Gatineau MNA-elect reaffirms party's plan for new hospital

The MNA-electfor Gatineau is promising his party will follow through on its commitment to build a new hospital in the region.

Robert Bussire, former mayor of La Pche, won the riding for the Coalition Avenir QubecMonday night. He told CBC's All In A Dayhe's eager to take his seat in the National Assembly.

"I am ready for it,"Bussiretold host Alan Neal.

We have to bring the services closer to the people.- RobertBussire, GatineauMNA-elect

The CAQ swept to power in Monday's election, taking three of five ridings in the Outaouais, for decades a Liberal stronghold.

During the campaign, CAQLeader FranoisLegault promised western Quebec anew hospital, andBussiresaid the new government will make good on that pledge.

"We have to give better care to the people and add services. This is one of the reasons why there is an engagement by the party to build a new hospital in Gatineau, somewhere in Gatineau in the next four to five years," he said.

Where thatnew health facility will go needs to be worked out, butBussiresaid in the meantimethe provincewill boost services at local hospitals and ensure wages are competitive enough to keep doctors and nurses in the province.

Centralizing health services 'has to be undone'

Bussire said centralizing health services in Quebec hasn't worked.

"That has to be reworked, rearranged all over Quebec. The decision of the Liberal party in centralizing services has to be undone," he said. "We have to bring the services closer to the people."

Bussire also touched on his party's promise to abolish elected school boards. He said that change will empower schools and make them more responsive to the needs of parents.

"It will give more power directly to the schools and will answer much more to their direct needs than it was in the past."

Some advocates in English-dominated areas of the province fear the move could diminish services for anglophone students.