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Government announcement
16 March 2018

Montréal Reflex Framework Agreement – The realization of a new housing partnership


Je suis très fière d’annoncer, en compagnie de mon collègue Martin Coiteux et de la mairesse de Montréal, Valérie…

Posted by Lise Thériault on Friday, March 16, 2018

L'entente historique annoncée aujourd'hui s'inscrit pleinement dans la reconnaissance officielle du statut de métropole…

Posted by Martin Coiteux on Friday, March 16, 2018

Montréal Reflex Framework Agreement

MONTRÉAL, March 16, 2018 – As the next step of the Montréal Reflex Framework Agreement signed when Montréal was recognized as the metropolis of Quebec, the Quebec government and the Ville de Montréal are announcing today that they have signed another agreement to transfer responsibilities and budgets for developing housing in Montréal to the City.

Under this agreement, the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ) is entrusting a share of its housing program budget to the Ville de Montréal, which the Ville de Montréal will administer while applying the government’s directives and objectives. For 2017‑2018, the Ville de Montréal will manage a budget of $93.7 million for the AccèsLogis Québec, Renovation Québec and home adaptation programs within its boundaries.

In addition, the Quebec government is granting a subsidy of more than $22 million to the Ville de Montréal to fund AccèsLogis Québec projects awaiting completion. This additional contribution will help organizations to finalize the financing of their affordable housing or community projects. Units allocated before April 1, 2017, as part of the SHQ’s AccèsLogis program will be eligible for this funding.

Quotes:

We face major challenges in housing to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people and households. This agreement marks the beginning of a new partnership between the SHQ and the Ville de Montréal. All Montréal residents stand to gain from this collaboration.

– Lise Thériault, Minister responsible for Consumer Protection and for Housing

The historic agreement announced today is fully in line with the official recognition of Montréal as Quebec’s metropolis. Housing is a major factor in retaining families and improving residents’ quality of life. With this innovative agreement, the Ville de Montréal will have more autonomy and will be given free rein to adapt interventions in housing according to its requirements and realities.

– Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montréal region

We are pleased that Montréal’s historic commitment and expertise in the field of housing have been recognized by the Quebec government. This agreement will enable us to continue and improve our interventions in housing, by giving us the means to realize one of our priority commitments to our residents, namely to create 12,000 social, affordable and family housing units over the next four years.

– Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montréal and President of the Montréal Metropolitan Community

Key points:

  • On December 8, 2016, the Quebec government officially recognized the Ville de Montréal as the metropolis of Quebec and signed the Montréal Reflex Framework Agreement that deals with the Government of Quebec’s and the Ville de Montréal’s commitments that result from recognizing this special metropolis status. It also tabled Bill 121, An Act to increase the autonomy and the powers of Ville de Montréal, metropolis of Québec, which became law on September 21, 2017.
  • Under the Montréal Reflex Framework Agreement, the Quebec government is committed to concluding sectoral agreements, including the housing agreement between the SHQ and the Ville de Montréal. These different agreements will provide greater flexibility for the Ville de Montréal in housing, combatting homelessness, immigration, culture and heritage, school infrastructure and equipment as well as economic development.
  • The housing agreement provides for the transfer of budgets to the Ville de Montréal for developing housing in Montréal, excluding those for low-income housing. In addition, the parties agree that the budget for rent supplements is not part of the Ville de Montréal’s overall budget. These supplements will continue to be managed by the Office municipal d’habitation de Montréal according to current arrangements.
  • The five-year agreement also determines the share of the SHQ’s program budget that is entrusted to the Ville de Montréal. For the year 2017-2018, it is set at 36%. It will be increased by one point each year until it reaches 40% in 2021-2022.
  • The Ville de Montréal will determine, based on its priorities, how the amounts that it will receive as part of agreement will be spent. It will share the responsibility of monitoring its interventions with the SHQ to ensure that the housing objectives set by the government are respected.
  • A joint monitoring committee with three representatives from each party and a representative from the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Occupation du territoire has been created. It will submit a review three years after the agreement enters into force. It will also assess the agreement and programs after five years.

About the Société d’habitation du Québec

The SHQ’s mission is to promote access to adequate housing for Quebecers. With its programs and many partners, it helps more than 231,000 households in Quebec. For more information on the programs and services offered by the SHQ, to learn more about its activities and achievements, or to obtain housing advice, visit www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca.