Fréchette meets Montreal mayor as Quebec unveils homelessness measures

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 19, 2026

Photo Courtesy: The Canadian Press

CANADA – Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette met with Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada on Friday amid growing pressure over homelessness after a one-year-old child was found living in an encampment in the city.

Fréchette moved up the meeting with Martinez Ferrada after the child was discovered on Sept. 11 at an encampment along Notre-Dame Street. Montreal police said the child’s health and safety were not at risk, while an investigation involving Quebec’s youth protection agency is ongoing.

Ahead of the meeting, Fréchette announced a proposed $250-million emergency fund for homelessness, with measures also focused on transitional housing and mental health services. She said different levels of government, community organizations and the private sector need to work more closely to address homelessness.

After meeting at Montreal City Hall, Fréchette said she had committed to working with the mayor on transitional housing and mental health if the Coalition Avenir Québec forms the government after the Oct. 5 election. Martinez Ferrada did not speak to reporters after the meeting.

The mayor had earlier described the baby’s presence in the encampment as a wake-up call and warned she could take legal action if Quebec failed to provide greater support for Montreal’s homelessness response. Following Friday’s meeting, Fréchette said the legal option was not currently on the agenda.

The case has also become a major issue in Quebec’s election campaign. Liberal Leader Charles Milliard has proposed an additional $60 million annually to address homelessness, while the Parti Québécois and Québec solidaire have proposed creating a dedicated homelessness minister.

PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has proposed $1 billion in homelessness investments focused on social and supportive housing and prevention, while Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime has called for more doctors, social workers and stable funding for community organizations.

The meeting comes as Quebec’s Oct. 5 election campaign enters its final weeks, with homelessness, housing and social services increasingly becoming central issues in the debate over how governments should respond to the province’s housing crisis.