After 30 years, THE LAVAL NEWS has ended its door-to-door distribution.
The February 21st, 2024 edition of THE LAVAL NEWS was the last issue delivered door to door by PUBLIC SAC. Since our first edition in 1993, THE LAVAL NEWS entrusted PUBLIC SAC with the mandate to deliver our paper, your paper, to your door. On that note, we thank all the workers who were behind and in front of the scenes that made the distribution of your newspaper possible.
However, on March 4th, 2024, PUBLIC SAC ceased its door-to-door distributing service due to changes in municipal by-laws in Montreal and other cities in Quebec. It’s an effort to reduce, at the source, a significant amount of paper and plastic in circulation in cities across Quebec. This leaves us with no cost-effective way to distribute our newspaper.
Therefore, as of March 6th, you can pick up THE LAVAL NEWS throughout the city at many selected local distribution points, such as public buildings, grocery stores, pharmacies, bakeries, etc.
Below, you will find the list of distribution points. Thank you for your loyal readership. We will continue to keep you informed and entertained.
Points de distribution / Distribution points
H7A
600 Montée du Moulin
Jean Coutu
H7A
600 Montée du Moulin
RONA
H7A
8075 Blvd. Lévesque E
Ultra Depanneur
H7C
4411 Blvd. de la Concorde E
IGA
H7C
4425 Blvd. de la Concorde E
Jean Coutu
H7E
2900 Blvd. de la Concorde E
Germaine-Guèvremont Library
H7E
3200 Blvd. de la Concorde E
Metro Plus
H7E
3595 Blvd. de la Concorde E
Intermarché Palumbo
H7E
4975 Blvd. Robert-Bourassa
Canadian Tire
H7E
5805 Blvd. Robert-Bourassa
IGA
H7E
2495 Blvd. Saint-Martin E
Patisserie St Martin
H7E
3245 Blvd. Saint-Martin E
Villa Val Des Arbres
H7G
155 Blvd. de la Concorde E
Metro Plus
H7G
300 Blvd. de la Concorde E
Polyclinique Médicale
H7G
405 Blvd. des Laurentides
Jean Coutu
H7G
1610 Blvd. Saint-Martin E
Chartrand Ford Inc
H7K
134 Blvd. Bellerose E
Euro Marché
H7K
5000 Blvd. des Laurentides
Metro Plus
H7K
5680 Blvd. des Laurentides
IGA
H7L
180 Blvd. Curé-Labelle
Jean Coutu
H7L
380 Blvd. Curé-Labelle
IGA
H7L
1207 Blvd. Curé-Labelle
Metro Plus
H7L
173 Blvd. Sainte-Rose
Uniprix
H7M
1640 A. Jean-Noël-Lavoie E
Subaru de Laval
H7M
1755 Blvd. René-Laennec
Cité-de-la-Santé Hospital
H7M
1859 Blvd. René-Laennec
Jean Coutu
H7M
1759 Blvd. des Laurentides
Uniprix
H7M
1904 Blvd. des Laurentides
Super C
H7M
255 Blvd. Saint-Martin E
Vimont Toyota Laval
H7M
700 Blvd. Saint-Martin E
Honda De Laval
H7N
475 Blvd. de l’Avenir
Salle André-Mathieu
H7N
1100 Blvd. de l’Avenir
Metro Plus Dépatie
H7N
1455 Blvd. de l’Avenir
Résidences Soleil Manoir
H7N
279-B Blvd. Cartier O
Uniprix
H7N
307 Blvd. Cartier O
IGA
H7N
430 Blvd. Cartier O
Proxim
H7N
255 Blvd. de la Concorde O
Jean Coutu
H7N
255 Blvd. de la Concorde O
Intermarché Palumbo
H7N
1295 Blvd. de la Concorde O
Jean Coutu
H7N
1315 Blvd. de la Concorde O
Uniprix
H7N
1395 Blvd. de la Concorde O
Maison des arts de Laval
H7N
1950 Rue Claude-Gagné
Place Bell
H7P
3699 Autoroute 440 O
Colfax
H7P
4355 Autoroute 440 O
Guimond Sports Complex
H7P
3095 A. Jean-Noël-Lavoie
Carrefour Multisports
H7P
3131 A. Jean-Noël-Lavoie 440 O
Mercedes-Benz Laval
H7P
2705 Blvd. Chomedey
440 Lincoln Laval
H7P
2800 Blvd. Chomedey
Cadillac Laval
H7P
2805 Blvd. Chomedey
CHSLD de Laval
H7P
2911 Blvd. Chomedey
Service de police de Laval
H7P
3230 Blvd. Curé-Labelle
Agoo
H7P
3505 Blvd. Dagenais O
Gabrielle-Roy Library
H7P
3270 Blvd. St-Elzear O
Résidence Estia
H7R
4515 Blvd. Arthur-Sauvé
Jean Coutu
H7R
6155 Blvd. Arthur-Sauvé
Metro Plus
H7R
3875 Blvd. Sainte-Rose
Depanneur Wilson
H7S
1700 Blvd. le Corbusier
Duclos Laval Chrysler
H7S
2250 Av. Francis-Hughes
STL
H7S
1446 Blvd. Saint-Martin O
St. Martin Oasis
H7T
3500 A. Jean-Noël-Lavoie
Desmeules Chrysler
H7T
3670 A. Jean-Noël-Lavoie O
440 Laval Chevrolet
H7T
2150 Autoroute Laurentian
Cosmodôme
H7T
3300 Blvd. le Carrefour
Groupe Sélection
H7T
1700 Blvd. Chomedey
Lallier Kia de Laval
H7T
2200 Blvd. Chomedey
Mazda de Laval
H7T
2385 Blvd. Chomedey
Chomedey Toyota Laval
H7T
2450 Blvd. Chomedey
BMW Laval
H7T
2137 Blvd. Curé-Labelle
IGA
H7T
1794 Av. Pierre-Péladeau
Presse Café
H7T
3131 Blvd. Saint-Martin O
Ville De Laval
H7T
3208 Blvd. Saint-Martin O
Déjeuner Cosmopolitain
H7T
3216 Blvd. Saint-Martin O
Marchés Tau
H7T
4363 Blvd. Saint-Martin O
Pharmacy Liounis
H7V
3205 Place Alton-Goldbloom
Jewish Hospital
H7V
1 Place de la Belle-Rive (#7)
Le Domaine Bellerive
H7V
5 Place de la Belle-Rive
Appartements Bellerive 3
H7V
505 Rue Cardinal
Residence Le Renoir
H7V
800 Blvd. Chomedey (Tour B, 2nd Floor)
CLSC Ruisseau-Papineau
H7V
1333 Blvd. Chomedey
Laval Administration
H7V
1400 Blvd. Chomedey
Jardins de Renoir
H7V
1535 Blvd. Chomedey
Multiculturelle Library
H7V
435 Blvd. Curé-Labelle S
Axion 50 plus
H7V
610 Blvd. Curé-Labelle
Jean Coutu
H7V
2999 Blvd. Notre Dame
CHSLD Résidence Riviera
H7V
3055 Blvd. Notre Dame (#109)
Boisé Notre-Dame
H7V
1450 Pie X (Suite 214)
CDC Laval
H7W
1013 Autoroute 13
Tennis 13 Fitness
H7W
5400 Av. Clarendon
Depanneur Bleue
H7W
1665 Rue du Couvent
CLSC Ruisseau-Papineau
H7W
25 Promenade des Îles
Villagia De L’ile Paton
H7W
4311 Blvd. Notre Dame
Marché Bamyan
H7W
4325 Blvd. Notre Dame
Tabagie Elite
H7W
4331 Blvd. Notre Dame
Lillies Bakery
H7W
4349 Blvd. Notre Dame
Uniprix
H7W
4919 Blvd. Notre Dame
Vie en vert Supermarket
H7W
4594 Promenade Paton
Manoir des Îles
H7W
755 Chemin du Sablon
Centre du Sablon
H7W
4219 Blvd. Samson
Depanneur Samson
H7W
4305 Blvd. Samson
Supermarché Atlantis
H7W
4427 Blvd. Samson
Royal Lepage
H7W
4600 Blvd. Samson
Supermarché PA
H7W
4657 Blvd. Samson
Ambrosia Bakery
H7W
4691 Blvd. Samson
Jean Coutu
H7W
4725 Blvd. Samson
Depanneur Chomedey
H7W
4136 Chemin du Souvenir
Serano Bakery
H7W
4232 Chemin du Souvenir
Dépanneur STO DEP
H7X
550 Autoroute Chomedey O
IGA
H7X
3200 Autoroute Chomedey A13
Chomedey Hyundai
H7X
239 Blvd. Samson O
Allô mon Coco
H7X
245 Blvd. Samson
Jean Coutu
H7X
555 Blvd. Samson
Metro Marché Denigil
If you would like to add your store as a distribution point, please email us.
Correctional Services Canada reports that on October 11, Federal Training Centre staff members seized contraband and unauthorized items at the FTC, which is a multi-level detention institution located in Laval’s Saint-Vincent-de-Paul district.
An overhead view of Correctional Services Canada’s Federal Training Centre in Laval’s Saint-Vincent-de-Paul district.
According to the CSC, the items seized included crystal methamphetamine, marijuana, hashish, tobacco, nicotine patches and cell phones with accessories.
The total estimated institutional value of the seizure was $56,018.
Correctional Services of Canada says it uses a number of tools to prevent drugs from entering its institutions.
These include ion scanners and drug-detector dogs to search buildings, personal property, inmates and visitors.
CSC says it is heightening measures to prevent contraband from entering its institutions “in order to help ensure a safe and secure environment for everyone.”
CSC says it also works in partnership with local as well as regional police “to take action against those who attempt to introduce contraband into correctional institutions.”
The CSC has set up a telephone tip line for all federal institutions so that it may receive additional information about activities relating to security at CSC installations.
These may be related to drug use or trafficking “that may threaten the safety and security of visitors, inmates and staff members working at CSC institutions.”
The CSC provides the following toll-free number, 1‑866‑780‑3784, while maintaining that the information shared is protected and that callers will remain anonymous.
Two men narrowly escaped serious harm on Wednesday evening last week when they were targeted by multiple gunshots fired at them in Laval’s Sainte-Rose neighbourhood.
Operators at Laval’s 911 emergency service received several calls around 10:45 p.m. reporting gunshots heard in the area.
Upon arrival, police found two gunshot victims near the intersection of Je-Me-Souviens Blvd. and Lancelot St.
The two men, aged 28 and 34, were transported to hospital for treatment of serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators and forensic identification technicians collected evidence at the scene.
Laval man to serve jail time for federal tax fraud
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced on Monday that Michel-Ange Bonny of Laval pleaded guilty to one count of fraud under the Criminal Code on October 5 at the Laval Courthouse.
Michel-Ange Bonny of Laval pleaded guilty to one count of fraud under the Criminal Code on October 5 at the Laval Courthouse. (Photo: Service de Police de Laval)
Bonny was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment followed by a three-year probation order for the tax fraud offence investigated by the CRA.
Bonny was also facing other charges arising from a separate investigation conducted by the Laval Police, for which a concurrent two-year prison sentence was imposed. As a result, Bonny will serve a total sentence of two years in prison for both offences.
A CRA investigation revealed that Bonny orchestrated an identity-based tax fraud scheme designed to fraudulently obtain tax refunds by using the personal information of other taxpayers to file false income tax returns and benefit returns (T1 returns) on their behalf.
Between March and April 2019, according to the CRA, 24 such returns for the 2018 tax year were filed without the knowledge or consent of the taxpayers involved. The returns included fictitious employment income and ineligible deductions to generate refunds to which the taxpayers were not entitled.
The CRA confirmed that the filings were not authorized by the taxpayers in question, and that changes had been made to several of their CRA accounts without their knowledge, including mailing addresses and direct deposit information.
The CRA said the total amount of refunds fraudulently claimed was $226,809. Of that amount, $137,988 was deposited into the other taxpayers’ bank accounts, by which Mr. Bonny personally benefited for approximately $30,000.
Two injured in major car crash along A-15 in Laval
A highway maintenance truck securing a road construction site along Autoroute 15 in Laval was involved in a major accident involving two other vehicles on the evening of Saturday October 17.
The incident occurred after nightfall around 9:55 p.m. and required the intervention of rescue units from the Laval Fire Dept.
To get some of the accident victims out of damaged cars, the rescuers had to use specialized hydraulic extrication equipment, referred to by some as the “jaws of life”.
Just after 10 p.m. on the southbound lane of the A-15 near Cartier Blvd, the first firefighters found that in addition to the maintenance truck, a Mazda 3 and a Ford F-150 pickup truck were also involved.
One of three people who were aboard the Mazda was trapped inside and had to be extricated.
Two injured people, suffering from neck and back pain as a result of the high-speed collision, were taken to hospital by Urgences-santé for medical evaluation.
Defective batteries spark fire
The Laval Fire Dept. responded to a call for a fire on the afternoon of Tuesday October 6 near des Mille-Îles Blvd. in Auteuil that appears to have broken out because of defective batteries.
The first of six units dispatched by the LFD arrived on the scene at 2:27 p.m., when flames were clearly visible coming from the garage of a two-story residence near the edge of the Rivière des Mille-Îles.
At around 2:44 p.m., the firefighters declared the blaze to finally be under control, although it caused damage estimated at around $20,000 to the building’s structure and $5,000 for its furnishings and other contents.
More recent fires in Laval
Sainte-Rose Boulevard fire. (Photo: Courtesy of Association des Pompiers de Laval)
OCTOBER 5 | 4:44 PM // Building fire on Boulevard Sainte-Rose in the Sainte-Rose sector. Abandoned residential building. Flames visible. Code 10-07, intervention required.
OCTOBER 10 | 12:46 AM // Fire on Lennox Street in the Chomedey area. Residential building. Flames visible. The code was 10-12, second alarm.
Towards a better understanding of aging and women’s needs
The Table de concertation de Laval en condition féminine (Laval Women’s Issues Roundtable) launched the Women, Housing, Precariousness and Aging project at the Simonne-Monet Chartrand Community Centre in Chomedey on October 1, bringing together around fifty stakeholders from community and institutional sectors.
The TCLCF is a regional feminist collective advocacy group representing over 30,000 women in Laval through its member groups. For over 35 years, it has been working to improve the quality of life and living conditions for women.
The launch was accompanied by an immersive community education workshop led by the PARRFAITES collective, a group by and for women experiencing homelessness. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Aging women’s needs
Led by the TCLCF, the Women, Housing, Precariousness and Aging project draws its strength from a partnership uniting four Laval organizations, each with respective expertise in housing, seniors, homelessness and combating violence.
The project aims to come to a better understanding of the realities and needs of aging women in Laval with regards to housing and accommodation in order to identify concrete solutions to increase their residential safety.
As Marie-Ève Surprenant, coordinator of the TCLCF, pointed out during the presentation of the project last week, “Older women should be at the forefront of discussions surrounding the housing crisis in Laval, as they are disproportionately affected, which exacerbates their economic insecurity, their risk of homelessness and their vulnerability to violence.”
Understanding women’s homelessness
The launch was accompanied by an immersive community education workshop led by the PARRFAITES collective, a group created by and for women experiencing homelessness. The interactive activity, combined with an element of game-play, provided some first-hand explanations about the especially traumatic impact homelessness can have on aging women.
The conference participants were invited to take part in a type of board-game similar to Snakes and Ladders that illustrated some of the obstacles women facing homelessness must contend with, including constant insecurity and potential violence – not unlike the pitfalls involved in Snakes and Ladders where the snakes outnumber ladders.
“Older women should be at the forefront of discussions surrounding the housing crisis in Laval,” said Marie-Ève Surprenant, coordinator of the Table de concertation de Laval en condition féminine. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
According to the organizers, the encounter illustrated and created context for situations that are too often overlooked. As Annie, one of the presenters, testified: “We’re all one step away from this happening to us,” while adding that they believe it is imperative to take preventative action to ensure women’s housing safety.
Proactive action needed
“Acting proactively would prevent years lost for far too many women and the permanent consequences that generate immense social and human costs,” said the TCLCF’s Surprenant.
“In this regard, the TCLCF reaffirms the importance of mobilizing to provide housing for all,” she continued. “A woman on the street is a woman who has been abandoned.”
The project was carried out with the financial participation of the City of Laval and the provincial Secretariat for the Status of Women as part of the 2024-2028 Sectoral Agreement for Development on Equality Between Women and Men in the Laval Region.
Help available as needed
The Centre des femmes de Laval, which bills itself as “a place of belonging, socialization and advocacy to combat isolation.” Phone: 450-629-1991. Address: 69, 8th Street, Laval.
Travail de rue de l’Île de Laval (TRÎL): Direct intervention in the field with vulnerable individuals. Phone: 450-662-6444.
In Laval, several community resources and organizations offer support, listening services and housing solutions to persons experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity (although their services may not necessarily be specifically for women). They include:
There are also these emergency housing resources:
L’Aviron / Refuge de Laval: Emergency and transitional shelter services for homeless individuals in Laval.
Relais communautaire de Laval: Day centre, food assistance and social intervention. Telephone: 450-668-8727.
And there are these contacts for emergencies and referrals:
2-1-1: Free hotline service to find community and social resources in Quebec (24/7 or during business hours).
Social Emergency Police / CISSS de Laval: 450-662-4595.
A third of Canada’s SMEs say they aren’t growing, national lobby group maintains
Only seven per cent of small businesses in Canada plan to grow or diversify significantly over the next 12 months, according to some of the latest research compiled by the Canadian Federation of Independent business.
The Toronto-based SME lobby group says a third of small businesses (31 per cent) indicate they aren’t growing because of cost and economic pressures, and of those over half (59 per cent) cite the tax burden as the biggest barrier preventing their business from expanding.
‘Time to listen’
“When small business owners are telling you they’re stuck in neutral and it’s taxes that are the number one thing standing between them and growth, it’s time to listen,” said Corinne Pohlmann, the CFIB’s executive vice-president of advocacy.
“Small firms have been crystal clear that they would rather see government reduce taxes than announce programs and grants that only target a small pool of applicants,” she added. “The best way to invest in Canada’s small businesses is for government to get out of the way. Cutting the small business tax rate should be government’s number one priority in the upcoming fall budget.”
Pre-budget recommendations
CFIB is making 13 tax recommendations to the federal government for its upcoming annual budget. They include:
• Reducing the small business tax rate from 9 per cent to 6 per cent, increasing the deduction threshold from $500,000 to at least $700,000 and indexing it to inflation moving forward;
• Increasing the GST/HST threshold (unchanged since 1991) from $30,000 to at least $60,000 and indexing it to inflation moving forward;
• Exempting taxes from gains following the sale of a business (shares and assets) when the proceeds are reinvested in a Canadian CCPC within the next three years;
• Introducing a lower capital gains inclusion rate for all small firms of 33 per cent on the next $2 million of gains beyond the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption;
• And providing the self-employed with some type of standard business deduction or refundable tax credit of up to $20,000 similar to the Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction recently made permanent in the U.S.
Impact of federal policies
The CFIB’s latest Fiscal Policy Survey was a special exercise designed to capture small business perspectives on government spending, taxation and fiscal policy. It explored the impact of current policies on business competitiveness and operations, while identifying key challenges and opportunities for improvement and helping to inform the CFIB’s advocacy priorities.
According to the CFIB, nearly two-thirds of survey respondents (62 per cent) said their top priority would be for Ottawa to cut the small business tax rate.
While three in five (58 per cent) of small businesses said they’d use tax savings to increase employee wages, nearly half (48 per cent) said they would pay down debt, while 47 per cent said they would expand their business.
“Every dollar Ottawa takes in small business taxes is a dollar that doesn’t go toward an employee raise, a new hire or new equipment,” said Jasmin Guénette, CFIB’s vice-president of national affairs.
Opening Canada to investment
“Entrepreneurs know where the money will do the most good, and time and time again they tell us it goes straight back into their people and their businesses,” he continued.
“The upcoming budget is an opportunity for the government to be bold and send a clear message to Main Street that Canada is the best place to start, run and grow a business. That starts with fixing our tax system so that it works for small businesses.”
The CFIB says its petition urging the federal government to cut the small business tax rate has nearly 10,000 signatures. According to a controlled-access online CFIB survey conducted between August 6 and September 3, most Canadian small businesses are focused on stability rather than expansion.
Most want to stay the course
More than half of those responding to the survey (56 per cent) intended to maintain their current course, including 31 per cent doing so because of cost pressures and economic uncertainty, and 25 per cent because their business is stable and performing as desired. About 30 per cent were planning to grow or diversify.
Other key findings
Business owners strongly prefer broad-based competitiveness measures over targeted supports. Four in five (80 per cent) believed that fostering a competitive business environment would be a better way to promote economic growth than providing targeted support to specific sectors or industries.
Capital gains tax changes would encourage investment and business growth. Overall, 65 per cent said a lower capital gains inclusion rate on gains exceeding the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (LCGE) would be a moderate or strong incentive to invest, while 59 per cent said the same about increasing the LCGE to $2 million and keeping it indexed to inflation.
The survey results were based on responses from 1,694 CFIB members who are owners of Canadian independent businesses from all sectors and regions of the country.
‘Very worrying, especially in a city with a history of corruption,’ says opposition’s De Cotis
The Action Laval opposition at city hall is drawing on the controversial record of a past Laval mayor to claim the current administration suffers from a disquieting and potentially risky lack of transparency.
Action Laval leader Achille Cifelli. (File photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Party leader Achille Cifelli and David De Cotis, the AL councillor for Saint-Bruno, are unhappy that deputy mayor Ray Khalil voted with council colleagues against an AL proposal to ask the Quebec government to repeal section 114.1.1 of the Cities and Towns Act (CTA).
The section is an exceptional provision that applies only to Laval and limits elected officials’ access to certain types of municipal information.
Submitted by De Cotis, the proposal asked the city administration to contact Quebec to end the exception, which dates back to 1996 when Gilles Vaillancourt was mayor.
“The deputy mayor had the opportunity to speak in favour of greater transparency, but he chose to vote against it,” said De Cotis.
‘A history of corruption’
“This is very worrying, especially in a city with a history of corruption like Laval,” he added. “Elected officials have the right to access all available information to make the best decisions.”
For nearly 30 years, section 114.1.1 has exempted Laval from certain rules established by the Cities and Towns Act (CTA) to ensure the flow of information between the municipal administration and elected officials.
In a recent radio interview, Serge Lamontagne, who was appointed by Quebec to oversee Laval’s trusteeship 13 years ago, recalled that the flow of information out of Laval city hall was essentially controlled by the mayor and his director general.
Action Laval maintains that section 114.1.1 of the CTA maintains this system. The party points out that sharing information is crucial in a democratic system as it allows the opposition to play its role as a check on power. Action Laval’s leader maintains that the vote by the deputy mayor and his team demonstrateed that the issue of transparency remains critical in Laval and an unresolved issue.
‘From the Vaillancourt era’
“In 2026, it’s difficult to justify a provision inherited from the Vaillancourt era continuing to limit elected officials’ access to information,” said De Cotis.
“The municipal administration should have nothing to hide. Transparency and information sharing allow the opposition to fully play its role as a counterweight.” Action Laval also points out that Article 3 of the Cities and Towns Act allows the Quebec government to repeal the exception by decree.
The party is calling on the newly-elected Parti Québécois government to put an end to the situation and ensure that the Laval administration is subject to the same transparency rules as municipal counterparts across Quebec.
“For Action Laval, transparency is not a privilege of the executive committee; it is an essential condition for the proper functioning of municipal democracy,” the party said in a statement.
Full text of Action Laval’s proposal to repeal section 114.1.1 of the Cities and Towns Act by decree
WHEREAS sections 112 to 114.1 of the Cities and Towns Act (CTA) apply to every municipality governed by that Act, even if a provision of its charter that came into force before December 19, 1968, repeals, replaces, or amends, directly or indirectly, one or more of these sections;
WHEREAS section 114.1.1 of the CTA contains an exception that derogates from these sections and that applies only to the City of Laval;
WHEREAS this exception hinders the transparency of the City of Laval’s management by preventing the application of section 114.1;
WHEREAS this exception was introduced into the Cities and Towns Act (CTA) in 1996 solely for the cities of Laval and Hull, when Gilles Vaillancourt was mayor of Laval;
WHEREAS this exception has, without apparent justification, allowed for the centralization of city information in the hands of the mayor and his executive committee throughout the various terms of the municipal council since its enactment in 1996;
WHEREAS this exception can create an anti-democratic barrier to the management and dissemination of information to municipal councillors, and hinder their ability to make free and informed decisions.
WHEREAS the Charter of the City of Laval, adopted by the Municipal Council in 2019, does not include any provisions regarding this exception and does not incorporate the 2017 amendments to sections 319 and 474.2 of the CTA.
WHEREAS section 3 of the Cities and Towns Act (CTA) allows for the repeal of section 114.1.1 of the same Act by simple government decree.
David De Cotis proposes:
THAT the Executive Committee mandates the Director General to take steps with the Government of Quebec to have section 114.1.1 of the Cities and Towns Act repealed as soon as possible.
The City of Laval has announced the appointment of Bastien Morin as Deputy Director General, with additional responsibilities for Citizen and Institutional Relations. He will assume his duties on November 30.
The City of Laval has announced the appointment of Bastien Morin as Deputy Director General, with additional responsibilities for Citizen and Institutional Relations. (Photo: City of Laval)
Previously Deputy Director General of the City of Saint-Eustache, Morin has over 35 years of experience in the municipal sector, according to the City of Laval, including nearly 20 years as a member of senior management.
“We are proud to welcome to Laval a highly experienced municipal manager,” said Benoit Collette, the City of Laval’s director-general.
“His appointment is fully aligned with our commitment to providing a consistent and accessible citizen experience, to continuing the modernization of our practices and services and to strengthening the ties between the municipal administration, Laval residents, our partners and elected officials,” Collette added.
“His experience, leadership, and people-centered approach will be significant assets to our organization.”
Big slate of responsibilities
In his new role, Bastien Morin will be responsible for the Citizen Experience Department, the Communications and Marketing Department, the Clerk’s Office, the Government Affairs Office and the Judges’ Office. He will also be responsible for coordinating and overseeing the city’s commissions and advisory committees.
It should be noted that the Deputy Director General/Citizen and Institutional Relations position is new.
According the city, it was created through the merger of the offices of the Deputy Director General – Public Safety and Community Services and the Associate Director General. Following two retirements, a reorganization resulted in a new distribution of responsibilities within the city’s senior management, says the city.
For the past two decades, Bastien Morin served as Deputy Director General for the City of Saint-Eustache, where he led a grouping of nine municipal departments. While there, he participated in the creation of Saint-Eustache Multiservice (SEM), an initiative aimed at simplifying access to Saint-Eustache’s municipal services while improving the citizen experience.
A solid track record
While with Saint-Eustache, he also contributed to the establishment of numerous institutional partnerships with organizations at various levels of government, and to the implementation of several major projects, including the Saint-Eustache Nature Park, the Paul-Sauvé Promenade, the Saint-Eustache multisport complex and the Saint-Eustache aquatic complex.
Morin holds a master’s degree in urban analysis and management from the Quebec City-based École nationale d’administration publique (ENAP), as well as a bachelor’s degree in business administration (with a specialization in finance) and a certificate in municipal services management from the Université du Québec à Montréal.
Acting mayor Khalil hears complaints, congratulates Quebec election winners
Laval city council’s monthly meeting on October 7 opened with a minute of silence in memory of Monique Thibault Poirier, a 77-year-old woman who was allegedly murdered in late September by her 78-year-old spouse at their condo on Jean-Béraud Ave. in Chomedey.
Laval city councillor for Sainte-Dorothée Ray Khalil (who is vice-president of the executive-committee) stepped into the role of acting mayor during the October 6 city council meeting as Mayor Stéphane Boyer is on leave for a few months while recovering from surgery. (Laval News file photo: Martin C. Barry)
“[This is] a member of our community who left us under overwhelming circumstances,” said city council president Cecilia Macedo. “And behind this loss is a family, loved ones in mourning, friends. So, it is important for them to know that they are not alone and that all of Laval shares their grief.”
With Mayor Stéphane Boyer absent during the meeting and over the next few months as he recovers from surgery for the removal of a brain tumor, executive-committee vice-president Ray Khalil (city councillor for Sainte-Dorothée) stepped in as acting mayor and will be continuing in that capacity until Boyer’s return.
Acting mayor while Boyer absent
“I would like to reassure the population,” said Khalil. “We have all the bases covered. We have a municipal council that works in the interests of Laval residents at heart, I have no doubt at all about that.
“We have an administration, the executive-committee and elected officials sitting around the table who work in the interests of Laval residents,” he added. “And we will continue to do the work as always and up to the expectations of the mayor. We wish him a speedy recovery. We hope he will return quickly. I especially wish for him to return quickly as do we all.”
As the meeting took place two days after the provincial elections, Khalil also took a moment to congratulate the winners, including newly-elected Parti Québécois Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.
“We wish all the courage, strength and well-being for this new government that will be leading Quebec in the coming years,” said Khalil.
Reaction to provincial elections
“Obviously we will collaborate – we will be a good partner – and in the coming days – as we know the stakes are high, we will be pushing for a regional minister who will work hard for Laval to accompany us as we pursue the interests of Laval residents.”
At the same time, he congratulated the six members of the National Assembly (Chomedey, Fabre, Laval-des-Rapides, Mille-Îles, Sainte-Rose and Vimont-Auteuil) elected in Laval in the October 5 elections.
“It may not always seem so, but doing an election campaign is a lot of stress and a lot of work,” said Khalil. “So, obviously I am taking a moment to congratulate everybody who ran. It’s a momentary sacrifice, but one that is very important for our democracy.”
During a segment of the meeting reserved for city councillors’ remarks and statements, Chomedey councillor Aglaia Revelakis noted that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Chomedey city councillor Aglaia Revelakis made a statement during the October city council meeting noting it was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (Laval News file photo: Martin C. Barry)
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
“Breast cancers remain the most frequently diagnosed cancers among women in Canada,” she pointed out. “They also represent the second cause of death from cancer among women in our country.”
In 2026, according to Revelakis, it is estimated that 32,400 women in Canada will receive a diagnosis of breast cancer and that 5,400 will die.
“Behind these numbers there are mothers, girls, sisters, spouses, friends, colleagues,” she said. “These are lives which are overwhelmed, families facing moments of great ordeal and communities that mobilize to offer support.
“The month of October, the month for raising awareness of breast cancer, reminds us of the importance of talking about this disease, while promoting the screening, but mostly to be present for those who are affected.”
Electric scooters at Pie-X Park
During the public question period, Christian Veilleux of Chomedey made a number of complaints related to Pie-X Park, which underwent an extensive refurbishment over several years ending last June.
Among the issues he raised were electric scooters being driven in the park as well as in other Laval parks, and soccer balls ending up in nearby residents’ back yards because of inadequate fencing.
After commenting on the electric scooters problem, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin councillor Louise Lortie (who currently leads the Parti Laval opposition party) noted that they would be tabling a motion later during the meeting to have the city undertake a safety and awareness-raising program on the use of electric scooters in Laval.
Marc-Aurèle-Fortin city councillor Louise Lortie, current head of the Parti Laval opposition party, pressed the Mouvement lavallois administration to strengthen its policies regarding the use of electric scooters and other personal mobility vehicles in Laval. (Laval News file photo: Martin C. Barry) (Laval News file photo: Martin C. Barry)
Parti Laval wants scooter safety
“It’s our wish that the users be clearly reminded of the rules and that dangerous behaviors be taken care of, notably speeding, not wearing a helmet, carrying passengers and non-respect for traffic regulations,” she said.
Regarding the scooters, Khalil said the city has more than one campaign already underway to address safety issues involving electric scooters as well as other types of personal mobility vehicles.
“In the past, we have made considerable efforts which are starting to pay off this year,” he said, noting that the Laval Police and officer cadets have been playing a role. As for the stray soccer balls at Pie-X Park, he said the city is currently studying whether to install a special net above the fencing to better protect private yards from intrusion.
On October 1, DigiWomen hosted the second edition of Digital Women’s Day (Journée de la Femme Numérique, or JFN) at TERRO X in Laval, bringing together professionals from across Quebec’s technology sector for a full day dedicated to learning, networking, and career development.
DigiWomen is a non-profit organization focused on increasing the participation of women and girls in technology through training programs, mentorship opportunities, networking events, and career support. Its mission is to make the technology sector more inclusive and accessible while helping participants develop digital skills, build confidence, and connect.
An attendee connects with staff at the MentoReady booth during a networking session at Digital Women’s Day in Laval. Photo by Alessandro Commisso.
Building on the success of its inaugural event last year, the second edition attracted hundreds of attendees, including students, job seekers, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and technology professionals. Throughout the day, participants attended presentations, workshops, and panel discussions covering topics such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and leadership.
The event ran from 11:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., with regular breaks designed to encourage networking between speakers, employers, and attendees. The atmosphere was notably collaborative and welcoming, featuring rooms covered in motivational affirmations, designated selfie stations, and a beverage bar stocked with seasonal drinks and soft drinks. Adding to the unique experience was a foot-tall robot that roamed the venue, delivering chocolates and sweets to guests as they listened to presentations.
Beginning at 5:00 p.m., the event transitioned into a networking cocktail reception, allowing guests to continue conversations in a more relaxed setting.
Participants gather for a cybersecurity presentation led by Emeline Manson, one of the featured speakers at the second edition of Digital Women’s Day. Photo by Alessandro Commisso.
Building community through technology
In her opening remarks, DigiWomen founder Elsa Tannous emphasized the importance of building strong professional networks and supporting one another throughout the various stages of a technology career. She thanked attendees, partners, sponsors, and speakers for their support and highlighted the value of creating spaces where people can learn from each other and grow together.
“We’re all here to help you. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out,” said Tannous. “I hope every single one of you has an amazing day.”
Her message resonated with one of the event’s central themes: diversity and inclusion in technology. While significant progress has been made in recent years, women remain underrepresented in many areas of the industry, particularly in technical and leadership positions. Events such as Digital Women’s Day aim to help bridge that gap by creating opportunities for mentorship, visibility, and professional development.
Elsa Tannous, founder of DigiWomen, addresses attendees during her opening speech to officially launch the second edition of Digital Women’s Day. Photo by Alessandro Commisso.
The human side of cybersecurity
The day’s first keynote speaker was Emeline Manson, founder and president of CY-Clic, a company specializing in cybersecurity awareness and fraud prevention training. Manson is widely recognized for her expertise in the human side of cybersecurity, helping organizations understand how employee behaviour can either strengthen or weaken digital security. In addition to leading CY-Clic, she also teaches cyber investigation at Polytechnique Montréal.
Participants gather for a cybersecurity presentation led by Emeline Manson, one of the featured speakers at the second edition of Digital Women’s Day. Photo by Alessandro Commisso.
Manson opened her presentation with a simple but powerful question: How many people here have been contacted by a fraudster through a text message, phone call, or email?
To little surprise, nearly every hand in the room went up.
“Whenever these kinds of messages appear on my phone, I immediately feel a sense of anxiety,” said Manson. “My first thoughts are: Did I do something wrong? How did they get my number? It’s unsettling, and it always leaves me feeling uneasy.”
The response immediately underscored the relevance of her presentation. Cyber fraud is no longer a problem affecting only large corporations or government agencies; it has become part of everyday life. Whether through phishing emails, fake text messages, fraudulent phone calls, or social media scams, cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to target individuals and organizations alike.
Staying one step ahead of cybercriminals
One of the most important discussions of the day focused on helping people protect themselves from cybercrime and online fraud.
“Whenever I get a text from an unknown number, I automatically assume the worst,” said Manson. “Even if the sender claims to be a family member, I ask them to tell me something about myself that only they would know. I even do the same thing when my mother sends me links, and she can’t stand it.”
Manson warned that fraudsters will say almost anything to gain a victim’s trust and convince them to hand over personal information or money. She stressed that it is important to remember that legitimate organizations rarely send urgent requests for sensitive information through text messages or unsolicited emails.
She also noted that scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Some are now able to spoof phone numbers, making it appear as though a trusted institution, such as Desjardins Bank, is calling. In reality, the fraudster is masking their true number to deceive potential victims into believing the call is legitimate.
Strong passwords are your first line of defence
Manson also stressed the importance of strong password security. She pointed to reputable password-generation tools that can help users create unique, complex passwords for each of their online accounts. She said people can no longer afford to use the same password across multiple platforms, as a single data breach could potentially expose several accounts at once.
While she supports the use of password managers and password generators, Manson cautioned that people should be selective about which services they trust.
“There’s an old saying: ‘If it’s free, it’s because you are the product,’” she said.
However, she noted that many established password-management services employ multiple layers of encryption and security measures designed to prevent even the company itself from seeing users’ passwords or knowing exactly where they are being used. As a result, she encouraged people to do their research and choose trusted providers that are transparent about how they protect customer data.
“It’s a great strategy to try if you’ve ever been affected,” said Manson.
Judging by the number of hands that went up when she asked about fraudulent texts and suspicious phone calls, her advice resonated with much of the audience.
The current issue of the Laval News, volume 34-20, published on October 21st, 2026. Covering Laval local news, politics, and sports. (Click on the image to read the paper.)
Front page of The Laval News, October 21st, 2026 issue.
‘Our population’s travel habits are changing,’ says transit agency’s president Pierre Brabant
The Laval region’s public transit agency says it is embarking on a crucial phase for the redesign of its bus network by launching a broad-based and multi-platform public consultation.
Between now and the end of October, Laval residents, and especially public transit users, are invited to participate in what the Société de transport de Laval (STL) says will be a “collective reflection” through various initiatives.
According to the STL, the goal of the process will be to gather information on the needs, concerns and ideas of residents, users, partners and stakeholders of the STL.
This in turn, the STL says in a statement, will serve as one of the bases to redesign, optimize and maximize the efficiency of the transit network, “while making it better suited to today’s and tomorrow’s mobility realities,” leading towards a planned redesign of the STL’s main network by 2028.
‘A priority,’ says Laval’s mayor
“Better adapting our bus network to the current needs of the population is a priority,” Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer said in a statement.
“Our neighborhoods and habits have changed considerably over the past twenty years,” he continued. “Now, more Laval residents travel within their own city rather than to Montreal.
“In this context, it is important to offer everyone an efficient option so that more Laval residents choose public transit for their daily commutes,” said Boyer. “This network overhaul is a key priority for the STL and I applaud the launch of this initiative.”
In an interview with The Laval News, STL president and Vimont city councillor Pierre Brabant said the current structure of the STL transit network dates back to the opening of the Metro stations in Laval in 2007.
“Since then, our city has experienced sustained urban growth, new sectors are developing, activity hubs are transforming, and our population’s travel habits are changing,” he said.
Redesigning the transit network
“This evolution presents an opportunity for the STL to redesign its network to make it more frequent, simpler, more efficient and above all, better adapted to the urban development of the region.”
It’s no secret that public transit agencies all over Quebec are enduring significant financial hardships, partly from having never fully recovered from the economic downturn brought on for several years by the Covid pandemic.
In the City of Montreal, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has already visibly begun to rationalize its services. One of the most visible signs is a reduction in the number of assigned stops on bus routes. However, according to Brabant, the STL hasn’t followed through with similar measures and has no plans to take actions until after completing its consultation.
While governing officials will often hear complaints from the public that consultations are a mere formality for policies that have already been decided, Brabant insisted the STL has every intention of taking the feedback received from the public seriously, while adding that no decisions have yet been made.
Tailoring STL to users’ needs
“With the consultation process we are launching today, we are listening to the ideas and concerns of the Laval community to envision a network tailored to its needs, while taking into account the existing financial framework and the metropolitan mobility objectives defined by the Regional Metropolitan Transportation Authority (ARTM),” said Josée Roy, general manager of the STL.
The STL says it aims to rethink its service offering to better meet travel needs within Laval and between Laval and neighboring municipalities. The redesign work is structured around three main objectives:
To make the STL transit network more attractive and align it with metropolitan mobility guidelines;
To improve access to points of interest and activities from a social equity perspective;
And to improve the STL’s operational efficiency through network optimization, while respecting the existing financial framework.
Three ways to be consulted
In order to reach a wide range of citizens and stakeholders, the STL says it will implement a participatory approach comprising three complementary modes of participation in the consultation.
First, the public will be able to consult a website dedicated to the initiative, which offers several online consultation tools, including a questionnaire on evaluating the current network and the priorities to be considered for the future.
As well, in early October two dedicated teams will meet with citizens in strategic, high-traffic locations to gather their feedback directly on the ground. The STL says particular attention will be paid to consulting young people, who currently represent nearly 60 per cent of the STL’s public transit ridership.
Public sessions also planned
Finally, three participatory public sessions will bring together citizens, customers, associations and industry representatives for thematic discussions. The dates and locations of these sessions will be available online on the project website.
The STL says the information gathered through this process will inform the development of a network scenario, which will be presented during an information phase scheduled for spring 2027.
“For the STL, which is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year, this initiative represents a unique opportunity to work closely with the community to build a network capable of supporting Laval’s growth and the evolving needs of its population,” added Brabant.
“The redesign of the regular network is therefore a key lever to promote smoother, more efficient, and truly sustainable mobility.” To participate, Laval residents are invited to go to stlaval.ca/consultations on the web to learn more about the process and the various participation opportunities available this fall.
