Greetings from the Ville-Marie-Sud-Ouest-Île-des-Soeurs NDP Association

Helping others and ourselves

During this very critical time, where the world is affected by the COVID-19 virus, we are writing hoping that you and your loved ones are weathering this crisis.

We want to inform you of the different government supports that are available.  We also want to give you ideas on how you can make a difference in your community.

As New Democrats, we believe solidarity means ensuring that all people in our community, no matter their situation, are looked in on, looked after and cared for.

In our part of Montreal, many organizations are working to make sure that everyone has enough to eat, a place to stay or live and help with daily life like getting groceries. Here are some of the groups that you can go to for help, or that could be needing your help:

Oftentimes, it is the most vulnerable that suffer due to crisis, you can help the homeless by donating money, food or even your time.
 
Here is the Québec website with volunteering opportunities:
 
In this trying time, our healthcare professionals need all the help they can get.

  • Blood donations are critical to saving those in critical condition due to coronavirus
  • Medical donations; if you have medical masks, latex gloves or other medical equipment available for donation please contact your local hospital and help equip our healthcare workers with the tools available to fight the virus.

 Also, consider the following community support groups:

Getting help for ourselves and those we love

We also want to inform you of some of the programs that may be helpful to you during this crisis.
 
Unable to work because of the crisis?
–          People who are unable to work, either because they or someone in their family is sick: Government of Canada Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Benefits and Services: click here.
–          People who have been laid off OR  people whose work has stopped or closed: Government of Canada Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Unemployment Benefits: click here ; Government of Québec Temporary Aid for Workers Program, click here. 
–      The federal government will also be setting up a program to pay $2000 a month to those who cannot work because of the virus.

Unable to pay your Hydro bill?
–          Hydro -Québec will not cut off power if bills are not paid: and will not charge late fees:  Hydro Québec COVID-19, click here

Having trouble paying your mortgage?
–          Mortgage relief, too, Is available through your bank.  Banks can suspend interest and principal payments up to six months.  Contact your bank for more details on how to apply
Having trouble with your property taxes?
–          The City of Montreal property tax deadline for the 2nd instalment is moved to July 2nd: Montreal Municipal taxes, click here.
Not able to deal with income taxes?
–          Income taxes for Québec and Canada are now due on June 1: Revenue Québec COVID-19.   FAQ click here:  Revenue Canada, Important Dates for Individuals, click here.

Having trouble feeding yourself and your family?

  • Here is a list of food programs.
  • Maison Benoit Labre: by appointment only 514-970-5973 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Need proof of residence but serves everyone. You must bring your own grocery bags
  • Partageons L’espoir: If you live in the following postal codes (H3C, H3E, H3J, H3K, H4C, H4E, H4G, H4H) you may ask for a food basket by appointment only.  You can get an appointment by calling 514-939-5499 and dialling 0. You can also email your full name and phone number to info@partageonslespoir.ca. They will contact you in one working day.
  • If you live in Little Burgundy, l’Association des popotes roulantes continues its frozen meal delivery at 514-937-4798.  They will be organizing a food bank in the near future.
  • In Saint-Henri, the Mission Bon Accueil food bank is open to members only.
Having trouble with rent?
–          The rental board has suspended evictions

Do you have landlord or rental problems?
– POPIR-Comité logement (Sud-Ouest) : 514-935-4649 (offices are closed)
– Projet Genèse (Côte-des-Neiges): 514-738-2036 (offices are closed)
– R.I.L. (Pointe-Saint-Charles): e 514-932-7742 (offices are closed)

Need to talk or need help?


-If you are stressed, anxious or depressed you can contact Info-Social 811.  Professional psychosocial workers will offer you help and share information and advice depending on your needs.

If you are witnessing or experiencing conjugal violence?
– SOS violence Conjugale is open at 1 800 363-9010, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Do you have legal questions?

  • A free COVID legal helpline has been put in place to respond to questions. Open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, this service makes lawyers from all over Québec available to respond to your legal problems. To reach the clinic, please call either: 
  • 1 866 699-9729 (toll-free)
  • 514 789-2755 (Montréal)
If you have questions about services offered by the Ministry of Justice, for example about courts, please communicate with their helpline at 1 866 536-5140

What is open and what is not?
–              Here is a list.

Other legal and community resources.
 

The NDP COVID PLAN

We can assure you that during this crisis, New Democrats have been advocating for workers and community protections in Parliament. New Democrats proposed the following:
  • That every Canadian receives $2000 dollars a month during the crisis.
  • Protection of workers, their families and their co-workers by expanding paid leave for federal workers and fiscal supports for all type of workers;
  • Suspension of monthly payments for the Canada Student Loan Program without penalty or additional interest;
  • Moratorium on evictions, foreclosures and utility shutoffs;
  • Expansion of financial leave for federal workers and fiscal supports for all type of workers;
  • Subsidization of 75% of an employee’s salary as other countries have done.
As a result, the federal government will be offering $2000 a month to those who have lost their jobs or cannot work because of the virus and will be subsidizing 75 percent of salaries for small businesses.
 

The future

Understandably, many are scared and anxious about the future. We don’t know how long this crisis will last.
But as New Democrats, what we do know, is that our community response counts.  We all need to follow public health agencies’ guidelines on social distancing (click here for the Montréal public health guidance, here for Québec, and here for the federal government), and ensure measures are put into place that will protect us all: our health and our general welfare. 

If you can, help out by checking in with friends and family.  Find out what they need.  We have a strong community built on solidarity!  If we all come together, we will be able to not only defeat this virus, but ensure a better Canada for all.
Yours truly,
 
NDP Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Sœurs Association