Statement of Support for the Community Sector

For decades, Québec’s autonomous community sector has supported our society with remarkable consistency and deeply rooted commitment. These organizations, essential to Québec’s social cohesion, have nonetheless been weakened by years of underfunding. In today’s context of overlapping crises—social, climate, economic, and democratic—their role is more vital than ever.

As an actor in the philanthropic sector, the Béati Foundation believes that philanthropy can play an important complementary role in supporting groups and their missions, but it cannot, and must not, replace the fundamental responsibility of the State. To ensure dignified living conditions and a healthy democracy, it is the government’s duty to invest sustainably and structurally in civil society.

Today, thousands of community groups are mobilizing:

For adequate, mission-based funding

Organizations are calling for sufficient, global funding that reflects real needs and is not conditioned by performance-based logic. They cannot be treated as subcontractors: their collective role extends far beyond the simple delivery of services.

For the autonomy of groups

Organizations must be able to defend rights, challenge when necessary, and act freely alongside communities striving for equity. This autonomy is non-negotiable.

For a strong social safety net

In a context of eroding public services, a housing crisis, growing inequalities, and the climate emergency, social movements—community, labour, student, ecological, and citizen-led—remain essential engines of solidarity and change.

For a vibrant democracy

A healthy democracy needs strong counter-powers. Weakening citizen voices, rights-defence groups, or community organizations undermines our collective ability to shape the society we aspire to build.

The responsibility to meet the population’s needs lies first with those elected to serve it. The resilience of community groups cannot replace fair public policies. Organizations already carry more than their share.

As a Foundation, we reaffirm our support for community groups that, day after day, work to strengthen social ties, defend rights, and accompany populations directly affected by the crises we are facing.

This Saturday, November 29, Québec is mobilizing for our rights. The Béati Foundation will be present alongside communities taking action.

We owe it to the history we carry, to the communities that resist and innovate, and to the society we aspire to build.

Statement of Support for the Community Sector

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