The Minister responsible for Housing, France-Élaine Duranceau, was criticized numerous times on Friday during the speech she gave on the occasion of the Estates General on Homelessness, which is taking place in Quebec.
Ms. Duranceau particularly attracted criticism from part of the crowd present at the Fair Center after asserting that the Rent Supplement Program (PSL) could help ease the housing crisis. She indicated that part of the sums provided for in PSL were not used.
This comment provoked the ire of certain representatives of community organizations present in the room. According to them, if the sums are not all paid, it is because the criteria giving access to them are too restrictive.
It takes rules, says the minister
During a press scrum following her speech, France-Élaine Duranceau partly agreed with them by affirming that the criteria of PSLdeserve to be revised
.
We did it. Every year there are changes […] I know it’s frustrating to be told, “Well, you don’t qualify.” [mais] a program must have rules. These are public funds, we have to regulate all that. But I think we’re trying to show a lot of humanity in this
declared the minister.
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Visibly disagreeing with the minister’s comments, this woman challenged France-Élaine Duranceau during her speech.
Photo : -
The spokesperson for the official opposition on homelessness, Elisabeth Prass, urged Ms. Duranceau to revise the program criteria as quickly as possible, while winter is upon us
.
Inexplicable
Knowing that evictions and evictions are the leading cause of homelessness according to the government’s latest count, it is inexplicable that the rental support program is not adapted to prevent people from becoming homeless.
reacted the Liberal MP in a statement sent to -.
The PSL criteria must be adapted to the realities of the most vulnerable people and not result in money being left on the table.
The Minister of Housing was also the target of ridicule after having praised the adoption of a three-year moratorium on evictions of people aged 65 and over. Ms. Duranceau’s detractors wanted to remind her that the legislative measure had not put an end to the problem.
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France-Élaine Duranceau during the presentation, on May 22, of the Law limiting the right of eviction of landlords and strengthening the protection of elderly tenants. (Archive photo)
Photo: The Canadian Press / Jacques Boissinot
According to the spokesperson for Québec solidaire in terms of social services, Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, the welcome given to the minister is linked to the fact that the government is slow to perceive the urgency of the situation and to take measures. to combat homelessness and promote access to housing.
The government must move faster. This is the message he received today. The environment is not satisfied, the environment is not happy. We have to move faster, quickly
declared Mr. Cliche-Rivard.
Presented over three days, the 2024 States General of Homelessness ended Friday at the Center de foires de Québec.
With the collaboration of Olivier Lemieux
