“Minister Hamad’s vision as he proposes it in the consultation’s planning documents evacuates the central role that government needs to take in attacking poverty and downloads this responsibility to local communities without the necessary resources,” said demonstration spokesperson David Faguy.

Even after the adoption of the first action plan to combat poverty and social exclusion in 2004, poverty rates have continued to grow. Amongst Montrealers aged 15 and over, 31.2% are living below the low-income cut off (before taxes) while the provincial average is 17.2%. More than 185,000 households living in rental housing spend more than 30% of their income on rent. And this is while social aid payments add up to only $588.92 per month.

“The poverty and social exclusion which prevails in Montreal are a direct assault upon the right of people to live in dignity. The economic and social rights that the government of Quebec has undertaken to respect require a commitment to provide appropriate and sufficient resources for its accomplishment,” added spokesperson Lyse Cloutier.

“The government is today telling two contradictory stories at once. While it professes to care about people’s economic situation in this difficult economic time, no tangible actions are proposed in order to support those living in situations of extreme depredation. To add insult to injury, the government is now proposing massive increases in user fees for public services even as it is supposed to be creating a plan to target poverty,” added David Faguy.

“We are calling for a plan which is not empty,” added Cloutier. Social groups are arguing that in order to be effective, any plan by the government at the close of the consultation process needs to include such measures as across the board increases in welfare rates, the minimum wage, long-term financing for building new social housing units to keep up with demand, and an end to deductions on child support payments.

Community groups are also reminding the government that poverty and social inequality serve as blots on our society as a whole, and that the government of Quebec possesses all of the necessary tools – including progressive taxation – in order to reverse the growing gap between the rich and the poor.

-30-

This demonstration is organised by: the Regroupement intersectoriel des organismes communautaires de Montréal (RIOCM), the TROVEP de Montréal, the Table régionale des centres de femmes de Montréal/Laval, the Regroupement des organismes communautaires familles de Montréal(ROCFM), FRAPRU, Project Genesis and the Collectif montréalais de lutte à la pauvreté, along with the support of the Conseil intersyndical du Montréal  métropolitain, a grouping of the Montreal area’s major labour unions.

For further information:

Lyse Cloutier, 514-267-4597 (mobile)

http://sites.google.com/site/coalitionantipauvretemontreal/plateforme-de-revendications