(Montreal) The Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, announced $1,452,000 on Friday for the prevention of overdoses, which are on the rise in Greater Montreal. New sums that will only be used to restore services, note the organizations concerned.
“We lacked good news, and here we have it,” rejoiced Annie Aubertin, general manager of the Specter de rue organization, present alongside Lionel Carmant at a press conference. Last year, the organization’s envelope was reduced, forcing a reduction in the hours of service at the supervised injection site.
The sums of $300,000 granted respectively to Specter de rue, Cactus, L’Anonyme and Dopamine, harm prevention organizations, will help breathe new life into things.
The “storm” is not over, however, according to Annie Aubertin, who points out that the issue of overdoses is part of a broader lack of housing and services.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
Annie Aubertin and Lionel Carmant
“What was announced this morning is crumbs when we see the extent and the ravages of the homelessness and opioid crisis in Montreal. The government of Quebec only restores what has been cut, it does not respond to the massive increase in needs, ”reacted Benoit Langevin, spokesperson for the official opposition at Montreal city hall on homelessness, by email.
When asked about the government’s lack of leadership on homelessness, the minister said he “never threw the ball” to anyone else. “I’m here to support,” he said. The municipalities have to tell me where the services will go and who will manage them”.
Josefina Blanco, city councilor and responsible for the homelessness file on the executive committee of the City of Montreal, welcomed the announcement. Municipalities, which are “at the forefront” of the homelessness crisis, “are the experts, with community organizations on the front line”.
A sum of $252,000 will go to the Department of Public Health for the development of new services for supervised consumption and drug checking, as new substances spread on the island.