A rehabilitation clinic in Saint-Andre-d'Argenteuil has closed down suddenly, leaving its 72 patients to either be relocated to other facilities or be forced back into the court system.

The largest of its kind in Quebec, 16 staff members at Maison Melaric are also out of a job. They blame the government and its cuts to social aid programs for the closure.

“It's hard physically and emotionally because now we're back to the starting point,” said client Christian Lavoie.

The rehabilitation centre about 90 kilometers west of Montreal helps people treat their addictions – some on a court order, others on their own.

On Tuesday, they were informed that it would close.

“We need help. If you want us to help these kinds of people, we need help,” said Melaric’s assistant director Dimitri Pantelakis.

Of the 72 clients, 43 will now return to the court system. Most of the rest have been relocated to other centres. As of Wednesday, six clients remained, waiting for their SQ escort to bring them to the courthouse.

Quebec Public Health Minister Lucie Charlebois said the government could not provide the centre the money it needed to stay open, adding that it is doing all it can to help ease the transition for the clients.           

The staff is completing the files to be transferred elsewhere.

Counsellor Raymond Savaria worked there for five years, and said he’ll miss the clients.

“We love them. Me, in my life, I know they have all in life to be happy. We are just guides,” he said.

Lavoie said the centre has meant a lot to his recovery.

“It gave me a positive look at life again. It's sad it’s closing down,” he said.