Popular mobilization for the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Hospital

(Adèle Major) — A popular meeting in favor of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Hospital took place this morning (October 26) at Cité des Jeunes high school. Nearly 300 people gathered in the Paul-Émile Meloche theater to express their interest in having a hospital center in their MRC.

During this 24th mobilization, several members of the Citizens' Committee for the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Hospital spoke. Denis Lapointe, Chairman of the Committee, got the ball rolling, followed by Yvon Marcoux, Member of Parliament for Vaudreuil, Lucie Charlebois, Member of Parliament for Soulanges, Robert Sauvé, Mayor of Coteau-du-Lac and Prefect of the MRC Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Guy Pilon, Mayor of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Élyse Lapointe from Vaudreuil-Soulanges Health and Social Services Center (CSSS), Philippe Toupin, citizen of Saint-Lazare, Brian Amyot, representative of the English-speaking population on the Committee, Martin Richardson, outgoing President of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Richard Beaumier, real estate broker and accountant, Brian Beaumier, real estate broker and accountant, Jean-Paul Régis, of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Hospital Foundation, as well as Jean-Noël Bilodeau, a man very involved in the MRC, especially in the area of mental health care.

All these people explained the history of the procedures since 2009. More than one recalled all the steps taken so far. Mr. Brian Amyot, addressed the hearing in English; he even concluded his speech by saying that the only thing that was missing for the project to happen was a check signed by Quebec City.

Several of the panelists also “addressed” the Minister of Health. Among other things, Lucie Charlebois invited him to put himself in the shoes of the residents of Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

Robert Sauvé would like to receive more support from the population. “The Vaudreuil-Soulanges hospital is not a luxury; it is a need,” he said. Mr. Sauvé also recalled that Vaudreuil-Soulanges is one of the only regions in the country with such a large population without hospitals. He believes that it is time for the government to specify the land where the hospital will be built and the construction schedule.

The region has had a high birth rate for years, even one of the highest in Quebec. In this context, local services are important now and will be even more important in a few years. The citizens of Vaudreuil-Soulanges are invited to remain mobilized, in particular by taking concrete actions such as registering on the List of supporters of the Citizens' Committee for the Hospital of the CSSS de Vaudreuil-Soulanges by asking questions or providing comments via email hopitalvs2018@gmail.com or via the page Facebook Mobilization CSSS Hospital in Vaudreuil-Soulanges .

That's not all, the Citizens' Committee for the Hospital of Vaudreuil-Soulanges invites the population to write individually to the Government of Quebec to express their desire to finally have a hospital in Vaudreuil-Soulanges. All you have to do is go to the website of Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services.

There were really a lot of people today at the Paul-Émile-Meloche Theater, but I think that there were a few young people missing. However, they and their children are even more likely to benefit from a hospital in Vaudreuil-Soulanges. Probably there will be more during the 25th mobilization meeting.

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