Council takes position on the location of the future affiliated university hospital center (chau)
March 9, 2022
At its regular meeting on March 8, Council adopted a resolution expressing its concerns about the choice of location for the new affiliated university hospital center in the Outaouais and asking the Quebec government to choose a sustainable, responsible and accessible location for the center.
The municipal council issued a resolution expressing its fears and concerns regarding the Quebec government's choice Boulevard de la Technologie as the location for the future affiliated university hospital center (CHAU). This location, a few hundred meters south of the Municipality of Chelsea, would generate a significant increase in traffic on the main arterial roads in the area, which are not designed to accommodate a flow of patients, visitors and thousands of employees to the hospital center each day.
The Council also questioned the environmental impacts that the development would have on existing natural areas, particularly in the vicinity of Chelsea Creek. The choice of a site adjacent to a semi-rural area could have significant negative effects on the natural environment, ecological areas and endangered species.
The Council is committed to preserving the municipality's rural character, heritage and existing natural infrastructures, including green corridors. It is therefore concerned about the tremendous impacts that the construction of the CHAU would have on biodiversity and on the health and quality of life of its residents, as well as the significant increase in GHGs locally.
Therefore, in its resolution, the municipal council asks the Quebec government to prioritize sites in downtown Gatineau for the construction of the CHAU in order to avoid urban sprawl, promote public transit, protect natural environments and take into account population growth and long-term economic development. It also calls on the government to strive to provide barrier-free and equitable access to health services for all Outaouais residents.
Furthermore, Council would like the Quebec government to address its concerns and consult with the Municipality of Chelsea in order to make an informed choice about the location of the CHAU.
Finally, if the Boulevard de la Technologie site is selected for the future hospital, Council would like the Quebec government to make a commitment to the people of Chelsea to fund the necessary collateral infrastructure, as well as a commitment to build the CHAU in harmony with the natural environment and biodiversity of the Municipality of Chelsea.
