Anthony Dumas, property owner of the Résidence aux Beaux Séjours building, weighs in on the current lease situation

LOCAL NEWS – MARCH 25, 2022: BLANC-SABLON, QC. - Anthony Dumas, property owner of the Résidence aux Beaux Séjours building, weighs in on the current lease situation

Following the news coverage by CFBS on March 24th regarding questions from local residents on if services would continue at the Résidence aux Beaux Séjours in Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon, we were speaking with Mr. Anthony Dumas who owns the building that currently hosts the residence to see if he could shed more information on what is happening with the current lease, and the information given by the CISSS de la Côte-Nord stating that the building will no longer meet intermediate operating standards by December 2022.

Mr. Dumas informed CFBS that there is no current lease contract with the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Côte-Nord (CISSS de la Côte-Nord), the contract was not renewed by the CISSS since October 1st 2017. "I cannot understand why they are saying it is not up to standards, the only communication I have received from the CISSS asking for any upgrades to the building was a letter dated on July 30, 2021 asking for paint to freshen up the patio deck" stated Mr. Dumas. 

Anthony Dumas has owned the building since it was renovated in 2011, where he operated the residence himself until 2013. Besides for that time frame, the newly renovated facility has only ever been leased to the health center, and was meeting all of the requirements necessary he says. The CISSS installed a new alarm system at the beginning of the first lease, and that was the only upgrade carried out. Mr. Dumas states that in the leases that were signed in 2013 and then again in 2014, the CISSS as the leaser was to assume all damages to the building such as paint, plaster, furniture upkeep, flooring, patio, and daily maintenance. "I am disappointed about this current situation, I can only imagine how concerned the residents must be in worry of what will happen" says Anthony Dumas.

On March 1st 2022, Anthony Dumas attended a meeting with the heath center establishment. At this meeting, Mr. Dumas said he was told that the CISSS will not be adding any new residents, and questions were raised about building standards. Anthony said he gave the CISSS three options to consider; to buy the building, to sign a new lease for the building, or to terminate the use of the facility on May 30, 2022. "I feel that the CISSS de la Côte-Nord has long had the intention to discontinue leasing the building for the residence, otherwise why not sign a new lease after the last one ended in 2017? As a landlord, how can I invest further in the property without a contract? It makes no sense. I want to work with the CISSS for a solution" adds Mr. Dumas.

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Abbygail Wellman
CFBS Journalist