Montreal mayor wants Quebec to appoint a homelessness minister in cabinet shuffle

By Canadian Press on August 19, 2025.

MONTREAL — Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante is asking the Quebec government to appoint a “top gun” for homelessness ahead of an expected provincial cabinet shuffle.

She made the request at a news conference during which she also proposed $22.5 million to tackle homelessness.

Quebec Premier François Legault has announced he will shuffle his cabinet this fall, and Plante says it’s the right time to have a minister dedicated to managing what she calls a humanitarian crisis.

Plante also announced that city council will study a number of projects, including a $700,000 allocation for shuttle services to transport vulnerable people toward resources.

Beginning Wednesday it will also evaluate whether to grant more than $21 million to roughly 40 community organizations over the next three years.

Plante said the funds would come from the city, but she’s also encouraging other levels of government to step up in the fight against homelessness.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2025.

The Canadian Press

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