One week after the elections, the work begins for you, 125 newly elected officials who have the task of representing us for the next four years in the National Assembly of Quebec. In this 25e edition of Youth House Week (SMDJ), I have a question for you: what will you do in the next 1460 days to help our teenagers?
Posted yesterday at 9:00 a.m.
When the last provincial budget was tabled, the support program for community organizations (PSOC) received a budget increase of $37.1 million to be distributed among the 3,000 community health and social services organizations, including youth centres. . This is equivalent to a hypothetical average of $12,000 per organization, knowing that the distribution of the amounts varies according to specific regional criteria. However, the most recent figures show that a minimum increase totaling 68 million would be needed for the only 219 youth centers (MDJ) represented by the Regroupement des centers des jeunes du Québec (RMJQ) to accomplish their mission!
This last budget is very far from the crying needs of the field.
Despite repeated demands for several years, the MDJs are kept in a critical situation and the consequences are very real for our young people.
Major and daily impacts
In the past year, more than 45% of MDJs had to temporarily close their doors or reduce their opening hours due to lack of staff. The turnover rate also reached a level of 37% in 2021, while the Quebec average is 26%. In this context, it is more important than ever to offer advantageous salaries and conditions for DOJ professionals, which is impossible with the subsidies provided for in the most recent budget. Teams are at their wit’s end and the consequences of underfunding are being felt every day. The pandemic has only exacerbated the situation of underfunding, despite the growing needs among our young people. It is imperative that you look at long-term solutions to resolve the situation.
Present throughout Quebec, youth centers are often the only organizations dedicated to teens in their community.
The role of prevention, awareness and popular education that they play in Quebec society is essential and more necessary than ever, don’t forget that.
A week to highlight the importance of youth centers
The Youth Centers Week (SMDJ) is an opportunity to demonstrate that the MDJs continue to be present to support teenagers on a daily basis to meet their needs, despite the chronic underfunding from which they have suffered since years. Orchestrated on the theme “Ready for anything”, the 25e edition of the SMDJ highlights the fact that the MDJs are ready to do anything to be heard and obtain a significant increase in their funding for the mission. This is essential in order to take care of the physical and mental health of young people, to develop their critical thinking, to empower them, to allow them to get involved in their community, and to help them develop passions and become citizens of tomorrow.
Young people, those forgotten in the electoral campaign
The election campaign that has just ended has given very little space to issues that affect young people and their experiences, even though they represent our collective future. Services for teenagers are not limited to school. There are also some in other educational settings, as has been the case for more than 46 years in the youth centre. There are thousands of young people aged 12 to 17 who, every day, frequent the living environments that are the MDJ.
I am sure that as MPs, you are concerned about young people and that you are aware of the importance of offering them a future where everything is possible. The youth centers are part of the solution to open all the doors to them and they need your support. The time for promises is now over, show us concretely what you are ready for for Quebec teens!