Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital renovations: Quebec health minister looking for solutions

A blackout caused by Tuesday night’s storm knocked out power and backup systems at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, forcing staff to evacuate ICU patients.

With pressure mounting on the Quebec government over the crumbling Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Health Minister Christian Dubé said on Wednesday he would “find a solution in the next few weeks” so work could begin.

The Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital once again made headlines because of the violent storms that caused major damage and power cuts at the facility Tuesday.

The generator failed for more than an hour, particularly in the operating theatre. Windows shattered, injuring at least one nurse. Staff were also reportedly trapped in elevators, according to La Presse and Radio-Canada.

After announcing major reconstruction work at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, the Legault government recently postponed the project once again.

• READ MORE: Surgeries cancelled at one of Quebec’s largest hospitals after violent storm

In a press scrum at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Dubé said there were “so many projects” underway in the Quebec Infrastructure Plan (PQI) “that we don’t have enough money to start new projects.”

In the same breath, he indicated that there was a budget of $3.6 billion for this year, “which includes one billion in asset maintenance.”

“I can’t believe they can’t find the money just to get rid of parking. And why is it important to get rid of the parking lot? Because it’s next to the building, and once the parking is done, we can start building the hospital,” he continued.

He also stressed “There are no patients at risk at the moment.”

For the Official Opposition in the National Assembly, the minister’s inaction on the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital issue is not only “pathetic,” it also puts patients’ lives at risk.

At a press briefing, Marc Tanguay, interim leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, told Dubé: “Take action. We want to see the beans follow the chaff. Work must start this summer.”

Québec Solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal went further, describing the situation at Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital on Tuesday evening as “apocalyptic.”

“We were lucky, because there were no deaths,” she said.

“I don’t understand what the premier is waiting for. Is he waiting for the worst to happen before taking action? He should do the project quickly, right away, now, and stop dithering,” she added.

The Parti Québécois (PQ) said it thought it was in a bad episode of the popular TV show “Stat.”

“It came very close to an operation being compromised ... when the generators couldn’t start ... They even said: ‘Fortunately, there was another emergency operation planned, but we hadn’t started it,’” said PQ MP Joël Arseneau.

“When we get to the point where we’re congratulating ourselves for not carrying out urgent operations, (...) what kind of bush medicine do we have?”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French April 30, 2025.

Thomas Laberge and Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press