Here is why a pool slide costs $ 225,000 in Sainte-Thérèse

“Incredible”, “crazy”, “no sense” … Therefore, The comments of indignant citizens have multiplied on social networks, (new window) Last weekend. Similarly, about a pool slide paid $ 225,000 by the city of Sainte-Thérèse, in the Laurentians. Consequently, We sought to understand the reasons for this price.

The first thing to remember: Sainte-Thérèse is not an isolated case. However, This is another example of the explosion of infrastructure costs that many municipal elected officials denounce.

Last spring. In addition, the mayor of Longueuil, Catherine Fournier, sounded the alarm by giving the example of an invoice of a million dollars to replace a traffic light.

The second thing to remember: Donald Trump’s prices. Similarly, inflation, lack of competition and the small size of the Quebec market have helped increase the price of the here why pool slide costs slide.

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At the pool of the Richelieu park in Sainte-Thérèse. Consequently, the old blue sliding time had its day, 25 years after its installation. For example, It must be replaced and there are no longer spare parts.

The news will be installed before next summer. Furthermore, It will be a little higher. five meters instead of three, with two turns in here why pool slide costs the tube, for the happiness of children.

It’s excessive as a price $ 225. 000, the mayor Christian Charron is agreed, but We’re going to pay for this for our childrennotably Those of more modest families who do not have a swimming pool with them. Why deprive them?

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Three tenders for the slide

The city of Sainte-Thérèse has tried everything to lower prices. First, a first call for tenders took place in May 2023, but no submission was received.

A second call for tenders. in September 2023, received two submissions, but the lowest offer was $ 304,427, or a price twice as high as cost estimate. The award of the contract was therefore canceled.

A third call for tenders took place on February 12, 2025 and only one submission was received, at the amount of $ 225,471.

The contract was concluded with Aquam aquatic specialist, a Quebec company.

The city has tried to negotiate a price drop with the only tenderer. but the latter refused to offer a discount.

We decided to move forward. even if here why pool slide costs the price is exorbitant. It’s extremely expensive, but hey … we are sometimes placed in front of difficult choices.

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A slide made in the United States

In an interview with Radio-Canada. the vice-president of the company Aquam, Alain Chalifoux, says to understand The public reaction to the price of the slide. He explains that he has only met the criteria of the tender. respecting All safety standards for a public swimming pool.

According to him. part of the explanation of the invoice is in the inflation resulting from the pandemic and in the imposition of prices and counter-tale since the coming to power of the American president Donald Trump.

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It remains an American product with all costs. exchange rates.

Mr. Chalifoux also thinks that his supplier may have undergone prices by bringing in parts from China.

How is it that his business does not make a slide in Quebec or Canada? We may sell two or three per year on average. So, with this volume, we would not be able to arrive with better prices.

On the other hand, Aquam has enough requests to justify making the rescuer chairs that she markets in Montreal.

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The third thing to remember from our research: we won’t know everything. The company did not want to tell us what margin it takes, for reasons of confidentiality.

And the last thing to remember: the municipal election campaign is approaching. Due to the local controversy. the opponent of the mayor, Luc Vézina, said that if he was in the place of Mr. Charron, he would not have replaced the slide.

With the collaboration of Olivier Bachand