Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is attacking the Montreal mayor’s approach to severe drug addiction and homelessness, accusing her of telling Montrealers to “just learn to live with chaos and danger.”
Poilievre spoke this morning near a housing project that includes a supervised drug-use site west of downtown that has drawn criticism because of its location near an elementary school.
He called for Maison Benoît Labre to be immediately shut down and promised to close other such sites located near schools or playgrounds if he becomes prime minister.
The federal Opposition leader also criticized Mayor Valérie Plante’s goal of improving what she calls “cohabitation” between residents and organizations offering services to vulnerable people.
Poilievre says kids should not have to cohabit with hard drug use and crime.
Plante announced earlier this week that the city will hold public consultations on how to better integrate such services into neighbourhoods amid rising public concern. She did not immediately respond to Poilievre’s comments.
Maison Benoît Labre said it did not want to enter a political debate, but said its services are essential to the fight against homelessness and the overdose crisis.