The Couillard government announced a $3.5 million investment Sunday to make Montreal a more senior friendly city.

The money will address concerns about mobility and safety.



Right now, 16 per cent of Quebecers are seniors, with one of the highest aging rates in the world.

“Within the four next years to come, there will be more elderly in Quebec than young people so we have to adjust, we have to make sure they stay active,” said Quebec Family Minister Francine Charbonneau.

Quebec promises to spend $60 million overall on the matter this year, with $3.5 million allotted to help fund local initiatives. They include dozens of projects across the island to improve infrastructure, such as upgrades to pedestrian crossings.

“Transportation is a big issue. Having sufficient buses and trains that meet their schedules and that they're able to get on and get off,” explained Ruth Pelletier, a senior with a bad hip and two bad knees, who says getting around town is a challenge.

Money is also earmarked for more housing for seniors, outreach programs to break isolation and more.

“We have to make sure that the parks are lit in appropriate ways and that's there's more surveillance where there's elderly people,” said Monique Vallee of Montreal’s Executive Committee.



Another challenge is communicating public safety advisories to elderly immigrants, which make up almost 40 per cent of Montreal seniors.

“We have people who speak other languages and we try to find leaders in the community who try to make sure the message is the right one,” said Executive Committee member Anie Samson.

It’s a good first step, said Pelletier, considering the state of Quebec's finances.

“We're going to continue to work with the minister to see if something can be earmarked specifically for the English seniors,” she added.

The city plans to survey seniors’ groups in the coming months to determine what the priorities are and to better target spending in the future.