CIUSSS staff: $155,000 in hotel accommodation while working on the Pierre Laporte Bridge

The first phase of work on the Pierre Laporte Bridge will cost $155,000 in hotel rooms at the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale to accommodate workers who live on the south shore.

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Like many other organizations and companies in the region, CIUSSS has had to take great measures to ensure that its employees are on duty in anticipation of the major work on the Pierre Laporte Bridge.

While some have chartered helicopters or allowed employees to camp on their premises, CIUSSS reached three agreements with Quebec hoteliers for rooms between June 27 and July 7.

The cost of the operation is $155,557 and is divided as follows:

• Marriott Courtyard Québec: $93,464
• Normandin set: $39,435
• Best Western Center – Vail: $22,658

1200 reservations

A total of 120 rooms were reserved for the period of work on the main link between the two banks of the St. Lawrence River, but not all of them were used for the duration of the work.

“We have made room for 115 employees, for one night or more, as the case may be,” CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale spokesperson Mathieu Boivin said via email, explaining that 720 nights were used out of the 1,200 booked or 60%.

The organization asserts that many of the staff involved have found ‘alternative solutions’. A total of 1,384 employees of the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale reside on Quebec’s south shore and can take advantage of booked rooms.

Same thing in August

The preventive solution will enable these employees to avoid the expected congestion in the bridge sector during the ten scheduled work days.

However, the traffic will be much less important than expected. Does this note change CIUSSS’ plans for the second phase scheduled for August?

Not at all, we are reassured, and at the same time assure that the rooms will be offered again to the staff.

“Yes, given our responsibility to be prepared in case the situation becomes more difficult at that time,” Mr. Boivin explains.

The latter adds that rooms are offered as a priority “for employees who had no alternative and who provided direct care or services to users”.

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