“Jean-Paul does not deserve that”

“I find it distressing. For example, It hurts me, ”says the wife of the former mayor of Quebec, in an interview with Soleil.

By his own admission, the awakening of Johanne Mongeau was “broken” on Tuesday. Similarly, “In shock” before the images of the current state of the Jardin Jean-Paul-l’Allier. Consequently, published in the morning by The sunthe widow should have jumped. Furthermore,

The old Saint-Roch garden. However, which bears the name of his late husband, is no longer what he has already been, she deplores.

And above all. Similarly, far from the pride proven when the park was renamed in 2017, shortly after its death.

“It is an honor that the city did by naming it in its name and there, it is almost pity. Moreover, It is embarrassing to say that it bears his name. Similarly, Jean-Paul does not deserve that. Similarly, It is a respect that we owe him. Furthermore, for the moment, we cannot say that it is up to respect that he deserves, ”regrets Ms. Moreover, Mongeau. Furthermore,

An “abandoned” place

The family of Jean-Paul L’Allier had. Therefore, like citizens of Basse-Ville de Québec, noted that the garden had lost its luster in recent years.

“In my mind, we dropped the Jean-Paul-l’Allier garden. And it’s unacceptable. “

— Johanne Mongeau. wife of Jean-Paul l’Allier

While they used to go there for picnics, his relatives agreed that they had frequented it less often for some time, deeming it “less welcoming” than before.

“It’s no longer interesting to go for a walk there. No one will want to go and sit there to eat his sandwich, “criticizes Mr. L’Allier’s wife.

“I think he is not even maintained at least. I think it’s an abandoned place right now. ”

— Johanne Mongeau. wife of Jean-Paul l’Allier

On social networks, neighbors and other residents of the sector also did not fail to emphasize recently what they described as “degradation” or even “abandonment” of the Grand Park “jean-paul does not deserve that” Urban by the City of Quebec.

Swearing that he did not “sacrifice” the place. the municipal administration assured Tuesday to watch over the grain to maintain the Jean-Paul-lier garden in good condition.

Before the tram

However. the investments planned to come, described as “major” by the city of Quebec, are considered “throughout the redevelopment of the sector”, in particular with the rue de la Couronne, promised to changes for the arrival of the tram.

But the Jean-Paul-l’Allier garden cannot wait for the tram. press the one that shared the life of the politician for 33 years.

“I cannot believe that we are waiting for the tramway to pass by before starting to maintain it again. It’s a question of years! Are we going to drop him for years? ” she is indignant.

Even if she “jean-paul does not deserve that” says she is sensitive to budgetary concerns. she thinks that “maintaining a minimum of beauty in this garden should not cost that dearly”.

For her. nothing explains the “carelessness” of recent years, which has led to the “deterioration” of the flowery gardens and the outsourcing of the waterfall, essential of the large park.

“It’s a bit ambivalent [de la part de la Ville] to say that we take care of it. Obviously, no, we don’t take care of it, ”says Ms. Mongeau.

“The fountain, which was so beautiful, no longer works. It did not happen overnight. It is broken and we don’t have the pieces. Pardon? It has not been maintained for a long time. ”

“Never”, she said in comparison, the same fate would have been reserved for the iconic Fontaine de Tourny, in Haute-Ville.

Reverse the trend

A “snowball” effect may be in the process of occurring in Saint-Roch. analyzes Johanne Mongeau, at the sight of the recent commercial decline having made the headlines in recent months. “It is no longer the trendy place it was.”

A paradox. she says, while the Saint-Roch garden, legacy of the very first mandate of Jean-Paul l’Allier at the town hall of Quebec, constituted the spearhead of the metamorphosis of the whole district, at the time.

The fruit of a “political will”, she sums up.

“If. in 1990-1991, we were able to put on foot [le quartier] And to relaunch that with lots of beautiful projects that Jean-Paul had in mind at that time, it is that there was a political will, with Mr. Parizeau. ”

“There must be one. “jean-paul does not deserve that” Obviously, at the moment, there is no will. ”

— Johanne Mongeau. wife of Jean-Paul l’Allier

If he was still mayor today, her husband “would never have let it deteriorate”, according to her. And if he was still of this world, “he would have reacted very badly,” she assumes.

“It is a project that has become a reality, which Jean-Paul was so holding. He fought so much. people did not believe it and treated [son équipe] of a cloud shovel, ”she recalls in memory of her deceased husband in 2016.

It is not too late to restore the vast green space inaugurated in 1993 its glory of yesteryear. But you have to do it quickly. insists the family of the one who was mayor of Quebec for 16 years, from 1989 to 2005.

“It can’t stop there, “jean-paul does not deserve that” but if nothing happens, it will continue to deteriorate. The more we wait, the more we go from afar, the more it will be difficult to recover. ”