The past few months have shed a harsh light on economic, social and health disparities. In this regard, the municipal election takes on a special character since it represents the opportunity for the population of the metropolitan region to voice their priorities and concerns at the end of the pandemic.
But what are the real powers of the municipal administration? Léa Ilardo, citizen mobilization project manager at the David Suzuki Foundation, enlightens us on this subject: “Our cities have skills in the fields of culture, protection of natural environments, mobility, regional planning, social housing. and urban agriculture. “
It is therefore in this context and knowing that all the aforementioned elements touch on a daily basis the lives of tens of thousands of workers that it represents that the ICMM seizes the opportunity to put forward its priorities in this crucial period.
Lodging
Thus, one of the greatest demonstrations of social justice is the way in which the City chooses to organize and develop its territory. In practice, the decisions taken will to a large extent determine the right to citizenship. The question is asked: who has the right to live in Montreal? When a 5 ½ is rented for $ 1548, who will be allowed to walk on the sidewalks in our city? The principle of the CIMM is the concept of social diversity in our districts. All social classes have the right to live and develop freely in our neighborhoods. The occupation of urban land must be planned in such a way as to reduce and ultimately eliminate social inequalities. For this reason, we urge the next municipal administration
to increase the number of social housing;
to remove land from land speculation in order to build affordable housing or cultural and sports facilities;
to provide spacious accommodation, the cost of which would be affordable for families.
Mobility
Another major concern remains transport. We believe it is essential to step up efforts to promote the supply of public transport, particularly in disadvantaged areas of the metropolitan region and in industrial deserts where many people work in factories. In addition, public transport must better meet the needs of workers struggling in our health network (CHSLD, RPA). Here are two concrete proposals:
increase funding for sustainable modes of transport;
pressure the provincial order to achieve the government objective of 50/50 for investment between public transport and the road network in the Quebec Infrastructure Plan.
Municipal management must strengthen the “Reduce – Transfer – Improve” approach to sustainable mobility in all of its transport policies.
REDUCE motorized trips or the distances to be covered in order to meet the various mobility needs through better integration of land use planning and transport;
TRANSFER journeys to means of transport that consume less energy and which result in lower GHG emissions, such as public and active transport;
IMPROVE the efficiency of vehicles by reducing their carbon footprint, but also improve journeys in terms of costs, quality and safety. The gradual electrification of the city of Montreal’s vehicle fleet is one of the avenues to take (proposal from the Alliance Transit group).
Environment
The last few years have clearly indicated the trend of global warming, which undeniably hits the poorest populations the most, the homeless and the elderly who do not have air conditioning or access to a swimming pool or a plan. of water. In this sense, the City must do more to combat heat islands, which are concentrated in the poorest neighborhoods, and speed up the installation of equipment that will have the effect of cooling a growing number of citizens.
To do this, it is important to allow access to green spaces in a more egalitarian way. They must therefore be developed as a priority in neighborhoods that do not have them. Thus, the east of the city of Montreal, which for a long time had a mainly industrial vocation, could benefit from the creation of large parks, which will improve the quality of life of the people who live in these boroughs.
Urban space and minimum wage
Of course, the urban territory must be accessible for the establishment of shops and local services which, by their presence, enrich everyone’s life while promoting the creation of various jobs. To do this, the development of commercial arteries and the establishment of employment areas that would escape the voracious appetite of land speculators remain entirely accessible solutions for the municipal administration provided the political will necessary to achieve it.
Finally, that the City require its subcontractors to pay their employees at the minimum wage of $ 18 an hour and that the young people who supervise leisure activities, during the summer in particular, be also paid at this rate.
It goes without saying that many other issues not addressed are very important, including the repair of many public buildings in our territory. In conclusion, the people who will administer the City for the next four years will have to make it more egalitarian, more accessible and more pleasant for the entire population and workers.
* The members of the Intersyndical Montreal Metropolitan Committee: The Alliance of Professors of Montreal (FAE), the Central of Democratic Unions (CSD), the Central Council of Metropolitan Montreal-CSN, the FTQ Montreal Metropolitan Regional Council, the Syndicat de the Quebec Public Service (SFPQ), the Champlain Teaching Union (CSQ), the Laval Region Teaching Union (FAE), the West Montreal Teaching Union (FAE) ), the Syndicate of Professionals of the Government of Quebec (SPGQ) and the Syndicate of Professionals of the Education Sector of Montreal (CSQ).