Demonstration for social housing: SPVQ forces FRAPRU to cancel camp

At risk of being expelled by the SPVQ, Popular Action Front in Urban Redevelopment (FRAPRU) activists will not be able to camp and demonstrate tonight as planned in the Parc de l'América Française.

Event organizers were given notice a few days ago that no protesters or tents will be tolerated after 11pm.

However, they claim that this mobilization is an about-face, as the Marchand administration had previously agreed, to protest against the “government's inaction” on the issue of social housing.

“We notified Quebec City in advance that it would be tolerated. […] It was not to create a precedent or, for some unclear reason, the city did not want to officially authorize it, but the SPVQ finally informed us a few days ago the representative of FRAPRU, Véronique Laflamme.

At least twenty others were on the scene Saturday afternoon to oversee the 200 or so demonstrators who came from the four corners of Quebec to “give voice to the underserved.”

Credit: Nicolas Saint-Pierre

“Bruno Marchand's rejection of this kind of show is absolutely deplorable to me. These people want to push the issues of social housing and homelessness, which he himself has put pressure on the government on, which is absurd,” criticized municipal councilor Jackie Smith.

Not for the first time

François Silent, a former representative of FRAPRU for almost 40 years, said he was disappointed by the decision when two camps, including two nights, were held in the same place during his previous office.

“It is very different from what we experienced in 2004 and 2008, but the administration in place is also very different. I am very disappointed and I do not understand. The reality is that there are homeless camps throughout Quebec, it is not a question of creating a precedent,” he believed.

François Silent, former representative of FRAPRU for almost 40 years | Credit: Nicolas Saint-Pierre

“It's always done well. It's a way to express and carry the voices we want to hear. We're in a context where the housing crisis is so widespread, memories and performances are not enough to be heard and that's why we're doing this camp,” said Mrs. LaFlamme.

Change of direction

Because of this prohibition, the assembled people would not pitch their tents until the evening, instead they would hold a night vigil in front of the National Assembly in the hope that their message would be understood.

Among other things, they want to pressure the government to increase the non-profit housing stock, which is currently only 10.5% of the total rental stock in Quebec, to at least 20%.

A big show should wrap it all up early tomorrow afternoon. Transportation is also organized from almost all parts of Quebec. A few hundred people are expected to be there.