2018-2020 Municipal Action Plan for Seniors - Montréal launches some forty measures aiming to improve the quality of life of seniors

MONTRÉAL, June 15, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Montréal's seniors will benefit, over the next two years, of a structuring municipal plan. Among other things, the plan aims to improve their mobility and their safety on public property, to increase the availability of quality affordable housing for seniors, as well as to make more services, infrastructures and municipal programs universally accessible, thus promoting the full civic and social participation of senior citizens.  

These measures are part of the brand new 2018-2020 municipal action plan, titled Montréal, a city reflective of seniors' needs, unveiled today by Valérie Plante, mayor of Montréal, as part of the 30^th colloquium of the Carrefour action municipale et famille. The unveiling took place in the presence of Rosannie Filato, executive committee member in charge of social and community development, homelessness, youth, women's issues, sports and leisure.

"Our administration absolutely had to develop an action plan that would meet the needs expressed by seniors during the public consultation. As reflected in the title of our action plan, the objective is to shape our city in the image of its seniors, thus enabling them to live according to their full potential, safely", declared the mayor of Montréal, Valérie Plante.

An answer to the priorities expressed by our seniors
The municipal action plan for seniors is the result of a public consultation process, as part of which seniors, as well as the community organizations and associations that work with them and on their behalf. The plan is made up of seven objectives and four main areas of action, including more than ten flagship measures, in order to meet the challenges and needs of this population. 

The first area of action aims to make the city and its neighborhoods a more human living environment, where seniors can get around easily and safely. To accomplish this, the municipal administration namely plans to:  

• Invest $3 M in the accessibility of municipal infrastructures, parks, public areas, while also imposing stricter accessibility criteria in urban planning by-laws;
• Offer more affordable accessible housing to seniors;
• Adapt the public transit system and study the possibility of implementing social pricing models within the Agence régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM);

The second area of action pertains to social cohesion, with measures aiming to fight against exclusion and mistreatment, while promoting inclusion and respect for diversity. It namely provides:

• Financial support for numerous community organizations coming to the aid of vulnerable citizens;
• Implementation of the SPVM's program Intervention policière auprès des aînés (IPAM) and improved awareness specifically among seniors from diverse cultural communities;
• Improvement of leisure and culture services.

The participation and involvement of seniors in their community represents the third area of action of the municipal action plan. "In order to fully take into account the needs of our senior population and to encourage seniors' participation in city activities, appointment processes will include age-related representation, as much within our boards and bodies as within all those over which we have jurisdiction. We will also improve our consultation methods, so as to reach out more effectively to the most vulnerable and under-represented citizens", said Rosannie Filato.

The final area of action aims to place seniors at the heart of the exchanges between the municipal administration and its partners, in order for their common projects to reflect seniors' priorities.  

"Montréal must accelerate the adaptation of its infrastructures, its public areas and its services, while remaining receptive to seniors and taking into account their needs. In doing so, we will ensure that the challenges and needs of this population that we hold so dear are fully met", concluded Valérie Plante.

The 2018-2020 Municipal Action Plan for Seniors is part of the Social development policy "Montréal de tous les possibles!". The Municipal Action Plan for seniors is the result of a publlic consultation process conducted with seniors, as well as the commununity organizations and associations that work with them and on their behalf. No less than 2,346 persons took part in this consultation process.

The document is available both in English and in French, at: makingmtl.ca/seniors.             

SOURCE Ville de Montréal - Cabinet de la mairesse et du comité exécutif

Source: Geneviève Jutras, Attachée de presse de la mairesse, Cabinet de la mairesse et du comité exécutif, 514 243-1268; Information: Linda Boutin, Relationniste, Division des relations médias, 514 872-6013