Motion Rejected in Montreal to Declare a "State of Emergency" on Homelessness
MONTREAL — Montreal's city council has rejected a motion put forward by two independent councillors who wanted the city to declare a "state of emergency" on homelessness.
At the municipal council meeting on Monday evening, Mayor Valérie Plante explained that councillors agreed that the high number of homeless people was an urgent concern. But she said a state of emergency would not help resolve the issue.
The motion, tabled by independent councillors Craig Sauvé and Serge Sasseville, was rejected Monday night by a vote of 32 to 26.
Earlier this month, Plante called on the provincial and federal governments to reach an agreement to unlock the $100 million she said was promised to Quebec to provide shelters and other supports for people experiencing homelessness.
A "declaration of a state of emergency" would have given the city council extraordinary powers, including allowing the city to requisition private housing for accommodation places. But the party in power at city hall, Projet Montréal, said the measure would be essentially symbolic.
Robert Beaudry, Projet Montréal councillor representing a downtown Montreal district, noted that a declaration of a state of emergency would put more pressure on the city to manage new resources on its own, but without the additional manpower or funding required.
The councillor for the district of Saint-Jacques believes that everyone must do their part in the homelessness file, including the provincial and federal governments.
A growing number of cities across Canada have declared states of emergency in recent years to address homelessness, including Edmonton, Toronto and Hamilton.
The Canadian Press
At the municipal council meeting on Monday evening, Mayor Valérie Plante explained that councillors agreed that the high number of homeless people was an urgent concern. But she said a state of emergency would not help resolve the issue.
The motion, tabled by independent councillors Craig Sauvé and Serge Sasseville, was rejected Monday night by a vote of 32 to 26.
Earlier this month, Plante called on the provincial and federal governments to reach an agreement to unlock the $100 million she said was promised to Quebec to provide shelters and other supports for people experiencing homelessness.
A "declaration of a state of emergency" would have given the city council extraordinary powers, including allowing the city to requisition private housing for accommodation places. But the party in power at city hall, Projet Montréal, said the measure would be essentially symbolic.
Robert Beaudry, Projet Montréal councillor representing a downtown Montreal district, noted that a declaration of a state of emergency would put more pressure on the city to manage new resources on its own, but without the additional manpower or funding required.
The councillor for the district of Saint-Jacques believes that everyone must do their part in the homelessness file, including the provincial and federal governments.
A growing number of cities across Canada have declared states of emergency in recent years to address homelessness, including Edmonton, Toronto and Hamilton.
The Canadian Press
