'An unspeakable sadness': A PQ government would earmark $1 billion to fight
QUEBEC — A Parti Québécois government would earmark $1 billion in the fight against homelessness, PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said only days after a baby was found in an encampment for the unhoused in Montreal.
St-Pierre Plamondon announced what he described as a “pretty ambitious” plan to cut homelessness by half by 2030 during a speech Friday to the Union des Municipalités du Québec in Quebec City.
“It’s an unspeakable sadness,” St-Pierre Plamondon said, referring to the extent of the homelessness crisis in different cities.
“Tragedies have occurred in recent days that should truly lead to a consensus, and I personally take responsibility for this.”
The pledge comes after a woman and a one-year-old child were discovered at a homeless encampment in Montreal’s east end last week, sparking an investigation by youth protection authorities. It also thrust the issue into the spotlight of the election campaign.
Earlier this week, Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada called the incident a warning sign, adding “if Quebec cannot resolve this national issue, Montreal will act.”
As the fallout over the situation continued Friday, other parties also announced more measures to combat homelessness.
Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette said her party would implement a $250-million emergency fund to address homelessness, if it forms the next government. It’s separate from the CAQ’s other commitment of $100 million for housing support and other assistance measures.
Fréchette, the incumbent premier, made the announcement before heading to Montreal to discuss the crisis with Martinez Ferrada.
After meeting with the mayor, Fréchette said a “significant” share of the $250-million fund would be reserved for Montreal, though she did not specify how much. She also acknowledged year-to-year funding creates uncertainty for unhoused services and said the province needs more stable, longer-term funding.
Fréchette said Quebec also needs more transitional housing and mental health and addiction services, and said a broader plan expected in the spring would clarify “who does what” among the province, municipalities and other partners.
Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal pledged to build 6,000 housing units specifically for the unhoused and an additional $135 million to organizations that would oversee services in those units, if her party forms the next government.
Meanwhile, Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard repeated his promise to inject $60 million per year to fight homelessness, if his party forms the next government.
The PQ’s $1-billion plan includes $400 million for specialized housing and $600 million for social programs and prevention to dramatically reduce the number of unhoused Quebecers to 6,000, down from about 12,000.
The measures would include building 2,000 housing units for unhoused people (as part of 20,000 social housing units), hiring 100 new social workers and boosting resources for substance abuse prevention and treatment. The money would also go toward community organizations who work with people who don’t have a roof over their head and extending teams of specialized mental health professionals.
St-Pierre Plamondon said Friday the issue of homelessness is something he worked on as both a volunteer and a student.
“It’s a lot of sacrifice to go in politics,” he said. “So sometimes you ask yourself, ‘why am I doing this and what’s justifying all those sacrifices?’ And there are a few issues where you feel compelled and you think it’s fundamental for humankind in general.
“One of which is to give a basic roof and dignity to people in a society, especially if your society is rich.”
Asked if he had ever experienced homelessness in his own family or circles, St-Pierre Plamondon said no, though he joked about how he was without a place to stay when he previously lived in Bolivia, “but that’s another story. It was by choice.”
“No. It’s just there are a few things we should not accept in a society,” he said.
“And if you start from that point of view, then you will find the solutions and maybe other choices will be made so that it fits within the financial framework. But there are things you accept and some you don’t, and it’s about principle.”
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