The Quebec government is in danger of losing at least $ 44 million because of a failed bet in hopes of saving money for building homes for seniors, a Radio-Canada analysis shows.
The resumption of seven tenders deemed too expensive, which were canceled between June and September 2021, has resulted in higher bids in recent weeks.
Sometimes the exact same contractor remains the lowest bidder a second time, but with a higher price. Results in this case: additional costs of $ 7.5 million for the home of the elderly in Carignan, in Montérégie, and $ 4.4 million for Saint-Hilarion, in Charlevoix.
The prize for the largest increase goes to the seniors ’home in Trois-Rivières, with an increase of nearly $ 10 million between the first and second calls for tenders, or an 18% increase.
In total, the $ 44 million overpayment corresponds to the value of a senior’s home.
The price of materials continued to rise, to Quebec’s failure
This is defeated at stake, comment of the spokesman for the Association de la construction du Québec, Guillaume Houle. But he does not blame the government.
He remembers that until January 2022, the situation is expected to return to normal in the price of building materials, which exploded due to the pandemic.
Except that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine changed the game. We should also add the pandemic that paralyzed the port of Shanghai, in China, for several weeks.
” There has been so much volatility since the beginning of the pandemic that traders have had to protect themselves against rising costs and because the supply chain is completely out of order. We have difficulty ordering materials on time. “
The context you mentioned, along with the labor shortage in the construction industry, puts strong pressure on costs.commemorating the Société québécoise des infrastructures (SQI), which manages calls for tenders for seniors ’homes for the government.
After canceling the first calls for tenders, SQI changed some specific contract requirements, postponed stages or deadlines, or even cut work into batches. But all this is not enough to get a lower price.
” SQI uses a variety of techniques to counteract bad results [peu ou pas de soumissionnaires, résultats trop élevés] and we cannot predict the reaction of the current market. […] Although conducting re -launching calls for tenders has regularly yielded good results in the past, the current context has not yet done so, it has not ensured any assurance of getting better results. “
The results of the second call for tenders are still being evaluated. Can they cancel again?
When SQI considers that the price submitted is not the correct price, it gives itself the opportunity to cancel the call for tenders, change the supply strategy, combine several lots, or separate them according to context.Martin Roy replied.
The cost of building materials increased by 35% between October 2020 and October 2021, the Association de la construction du Québec recalled. Between December 2021 and January 2022, the price of wood will rise by almost 150% and the price of steel by 75% between 2020 and 2021.
The first homes for seniors to be delivered should be those in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines and Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, in the Laurentians, in early August, followed by Saguenay and Roberval in mid-August. .
Construction has already begun on 34 of the 46 seniors.
Last I heard, the total planned budget was $ 2.4 billion.
Nearly a million dollars to build a bedroom
The minimum bid for the seniors ’home in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield is $ 67.5 million for 72 spaces, or $ 938,000 per space just for construction costs.
The average construction cost per space is approximately $ 600,000, according to our compilation, but that doesn’t include all the costs that can be added.
According to our information, the government is planning, for example, $ 500.5 million in service costs, or $ 143,800 per space.
We realize that the bill is always risinggrievance of Liberal critic for seniors, Monique Sauvé.
” This project of a generation will be the debt of a generation. “
Opposition parties are demanding that the extensive project be abandoned
SQI plans to deliver at least 2,600 of the 3,480 areas planned to seniors ’homes by the fall of 2022, as promised by the Legault government.
Above all, don’t consider building additional homes for seniors before doing real meditation.believes Monique Sauvé.
Like Parti Québécois and Québec solidaire, it agrees to complete the work already begun.
The topic of homes for the elderly is due to be discussed again, Wednesday, in the National Assembly, while the Minister responsible for the Elderly and Carers, Marguerite Blais, will be questioned by opposition parties as part of the study. credits from his department.
Source: Radio-Canada
