Gatineau confirms participation to Rénovation Québec program

Desiring to give residents an opportunity to renovate their homes located in heritage areas, the city of Gatineau confirmed its intention to participate in the provincial government’s Programme Rénovation Québec (PRQ) 2021-2022 during its public meeting on February 16. The decision is awaiting is Municipal council’s official approval during its next public meeting. According to a press release issued by the city on the same date, the city foresees a $1.2 million budget for the PRQ in 2021 and 2022. It added that the city has requested a $1.2 million grant from the Société d’habitation du Québec to augment the budget to $2.4 million and split costs evenly.

Intended for the renovation of aging residential buildings, it stated that to be eligible for a subsidy, a structure must have been built before January 1, 1985. It must also include at least one unit, and be located in a particular renovation zone in one of the city’s five sectors. The criteria is explained in more detail on the city’s designated PRQ web page - https://www.gatineau.ca/portail/default.aspx?p=guichet_municipal/subventions_commandites/programme_renovation_quebec&mc=s&q=programme%20r%C3%A9novation. 

From 2002 to 2020, it noted that the PRQ and other renovation programs have allowed 3,650 local units to be renovated with more than $30 million invested. 636 properties in Gatineau are on a waiting list to obtain subsidies. The PRQ handles around 100 files per year.

Stating that the city is dedicated to maintain and improve the quality of life in Gatineau’s aging neighbourhoods, Commission du développement du territoire, l’habitation, et l’environnement and Plateau district councillor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette said that the PRQ is an ideal way to address the matter. “That’s why Gatineau’s recurrent participation to this program allows, by way of subsidies, to ensure the sustainability of our built heritage,” Marquis-Bissonnette said in the press release.