Lily Ryan

Leaders and members of the G15+ collective gather at the National Assembly of Quebec, uniting voices and visions to unveil a comprehensive roadmap of 45 proposals, aiming to enhance societal well-being and pave the way toward a more prosperous, united, and environmentally conscious Quebec. (TF) Photo courtesy of the G15+

In a move that promises to reinvigorate Quebec’s socio-economic and environmental landscapes, the G15+ collective, a group of approximately fifteen leading civil society organizations, unveiled a comprehensive suite of 45 proposals. These initiatives, centred around enhancing the overall well-being of Quebec’s population, were announced at a significant gathering at the National Assembly of Quebec.

With housing at the crux of the plan, the collective has outlined a bold strategy to tackle the prevailing housing crisis in the region. A cornerstone of this initiative is a sweeping construction project which seeks to establish 5,000 social and community housing units annually for the next five years. This move is especially significant against the backdrop of a marked decline in the housing vacancy rate between 1990 and 2021. “We all deserve to live in healthy, sustainable, and affordable living environments, close to essential services, jobs, and businesses,” said Natalie Pouliot, echoing the sentiments of many housing advocates.

In addition to housing, the collective’s roadmap also delves deeply into sustainable consumption and production, a domain that has seen growing attention in recent years. One of the standout recommendations from the G15+ is to double the public transport services throughout Quebec within the next decade. This initiative is aimed not only at narrowing the investment gap with neighbouring Ontario but also at promoting a shift toward more sustainable modes of transport.

The plan doesn’t stop at transportation. It further seeks to challenge conventional consumption patterns by introducing informative food labelling that showcases both nutritional and environmental impacts.

Biodiversity preservation is another critical pillar of the collective’s strategy. In a nod to the importance of the natural environment, the G15+ has proposed allocating a portion of the Quebec Infrastructure Plan’s annual budget toward the creation and restoration of natural environments. This move recognizes the irreplaceable value that these natural spaces offer to the community at large.

The propositions, developed through a year-long intensive collaborative effort, were met with enthusiasm at the National Assembly event, which saw attendance by several ministers, deputies, and representatives from various sectors of society. Speaking on behalf of the G15+, Christian Savard, Béatrice Alain, and Geneviève Morin emphasized the roadmap’s role as a binding force for society. “We want this roadmap as a unifying project to chart the path towards a more united, prosperous, and green society,” they stated.

This ambitious project of the G15+ dovetails with the Well-being Indicators in Quebec, launched in 2022. The indicators serve as a litmus test, gauging the successes and challenges across various facets of societal well-being. An intriguing feature of these indicators is their comparativeanalysis, positioning Quebec vis-à-vis Ontario and Canada from the 1970s onward.

Concluding the announcement, François Delorme, one of the G15+ research partners, ​expressed hope that the proposals would encourage a recalibration of public investments, urging an emphasis on holistic well-being over mere fiscal and economic considerations.

With notes from Mary Baskin, Marie-Eve Turpin and Lily Ryan