that the and Respiratory Therapists of limit if the cars were just par- floods of December 1 and 2 Eastern Quebec was sent by tially loaded in New Rich- caused damage amounting to a bailiff to the members of mond, at two-thirds of their $11M to the Gaspé Peninsula the board. The president of capacity. The traffic created by road network under the respon- the SIIIEQ, Pier-Luc Bujold, McInnis Cement in New Rich- sibility of Transports Québec. aims to stabilize the care mond and Nouvelle often The mayor of Cascapedia- teams while 30% of the staff The president of the CSQ, Claire Montour and the president of are on sick leave according to reaches 40 cars per week. St-Jules, Gaétan Boudreau, the SIIIEQ, Pier-Luc Bujold. Photo: N. Sergerie Claire Pouliot, spokesper- who had promised to keep a his assessment. son of Transports Québec, close eye on the situation in the “We have seen abom- was rejected the same after- directors' refusal to sign as points out that the acceleration aftermath of the flood, ex- inable, disrespectful things, a noon by the CISSS board of bad faith. of the railway bridges’ con- pressed relief upon reading the lack of consideration for the directors. "The CISSS did not even struction will cost $1.5M more message he received from capacity of workers who do “The directors have al- respect the letter of under- than the projected tag of Transports Québec. more than their employment ready signed commitments standing in which it under- $22.4M “as $800,000 will go “The lack of a bridge pre- contract and have done so for by accepting their mandate. took no later than May 1, to damage repairs and vents the municipality from many years,” says Mr, Bu- This commitment is already 2020 to increase and stabilize $700,000 for work accelera- properly serving the citizens jold, who was accompanied firm, whole and total on the positions at the CISSS de la tion.” living on the other side of for the occasion by the presi- part of the administrators. Gaspésie," says Mr. Bujold, She stresses that it will not White Brook. Our fire truck dent of the Centrale des What is mentioned (in the arguing that the CISSS does be necessary for the contrac- can’t go to the other side, or an unions du Québec, Claire document) is part of some of not keep its word. tor to work around the clock, ambulance or any emergency Montour to support the the elements in which we are He invites the administra- seven days a week, to deliver vehicle. The new passerelle al- process. hard at work on many sites," tors to see the reality on the the bridges on or before De- lows us to give certain services, The mobility of staff from replied the chairman of the ground rather than listen to cember 30, since the closure like running errands. The Cas- hot to cold zones, sometimes board of directors of the the administrators. "If it re- of the old bridges will facili- capedia River Society leaves a during the same shift, is also CISSS Richard Loiselle. ally is that everything is done tate the contractor’s task vehicle there for that purpose. a major concern for union right, why don't they sign. “they had to stop work when Transports Québec will then members. Refusal to sign The fact of not signing is a train was passing, for safety put a used bridge bought in The request, delivered on The union responded to proof that it isn’t,” concludes reasons.” 2018 when Trout Brook de- the morning of December 3, the refusal by qualifying the Mr. Bujold. Since December 7, workers stroyed the Road 299 bridge. of the Gaspésie Railway Soci- They had bought two used ety have been helping Hamel bridges. The first one was well Construction in the rush to fin- installed. We call it our tempo- ish the two new bridges before rary-permanent bridge now. It the end of December. Those was supposed to be replaced Dear fellow cizens, workers started removing the this year but the COVID crisis rails for the eventual installa- Mayor Boudreau. This year has been an emoonal one for us all. My deepest wish Wishing you a for each one of us is that this Merry Christmas and holiday season will be ﬁlled with Happy New Year serenity and sweet happiness. Take this special me to take Your trust in us is priceless and we’re care of yourself, to enjoy the so proud to serve Gaspésie’s majesc winter this community landscapes and recharge your energy to embrace the upcoming year.

I wish you all a peaceful holiday season and a happy New Year! Louis Sexton, Financial Planner 20 Chemin Harrison Cascapedia-St-Jules, Méganne Perry Mélançon Quebec G0C 1T0 Deputy of Gaspé Telephone: (418) 392-3485 [email protected]

Page 9, December 16, 2020 - Spec Thank you for your valued patronage! CHALEUR AUTOMOBILES LTÉE 88 Route 132 East, Bonaventure, Quebec G0C 1E0 Telephone: (418) 534-2011 Fax: (418) 534-2135

We would like to wish you and your loved ones happiness and health during this wonderful holiday season.

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With heartfelt gratitude and warm wishes to all for the very merriest of holidays ever. Merry Christmas and We wish to thank you for your valued patronage! Happy New Year! Authorized HOLIDAY SCHEDULE December 24: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. distributor of December 25: 12 noon to 5 p.m. Nespresso Commercial December 26: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. December 31: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. brewers and capsules, January 1: 12 noon to 5 p.m. Keurig, Van Houtte, Timothy’s and We have two locations David’s Tea. to serve you: 419 Montée Sandy Beach, Gaspé, Quebec 145 Chemin Cyr, New Richmond Tel.: 418-368-3105 418-392-4451 Fax: 418-368-1825 PJC Clinic, 1-800-220-8905 37 Perron East, Caplan 418-388-2345

Page 10, December 16, 2020 - Spec Ottawa protects owner-captain status

Photo: N. Sergerie

Photo: N. Sergerie The municipal council of Gaspé is working to find a solution to Ottawa protects owner-captain status the 2021 budget. Nelson Sergerie in 2018. have been killing our local econ- Concretely, this policy omy,” indicates the the Member A road between the Augustines GRAND RIVER - The status of means that fishermen must ex- of Parliament for the Gaspé Industrial Park and Sandy Beach owner-captain is now protected ploit their fishing licences Peninsula and Magdalen Is- themselves and reap the bene- lands, Diane Lebouthillier, in a Nelson Sergerie by Ottawa. With this regulatory amend- fits in order to prevent compa- press briefing on December 10. GASPÉ - Gaspé is taking the first step in the construction of a ment, the policy of separating nies from becoming both A dispute in the Maritimes road linking the Augustines Industrial Park to the Port of Sandy fleets by prohibiting certain fishermen and processors of the led Ottawa to consider this Beach. types of companies from hold- resource. issue. It’s one way for Canada The council adopted a resolution on December 7 to find ing licences in the coastal fish- “Businesses can no longer to protect its food sovereignty, funding to study this road which would divert heavy traffic from ing sector, becomes concrete. acquire fishing licences. Foreign says Ms. Lebouthillier, when the current road network. Former Minister of Fish- companies that decide to buy 33% of the economy of Gaspé "To facilitate the development of the Augustines Industrial eries and Oceans Dominic Canadian companies where Peninsula and Magdalen Is- Park, we must promote intermodality with the port and the rail- LeBlanc expressed his govern- there would have been associ- lands depends on the fishing way. The highway project has been in our boxes for three years. ment's desire to change the law ated permits, well, we would sector. We are in the fundraising stage and then the plans and specifi- cations stage and we could go into construction mode, probably in 2022," says Mayor Daniel Côté. The project is estimated between $8M and $10M. Teachers at Cégep de la Gaspésie The development of the industrial port zone was slowed down by the change of government, the pandemic and the trans- fer of ownership of the Sandy Beach wharf from Ottawa to et des Îles are getting impatient Quebec. The road is the first item and the second being the promotion Nelson Sergerie of the Rivière-au-Renard Industrial Park, to promote fisheries- related services. GASPÉ - Professors at the A difficult budget to make Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Gaspé is still juggling the solution to be applied in preparing Îles are getting impatient with the 2021 budget, while the apprehended deficit of $1.6 million the slowness of negotiations for 2020-2021 at Michel-Pouliot airport weighs heavily in the with Quebec. balance. Those negotiations were While Ottawa has moved forward in its economic statement initiated in October 2019, but to compensate airports, Quebec has indicated its intentions but a blockage persists according is slow to come forward. to the president of the Union The mayor recalls that the airport remained open between of teaching staff at the Gaspé the end of Air Canada flights and the arrival of Pascan in order campus, Isabelle Bisson-Car- to allow ambulance and SOPFIM planes to land. pentier. “We are in a year of a pandemic where the financial situation The financial framework of citizens is difficult. We do not intend to completely pass the is unacceptable and leaves lit- operating deficit on to the citizens' tax account. There may be an tle room for maneuvers to im- impact, but we are in a budgetary exercise to spare the citizens prove working conditions. as much as possible." The Gaspé campus of the Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles. “The financial framework has The Town could draw on its surplus to save taxpayers. The not changed a bit. What we budget will be tabled on December 21. Photo: N. Sergerie are offered is a little less than $200 per teacher per year to The Education Workers does not want to go outside its solve a lot of problems. This Union too financial framework. “At the Loss of 2,500 jobs in one year is clearly insufficient,” em- On December 8, teachers last negotiations, in 2015, for Nelson Sergerie phasizes Ms. Bisson-Carpen- and support staff in the Gaspé teachers, there was an $80 GASPÉ – The Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands posted a tier. began voting on pressure tac- million settlement. Right now, deficit of 2,500 jobs in one year. The fight against insecu- tics to speed up negotiations there is between $43 million Statistics Canada reveals that 31,400 people were employed in rity, the teaching task and with Quebec. and $50 million on the table, November compared to 33,900 at the same time last year. work-family reconciliation The Eastern Quebec Edu- depending on the opening. It's The number of part-time positions increased by 700 as 1,000 are targeted. Distance educa- cation Workers Union is hold- not much." full-time jobs were cut last month. tion, in place before the pan- ing six meetings in the Gaspé Ms. Bernier wants a strong One hundred more people were receiving employment insur- demic, needs to be marked Peninsula and Magdalen Is- mandate to send a clear mes- ance benefits in October. out and requires additional lands to gauge the pulse of its sage. The unemployment went from 8.9% in October to 9.2% in resources. Pressure tactics members and the results were The pressure tactics will November. will be gradually put in place due on December 15. be disclosed at the appropriate Four-thousand people withdrew from the labor market in one if nothing moves at the nego- The president, Anne time, depending on the year. tiating table. Bernier, explains that Quebec progress of the negotiations.

Page 11, December 16, 2020 - Spec Wishing you all the best for a perfect holiday season.

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Page 12, December 16, 2020 - Spec