by Lorraine Carpenter, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

After making two announcements about off-market housing projects in recent weeks, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante spoke about the city’s plan to prioritize high-quality public, community or cooperative housing — units that will be protected from speculation.

In an interview with La Presse, Plante explained that this plan (summarized below by the executive committee’s urban planning specialist Robert Beaudry) is a response to the intersecting crises of housing and homelessness.

“(The city wants to) triple the percentage of off-market housing by 2050 to reach 20% of the total real estate stock in order to promote Montreal’s resilience and put a roof over the head of all Montrealers.”