Quality of life for ALL Monctonians.
We live in a great city. We enjoy a very good economy and a great quality of life.
Unfortunately, not all Monctonians get to enjoy it.
Many are ‘working poor’. Some cannot get a job. Others, like seniors, are on fixed income. Many require social assistance and soup kitchens. Too many of us are homeless. Many suffer from mental illnesses and addictions. Some were physically and/or sexually abused. Many of our kids go to school hungry and tired, and many do not participate in organised sports or arts because of the high fees. Most are not responsible for their challenges.
If it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to heal an adult.
During my first terms on Council, I worked hard to improve the well-being of all Monctonians. My first idea was to transform the 7 social housing units in the city, from antiquated and segregated units to modern integrated neighbourhoods, in order to provide our vulnerable children better opportunities. With the help of Councillor Pellerin and some of Moncton’s social inclusion groups, I convinced Council to take on the challenge, but the units remain.
I commit to transforming the seven segregated units in our city into modern integrated neighbourhoods by 2030.
We also convinced Council to establish the City's first Social Inclusion Committee, to adopt the City’s first Social Inclusion Plan and to hire the City's first Social Inclusion Facilitator. Our efforts opened the door for Council's support of many projects, including the Rising Tide Community Initiatives.
In addition, as co-Chair of the City’s Planning Committee, I convinced my colleagues on the Committee and on City Council to adopt several key measures to increase affordable housing options in new subdivisions and apartment buildings. However, enforcement has not been exemplary.
I commit to enforcing and enhancing Plan Moncton requirements for additional affordable housing units in the City.
Finally, I made a successful motion to provide long-term grants to many of our social inclusion groups. These grants remain in place today.
I commit to finding and investing the required funds to ensure that all of our social organisations can achieve our city's social inclusion goals.
I am certain that the amount of funds required will not be significantly higher than what we invest presently. Collaboration with the Province is key.
I commit to making social inclusion and homelessness a priority of the upcoming Council.
Let me be clear: the goal is not to spend additional taxpayers’ money to provide more shelter beds and more free meals.
The goal is to eliminate social exclusion and homelessness so that services can be enhanced and that shelters and soup kitchens are no longer needed.
We may not achieve this lofty goal, but it IS the one we should aim for.
I commit to reducing the need for shelters and meals by 50% before the next municipal elections.
Acting now and effectively will reduce health and policing costs later. As the old saying goes, 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure'.
Investing in social inclusion in order to achieve a quality of life for ALL Monctonians is not one of the city's 'basic' services.
However, 'quality of life for ALL Monctonians' is the answer to the question: Why does the City provide its services?