Some 200 vulnerable seniors in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve are deprived of food assistance because Quebec has not authorized federal funding for a community organization.
“I cannot hide both a deep disappointment and a frustration at being caught between two [ordres] of government which, for a parochial war, directly impacts the lives of 200 seniors in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Canada,” explains the general director of Chic Resto Pop, Marc-André Simard.
His organization learned last March that Ottawa would pay nearly $787,000 under the Aging Well at Home program, for which he had submitted an application in July 2022. The agreement was to be signed in June.
According to Marc-André Simard, this sum would have allowed the home distribution of 1,000 meals per week for seniors in vulnerable situations over a period of 18 months, in addition to creating a support network of volunteers to “break the isolation” of these people. But Chic Resto Pop never saw the color of this money.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Marc-André Simard, general manager of Chic Resto Pop
An email from Employment and Social Development Canada, received on May 30, informed the organization that at the request of the Quebec government and under the Act respecting the Ministry of the Executive Council of Quebec (law M-30), the funding that Ottawa had granted him would not be paid to him.
Receiving confirmation of funding and then having it taken away is the equivalent of a cold shower.
Marc-André Simard, general manager of Chic Resto Pop
A law to counter federal interference
Law M-30 provides that public bodies whose funding comes more than half from Quebec public funds must first obtain authorization from the Government of Quebec before being able to conclude a funding agreement with the Government of Canada or one of its departments.
“We are responding to a need for food security. These are people who are in a moderate or severe situation of food insecurity,” explains the general director of Chic Resto Pop. “If we had had this funding, there would be people who would eat better today and there would be a solidarity network to support them.”
Faced with this situation, Marc-André Simard would have preferred that the federal Aging Well at Home program include all projects coming from Quebec or that an agreement be concluded between the two levels of government to facilitate the financing of Quebec projects.
According to him, his organization is paying the price of a “war between [ordres] of government”.
The organization claims to have sent a letter of intent to the Minister Delegate for Health and Seniors, Sonia Bélanger, so that clause M-30 does not apply to their file, but it says it has received no response from the Ministry.
“We were a bit shocked when we learned that this law existed and that we were subject to it, but also that because of tensions between the federal and provincial governments, we would not have the funding,” explains Marc-André Simard. [Après ça]the state of the troops has been affected.”
“We were already in planning mode”
Chic Resto Pop currently serves 1,000 meals per day in the community. Of this number, 400 to 600 meals are served at their community restaurant, 200 meals go to schools and the others are delivered to people who are losing their autonomy. This funding would have made it possible to add 200 meals per day, representing a 20% increase in the organization’s production.
“There are already eight professional chefs and about ten assistant cooks in the kitchen, so if I have to add 20% [de production]I need to add staff, says Marc-André Simard. With all that, we were already in planning mode, but we had to backtrack.”
He also highlights the hundred hours that were needed to complete this funding request, which also mobilized three employees.
“We spend all these hours planning these grants, it’s very exhaustive. […]it also requires very detailed budgets with supporting subsidies, explains the general director. These are hours that I could have spent facilitating other types of partnerships for the community. “
According to him, the simplest thing would be for the Quebec government to use the funding request as is and then settle the issue with Ottawa.
Quebec could “advance the money”
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve MNA Alexandre Leduc says he is “very disappointed with the whole issue.” He says it is only a “matter of time” before a problem of this type is resolved between the two levels of government.
He points out, however, that Quebec could advance the money in the meantime, so that the organization can carry out its mission.
“It wouldn’t cost the Quebec government much to advance the money while waiting for the envelope between the federal and provincial governments to be settled,” explains the solidarity MP. “If they want to defend Quebec’s responsibilities, it’s good that they do so, but it must not taint projects that help real people in a crisis that requires everyone’s help.”
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) did not respond to questions from The Press at the time of writing.