Montreal seniors' home residents take building owner to court over apartment conversion plans
About 200 residents of a seniors' home in downtown Montreal have filed a court injunction in an attempt to stop the building's new owner from converting it into apartments.
"It kills me. There's nothing else in the area," said Michael Hubert, who has lived at Mont-Carmel seniors' home for nearly a decade.
In January, he says, he got a letter saying the on-site nurse, medical alert system, security and other services would be gone in six months.
He says residents were told they could either stay and pay three per cent more rent or leave by August.
The residence was sold to new owners for $40 million in December, according to Manuel Johnson, the lawyer hired by the residents.
He says that, in the deed of sale, the new owner agreed to maintain it as a seniors' home, but later discovered the building needed major work.
"If he didn’t do his due diligence, why did he agree to maintain the services?" said Johnson.
CTV News reached out to Quebec's Seniors' Minister Marguerite Blais, who wouldn’t comment because the case is now before the courts.
The residents' case will be back in court next month.
An association that represents private seniors' homes says it has become more challenging to run a residence and wants support from the government in the face of rising insurance premiums.
"Some of them went from $20 thousand to $450 thousand just for the director insurance," said Marc Fortin, president of the Private Residence Owners' Association.
In the last two years, nearly 150 homes have closed due to rising costs.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in father's drowning, told police he was baptizing him
A Massachusetts man who told police he was exorcising a demon and performing a baptism when he shoved his father's head under water multiple times has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his death.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.