Rent increases: after community organizations, CPEs in shock

We confirm that the Center de services scolaire de Montréal intends to definitively take over the rented premises no later than June 30, 2023.writes on May 4 an analyst of the material resources service of the CSSDM to the director of the CPE Idée fixe, Normand Richardson.

The case has been going on since 2017-2018. About twenty CPEs tenants in former schools belonging to the CSSDM had rent increases of up to 500% imposed in some cases.

The objective was to impose prices reflecting those of the market and to recover money to finance the schools. The buildings being dilapidated, the CSSDM also demanded changes in the clauses of the leases, such as imposing responsibility for maintaining the building on the CPEs.

Some CPEs relocated, others managed to absorb the hefty bill and accept the new conditions, but others refused. These are the ones we call in the middle the Protesting CPEs.

For the CPE Idée fixe, located in the Ville-Marie borough, the rent increase was 360%.

Me, I couldn’t sign that, a lease like that. Because it automatically puts me in deficitargues Normand Richardson.

The director assures that he has always been ready to absorb part of the increase in costs calculated per square foot. Despite the governance changes of recent years, he says, from the former Commission scolaire de Montréal (CSDM) to the CSSDMto the guardianship of the latter, discussions continued…until the eviction notice of May 4th.

The impression I got was that we were hiring mercenaries outright CSSDM to do an arm job, to kick people outdenounces the director.

I have a little trouble understanding how an institution that is dedicated to education puts another one out that is in the same chain of education.is indignant Mr. Richardson.

A “big stress” for parents

The management, but also the parents, recently informed of the situation, are worried and perplexed.

Mélissa Meunier wishes to integrate the youngest of the family, Léon, into the CPE in September. Two of his children attend École Garneau, located in the building adjoining the CPE.

This means that my child will not complete his or her entire career in this CPE. It will be somewhere else, but where? How far? Will I get there with my other two to drive? Will I have to look for another job closer? It’s a big stress and a stress by anticipationconfides this mother.

” It is a great disappointment and a great misunderstanding. »

A logistical challenge and a stress shared by Dillian Menduina Cepero, single mother of two girls aged 2 and 7.

Everything is close. My daughter’s school is opposite the house and daycare is a five minute walk away. It’s going to be complicated for meshe argues.

Three different explanations since summer 2021

The director of the CPE Alexis le Trotteur, in the Mile-End district, thought he was in the process of negotiating an agreement with the CSSDMuntil April.

The Tenant CPE must, no later than May 1, 2022 […] pay the outstanding rent amounting to […] a total of $140,620.41. […] Failing to comply with the foregoing, the CSSDM reserves the right to pursue all remedies available to itwrote on April 6 a coordinator in the material resources department of the CSSDM. The ultimatum will be postponed until June 17.

” The parents are anxious, the staff are anxious and I am anxious. »

Guy Arseneault says he received three different explanations from the CSSDM in recent months to justify an eviction.

The first time, the CSSDM would have explained to him that the takeover of the premises was intended to recover spaces at administrative purposes (for offices in CSSDM). The second time the locals would serve to adult education. Then, the third time, that there would be work from 2023 to 2025 (necessary, because the building is dilapidated), but that the future vocation of the building was not known.

So we’ve been evicted from a publicly funded facility and we don’t know what the purpose of the building is? We’ve been here since 1985argues Mr. Arseneault.

We have no control over our income. Me, all I can do is charge parents $8.70 a day for daycare. The rest depends on public funding.he explains.

It is the Department of Education that funds the school service centers and we are funded by the Department of Families. Could the Department of Education and the Department of Families come to an agreement?he asks.

The Ministry of the Family will not leave a CPE on the street

The Ministry of Education declined our interview request, passing the buck to CSSDM in this dossier, reiterating that we want respect their independence.

The Ministry of the Family refutes for its part that the increase in rents demanded by the CSSDM puts the financial balance of CPE tenants at risk, at least in most of the cases, we write. Minister Mathieu Lacombe’s office, however, assures that no expulsion will take place before a solution has been found.

The ministry will not leave a CPE on the street. Discussions will continue until lasting solutions are found for each of the CPEs affected by an eviction notice.says Roxane Bourque, communications advisor in the office of the Minister of Families.

At the same time, the ministry maintains that it is in the process of revising the subsidies allocated to CPEs according to each region, in order to offset the meteoric rise in prices in the real estate sector.

CSSDM: no “unilateral eviction”

the CSSDM recalls that its primary mission is to meet the needs of Montreal students while managing surplus buildings for which it does not receive no funding.

Revenues from our space rentals must match our maintenance and energy costsemphasizes Alain Perron, head of press relations at the CSSDM.

There is no question of unilateral eviction or homelessnesshowever, insists the CSSDM which ensures, like the Ministry of the Family, that discussions will continue with the CPEs targeted by eviction notices.

According CSSDMthe majority of the 24 CPE tenants in Montreal would have regularized their situation and their arrears of rent.

CPEs have accepted severance agreements due to the dilapidated state of the buildings or to take them over for school purposes. It is important to understand that some buildings are in an advanced state of disrepair. For security reasons, we cannot allow their occupation to be extended.indicates Mr. Perron without mentioning a CPE in particular.

Each file is unique (…) we will not deal with specific files in the public squarehe concludes.

Families “taken hostage”, deplores Mayor Plante

It is unfortunate that Montreal families are being held hostage due to a lack of cohesion between the Ministry of Families and Education, it is the well-being and the future of Montreal children and educators that dependsaid in writing the office of the mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante.

Our administration is doing everything in its power to ensure the affordability of the metropolis and we hope that the Government of Quebec, for which it is the responsibility, will find a solution.we add.