By Jessica Brisson, NeoMedia
Members of the Table nationale des Corporations de développement communautaire (TNCDC), of which the CDC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges is a member, have launched a cry from the heart to the Quebec government, calling on it to make a formal commitment to the fight against poverty and social exclusion.
Members and partners of the TNCDC visited Parliament Hill earlier this week, similar to the national campaign launched a few days prior. They were taken aback by the government’s lack of engagement regarding the ongoing social crisis. Parliamentarians from all three opposition parties were also present to show their support for the action, fully aware of the urgency of the situation.
This action also coincides with the Semaine nationale de l’action communautaire autonome, which aims to highlight the importance and essential role of community organizations in Quebec’s social safety net.
“The government’s disengagement from the social crisis is putting our safety net at risk. Every day, community organizations in Vaudreuil-Soulanges receive increasing requests for support from vulnerable individuals, particularly due to the shortage of affordable housing. Without significant reinvestment, we will not be able to meet these urgent needs. It’s time to shift from a Québec KO to a Québec OK, with concrete and immediate actions,” says Sébastien Legros, General Manager of the CDC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges.
Rebuilding the social safety net
As the economic downturn approaches, TNCDC is calling for substantial investment to strengthen vital services. Specifically, the organization is calling for :
- the implementation of direct support programs for people living below the poverty line, including increases in social assistance benefits corresponding at least to the amount of the Market Basket Measure;
- access to decent, truly affordable, non-speculative housing for people living in poverty and social exclusion throughout Quebec;
- a significant increase in investment in public services (health, education) to meet the growing needs of citizens and guarantee equitable access to these services;
- sufficient recurrent funding for community organizations to enable them to effectively support vulnerable populations.
“Once again, we’re piling up missed opportunities. The tabling of a 4th plan to combat poverty and social exclusion without any real structuring measures, a National Housing Strategy that fails to respond to needs, and a social assistance reformette with virtually no impact,” concludes Marie-Line Audet, General Manager of the TNCDC.
