More than sixty people rallied in front of the offices of Mr. Claude Reid, MP for Beauharnois, to underline their support for the coordination committee for Save the Mother Child Center in Valleyfield.
There are many who fervently hope to keep the services offered by the Mother-Child Center in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. Women and men of all ages strolled along rue Victoria carrying posters denouncing the abolition of services.
“Wealthy, less wealthy, whatever, everyone has the right to get local services. We no longer need to call out to people, they are the ones who contact us to tell us that they support us, support keeps coming in. We are here today because some women will take turns meeting the deputy to share their testimony on the importance of saving the Mother-Child Center. Our remaining option is to put pressure on Mr. Reid. He himself asked us to put some heat on him so we are going to give it to him. Then it will be up to Mr. Reid to consult with the minister. At that point, it will be up to them to make the decision, it is ministerial, but we will not give up until we are successful”, said city councillor France Chenail.
Concerned organizations
Marie-Claude Garreau, director of L’Accueil pour Elle, an organization that helps women in difficulty, met with the MP to explain to him the importance of maintaining the Mother-Child Center for her clientele. “We came to speak to Mr. Reid to ask him that the services remain in Valleyfield. The women and children who come to us live with the consequences of domestic violence. They come with a lot of problems in terms of mental health, depression, physical health. The women arrive in a precarious state. We need these services, as soon as they arrive with us, and very quickly. It’s so fragile that sending them to Vaudreuil is unthinkable. It should be noted that 89% of women live in poverty and 80% do not have a car. It is impossible to send them by taxi to Vaudreuil.
Often these women and children are destabilized, isolated and cut off contact with their families. We have been there for 43 years, we know our customers, what is happening is unacceptable. Our services must remain in Valleyfield. As mentioned to Mr. Reid, our organization rarely goes out in the public eye, if we do it today it is because it is essential to do so.”
