Centre jeunesse de Laval and CRDI to share $2.9 million

Two of Laval’s largest agencies for the treatment of behavioral problems among young people will be receiving nearly $2.9 million in additional funding this year to refurbish their facilities and replace aging or obsolete equipment.

CJL and CRDI
Laval-des-Rapides Liberal MNA Alain Paquet, who is a special minister delegated for finance in the Charest cabinet, announced the funds being given to the Centre jeunesse de Laval and the CRDI Normand-Laramée during a press conference held on Jan. 10 at the sprawling social services campus on Cartier Blvd. West where the two organizations are based.
Most of the money – more than $2.5 million – is going to the CJL. CRDI Normand-Laramée will be receiving around $350,000. Paquet acknowledged during a short speech to officials from the two establishments that the government has lately been playing catch-up with the province’s health network, to make up for years of shortcomings not only by previous PQ administrations, but also by the Liberals.

Playing catch-up
“In Laval there’s been some catching up to do in the financing since 2003,” said Paquet, noting that wide-scale population growth in Laval and on the North Shore is the main justification by the government for expanding the two areas’ health care budgets.
Paquet said in an interview afterwards that even if more money is due, “taking into account that there is a budget cut restraint, we have to take into account the debt burden of the Quebec government. but we’re able to maintain this balance.”
On a different but related issue, Paquet was asked what if any impact the federal government’s recently announced intention of reducing its central role in the country’s health care system might have on medicare in Quebec.

Health pact threatened
According to Paquet, Quebec doesn’t want Ottawa to abdicate the guiding role it has held since the medicare system was created in the early 1960s. “We have to negotiate and find the best way to attribute money for health care,” he said.
“We are willing to negotiate with the provinces and we expect that from the federal government,” he continued. “We hope they come to their senses and they will come to the negotiation table. It (the federal government) has responsibility and has to be committed to that, just as Quebec has other responsibilities. Ultimately we have to respond to the needs of the people.”