Money blocked for roaming: “Settle this argument!” “, said Mayor Plante

“100 million!” It can get us out of the world of the streets, right away,” reacted Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante on Friday regarding the blocking of funding intended to put an end to homeless encampments before winter, due to negotiations between the governments of Justin Trudeau and François Legault.

- had revealed earlier that several provinces, for example Alberta, have concluded funding agreements with the federal government, which will be announced next week. But Quebec is still negotiating its own with Ottawa.

A total envelope of $250 million must be shared between the provinces.

This is not the first time that there is money that does not come down, that is stuck between the federal and the provincialdenounced Mayor Plante. She called for the responsibility of governments.

We can’t just count the deaths and say: “Oh well, we don’t get along between the two levels.” No, no. We need to find a solution right away.

In Montreal, shelters are full to bursting and even refuse homeless people.

We are now in mid-November. Winter is upon us, emphasized the mayor. Fix this constitutional dispute so that we can get out of the street world.

On Friday, federal Minister Jean-Yves Duclos reiterated that his government was impatient to see Quebec accept its offer. He recalled that community organizations were ready to receive the money, particularly in Quebec City.

We want it to work out. […] The Quebec government must add its share. It is a collective responsibility.

We must understand that there are two conditions for funding from Ottawa. First, the province must agree to match the federal amount. So, if Quebec receives 50 million dollars, it must add as much, for a total of 100 million available on the ground.

The Legault government wants the federal government to take into account the money it has already invested.

The other condition that is being debated is the obligation to provide a detailed plan of how the money will be spent in the communities.

In Quebec, the office of the Minister of Social Services, Lionel Carmant, said it confident to reach an agreement shortly.

Québec solidaire asks Minister Lionel Carmant to collect, as quickly as possible, the money put on the table by Ottawa, at most before the end of the month : It’s urgent. The needs are dire. […] The cold is comingsaid the party’s spokesperson on homelessness, Guillaume Cliche-Rivard.

For her part, the liberal spokesperson for the same issue, Elisabeth Prass, affirmed that it was urgent that the government takes its responsibilities to support the most vulnerable.

Quebec and Ottawa must come to an agreement as quickly as possibledeclared the Union of Municipalities of Quebec (UMQ). There is still time to act before winter.

Finally, on the federal scene, the New Democratic MP for Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Alexandre Boulerice, deplored that while the Liberals in Ottawa and the government of CAQ argue, people suffer in the streets and community groups appeal for help.

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