If Legault’s CAQ government does not reverse its decision to postpone the reconstruction of the Maisonneuve Rosemont Hospital in Montreal, it must be deduced that it is acting for political and electoral reasons, argues Parti Québécois (PQ) Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.
“We have to ask ourselves the question. Is there a link between the probability of winning in a constituency and the choice of projects? I couldn’t prove this hypothesis, but we are obligated to raise it when we see that there is no other logical and solid explanation provided by the government,” he said on Thursday at a press conference outside the hospital in the company of union representatives.
The PQ leader criticized the Legault government and dismissed Health Minister Christian Dubé’s claim that the project was not ready, and that the announcement had been rushed.
After reviewing the details, he said, “the project is ready, so we are dealing with a political decision and not one tied to the state of progress of the project.”
St-Pierre Plamondon, who is the MNA for Camille-Laurin in the east of Montreal, believes that his constituents are left without adequate resources with this hospital.
An institution in disrepair
“The state of the building is barely describable,” he said, referring to water leaks and the presence of squirrels.
“There’s no ventilation, there’s no air. In the summer, newborns are in rooms where it’s up to 45 degrees, so they get fevers, but we don’t know if it’s a fever that’s environmentally induced or if it’s an infection.”
“There is snow coming in some places. I’ve seen windows taped up with duct tape. Rooms with 12 people in them,” he explained.
Standing beside him, Sonia Bureau, spokesperson for the Canadian Union of Public Employees, added to the criticism.
“The hospital is completely outdated, putting patients at risk—either in overheated rooms or in ones that become too cold if a window is opened just a bit too much in the winter. In cramped hallways, trying to help patients walk with a walker, an IV pole, and a drip is dangerous,” she said, adding that these conditions make it difficult to attract and retain new staff.
“New hires come in, take one look at this, find it far too difficult, and leave right away.”
Nathalie Chalifoux, whose union represents technologists, technicians, and medical technologists, described laboratories where “space is so limited that we can’t bring in new equipment, integrate new technology, or advance research.”
Patrick Cothenet, president of the hospital’s Users’ Committee, said, “Too often, the dedication of staff is what makes up for the building’s shortcomings.”
The CAQ is not reliable
The PQ leader criticized the CAQ, reminding that the party had promised a new hospital and the development of the REM de l’Est when it came to power.
“Eight years later, it’s all just empty words,” he said. “The CAQ is not reliable, it doesn’t keep its word—but when it comes to people’s health and lives, that takes on a whole new dimension.”
He expressed hope that the CAQ would change its mind in the days leading up to the Easter summit, which begins Monday; otherwise, he warned, the government could face pushback from citizens.
“I feel that because lives are at risk, the tone is shifting, and momentum is building. Either there will be a change in direction, or we will see increasing mobilization.”
St-Pierre Plamondon used an ongoing incident at the hospital to underscore the risks.
“Right now, one of the elevators is stuck. A staff member was trapped inside, and firefighters had to come to the rescue. These same elevators are used for emergency patient transfers between floors. When we talk about health and safety risks, this is a very real and specific example.”
Embarrassing and shameful
“There are MNAs and ministers in this government who will have to speak up because this is embarrassing and shameful—it’s a complete failure to represent the people of Montreal east,” he said.
He promised that if the CAQ does not reverse what he called an “unacceptable about-face,” a PQ government would launch construction within months of being elected.
Delaying the project, he added, only makes matters worse.
“The longer we wait, the harder it gets and the more expensive it becomes. Maintaining this hospital is costing a fortune—tens of millions—because everything is falling apart. It doesn’t even make financial sense,” he said, pointing out that $25 million had already been spent on electrical work and another $50 million on repairs to water damage and the wastewater system.
“We want the date when the shovels hit the ground. We want to know when work will begin, with clear timelines and budgets,” St-Pierre Plamondon demanded after visiting the hospital ahead of his press conference.
Legault: “It’s an emergency”
Questioned on the issue at the National Assembly around the same time as the PQ leader’s press conference, Health Minister Dubé cautiously suggested that the project would begin before the end of his mandate.
Under Quebec law, the next provincial election is set for Oct. 5, 2026. A little later, Premier Legault—who was responding to tariffs announced the previous day by U.S. President Donald Trump—acknowledged the urgent need for action.
“Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital needs to be renovated. There’s a lot of work to be done. The current state of the facility is unacceptable.”
Legault noted that funding for the project is already included in the Plan québécois des infrastructures (PQI) and said he wants to move “as quickly as possible” from planning to execution.
He promised that “additional funding” would be allocated, emphasizing that his government is committed to upgrading Maisonneuve-Rosemont.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2025.
