Zero-Homelessness Summit Promised by Quebec Parties
Montreal and Quebec City mayors join prominent figures calling for major homelessness strategy summit by June 2027.
Quebec's two major political parties have committed to holding significant summits on homelessness if they form government next—a direct response to pressure from some of the province's most visible leaders.
Monday's announcement came after an open letter published by Le Devoir, signed by Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand, and dozens of other prominent figures calling for "setting a course toward zero homelessness." Both the Parti Québécois and Quebec Liberal Party pledged to hold major summits on the issue by June 2027 if either leads the next government.
The signers explicitly invoked Finland's success in reducing homelessness, signaling ambition beyond incremental fixes. Finland's model focuses on housing-first approaches and coordinated support systems—not quick fixes but structural change. The commitment from two major parties suggests homelessness is becoming a defining election issue, at least among civic and community leadership.
Martinez Ferrada, in particular, has made this a priority for her administration. The movement from open letter to party commitment shows how political pressure from mayors and civil society can move provincial agendas. Both parties are now on record—voters will hold them to it.