
Taking Action for the Pontiac: a Matter of Choice, Balance, and Synergy
By acting together on the health of our citizens, on education and on community, social and economic development, we can improve the living conditions of citizens so that they can realize their full potential and contribute to the success of society. To achieve this objective, the Social Development Table has prioritized three areas to develop by 2023, namely, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, EDUCATION and HOUSING.
Poverty and social exclusion have effects on food security, but one would think the opposite is just as true. By having access to sufficient and healthy food, people are better able to lift themselves out of poverty and improve their quality of life. So we must not resign ourselves to the notion that people living in poverty will always be poor. By promoting food aid and the development of food self-sufficiency through various actions, the impact of social factors such as poverty and social exclusion on the diet of low-income people is considerably reduced.
If education and vocational training can meet the needs of employers, it must first train responsible citizens who will contribute positively to the well-being of their communities. Optimal economic, social and family conditions must be created to support training and socio-professional integration and persistence among young people. And learning must start at a very young age. Ensuring that children have a good education from the start will increase their chances of success later.
An affordable, healthy and safe place to live is essential to achieving self-sufficiency and social inclusion. This is why the Social Development Table intends to participate in the development of quality housing by engaging in the discussions of the Pontiac Housing Office (OH), an entity created in January 2020 from seven municipal housing offices, and whose mandate is to develop quality housing for all in the medium and long-term.