Djeneba Dosso

LJI Reporter

Gatineau has joined a new initiative launched by the City of Montreal which aims to document

solutions to urgent issues faced in municipalities. The proposed solutions will focus on social

economy. This includes tackling housing affordability, methods of waste management and the

offer of local services.

Social economy offers solutions that are based on citizen participation and innovation, according

to Luc Rabouin, Chairman of the Executive Committee and responsible for finance, economic

development and higher education. This approach promotes problem-solving on a local level and

in turn helps municipalities address challenges independently based on their urgent needs.

“The social economy is a natural ally for cities that want to meet people’s expectations in an

increasingly complex context,” he said in a press release. “Whether it is to respond to the

housing crisis, accelerate the ecological transition or support our local economy, non-profit

organizations and cooperatives offer innovative solutions that must be used by cities.”

Béatrice Alain, general manager of the Social Economy Construction Site believes this

partnership will enrich entrepreneurs and municipalities alike.

“By documenting the sectors where the social economy offers immediate and convincing

solutions to collective challenges, the Cities and Social Economy project heralds a new phase of great

collaboration between social economy enterprises and Quebec municipalities.”

These municipalities include Montreal, Gatineau, Laval, Lévis, Longueuil, Quebec, St-Jean-sur-

Richelieu and Sherbrooke. While details on how cities plan to document solutions in social

economy have yet to be released to the public, representatives of each city gathered virtually for

the first time to lay the foundations of their new collaboration on April 18.

The Cities and Social Economy project will culminate next November with the organization of a

day of exchanges between experts, key players in social economy and representatives of the

eight municipalities.

“By mobilizing all major cities with the Social Economy Site, we are giving ourselves the means

to improve our practices and accelerate our responses to common priorities,” added Rabouin.

More details to come.