Last week, we learned that the Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie committee of Projet Montréal was organizing a conference led by Mr. Richard Bergeron, on the development of the new urban plan. Many of us responded positively to the Facebook invitation until we realized that the conference would take place in an inaccessible place!
On September 11 and 12, members of Projet Montréal participated in the Accessibility Days. These days have been very energizing and stimulating for us. On September 23, Mr. Bergeron, head of Projet Montréal, made a speech at the launch of the project on the marginalization of women with disabilities from Femmes et Villes International.
Project Montreal representatives explained to us that this inaccessible location was chosen because of a lack of financial resources and the lack of accessible bars in the borough. We cannot accept such justifications!
This evening, we will go to the inaccessible bar where Mr. Bergeron must give his conference on the development of the new urban plan of the City of Montreal. We will invite people to postpone the conference so that it takes place in a place accessible to everyone! We have already made requests to Projet Montréal for over a week, which have unfortunately been rejected.
Our action is aimed at a decision of the Rosemont committee of Projet Montréal. However, we insist that this situation can occur in all political parties and in all public organizations! For example, last September, the Office de consultation publique de Montréal announced that it would hold a consultation on the NORAMPAC housing project in an inaccessible church basement. The RAPLIQ intervened and the meeting finally took place in an accessible location!
We hope that our action will lead Projet Montréal to choose accessible places for all of its future activities!
Accessible Montreal is possible!