Quebec promises better days for community organizations in the province, which have struggled particularly in recent pandemic years due to lack of resources and increasing demand.
The Legault government wants to help them pursue their mission and communicate their importance to society. This is why it will invest $ 1.1 billion over the next five years to implement its Government Action Plan for Community Action 2022-2027.
The Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Solidarity, Jean Boulet, said at a press conference on Saturday that this investment will be used to improve and expand the offer of community organizations, to help them carry out their mission.
Specifically, the plan provides $ 888.1 million to be allocated to increase government funding to support the overall mission of community organizations, while $ 186.8 million will be used to improve working conditions, train staff and resource management. of man.
Community action is a component that is truly important for Quebec’s social and economic development.Minister Boulet recalls, especially of the wide range of areas concerned: from homelessness to school perseverance, through domestic violence, drug addiction, incest and much more.
” It is a plan that is coherent, global and includes concrete actions. I’m glad to announce that; we’re talking about $ 1.1 billion over five years. “
The government promises to improve the ability of community organizations to act by offering them financial support commensurate with their mission. Each organization must therefore present its mission in Quebec, which can offer it the subsidies necessary to achieve its objectives.
A process that will remain simple, Mr. Boulet assured in an interview with The Canadian Press.
” All funding applications for community organizations supported by my ministry will be simplified. We will work with them to ensure that all bureaucratic aspects are minimized as much as possible. “
In addition to supporting existing organizations, Quebec is providing an envelope of $ 9.4 million over five years to help new players establish themselves in their community.
The eternal challenge of recruitment and retention
Since community organizations have not survived the labor shortage, Minister Boulet promised that incentives to work or volunteer in an organization would be put in place.
This will notably be a form of expanding accessibility to the pension plan and group insurance, specifically for new employees, but Mr. Boulet also stressed the importance of proper training to people who want to work in the community.
The Minister pointed out that, to get a good start in your career in community action, you must first take advantage of training adapted to this type of intervention. The plan therefore provides $ 4.4 million to improve available training and make it more adapted to current realities.
The plan also mentioned that steps should be taken to ensure that training is more tailored to the realities of Aboriginal and Anglophone organizations and of people with disabilities.
” We must retain young talents who want to work in the community sector. So, training, benefits, pension plans, group insurance, they should have access to it. “
There is more to do
The Quebec Network of Independent Community Action welcomed Minister Boulet’s presentation of the plan, but it believes that the investments allocated for the overall mission of independent community action organizations are too low compared to other sectors.
” The problem is there is not enough money for the overall mission and there are areas left. This is why many are frustrated and even angry, because the situation on earth is critical, as the needs of the population increase. “
The Minister replied that the plan, although it was planned for five years, was not fixed and could be adjusted according to the reactions of the field.
In particular, the government will set up a National Table of Community Action Partners to coordinate actions between different organizations.
This will allow them to brainstorm ideas, to give themselves an insight into the future of community action in Quebec and to see how we can better contribute to Quebec’s social and economic vitality.explanation of the minister.
According to Mr. Boulet, all Quebec societies will benefit from these investments in community organizations.
Source: Radio-Canada
