Mayors from various municipalities are pushing for the Quebec government to maintain funding for school sports facilities during evenings and weekends.
Montreal: Recently, mayors from several cities, including Montreal and Pierrefonds-Roxboro, gathered to ask the Quebec government to keep school sports facilities open during evenings and weekends. They want to ensure that community members can access these spaces based on a previous agreement.
Last December, the Quebec government informed school boards that they would stop funding for schools to remain open for community sports and cultural programs. This decision has left many worried about the impact on local associations and families.
Montreal’s Mayor, Valérie Plante, expressed her concerns, saying that the people most affected will be local sports associations, families, and even day camps. She emphasized the importance of community support for sports and social activities.
Jim Beis, the mayor of Pierrefonds-Roxboro, shared his frustration, comparing the situation to being dangled a carrot that is suddenly taken away. He feels it’s unfair to the citizens who pay taxes to use these facilities.
Plante pointed out that the agreement between municipalities and the Quebec government includes a clause requiring 12 months’ notice for any changes. She urged the government to consider the community’s needs, especially for kids and families.
Beis added that many cities are still unaware of the funding cuts, highlighting the lack of communication from the government. CityNews Montreal has reached out to the Ministry of Education for comments but hasn’t received a response yet.
