Opinion: We Make the Safety of Every Montréal a Priority

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As the saying goes, “We can go faster alone, but together we can go further.” This really applies to the issue of public safety.

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In recent months, the violent deaths of Meriem Boundaoui, Jannai Dopwell-Bailey, Thomas Trudel and Hani Ouahdi have shocked us all, and for good reason.

Thursday’s stabbing of a teacher at the John F. Kennedy school in the St-Michel district has also shocked us.

These victims of violence, their families and loved ones will always be on our minds. It is for them, for our loved ones, for our children and for the generations to follow that we must join forces to keep Montreal safe.

As mayor of Montreal and also as a mother, I will act with firmness and conviction. With my team, and with all of our elected officials and partners, we are making the safety of all Montréal’s a priority. This constant work and collaboration implies the adoption of a wide range of solutions. This is all well under way.

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The work of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) is, of course, essential. Significant investments will continue to be made to meet the needs of our police officers and ensure they can work effectively in all corners of the city.

We also strongly believe in the importance of proactive measures to strengthen violence prevention and maintain long-term city safety. Community input is essential in our fight against violence. It is a necessary component of our public safety strategy. That is why we have doubled the Montreal budget for community organizations working on youth violence prevention and urban safety. They will be assigned an endowment of $ 20 million over four years, which will provide them with the stability and resources necessary to work in better conditions. The contribution of the Quebec government, which has allocated more than half of its violence prevention plan of 52 million dollars to Montreal, will also support community organizations that, day by day, accompany young people on their way to get away from violence.

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We must also analyze the social and economic conditions of our communities, as well as the infrastructures available so that we can improve the quality of life and the options available to young people. By ensuring that all Montreal neighborhoods offer quality services, be it affordable housing, sports facilities, green spaces, cultural and community services, or transportation, we can ensure safe living environments for all segments of the population.

Thanks to the collaboration of all those who care about the safety of Montreal, including the Government of Canada, which has the power to limit access to firearms, we will continue to make our city a great place to live, grow and grow old. gracefully in peace.

Valérie Plante is Mayor of Montreal.