Families who live in poor social housing in eastern Montreal will be “urgently relocated,” according to the Plante administration.
“The families will be relocated urgently at our request,” indicated the elected official responsible for sanitation issues on the executive committee, Despina Sourias. “Contact will be made this afternoon and it is expected to be attended to quickly. »
La Presse revealed Friday morning that residents of Habitations Marie-Victorin had to live in deplorable conditions, with multiple holes in the walls, smashed ceilings and even bullet holes still visible.
In response, the Plante administration requested “work as quickly as possible” to renovate social housing in very poor condition in eastern Montreal.
“I want these families to be supported in finding other accommodation, so as not to live in the same conditions and for work to be carried out as quickly as possible. And here I am polite by saying as soon as possible,” reacted the mayor of Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles, Caroline Bourgeois, to 98.5 FM. Habitations Marie-Victorin are located in its district.
“It’s absolutely terrible. We’re all shocked,” she continued. ” It’s not acceptable. No one accepts that there are ceilings with trash bags above the shower. »
Ms. Bourgeois also pointed the finger at Quebec, affirming that HLMs belong “officially to the government of Quebec” while being managed by the Office municipal d’habitation de Montréal (OMHM).
“When we have children with nosebleeds, we have a bad problem,” she added. “Just because it’s the OMHM doesn’t mean it’s more acceptable. »
The opposition at city hall placed the blame on the municipal administration.
“The City of Montreal is fining itself. We will have seen everything,” responded opposition leader Aref Salem. “The Plante administration said it wanted to crack down on negligent owners. Given that she appears to be indifferent to her violations, what is the next step to crack down on and remedy her own negligence? »