Montreal community organizations ask Quebec for an additional $100 million a year

by


“Thanks for the thanks, but now it’s time to get some money out.”

the canadian press

Clara Descurninges

Publication date:

February 07, 2022 • 50 minutes ago • 1 minute read • join the conversation

Dans la Rue is one of the Montreal community organizations that is part of the RIOCM.
Dans la Rue is one of the Montreal community organizations that is part of the RIOCM. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

An alliance of Montreal community organizations, RIOCM, said the province is chronically underfunded and called on the Quebec government to provide an additional $100 million a year in financial support.

“Groups have to fight every day to stay open,” RIOCM coordinator Marie-Andrée Painchaud-Mathieu said Monday during a press conference attended by representatives of Quebec’s three opposition parties.

According to INBO, half of its 531 groups receive less than $160,000 in funding, while a fifth only receive $100,000, a sum they say represents two salaries.

Painchaud-Mathieu said that one-off funding in the form of emergency funding or support for individual projects creates even more problems.

“We are required to deal with contract workers,” he said. “And as soon as we train them, they leave because the funding has run out.” Between that and “ridiculously low wages”, staff turnover is constant “and we dedicate ourselves to hiring”.

Painchaud-Mathieu said that every year the National Assembly votes its thanks to congratulate community organizations, “thanks for the thanks, but now is the time to get some money out.”

This article was written with financial support from Facebook and Canadian Press News Scholarships.


Leave a Comment