For Aboriginal leaders and organizations, the Montreal ombudsman’s report on the homelessness of Inuit and First Nations members, announced Wednesday, reminds us of the urgency to act and the role of all levels of government. in the face of this “humanitarian. crisis”.
The Head of the Quebec-Labrador Assembly of First Nations (AFNQL), Ghislain Picard, welcomed Ombudsman Nadine Mailloux’s report.
[Me Mailloux] he talked a lot about the consultation in his report, he taught the radio program 15-18 Wednesday. Everyone has a role to play. As much as the City of Montreal as the Government of Quebec and us, on the side of the First Nation.
It is not superfluous to define this situation as a humanitarian crisis, he continued. This is at the heart of our concerns.
In 2021, two Natives living in a homelessness situation died in Montreal, Chief Picard recalled.
Raphaël André, an Innu, died in a chemical toilet at the corner of rue Milton and avenue du Parc in January 2021. Elisapie Poogootook, an Inuk, died in November 2021. He was found at the construction site of a downtown condo tower.
For Nakuset, Executive Director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, the ombudsman’s report is a good thing, but it just repeats what organizations working with these populations have been repeating for years.
What to do to act?he asked in a telephone interview.
In the past year, two people have diedhe underlined, referring to the deaths of Raphaël André and Elisapie Poogootook.
Solutions exist and have been known for a long time, he continues. What is lacking is courage.
For Nunavik -based company Makivik, which participated in the ombudsman’s investigation, the report’s recommendations are essential to meet the needs of Inuit living in a homelessness situation in Montreal.
We are pleased to see that the Ombudsman’s findings reflect the work and objectives undertaken by Makivik in recent years. We hope that the various levels of government will take the recommendations seriously and address the issues that disproportionately affect not only the Inuit, but all Indigenous groups experiencing homelessness in the city.Makivik President Pita Atami wrote in a statement.
The City welcomes the report with openness and empathy
In the City of Montreal, associate adviser to the mayor and on Indigenous Reconciliation, Alia Hassan-Cournol, made sure the administration took the report seriously.
This is an important report, first underlined by Mrs. Hassan-Cournol in a telephone interview. We talk about people, we talk about serious issues. We welcome this report with great openness and great empathy.
Alia Hassan-Cournol also recalls that the City has adopted strategies for reconciliation and for homelessness and these plans have similarities to the ombudsman’s recommendations.
We must move on to more, he added. We consider the report and we record the recommendations.
We agree with the ombudsman, we need further consultation, Ms. Hassan-Cournol. We need our federal and provincial partners to be there.
However, for the Official Opposition at City Hall, the Plante administration removes responsibility for roaming.
Symptoms of this administration that continue to blame Quebec and the more disturbing because the Ombudsman’s report is clear: the City of Montreal must “fully accept its leadership” and use its skills to finally build a stable haven adapted to the Inuit peoplewas it written in a press release published on Wednesday.
We thank Me Mailloux for the conclusions of his report […]. Its conclusions are in line with what we have been attacking for five years nowcan we read too.
On the radio show All one morning released on Thursday, the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Ian Lafrenière, stressed that the government will continue to work with the City of Montreal.
The Quebec Ombudsman will also conduct an investigation into the homelessness of Aboriginals in the Milton-Parc area.
Source: Radio-Canada
