Press release
For immediate release
Choosing a site for the future CHUM:
another step forward in realizing
a vital structuring project for Montreal
Montreal, March 24, 2005 On behalf of its members, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal welcomes today's announcement by Mr. Jean Charest, Premier of Quebec, Mr. Philippe Couillard, Minister of Health and Social Services, and Ms. Line Beauchamp, Minister of Culture and Communications and minister responsible for the Montreal region, regarding the choice of a site for the future Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM).
For the Board of Trade, it was essential that the Quebec government quickly announce its intentions regarding the final choice of site for the future CHUM, because Quebec 's economy would have borne the brunt of any additional delays in making this decision. It is important to maintain the synergy between the construction of Montreal's two university health centres CHUM and MUHC and to keep our sights on the 2010 objective if we wish to consolidate our reputation as a centre of excellence for health care and research and help make Montreal a destination of choice for both private investment and top-notch teachers, researchers, and students, declared Isabelle Hudon, president and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.
The construction of the two university health centres plays an essential structuring role in attracting, developing, and retaining Montreal and Quebec expertise in training, biomedical research, and the delivery of state-of-the-art health care. Moreover, both projects also represent a strategic catalyzing investment that, on top of the $1.6 billion invested by the provincial government, will generate additional benefits and spin-offs of some $2 billion, injecting a total of more than $3.6 billion in the Quebec economy, most of which will benefit Greater Montreal, continued Hudon.
Choosing a site for the CHUM was difficult because the various options each had their own merits. And while it was only natural for the proponents of each site to vigorously defend their preference, now that the final decision has been made, all stakeholders both private and public must work together to make this major project the success Montreal so greatly needs. If we wish to strengthen Montreal 's positioning among the world's most dynamic and innovative cities in the science and health-care sectors, we must now put aside our differences and ensure this decision quickly leads to concrete results, concluded Hudon.
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has some 7,000 members. Its primary mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montreal and to provide individuals, merchants and businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec 's leading private economic development organization.
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Source:
Sylvie Paquette
Coordinator, Media relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: (514) 871-4000, ext. 4015
sylvie.paquette@ccmm.qc.ca