Montreal’s six popular education centers (CEP) are launching a new appeal for help in the face of “a real risk of closure”. Stable funding of around $ 1 million per year is being requested from the Minister of Education, Jean-François Roberge, as part of a campaign launched on Tuesday.
“We will try to defend ourselves to the end, argues in an interview with The duty Nicolas Delisle-L’Heureux, spokesperson for the six CEP of the city of Montreal (InterCEP). We are threatened with closure, and will face very big cuts in the activities and services that we offer to the most deprived populations. “
Starting next summer, centers will have to shell out tens of thousands of additional dollars to pay rent, an expense that will vary between $ 65,000 and $ 145,000 depending on the center. “We are not funded for that, and we do not have the means to pay,” said the spokesperson.
In the case of the Pointe-Saint-Charles CEP, the rent will represent approximately $ 75,000 per year. It is therefore nearly 15% of its budget that will be cut.
The CEPs had reluctantly signed leases a few years ago with the Center de services scolaire de Montréal (CSSDM), valid for a period of 15 years. “It was imposed, we were threatened with expulsion,” says Nicolas Delisle-L’Heureux. It was understood in the documents that the rent would be payable by them from June 2022, after a grace period.
“We are neighborhood centers, everyone is welcome and we create social ties,” insists the spokesperson, who fears that this will disappear. Writing, popular literacy and computer workshops are offered to citizens for free or at low cost. “
The CSSDM paid for several years the costs necessary for their operation, but abandoned some for several years.
The rent will be added to operating costs such as heating, electricity and internet, which centers now have to pay. These costs are, however, reimbursed by government budgetary appropriations each year. “We have to fight every year to have them, we are always in doubt,” says Nicolas Delisle-L’Heureux.
Meeting requested
In particular, InterCEP is asking for long-term financing for operating costs and rent, an amount estimated at nearly one million dollars per year.
The group says it has had “no signal” from the Minister of Education who would confirm that the rent will be financed and says that the “level of concern is rising”. “Since Minister Roberge has been here, we have met five political attachés, who are on the move. Each time, you have to explain the case again. But what we are asking for is to meet with the minister, ”underlines Nicolas Delisle-L’Heureux.
InterCEP is expressing four demands as part of its campaign launched on Tuesday. Among other things, banner rollouts will take place at the centers at different times of the day.
A website, popular education.ca, was created so that the population could give its support. Public assemblies and demonstrations could also take place, in a “gradation” of means of action which will culminate in next June.
Since Minister Roberge has been here, we have met five political attachés, who are on the move. Each time, you have to explain the case again. But what we are asking for is to meet with the minister.