16-06-10 Article Nunatsiq News: Neighbour opposition could delay or kill Nunavik Inuit patient home
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Michael
Jun 17, 2010, 3:42:15 PM6/17/10
to Centre d'Hébergement 7500, St Denis Villeray Rosemont, asa...@ville.montreal.qc.ca
http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/98789_neighbour_opposition_could_delay_or_kill_nunavik_inuit_patient_home/
NEWS: Nunavik June 17, 2010 - 12:30 pm
Neighbour opposition could delay or kill Nunavik Inuit patient home
Health authorities defend plan at hostile public meeting
JANE GEORGE
Speakers at a public information session held to talk about use of a
former Chinese hospital at 7500 St-Denis as a new residence for
Nunavik patients and patient escorts in Montreal included Gerry
Sklavounos, the Liberal MNA who represents the area covered by the
Villeray-St-Michel-Park Extension borough in Quebec’s National
Assembly. Sklavounos said reaction to the project coming into his
office is “mixed.”(PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)
The former Chinese hospital in Villeray, seen from the back. The
building, which has stood empty for more than 10 years, is often used
as a set for films and television shows that need a hospital setting.
(PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)
MONTREAL — Facing continued opposition from local residents at a
public meeting held June 16, health authorities will likely wait at
least two years before opening a proposed new patient home for Nunavik
Inuit in the Villeray district of Montreal.
“If it takes X months, it’ll take X months,” said David Levine, the
head of the Montreal regional health authority, during a June 16
public information session in Villeray on the project.
Reaction to the hospital renovation project appeared to be lukewarm at
best, and frequently hostile, during the evening meeting, held just
around the corner from the Chinese hospital, at the 7400 Centre on St-
Laurent Blvd.
Harsher words came from some people who referred to the high rates of
crime, alcoholism and drug abuse in Nunavik: wouldn’t Inuit staying in
the proposed centre bring these social problems back to the
neighbourhood? What about the safety of their children and the
“values of the neighbourhood” of Villeray?
Others said they aren’t happy that the proposed residence won’t have a
zero alcohol tolerance policy — standard practice in all Nunavut
patient and escort residences.
More moderate critics said the hospital should be renovated to meet
neighbourhood needs, like an senior citizen’s centre, they said.
As well, borough residents complained they had received no information
or the wrong kind of information at first — such as as a mistaken
belief that renovated hospital would become an alcohol treatment
centre.
One speaker suggested the move to Villeray is being fast-tracked for
political reasons — citing Quebec’s “plan nord.”
Health authorities said a security guard will keep intoxicated
individuals in a kind of holding area in the entrance, a plan
challenged by one speaker, who said the residence couldn’t be a prison
and couldn’t hold people there against their will.
After the meeting ended, some people rushed to sign a petition
promoted by a man who suggested to Nunatsiaq News that even 50 people
with drug and alcohol problems would have an impact on Villeray.
He also handed out a paper listing new websites against the centre at
http://sites.google.com/site/centre7500stdenis/ and
http://groups.google.ca/group/centrehebergement7500.
The task of defending Nunavik residents was mainly left to one or two
speakers who criticized the underlying tone of racism at the meeting.
The only Inuk member of a Nunavik organization on hand to defend the
project was Larry Watt of Kuujjuaq, the former mayor of Kuujjuaq, now
in charge of out-of-region health services for Nunavimmiut.
Health officials previously hoped that up to 143 Nunavik patients and
escorts would use that facility within 18 months.
But now it appears as if Nunavimmiut will likely wait at least two
years.
And that’s only if health authorities move ahead soon and finish a
proposed $12-million, 18-month-long renovation of a former Chinese
hospital in the Montreal borough of Villeray-St-Michel-Park Extension.
The Villeray-St-Michel-Park Extension borough holds the upper hand,
because it has now moved to freeze all zoning changes in the
neighbourhood.
That means, unless municipal councillors change this ruling, the
renovation project won’t get the municipal permits needed for its
construction.
For now, elected officials and residents of Villeray say they want
more studies and consultation, and health officials appear willing to
wait.
After listening to more than 30 questions and comments from local
resident, Levine said “I’m sorry” that the process got off on the
wrong foot.
If some residents hadn’t posted a racist website saying the new
residence posed an “imminent danger or distributed flyers which
suggested it would be a treatment centre, and the media hadn’t picked
up the nasty debate, the process would have gone well, he said.
Levine promised to do what he can to correct the situation, such as
establishing an implementation committee and hiring consultants to
prepare studies on the project.
Levine also noted that 570 Inuit already live in Villeray, and don’t
cause any problems.
At the end of the three-and-a-half hour information session, Levine
said he still noted a “will” among those present to proceed.
Levine also offered arguments explaining why using the Chinese
hospital for Nunavimmiut in Montreal for medical treatment is a good
idea.
The building can be renovated at a reasonable cost and be able to put
110 to 150 Nunavimmiut under one roof.
Patients will also face a shorter trip to hospitals, he said, pointing
to some boarding homes that are further away from hospital than the
proposed St-Denis site.
“There is an urgency for us to relocate,” Levine said because the
current environment around Nunavik House is “inappropriate” and
“inacceptable.”
To build a brand-new patient residence elsewhere would cost at least
$50 million, he said.
Gilles Boulet, the assistant executive director of Nunavik’s regional
health board, winced when asked for his reaction to the meeting,
answering he isn’t sure if the health board can go on with the
project.
But, when speaking to the meeting, Boulet repeated a comment by
Makivik Corp. president Pita Aatami who said in a news release about
the project last month that “no nation can pretend that it is perfect,
but I firmly believe that we deserve respect.”
If the renovation goes ahead, the welcome from former hospital’s
neighbours could be much warmer than those at the public meeting.
About 12 people who Nunatsiaq News canvassed on the streets of
Villerary none offered any objections.
Susan Varga, an anglophone who owns a corner store directly across the
street from the former Chinese hospital, said she doesn’t know any
Inuit yet, but that “these people need a place”
Varga said some critics of the project are racist, because they hold
opinions about people they don’t know.
So for now, the project appears to be stalled.
The Villeray borough will have the final say, because it moved to
freeze all zoning changes in the neighbourhood.
That means, unless municipal councillors change this ruling, the
renovation project won’t get the municipal permits needed for its
construction.
NEWS: Nunavik June 17, 2010 - 12:30 pm
Neighbour opposition could delay or kill Nunavik Inuit patient home
Health authorities defend plan at hostile public meeting
JANE GEORGE
Speakers at a public information session held to talk about use of a
former Chinese hospital at 7500 St-Denis as a new residence for
Nunavik patients and patient escorts in Montreal included Gerry
Sklavounos, the Liberal MNA who represents the area covered by the
Villeray-St-Michel-Park Extension borough in Quebec’s National
Assembly. Sklavounos said reaction to the project coming into his
office is “mixed.”(PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)
The former Chinese hospital in Villeray, seen from the back. The
building, which has stood empty for more than 10 years, is often used
as a set for films and television shows that need a hospital setting.
(PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)
MONTREAL — Facing continued opposition from local residents at a
public meeting held June 16, health authorities will likely wait at
least two years before opening a proposed new patient home for Nunavik
Inuit in the Villeray district of Montreal.
“If it takes X months, it’ll take X months,” said David Levine, the
head of the Montreal regional health authority, during a June 16
public information session in Villeray on the project.
Reaction to the hospital renovation project appeared to be lukewarm at
best, and frequently hostile, during the evening meeting, held just
around the corner from the Chinese hospital, at the 7400 Centre on St-
Laurent Blvd.
Harsher words came from some people who referred to the high rates of
crime, alcoholism and drug abuse in Nunavik: wouldn’t Inuit staying in
the proposed centre bring these social problems back to the
neighbourhood? What about the safety of their children and the
“values of the neighbourhood” of Villeray?
Others said they aren’t happy that the proposed residence won’t have a
zero alcohol tolerance policy — standard practice in all Nunavut
patient and escort residences.
More moderate critics said the hospital should be renovated to meet
neighbourhood needs, like an senior citizen’s centre, they said.
As well, borough residents complained they had received no information
or the wrong kind of information at first — such as as a mistaken
belief that renovated hospital would become an alcohol treatment
centre.
One speaker suggested the move to Villeray is being fast-tracked for
political reasons — citing Quebec’s “plan nord.”
Health authorities said a security guard will keep intoxicated
individuals in a kind of holding area in the entrance, a plan
challenged by one speaker, who said the residence couldn’t be a prison
and couldn’t hold people there against their will.
After the meeting ended, some people rushed to sign a petition
promoted by a man who suggested to Nunatsiaq News that even 50 people
with drug and alcohol problems would have an impact on Villeray.
He also handed out a paper listing new websites against the centre at
http://sites.google.com/site/centre7500stdenis/ and
http://groups.google.ca/group/centrehebergement7500.
The task of defending Nunavik residents was mainly left to one or two
speakers who criticized the underlying tone of racism at the meeting.
The only Inuk member of a Nunavik organization on hand to defend the
project was Larry Watt of Kuujjuaq, the former mayor of Kuujjuaq, now
in charge of out-of-region health services for Nunavimmiut.
Health officials previously hoped that up to 143 Nunavik patients and
escorts would use that facility within 18 months.
But now it appears as if Nunavimmiut will likely wait at least two
years.
And that’s only if health authorities move ahead soon and finish a
proposed $12-million, 18-month-long renovation of a former Chinese
hospital in the Montreal borough of Villeray-St-Michel-Park Extension.
The Villeray-St-Michel-Park Extension borough holds the upper hand,
because it has now moved to freeze all zoning changes in the
neighbourhood.
That means, unless municipal councillors change this ruling, the
renovation project won’t get the municipal permits needed for its
construction.
For now, elected officials and residents of Villeray say they want
more studies and consultation, and health officials appear willing to
wait.
After listening to more than 30 questions and comments from local
resident, Levine said “I’m sorry” that the process got off on the
wrong foot.
If some residents hadn’t posted a racist website saying the new
residence posed an “imminent danger or distributed flyers which
suggested it would be a treatment centre, and the media hadn’t picked
up the nasty debate, the process would have gone well, he said.
Levine promised to do what he can to correct the situation, such as
establishing an implementation committee and hiring consultants to
prepare studies on the project.
Levine also noted that 570 Inuit already live in Villeray, and don’t
cause any problems.
At the end of the three-and-a-half hour information session, Levine
said he still noted a “will” among those present to proceed.
Levine also offered arguments explaining why using the Chinese
hospital for Nunavimmiut in Montreal for medical treatment is a good
idea.
The building can be renovated at a reasonable cost and be able to put
110 to 150 Nunavimmiut under one roof.
Patients will also face a shorter trip to hospitals, he said, pointing
to some boarding homes that are further away from hospital than the
proposed St-Denis site.
“There is an urgency for us to relocate,” Levine said because the
current environment around Nunavik House is “inappropriate” and
“inacceptable.”
To build a brand-new patient residence elsewhere would cost at least
$50 million, he said.
Gilles Boulet, the assistant executive director of Nunavik’s regional
health board, winced when asked for his reaction to the meeting,
answering he isn’t sure if the health board can go on with the
project.
But, when speaking to the meeting, Boulet repeated a comment by
Makivik Corp. president Pita Aatami who said in a news release about
the project last month that “no nation can pretend that it is perfect,
but I firmly believe that we deserve respect.”
If the renovation goes ahead, the welcome from former hospital’s
neighbours could be much warmer than those at the public meeting.
About 12 people who Nunatsiaq News canvassed on the streets of
Villerary none offered any objections.
Susan Varga, an anglophone who owns a corner store directly across the
street from the former Chinese hospital, said she doesn’t know any
Inuit yet, but that “these people need a place”
Varga said some critics of the project are racist, because they hold
opinions about people they don’t know.
So for now, the project appears to be stalled.
The Villeray borough will have the final say, because it moved to
freeze all zoning changes in the neighbourhood.
That means, unless municipal councillors change this ruling, the
renovation project won’t get the municipal permits needed for its
construction.
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