The day after the CAQ budget was tabled, the community sector is pleased with the announcement of $1.2 billion in aid over five years, which some consider to be “catch-up funding”, but would have preferred a little more.
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“It was less than one, after decades of demands from the community movement, the Government of Quebec made an important gesture yesterday by announcing a considerable and recurring enhancement to the mission of organizations,” admitted the National Table of Community Development Corporations ( TNCDC) in a press release on Wednesday.
Community organizations across the province will receive $149 million over the next year, and a total of $2.2 billion over the next five years.
“We recognize that the sums announced to the mission are unparalleled and recurring. However, what disappoints us is that for 2022-2023, the sums represent only a tiny part (25%) of the needs on the ground, and will only reach half in five years, ”added Caroline Toupin, coordinator of the Quebec Network of Autonomous Community Action (RQ-ACA).
For the Intersectorial Regrouping of Community Organizations of Montreal (RIOCM), the sum is too little, too late. “Coalition Avenir Québec’s budget is very disappointing. Prime Minister François Legault had promised to better support community organizations, but this budget rather reflects the little consideration he gives to people in difficulty and to the groups that support them,” said Marie-Andrée Painchaud- Mathieu, RIOCM coordinator.
The Regroupement des Auberges du cœur du Québec, for its part, sees the $5 million per year granted to organizations working in the youth community accommodation sector as a step in the right direction. “Once again, significant efforts will have to be made to support young people in difficulty who have greater needs and more complex issues,” admitted Paule Dalphond, executive director of the Regroupement des Auberges du cœur du Québec.
Last year, Minister Girard caused a stir by investing only $10 million in the Financial Support Program (PSOC). Divided equally, this sum would represent $3,300 per organization.
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Reference-www.journaldequebec.com