Expansion plans in motion at CHSLD Santé Courville de Waterloo

The Quebec government announced the start of construction on a new wing at the CHSLD Santé Courville de Waterloo on Friday morning.
Quebec’s Seniors Minister Marguerite Blais led the press conference in front of the Courville building. The project will cost the provincial government $10.3 million, creating space for 22 new beds in the long-term care facility.
The expansion is expected to resemble a seniors’ home but it won’t be exactly the same, Blais explained in a phone interview. She also provided a timeline for the opening date, saying the facility should be completed by late winter 2021.
The restructured building falls under the CHSLD privé conventionné for the first time since 1980, she added, which means it is entirely subsidized by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS).
The project effectively shuts down the CHSLD Waterloo, or Horace Boivin, across the street. Santé Courville will absorb the 22 beds from the dilapidated Boivin centre, placing them in the newly constructed wing.
However, the provincial government originally wanted to transfer residents from Horace Boivin to the new CHSLD Granby until it completed renovating the old building. But once it was determined that they would incur too many costs, they moved on to the Courville plan.
Blais assured current employees that their jobs aren’t at risk, saying “the employees will be paid the same salary that you can find in the public, with the same social advantage and the people who are working in Waterloo who want to work in the other CHSLD just in front of Horace Boivin will be able to move on and work at Santé Courville.”
While Boivin employees can transfer to Courville, they can also choose to work at the CHSLD Granby. Some of them already live in Granby, Blais explained, so it’s just easier for them. A survey conducted by the government shows a balanced interest for both locations.
Santé Courville President Kenneth Courville also confirmed that employees can stop worrying about their jobs. They won’t lose any of their benefits, he said, their salary and retirement plans also will remain intact.
“They’ve done an evaluation and we believe we can absorb all 100 per cent of the employees who wish to work in Waterloo,” Courville said.
While the Quebec government is footing the construction bill, if it ends up costing more than $10.3 million, Courville will have to dip into his own pockets. He is confident that the project can be completed with the current budget.

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