Invisible But Necessary: When the Community Sector Rebels

Frédérique Lapointe

This year, the Quebec theme of the International Day of Women’s Rights was “Generation Rise Up!” (Génération deboutte! in Joual). In the heart of the Mauricie region, another mobilization is being prepared. This one is in the community sector. And this one has as its motto “Fed Up!” (Deboutte!)

Le communautaire à boutte ! is a pan-Quebec strike movement. This movement is fighting to save Quebec’s social safety net, as it announces on its official web page. Between March 23^rd and April 2^nd, many activities are planned, culminating in a demonstration in front of the National Assembly on April 2^nd.

Mathieu Gélinas, co-spokesperson for the movement and a volunteer at Shawinigan’s Centre d’action bénévole Trait d’Union, explains the project’s genesis. After a year and a half of reflection and work, the campaign was born in Shawinigan in August of 2025. It aims to mobilize the community sector in the wake of the Engagez-vous pour le Communautaire campaign (Commit yourself to the community sector) – which, according to Mr. Gélinas, had begun to lose momentum since its creation in 2016.

The reasons for this loss of momentum? First and foremost, there’s the absence of support for what community groups are facing. Specifically: underfinancing, increasing workloads and waiting lists, fewer services offered, and mounting deficits. In 2025, the community sector denounced Bill 7, which aimed to reduce bureaucracy by merging some public services and eliminating others. There is a fear of a lack of autonomy by community groups, and a decline in checks and balances against the Quebec government.

The 2025-26 provincial budget reduced funding of groups devoted to reintegrating into the job market by $7 million. Some of these organizations had to close their doors because of the cutbacks, leaving their young, vulnerable clientele behind. And 4,000 young people and their parents lost access to school programs in the fall of 2025, according to Mélanie Marsolais, the director general of a group that fights school dropping out, le Regroupement des organismes communautaires québécois de lutte au décrochage.   

“I’ve tried everything,” says Mr. Gélinas. “We’ve gone to see private foundations to seek funding, we’ve reviewed our functions, we’ve looked at our budget to become as efficient as possible. We still lack money.” Despite the spirit of innovation, petitions, marches and mobilizations, the government has not revised its plans.

A small committee was formed, and the movement gained steam. Thanks to technology, Le communautaire à boutte! has travelled “almost 15,000 virtual kilometers”, which has allowed it to reach a bevy of organizations across Quebec.  “Eight years ago we couldn’t have done it,” says Mr. Gélinas. “We’ve managed to take the essence of our movement and share it.”

Thousands of people are expected to attend the April 2^nd demonstration. In the Mauricie region alone 22 buses have been rented for the occasion.  

On March 12^th, an information session was held on Zoom. Over 900 people participated. A representative from each administrative region, from Montérégie to Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine via Côte-Nord and Outaouais, presented an overview of the actions undertaken by the organizations: strikes, flash mobs, or even popular education workshops.

“For a little movement from Shawinigan, we’re happy that we can mobilize a whole province,” Mr. Gélinas beams. He is familiar with the images associated with community work. He cites the image of doing miracles with very little, of “cheap labor with empathy.” He hopes that his movement signals a change of attitude. “Helping the most vulnerable and then, at the end of the day, having to go get a food basket for yourself—that’s not normal.”

Community workers, who are primarily women, are themselves becoming increasingly impoverished. According to the Quebec Institute of Statistics, 67% of the 137,000 people employed in the community action sector are women. Furthermore, according to the United Way of Greater Montreal, 60% of low-wage jobs in Quebec are held by women.

Mr. Gélinas points out that politicians and ordinary citizens alike think that community workers “only deal with the homeless and the poorest of the poor.” Yet the community sector is much more than just that: it’s helping caregivers, youths, and even families. Even if these services are unknown to the public, they are nonetheless important.

The community sector has always been “apolitical,” but that is no longer enough, he argues.

The symbol of Le communautaire à boutte! is a red scarf. Worn around the wrist, it symbolizes the social safety net as well as the gag removed from protestors’ mouths. Signs that the community sector isn’t going to take it anymore.

His group foresees inviting opposition politicians to engage in their cause. Meetings are also planned with various organizations in the context of the May 1^st workers’ march. “Things are moving along fast,” he observes. “We won’t shut up any longer! The stars are in alignment. We’re going to have a hot spring.”