Montreal and Quebec, January 27, 2021 –As the Government of Quebec announces the launch of the development of the National Strategy for Urban Planning and Territorial Development, the economic, union, social and environmental leaders of the G15+ unveil 15 proposals For Prosperous, Inclusive and Resilient Communities. The proposed measures concern in particular housing accessibility, downtown vitality and the greening of buildings and neighbourhoods. These measures will be presented in greater detail during a Grand Panel on February 8, 2021.
Only 22% of SMEs in downtown areas have returned to a level of activity considered normal, and 37% for those located in rural areas[1], and more than 300,000 Quebec renter households live in inadequate housing[2]. As local businesses and vulnerable people are particularly affected by the health and economic crisis, the G15+ is mobilizing so that Quebec emerges stronger and more united.
To consultthe G15+ proposals >>>
Among the key measures:
- With the help of a fund administered by Investissement Québec, financially support independent businesses choosing to set up in downtown areas;
- Specifically promote downtown and village businesses in government communication campaigns and tools promoting local purchasing;
- Financially support owners of commercial and mixed-use buildings, and owners of older buildings in implementing renovation, restoration and enhancement projects for the exterior envelope of their building;
- Financially support Quebec municipalities, RCMs and non-profit organizations in implementing cultural initiatives that encourage the beautification and cultural animation of downtowns and villages;
- Fund 10,000 new housing units enabling the realization of 180 new community housing projects, and diversify models of affordable and suitable housing for all generations;
- Take advantage of low interest rates to launch a public land purchase program for strategically located sites in order to establish, for example, social housing or community facilities there.
- Support communities in creating eco-districts;
- Adopt a siting strategy for public buildings in order to promote urban densification;
- Increase workforce training in the sectors of energy-efficient construction and phytotechnologies.
These measures are the result of a collaboration among the members of the G15+ working group on the future of communities and real estate: Vivre en Ville, Conseil du patronat du Québec, Chantier de l’économie sociale, David Suzuki Foundation, Ordre des urbanistes du Québec, Fondaction, Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, Association des groupes de ressources techniques du Québec, COPTICOM, Stratégies et Relations publiques and Propulsion Québec.
The G15+ invites its partners to a grand panel on prosperous, inclusive and resilient communities
The G15+ announces the holding of a Grand Panel on February 8, 2021, which will present its proposals to public decision-makers, civil society organizations and experts who wish to participate in the broad conversation aimed at developing theNational Strategy for Urban Planning and Territorial Development.
Among the speakers:
- Jérôme Dupras, professor specializing in land-use and territorial planning at the University of Quebec in Outaouais;
- Jeanne Robin, Senior Director of Vivre en Ville;
- Béatrice Alain, Executive Director of the Chantier de l’économie sociale;
- Denis Bolduc, Secretary General of the Fédération des travailleuses et travailleurs du Québec;
- Karl Blackburn, President and CEO of the Conseil du patronat du Québec;
- Éric Cimon, Executive Director of the Association des groupes de ressources techniques du Québec;
- Sylvain Gariépy, President of the Ordre des urbanistes du Québec;
- Sabaa Khan, Executive Director of the David Suzuki Foundation, Quebec/Atlantic division;
- Olivier Legault, Project Coordinator at Rues principales;
- Charles Milliard, President and CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec;
- Jean-Sébastien Graham, Investment Advisor, Funds and Real Estate, at Fondaction;
- Christian Savard, Executive Director of Vivre en Ville.
In the presence of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Andrée Laforest.
About the G15+
The G15+ collective is made up of economic, union, social and environmental leaders from Quebec. Created in March 2020 in response to the call made by Premier Legault to
reflect on how Quebec can emerge stronger and more united from this unprecedented crisis, the G15+ mobilized in an unprecedented effort to support the recovery efforts of the Quebec economy. The group responded to the Quebec government's call for recovery by sending it a series of proposals aimed at supporting businesses and workers, as well as their communities, based on the major social, economic and environmental objectives that enjoy broad consensus in Quebec. It offers to deepen this dialogue with the Government of Quebec.
Members of the G15+: Conseil du patronat du Québec, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec, David Suzuki Foundation, Chantier de l’économie sociale, Vivre en Ville, Propulsion Québec, Ordre des urbanistes du Québec, Écotech Québec, Équiterre, Fondaction, Association des Groupes de Ressources Techniques du Québec, Coalition des organismes communautaires pour le développement de la main-d’oeuvre, Institut du Québec, Regroupement national des conseils régionaux de l’environnement, Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, COPTICOM Stratégies et Relations publiques, Annie Chaloux, professor at the School of Applied Politics at the University of Sherbrooke and François Delorme, economist and lecturer in environmental economics at the School of Management at the University of Sherbrooke.
For more information on the G15+ and to consult the collective's proposals >>>
Information
Christophe Aura
COPTICOM, Stratégies et Relations publiques
514-797-7986 | caura@copticom.ca
References
[2]Report of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
