Investing primarily where the needs are most urgent: this is the commitment of the Montreal administration to restore “justice” in the territory thanks to a new tool that allows to assess the state of deprivation in the metropolis’s neighborhoods.
Posted at 4:02 p.m.
“For several years there have been neighborhoods that, for all sorts of historical reasons, have not received the love and attention that they should have received, which has left a deep mark on the area,” emphasized the President of the Executive Committee, Dominique Ollivier. on Friday during a press conference organized to explain the new approach the city plans to take in its decision-making.
Inequalities between neighborhoods can be observed in several areas, be it heat islands, a lack of green spaces, limited access to public transport or a lack of sports and leisure infrastructure, said Ms Ollivier.
“But our goal is to provide all Montrealers with the same quality of life and services, regardless of their neighborhood,” she assured.
The administration hopes that the “Inclusive and Resilient Neighborhoods (QIR)” approach will make this possible.
The Living Environment Justice Index developed by the city measures economic, social and environmental vulnerabilities and also assesses urban safety, local resources and access to cultural, sports and leisure activities.
In particular, an interactive map was created to identify the most vulnerable neighborhoods.
“Specifically, this could lead to the creation of a public square, the development of a park or play area, the securing of an intersection, a greening project, the improvement of urban safety or food security, or even the prevention of discrimination,” explains Ms. Ollivier.
Initially, this approach will be implemented as a pilot project in three neighborhoods: the northeast of Montréal-Nord, the Sainte-Marie district in Ville-Marie and the Saint-Pierre district in Lachine, which have been identified as sectors less conducive to a good quality of life.
In each of these districts, local community organizations would be consulted, assures the city, which wants to implement a “bottom-up” approach.
“We will involve civil society in the development of new living environments to prevent the gentrification of these changing neighborhoods and the forced relocation of vulnerable populations,” it says.
“If we want to make health progress, we need to work on targeted measures to reduce gaps and inequalities,” emphasizes Mylène Drouin, director of public health in Montreal, who welcomes the city’s initiative.