Québec solidaire proposes homelessness 'superminister' to centralize government action

Québec solidaire pledged Tuesday to appoint a dedicated minister to coordinate Quebec's response to homelessness if the party gains power, saying fragmented government action has failed the province's most vulnerable.

Spokesperson Ruba Ghazal announced the plan at a news conference at PAS de la rue, a Montreal homelessness organization. A single minister with consolidated authority would ensure consistency across government programs and decision-making, the party argues. Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, QS's health and social services critic, accused the Coalition Avenir Québec government of moving "too little, too late" on the crisis.

There are 12,000 people experiencing homelessness in Quebec, according to government data. This represents a 20 per cent increase since 2022. The growth underscores the scale of the challenge: over 12,000 people with no fixed address across the province, concentrated heavily in Montreal.

The announcement targets a key election issue. Community groups have demanded major-party commitments on homelessness ahead of the October election, and QS's proposal signals the party sees the crisis as a campaign priority. What the Coalition Avenir Québec government's response will be remains unclear.