The city of Montreal and the province have renewed $9 million in funding to help fight poverty for a year.
Anti-poverty groups in Montreal were worried about their budgets getting cut in half in 2015. However, the mayor of Montreal and the provincial government promised on Thursday that the $9 million budget will remain intact.
Over 300 community groups learned earlier in January that their budgets would be slashed to $4.5 million due to government cutbacks.
But the organizations started a letter-writing campaign and their fight to keep the money worked. The renewed budget will fund 500 projects and help over 350,000 Montrealers.
The money will be distributed by the boroughs to different organizations that fight dropout rates, stock up food banks and create social housing.
Labour Minister Sam Hamad, Municipal Affairs Minister Pierre Moreau, along with mayor Denis Coderre made the announcement at Montreal city hall.
The mayor said he didn’t want to give up on the $9 million nor see any organization close down because of budget cuts.
The province and the city are negotiating for a special status and increased powers for Montreal. Until that issue is resolved, Coderre said he could not say what will happen with next year’s budget.
