Côte-Nord community groups demand $10M emergency funding

Community organizations in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec are demanding $10 million in emergency funding through the ‘Le communautaire à boutte’ movement. As the provincial elections approach on October 5, organizers plan to lobby candidates in the Duplessis and René-Lévesque ridings to secure this immediate financial aid.

Shawn Bourdages, coordinator for the TROC-CDC Côte-Nord, stated that beyond this initial emergency injection, the movement seeks long-term discussions with the next government regarding funding indexation. They argue that current funding levels have not kept pace with rising costs.

Additionally, organizations are calling for more flexible, mission-based funding rather than project-specific grants. They suggest that mission-based funding should ideally account for 80% of their total budgets, allowing them to maintain qualified staff and focus on regular activities rather than short-term government priorities.