The gaspé peninsula: access to high speed Internet set up here two years ago, supports Legault

The prime minister François Legault has indicated that the services of high speed Internet and cell phone would be accessible everywhere in Quebec within two years. He also announced the return of CLD in all the RCMS in Quebec.

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July 16, 2020 18: 44

Updated at 20h22

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The gaspé peninsula: access to high speed Internet set up here two years ago, supports Legault

Gilles Gagné

The Sun

CARLETON — The prime minister of Québec, François Legault, is committed to address in the next two years the access to high-speed internet and cellular telephony for 400 000 households in québec that are private.

Mr. Legault has made this commitment on Thursday during his visit to Carleton in the Gaspé peninsula, in the middle of a tour of the three regions of the East-of-Québec.

He said to bet on the companies “such as Telus, Bell Canada, and Videotron -” to cover “all of Québec” and the households which do not have access to high-speed Internet and cellular telephony. “We are going to pay the difference,” he said, referring to the gap often relied on by the telecommunications giants in order to justify their inaction with respect to non-serviced.

On the other hand, François Legault is also committed to “re-open LDC [local development Centres] in all of the MRC du Québec”. These centres have been abolished during the austerity measures of the liberal government at the end of 2014 and beginning of 2015, a move denounced by several business groups and citizens ‘ movements at the time.

The prime minister has not given schedule, budget or mode of operation of the new CLD but it has been suggested that this renaissance could be done promptly. He also spoke of collaboration with Investissement Québec, whose role is increasing in the regions.

Moreover, when asked about the relevance of see the government of Quebec to play a role of financial support from the City of Chandler, which is in the process of acquisition of the commercial wharf with Transport Canada, Mr. Legault said he is “very interested to regain control of the port”.

The quay is closed from September 2016, after having been neglected by Transport Canada. The municipal administration is, however, in discussions since that time with the federal ministry for the port to be sold to the city after a complete renovation, a step that will require an investment of several tens of millions of dollars.

François Legault wants to primarily see Transport Canada to take its responsibility for the rehabilitation of the port before the handover “for the funding, it does not exclude” the participation of Quebec if it were to be a determining factor.

“The port of Chandler could play again a decisive role in the decompartmentalization of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine”, argued the mayor of Chandler, Louisette Langlois, considering the problems of the Islanders and their visitors from the beginning of the pandemic, because of the barriers imposed by the New Brunswick and Prince Edward island.

The prime minister, who had come to announce with enthusiasm the 26 April 2019 the renovation of the chemin de fer de la Gaspésie would be complete in 2026, an announcement that had so disappointed because of the seven years required to complete this upgrade, came back on this question, after having reduced the one-year deadline in August next.

“It is too far (2025) but we need all kinds of reviews”, before deciding on a date. He stated that he placed the rehabilitation of the stretch from the gaspé in the bill 61, which failed to be adopted in June because the opposition considered this adoption too rushed.

The prime minister has also stressed the importance of giving more predictability to the forest industry, without naming specific projects in the peninsula.

The president of the Table of prefects of the Gaspé peninsula, Nadia Minassian, came out satisfied with his group meeting with François Legault.

“We had to present projects in the short-term, achievable quickly, and we have proposed initiatives in the forest, in the wind sector and in tourism. But we have also submitted to the prime minister that it is necessary to create conditions conducive to investment. It is necessary to address the issues of housing, lack of places in childcare and the importance of providing the region with adequate transportation. It is the sinews of war, if it wants to retain families,” she says.

Regional tourism

The prime minister took advantage of a stop at Carleton-sur-Mer to emphasize that the tourism intraprovincial in a time of pandemic is “an extraordinary opportunity” for the economic development of the region.

“As a former president of Air Transat, I know that there are a lot of Quebecers who were accustomed to go either in the south or in Europe. These people will be much less travel in the coming years”, he noted.

He invited local officials to submit projects to see the birth of new accommodation and tourist attractions.

The prime minister has also said they want to “settle once and for all,” the lack of air service in the region, following the recent announcement of Air Canada to suspend indefinitely 30 connections in Quebec.

The government does not exclude support for a company, be it new or already well established, but wants to first ensure a frequency, and a reasonable price for the flights offered.

“Probably that the Quebec government is going to have to give a subsidy to the carrier that has the best offer. Me, I want this to be solved permanently”, he insisted.

In terms of access to Îles-de-la-Madeleine via the maritime provinces, the negotiations are in progress to facilitate the movement of Quebecers, ” said Mr. Legault.

“We have discussions almost every day. I understand that there is a certain fear on the side of the Island-the Prince Edward island and New Brunswick because they see that there has been a lot of cases in Quebec, he argued. We try to reassure them. And me, I’m optimistic. I felt that there was an opening.” With The canadian Press

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