Chelsea concerned with the location of the new regional hospital (CHAU)
           

March 8, Council adopted a resolution expressing its concerns about the choice of location for the new affiliated university hospital centre in the Outaouais (CHAU) and asks the Quebec government to choose a sustainable, responsible and accessible location for the centre.

Council expressed its concerns over the government's choice of Boulevard de la Technologie. This location, a few hundred meters south of the Municipality of Chelsea, would generate a significant increase in traffic on main arterial roads, which are not designed to accommodate a flow of patients, visitors and thousands of employees to the hospital centre each day.

Council also questioned its environmental impacts on existing natural areas, particularly Chelsea Creek.  A site near a semi-rural area could have significant negative effects on the natural environment, ecological areas and endangered species.

Council is committed to preserving the municipality's rural character, heritage and existing natural infrastructures, including green corridors. It is concerned about the tremendous impacts that the construction of the CHAU would have on biodiversity and on the health and life of its residents, as well as its increase in GHGs.

Therefore, council asks Quebec to prioritize 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 calls for barrier-free and equitable access to health services for all Outaouais residents.

Council asks the government to address its concerns and consult with the Municipality in order to make an informed choice about the location of the CHAU.

If the Boulevard de la Technologie is selected, Council asks the government  to fund collateral infrastructure, and to build the CHAU in harmony with the natural environment and biodiversity of the Municipality of Chelsea.

Roxane Millette
(for the) Municipality of Chelsea