Lots to like in federal budget, Plante says
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said she welcomed the federal government’s budget, especially the infusion of new cash for economic growth, innovation and research, and the opioid crisis. Plante said it was all good news — with the exception of one thing.
The one sore point in the budget is the lack of support for low-cost housing projects, Plante told reporters at city hall Tuesday night.
“Where we are disappointed — and I know other mayors will be just as disappointed as me — and that’s in social housing,” Plante said.
“We were asking the federal government to move forward, and more quickly, to revamp the old social housing program. We don’t see it in the budget and it’s disappointing.”
But Plante welcomed deferred infrastructure spending.
“We’re happy there was an extension for the investment program for infrastructure, which is something we will be using for our projects,” she said.
She also welcomed a fresh injection of cash into research. “We think investing massively in innovation is a great idea,” she said, particularly as Montreal is considered a powerhouse and a leader in artificial intelligence. “We’re considered a ville de savoir (city of knowledge) and we have so many universities, so more money in research is good.”
On provisions in the budget for taxes on legal marijuana: “The budget talks very clearly about how important cities are, and so we are reiterating our invitation to the provincial government to come up with an agreement very fast so we can come up with the resources we need to implement this new cannabis bylaw,” Plante said.
The federal budget forecasts the government will net about $690 million in revenue through cannabis taxes over the next five years
“We want our share of the pie and we want to act responsibly, so an agreement is more than welcome,” Plante said.
Plante also welcomed federal money set aside for emergency fund for cities fighting the escalating opioid crisis. This too will go to good use, she said.
Workers in the field have been asking for more flexibility when it comes to using the antidote Naloxone, she said. “So we’re glad there’s money injected into addressing specifically the opioid crisis, though in Montreal the situation is stable but we still have to be vigilant.”
It’s not clear how such funds will be spent, she said. There are many points of view on who should be designated to provide the antidote in the field, and there are many possibilities among those in the front lines, from police and outreach workers to social workers and ambulance technicians, she said.
“We need to make sure the right person is supporting someone who is overdosing,” she said, because timing is crucial.
As for the new métro Pink Line, a key campaign pledge before Plante was elected, she noted that an office has already been set up to deal specifically with that project.
Asked whether she’d have preferred federal money specifically targeting the Pink Line rather than access to funds in a general budget, Plante said that “there are other projects on the table besides the Pink Line. And they are advancing. But it’s something we’re working on. The reaction from provincial and federal government has been good. So I’m feeling positive.”
In other reactions, Université de Montréal rector Guy Breton also welcomed the new investments for research and innovation announced in the federal government’s budget, with increased funding for research granting councils, the exploitation of big data and basic science research.
The Quebec Federation of Chambers of Commerce was less pleased, saying the federal government missed an opportunity to reduce the deficit and return to a balanced budget.
But the Quebec Community Groups Network welcomed an infusion of funds — $400 million over five years — in support of improved access to English-language programs including cultural, artistic and heritage activities.
It’s not clear yet what the coming federal Action Plan for Official Languages will contain, the group’s president James Shea said in a statement. “We now await details of the Action Plan for Official Languages to find out how the governments of Canada and Quebec can work together to fulfil these promises,” he said.