Inside this week Chandler’s SEGA Chamber of Commerce agrees St. Lawrence Coalition to challenge is now open for seniors with minimum wage increase Corridor Resources permit Contract 400119680 VOLUME 43 / NO 3 / JANUARY 25, 2017 $1.50 (Tax included) PASPEBIAC SPORTS CENTRE: $8.1 million centre to be completed on time and within budget Gilles Gagné PASPEBIAC: – Paspebiac’s new sports centre will be completed on time, at the end of April or the beginning of May, and within the planned budget of $8,135,000. Call- ing it an “arena”, as it is often referred to, would be a mis- take, considering the scope of the activities that will be available in the building. Almost six months after the commencement of con- struction in August, the sports centre is almost 60% com- pleted and needs only three more months of work to reach inauguration time, scheduled for the end of April or beginning of May. “We call it a sports centre because the building will be used year-around. The rink will be used for hockey in the winter, but there will be a Photo: G. Gagné multi-purpose room for gym- nastics, dance and combat Young figure skaters and hockey players, joined by a few dignitaries, took part in the first official face-off at the new sports cen- sports. In the summer, the tre. The puck was dropped in a small hole and will remain buried there for the duration of the sports centre's life. rink space will host indoor soccer, tennis and bad- ball, with a six inch short- “The stands will seat 801 ability of several exit doors,” town of Paspebiac’s size. We minton,” points out Paul Lan- coming. Well, now, we have spectators, while slightly he points out, notably show- asked the government to con- glois, director general of the a place in Paspebiac that can more than 100 standing spots ing the east side exit that is as sider the type of support re- Town of Paspebiac. handle any of the provincial will be available behind the wide as a large garage door. ceived by Quebec City for the “There is more. A few federations’ norms regarding seats. Another 100 seats will The sport centre is being construction of the Vidéotron years ago, when the towns in those sports,” adds Mr. Lan- be located in the restaurant built by a Gaspesian firm, Centre. Proportion-wise, de- the Bay of Chaleur area ap- glois. area, and a lodge will house LFG Construction, in part- spite the size of the Quebec plied to host the Jeux du The building will have six some more people. We are nership with Honco, a sup- City building, it put way less Québec (Quebec Games), locker rooms, another factor talking about a capacity of plier of siding based near strain on their municipal part of the reason behind the that was missing in the Que- 1,050 to 1,100 people for Quebec City. The Town of budget than our new building refusal of our bid was that we bec Games bid, because of hockey games,” says Mr. Paspebiac received a Quebec is putting on our budget, but didn’t have proper gymna- the necessity to have rooms Langlois. government grant covering our request to get more than sium height in our schools for for males and females. There The capacity will be in- 50% of the building’s con- a 50% support was filed at volleyball, basketball and a will also be a locker room for creased for shows, where struction cost. the end of May 2012, just be- couple of events in gymnas- referees only, who will be 1,500 people, maybe 1,800 “We asked for a higher fore the beginning of the tics. Carleton gymnasiums, able to reach the ice using can fill the place. “The num- percentage, considering that a Cont'd on page 2 were almost OK for basket- their own access. ber is dictated by the avail- $4 million loan is a lot for a SEGA is now open for seniors Thierry Haroun CHANDLER: – The Geriatric External Service Unit was in- augurated on January 12 by Regional Minister, Sébastien Proulx. The building (1,450 square metres) is located between the CLSC and Chandler Hospital on Monseigneur Ross Street. The total investment is valued at $4.5 million which was en- tirely paid for by the Québec Photo: T. Haroun Government. Chandler town hall. “The SEGA is a unique Photos: T. Haroun service on the Gaspé Penin- sula. It offers many services, Rita Whittom. A slight tax increase such as treatment, readapta- themselves or be transported. gram,” adds Chantal Duguay. tion and evaluation, to seniors All in all, a team of 30 ex- Currently, some 100 seniors in Chandler in 2017 over 65 faced with a loss of perts are on hand to take care from the Percé Rock MRC, autonomy,” explains, the ex- of patients, such as auxiliary with an average age of 78, Thierry Haroun general administration (14.1%) ecutive director of Gaspésie nurses, nurses, doctors, social benefit from the SEGA serv- and transportation, such as Integrated Health and Social workers, physiotherapists and ices and that number should Chandler: – According to the snow blowing and asphalting Services Center, Chantal ergotherapists, for example. double in the near future as 2017 budget adopted by the (11.8% or $1.2 million). The Duguay, “Let’s not forget that There’s rental equipment the services will be available Town Council on January 16, Town Council has also voted Gaspesians have clearly asked available and a special depart- to all Gaspesians. Chandler residents will face an on its three-year asset plan the health sector to be able to ment dedicated to those faced average tax increase of 1.1% $9.6M. In 2017, the expected stay at home as long as possi- with Alzheimer’s disease A happy senior and some residents will even investments are valued at ble for those with a loss of au- (The Memory Clinic). “We see their tax bill decrease. $3.8M ($1.4M to build a tonomy and that’s the first offer the best services to our SPEC met a senior during The Town’s budget is $10.8 garage, $350,000 to renovate a objective of the SEGA.” Sen- seniors and the next step of the inauguration, Ms. Rita million, the same as last year fire station, 1M for street re- iors have the options of get- the SEGA is to develop a Whittom, a former teacher. “I and slightly higher than two pair, etc.) In 2018, the expected ting to the SEGA by training and a research pro- come here a few times a week years ago ($10.4M). Thus, the investments are valued at to get some exercise and treat- residential tax rate increases $5.6M and $204,000 the fol- ments. I’m very satisfied with three cents from $0.80 to $0.83 lowing year. The total real es- the services offered. People per $100. The business and tate of the Town, is valued at are polite and professional. commercial tax also increases $466M. We are taken care of and feel from $1.60 to $1.63. The good at home.” news is that the garbage and re- A good budget “Maintaining our seniors cycling tax will decrease by at home is a priority for the $20, going from $270 to $250 It is a good budget given the Québec government and this per household. current economic situation, initiative clearly demonstrates In concrete terms, a house said mayor, Louisette Langlois, that we are going in the right in Chandler valued at $50,000 when Spec reached her at her direction. It’s so important to will have a tax bill of $1,154 ( office. “I do think it’s a good support, help and treat our a decrease of $10 compared budget. We’ve all worked hard seniors. I'm very proud today with last year). For a house val- to keep the average tax in- to inaugurate this building ued at $100,000 it’s status quo crease at the level of the Con- and its unique service on the with a total bill of $1,796. For sumer Price Index and I also Gaspé Peninsula,” said Re- a house valued at $150,000 think that the difficult years are gional Minister, Sébastien there’s a ten dollar increase behind us now. We’ve been SEGA Building in Chandler. Proulx. ($2,438) and for a house val- through so much over the years ued at $200,000 the increase is in order to make ends meet. $20 ($3,080). The only area For example, in 2010 there was SPORTS CENTRE: One of the strong points of first as storage space for mu- where there is no tax decrease $1.1 million that had to be ab- Cont'd from cover the sports centre will be its nicipal vehicles. is Newport. The increase goes sorbed. That was the amount low energy consumption, em- “The Paspebiac Rodeo from three dollars to $72 for a the former Gaspésia Mill used Charbonneau Commission phasizes Cathy Aspirault, will remain in the old build- house valued at $200,000 (for a to pay to the Town. There was and our claim was waived, project manager for LFG ing, because of the capacity, total bill of $2,522). also a major hike in the Sûreté given the role grants played in Construction. which is higher there holding The city’s expenditures will du Québec's payment of some other towns under the “The refrigeration system about 2,000 people, and for mainly be for the hygiene de- $200,000.