BUDGET 2014-2015 - Press release no. 3 of 7 - Over $280 Million to Strengthen Solidarity

QUÉBEC, Feb. 20, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - In tabling Budget 2014-2015 today, the Minister of Finance and the Economy, Nicolas Marceau, announced the government will invest $270 million to build 3 250 new social housing units. The Minister announced that "500 of the 3 250 new housing units built under the AccèsLogis Québec program will be set aside for homeless people."

$6 million for outreach services for homeless people
The Minister also announced that "in 2014-2015, the government will invest an additional $6 million in outreach services for homeless people, in particular to provide health and social services support and community support." This announcement is part of the soon-to-be released first national policy to fight homelessness and the action plan for the policy's implementation.

$2.5 million for the Chantier de l'économie sociale Trust
The chief mission of the Chantier de l'économie sociale Trust is to foster the expansion and development of collective enterprises by improving access to financing for social economy businesses.

"To enable the Trust to invest more, the interest moratorium on the government contribution to the Trust will be extended for another five years. The moratorium represents an investment of $2.5 million over the full period," Mr. Marceau announced.

$4 million a year to support training for part-time volunteer firefighters
As seen with the events in Lac-Mégantic and L'Isle-Verte, part-time volunteer firefighters play a front-line role in small municipalities. Yet, they are subject to training requirements the same as professional firefighters.

"To ensure that Québec's municipalities and regional county municipalities can respond effectively to disasters, the government will invest $4 million annually to provide financial assistance for the training of part-time volunteer firefighters," the Minister announced.

"Solidarity is a fundamental value of Quebecers. It is one of the pillars of government action. With Budget 2014-2015, the government is taking action to strengthen solidarity," he underlined.

SOURCE: Cabinet du ministre des Finances et de l'Économie

For further information:

Mélanie Malenfant
Assistant Chief of Staff and Press Relations Officer
Office of the Minister of Finance and the Economy
418 643-5270 or 514 873-5363