The Mayor of Montreal, Valerie Plante, has expressed her disappointment with the recently released Quebec budget, stating that it falls short on providing sufficient funding for housing in the city. The budget, which was released on March 25th, 2021, has been criticized by many for its lack of investment in social housing and its failure to address the ongoing affordable housing crisis in Montreal.
Montreal Mayor: Insufficient Housing Funds
Mayor Valerie Plante has been vocal about the need for increased funding for social housing in Montreal, citing the city’s ongoing housing crisis as a primary concern. In a statement released shortly after the budget’s announcement, Plante expressed her disappointment with the lack of funding for housing in the budget, stating that "the amount allocated to social and affordable housing is insufficient to meet the needs of Montrealers."
Plante also raised concerns about the budget’s failure to address the issue of renovictions, which she described as a growing problem in Montreal. She called for the government to provide additional support for tenants facing eviction due to building renovations, stating that "we need to make sure that tenants are protected and that they have access to affordable housing in their neighbourhoods."
Quebec Budget Falls Short on Housing
The Quebec budget, which was released by Finance Minister Eric Girard, has been criticized by housing advocates and politicians alike for its lack of investment in social housing. The budget allocates $175 million for social housing development, which is significantly less than the $450 million that Plante had requested from the government.
In addition to the insufficient funding for social housing, the budget has also been criticized for its lack of measures to address the issue of renovictions in the city. Housing advocates have called for the government to implement stronger tenant protections and to provide additional funding to support those who are facing eviction due to building renovations.
The lack of sufficient funding for social housing in the Quebec budget has been a cause for concern for many Montrealers. As the city continues to grapple with an ongoing affordable housing crisis, advocates and politicians are calling on the government to take stronger action to address the issue. It remains to be seen whether the government will respond to these calls and provide additional support for social housing development and tenant protections in Montreal.