Residents of Faubourg Mena’Sen worried by the controversy

This is our home!exclaims Mariette Gagné. The 71-year-old woman has lived in the Faubourg for four years with her spouse. We want to stay here, we want to be at peace here, we would very much like to keep the system we hadNPOnonprofit organization.

Like many of her neighbors, she is attached to the old model of her home.

There are plenty of people here who are not rich. They came here to have peace, security [et que] it’s not too expensive […] It’s disappointing. You meet people, and people are worried. It’s not a very pleasant environment since the sale happenedremarks Réjeanne Bouchard, another resident.

Céline Châteauneuf has also been living at Faubourg Mena’Sen for six years. We like the scenery, we have 12 acres of land here, it’s not at all like the RPAprivate residence for seniors. We can take walks, we can go see our friends without taking our car! […] We are free, we have our rent and we can do what we wantshe argues.

Denis Beaucher, who also lives in the Faubourg, regrets not having heard of the transaction before March.

Everybody’s on edge, everybody’s stressed, everybody’s talking about ithe laments.

” We were talking about spring, but here we are talking about the sale of Mena’Sen. It’s less interesting. »

A formal notice that raises hopes

Lawyer Louis Fortier represents a citizen who believes that the five former administrators of the Faubourg lacked transparency. He sent them a formal notice to get answers to the many questions he has.

Why sell the building complex? Was it necessary? Was it in the interest of the organization? Why sell it by mutual agreement to a single buyer? That way, you don’t necessarily get the best price.he gives as an example.

I invite all these people [les anciens administrateurs] to answer questions as quickly as possible, to avoid the deployment of police, administrative and judicial resources, come and explain yourselfhe says.

The lawyer also says he is sensitive to the fate that awaits the elders of the Faubourg.

” Our seniors are deprived, weakened, vulnerable in these situations, and that’s the last thing we want. Me, I found that it was completely unacceptable to behave in this way. »

We must especially talk about the tenants, who are retirees. These people have the right to mental, physical and financial health and security. That’s what bothers mehe hammers.

The residents we met also have high hopes for Me Fortier’s efforts.

We hope it will help us find peace and our quiet little home. […] People are talking about moving already, and we’re just at the beginning of the proceduremaintains Mariette Gagné.

I hope justice will be reversed. It’s not just about the money, it’s about the well-beingadds Denis Beaucher .

The former directors have until May 17 to respond to the formal notice. As for the new owners, they have already met the residents, and will soon comment on the file.

On Wednesday, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Andrée Laforest reiterated Quebec’s intention to intervene in this file during an exchange at the National Assembly. We take action. I have legislative intentions to resolve this situation, because sales ofNPOnonprofit organization as you spoke to me in Sherbrooke, we must act, and we are acting very, very quicklyshe assures.

In an interview with Radio-Canada last week, Me Serge Dubois had maintained that the sale was legal and that its terms were in the private domain.

Contacted by Radio-Canada, the lawyer had not yet responded at the time of writing these lines.

With information from Marion Bérubé