Social Development Policy
Montréal, with its determination to create a movement in favour of social cohesiveness and inclusiveness, announces its social development policy to reinforce its actions and support in all areas of social life in which it can contribute to the enjoyment of its residents, either directly or indirectly. The policy is a firm commitment to create a city in which residents enjoy living and building the future together.
The first two articles of the Montréal Charter of Rights and Responsibilities (2005) are at the source of this policy:
Article 1 | The city is both a territory and a living space in which values of human dignity, tolerance, peace, inclusion and equality must be promoted among all citizens.
Article 2 | Human dignity can only be preserved as part of a sustained struggle against poverty and all forms of discrimination, and in particular, those based on ethnic or national origin, race, age, social status, marital status, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
Mission and objectives
The policy aims to respond to six major challenges that Montréal faces: poverty, neighbourhood transformation, demographic change, safety, educational success and employment, cohabitation and commitment.
The policy has four parts:
1. Building a human-scale city and neighbourhoods
Montréal has made a commitment to action for a healthy environment, flourishing living environments and neighbourhoods that promote social development, both in their design and their organization. It also depends on people, community groups and social and economic stakeholders who live in these neighbourhoods to build a human-scale, dynamic and inclusive city.
Orientations: Development, Sustainable Travel, Housing, Food, Work, Education and Health
2. Promoting social cohesiveness and living together
Social cohesiveness is the result of a group of actions that promote inclusiveness, diversity and living together. The members of a society at all stages of their life feel accepted and recognized, no matter their cultural or ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation, age, religion, political allegiance, or family, social or physical condition.
Orientations: Living Together, Arts, Sports and Recreation, Integration, Social Diversity, Fighting Poverty
3. Supporting citizen participation and social engagement
Montréal is working to mobilize residents, including the most vulnerable residents, and partners by implementing mechanisms to promote democratic participation and social, community-based engagement in its neighbourhoods and living environments.
Orientations: Resident Participation, Social and Community Engagement, Resident Action
4. Committing to social and economic partnership
Public, institutional, community and business stakeholders are working together in Montréal to move society forward. Pooling their respective strengths and creating new partnerships will help them unite the respective needs of economic vitality and social vitality.
Orientations: Community Partnerships, Institutional Partnerships, Internetwork Partnerships.
The implementation of the policy will be contingent upon conditions of success, in particular an evaluation of the results, the development of a three-year action plan, including resident participation and monitoring mechanisms.
Results: Various stakeholders (residents, groups and elected officials) joined the group; unanimous adoption by city council, internal mobilization for implementation. Results of actions will be shared at a later time, in conjunction with the 2018-2020 action plan.
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