Quebec red tape slows down Lac-Mgantic bar rebuilding

The owner of a popular bar in Lac-Mgantic, Que., that became a symbol of the train derailment and explosion that wracked the small community last July says hes had a very hard time getting the new Musi-Caf off the ground.

A train carrying 72 tanker cars of crude oil derailed at the centre of town early the morning of July 6. Several of the cars exploded, engulfing the centre of the townin flames.

Now Yannick Gagn said he feels hes not getting the help he was promised to rebuild Musi-Caf, the bar where many of the 47 who died were at the time of the explosion. The much-loved bar wasdestroyed.

He bought the land and the foundation of the new Musi-Caf has been laid, but work is slow. He said the paperwork and red tape involved in getting the new bar built has been cumbersome.

Its insane, its crazy all that it takes in Quebec. The permits, the law, the engineers, architects. Its insane. Nothing to encourage young entrepreneurs, Gagn said.

$1.6M to rebuild

He said hes looking at $1.6 million in costs by the time the new bar is up and running.

He told CBC Quebec City reporter Marika Wheeler that hes received a number of calls from supporters offering him money to help get Musi-Caf off the ground and that makes him uneasy.

I thought I was more appreciated than that.- Yannick Gagn, Musi-Caf owner

He told them a fund exists to help the people and businesses of Lac-Mgantic who were affected by last summers disaster. Gagn feels he is entitled to some of the money from that fund, especially since the town council is now asking him to put in parking spaces and landscaping that he never had at his previous location and wouldnt include now if he werent being forced to.

However, he said, perhaps the town hasnt allocated its resources in a way that offers him any kind of real support.

I thought I was more appreciated than that,that I was more a part of the flavour of the town than that, Gagn said. What he really wanted to hear was, We want you to stay, we want to help you.

Town treasurer Luc Drouin said that even if some of the donations that came flooding into the Fonds Avenir Lac-Mgantic, the fund set up to receive peoples donations to the town, were specifically intended for Musi-Caf, thats simply not the way it works.

The town council decided it would use the fund to waive municipal taxes, notary fees and welcome taxes for businesses, as well as moving costs. Of the $3.7 million collected through donations, $163,000 has been spent so far.

Mr. Gagn will make demands for the Lac-Mgantic [fund], he will be entitled to the same benefits as the other people, Drouin said. I would have to have the opinion of city council if he gets a special treatment or not.

Quebec the 'champion of red tape'

Gagn met with his local MNA recently to discuss his concerns, and told CBC News he came away from it feeling slightly more reassured about getting the help he needs. However, he said, hell believe it when he sees it.

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His discouragement with Quebec bureaucracy is not unusual, said Martine Hbert of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. She called Quebec the championof red tape.

Her organization polls small business owners. She said that between 25 and 30 per cent of them say they would never start a small business again because they are so discouraged by the hurdles they have to jump.

As for Gagn, he said he decided to rebuild the Musi-Caf because he knows what the bar represents to the people of Lac-Mgantic.

Sometimes I wonder if Id be better off giving up, cashing in on my insurance, selling the house [and moving to Cuba], he said.

He said the new Musi-Cafs rebuilding depends on the help he gets because as it stands, he doesnt have the $1.6 millionit will cost.