The Opposition’s official critic for the fight against poverty and homelessness, family policy and Indigenous reconciliation, Benoit Langevin, said he was “surprised” but “reassured” by the Ombudsman’s report. of Montreal published last month about homeless Aboriginals and Inuit in the Milton-Parc area of Montreal.
The city councilor, who also serves as chairman of the Ensemble Montréal caucus, considers that there quickness to act.
” We have a humanitarian crisis in Milton-Parc. […] It’s not true that we’re going to put that on the table. “
He also believes that “there are no resources adapted to the Inuit people” and the administration is in place needs to do his homework regarding the homelessness of aboriginals.
Mr. Langevin plans to file a motion on Monday in response to the Ombudsman’s report.
Benoit Langevin believes the City of Montréal should be more proactive in its 2020-2025 strategy for Indigenous reconciliation and should invest more in the fight against homelessness, to adapt to the growing number of people. no home. .
According to Mr. Langevin, the actions taken by the current administration stemmed from preliminary work carried out by the team of former mayor Denis Coderre.
” In the history of our party, the question of the Aboriginal has always been central. “
Mr. Langevin argues that the reconciliation strategy developed was largely based on consultations conducted under the administration of the predecessor Mayor Valérie Plante.
Responsibility for the Commissioner of Indigenous Relations
Mr. thinks. Langevin that responsibility for the reconciliation strategy should be assigned to the Commissioner for Relations with Indigenous Peoples, a role he considers Totally necessary.
The position of Indigenous Relations Commissioner was established in 2018 by the City of Montreal. The term of office of the commissioner is for a period of three years.
This position was first held by lawyer Marie-Ève Bordeleau. Various measures have been linked to it, including the establishment of a day center (called Résilience Montréal) to meet the needs of the homeless in Square Cabot.
The position of commissioner is now occupied by the former director of the organization Projets aboriginals du Québec, Adrienne Campbell.
The activities of the commissioner seem to have received little attention. No section of the official site of the City of Montreal clearly explains the work of the commissioner. Only a description of his activities was published on the City’s website, without mentioning the name of the current commissioner.
Added to this is a noticeable absence in the activities of Ms. Campbell and Ms. Bordeleau on social networks.
Philip GrangerPhilip Granger
Source: Radio-Canada