Deaths in the streets of Montreal “are unacceptable”, says Montreal, and “no one should die anonymously”, while The duty revealed that at least forty people experiencing homelessness died last year in the metropolis and that there is no centralized register to record their deaths.
“Deaths in the streets of Montreal are unacceptable and everything is being done to ensure safety and a warm place for all people who need it,” said the Duty the press secretary of the mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante. No one should die anonymously. » We add that homelessness and the counting of people are the responsibility of the Government of Quebec through Public Health.
Unlike Toronto or British Columbia, it is impossible in Montreal or Quebec to know how many homeless people die each year, as well as the causes. A centralized register is requested by many roaming resources as well as experts, to monitor and adapt policies.
Questioned on the subject by The duty, the Minister responsible for Social Services Lionel Carmant, does not see this as a priority. “Overdoses, lack of shelter, I think we know what the causes of death are,” he said. Homelessness is not a cause of death. »
He admitted not knowing whether the number of deaths was increasing or decreasing, because “we don’t have any data.” “I think we would need investments to do this monitoring, and the most important thing is to invest in the prevention and care of homelessness,” he continued.
According to the review of Dutythe main causes of death are overdoses, suicides, physical health problems related or not to consumption and accidental deaths.
Québec solidaire, for its part, is in favor of the implementation of such a register. “Every death is a tragedy, but when it also happens in solitude, anonymity and indifference, it says a lot about our society,” reacted on the social network party in matters of housing and habitation.
With Alexandre Robillard