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Critical long thread about the deinstitutionalization movement in Quebec. English speaking Canada we really need eyes on this situation and we need everyone to mobilize support. This needs to be nation-wide news.
History is currently being made in Quebec, and disabled folks in Quebec need the support of folks from across English speaking Canada to put pressure on the Quebec provincial government. In Quebec home care is capped at quite a low number of hours per week
and people who need more care then that are forced into public nursing homes. They are left without choice, without support and without options to live a life in community. Jonathan Marchand is one such disabled person in this situation.
Despite having family who he very much wants to live with, he has been living in nursing care for the last many years due to a lack of options for self-managed care.
In the last few days Jonathan has escaped from the institution where he was living.
In the last few days Jonathan has escaped from the institution where he was living.
He has set up a cage representing his room in the nursing home in from of the Quebec Provincial Legislature. His demand is simple, a meeting with the Premier of Quebec Francois Legault in order to discuss the desperate need for disabled people to be able to live in community.
Currently the movement needs support in many forms.
1) First and foremost, if folks can help spread the word and get more bodies to the protest site, that is the most impactful way to support the cause. The more folks who can come together, the safer everyone can be.
1) First and foremost, if folks can help spread the word and get more bodies to the protest site, that is the most impactful way to support the cause. The more folks who can come together, the safer everyone can be.
2) If you are able to, a financial donation to support the cause goes a long way as well. The donation information is https://www.gofundme.com/f/free-jonathan-marchand
3) There is a petition that can be signed here: https://www.assnat.qc.ca/fr/exprimez-votre-opinion/petition/Petition-8467/index.html (note, the website is only in French, but you can reach out if this poses a barrier). You must confirm your email address after signing.
4) If you are an organization, there is also a public letter that can be signed. The link to that is here: https://www.reforme.quebec/ at the bottom of the page. This is also the page to stay connected to for other updates.
Finally, if you are looking for an English language story about the situation, CBC has a good one here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/jonathan-marchand-chsld-protest-outside-national-assembly-1.5683945
Please share widely and spread the word. This is a case that is too important to not have national attention and outrage. It is time to leave the institutionalization movement in the past for everyone.
Another English language article adding context by the wonderful @Cymru_Et_Canada https://ricochet.media/en/3195/younger-disabled-people-hurt-by-patchwork-system-of-long-term-care
