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.
‘Industry cannot afford to lose its 16,365 temporary foreign workers,’ says Martin Vézina
“We are incredulous at this latest announcement,” said Martin Vézina, vice-president for public and government affairs at the ARQ.
While the Quebec Restaurant Association (ARQ), like the rest of the hospitality sector and many other businesses in Quebec, is advocating for more flexible rules surrounding temporary foreign workers, the ARQ says the Quebec government has just thrown another wrench into the works for restaurant, institutional and other key players in the food service industry.
According to the trade and lobby group, the position of cook has been removed from the provincial government’s list of jobs eligible for simplified processing by the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity.
In practical terms, this means that employers looking for cooks will have to post their job openings again for four weeks – often without receiving any resumes.
Inconsistent gov’t policy
“Four weeks added to an already lengthy, complex and costly process, demonstrates the government’s inconsistency,” the ARQ says in a statement. “While acknowledging a labor shortage in this position, the government is taking entirely contradictory actions,” they add.
The ARQ says restaurant owners are still struggling to recruit trained and experienced employees, especially full-time ones, and this is why owners have no choice but to look abroad to find these staff.
One long-standing observation the ARQ’s members have made is that even if the unemployment rate is higher in some regions – and one might think that workers are therefore available for given positions – many Quebecers are actually no longer as interested as before in jobs requiring that they work on weekends.
This is in spite of the fact that customers are known to frequent dining rooms primarily on Friday and Saturday evenings, according to the ARQ.
Service could suffer this summer
The organization says it is concerned about the quality of service for the upcoming tourist season, as many restaurants will be unable to offer the capacity and speed of service customers are accustomed to, particularly in regions with high tourism potential.
Without the staff needed to cover all opening hours, restaurant owners may have to reduce their hours to give their existing staff some respite, the ARQ maintains, adding that visitors may end up having to rely on supermarkets, where available, as well as convenience stores for groceries.
“We are incredulous at this latest announcement,” said Martin Vézina, vice-president for public and government affairs at the ARQ. “It demonstrates, once again, the lack of understanding at all levels of government regarding the issue of temporary foreign workers and their essential role in our industry.
Treated as a second-tier
“The restaurant industry, which was considered an essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic, now seems to be treated as a second-tier industry in Quebec’s economy, which is unacceptable,” he added. “We are asking the Ministers of Employment and Social Solidarity, as well as Immigration, Francization and Integration, to reconsider their decision and reinstate our trades on the simplified processing list.”
Vézina said the ARQ is also urging the ministries to work with the association to secure a grandfather clause from the federal government for the renewal of temporary foreign workers. “The industry cannot afford to lose its 16,365 temporary foreign workers in the province without devastating consequences,” said Vézina.
Open letter calls for policy reversal
In an open letter from the ARQ as well as Tourisme Montréal and the Association hôtelière du Grand Montréal published in early February in Montreal’s La Presse, the three trade groups said they were “sounding the alarm” over the abandonment of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ).
“We strongly support Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez-Ferrada’s request to implement a grandfather clause for international workers and students already in Quebec so they can apply to the PEQ,” they said. “Without this measure, the repercussions would be significant, not only for the tourism, hospitality, and restaurant sectors, but also for the entire Montreal and Quebec economies.”
PEQ became ‘an essential tool,’ says ARQ
“Since its inception, the PEQ has become an essential tool for attracting and retaining international talent, particularly in the tourism, hospitality, and food service sectors,” they continued. “It has enabled foreign graduates and temporary workers to settle in Quebec, directly helping to address the labor shortage and enrich the cultural fabric of our metropolis.
“In a context where a moratorium already prevents the renewal of work permits for many foreign workers, abandoning the PEQ would exacerbate a recruitment crisis that is already critical for our industry. We call on political decision-makers to reconsider abandoning the PEQ and to collaborate closely with our sector to preserve Montreal’s prosperity and attractiveness. The future of our industry and that of our metropolis depends on it.”
Marc-Aurèle-Fortin MP optimistic about minority Carney government surviving
Marc-Aurèle-Fortin Liberal MP Carlos Leitão, a former Quebec provincial finance minister and former Bank of Canada board director, doubts there will be a federal election in 2026, while acknowledging the current turbulence of the times which makes almost any scenario possible. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Despite the possibility of a federal election being triggered before the end of this year while the Carney Liberals hang on by a thread as a minority government, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin Liberal MP Carlos Leitão says he considers a federal election in 2026 to be unlikely.
‘Not what we want’
“It’s certainly not what we want,” the former Quebec Liberal finance minister and ex-Bank of Canada board member said in an interview with The Laval News.
“We were elected to govern and we are governing,” he said, while acknowledging at the same time that 2026 will also be the year of a Quebec provincial election.
“The times are complicated. It is time for us all to stick together. We finally voted a budget. We manage to get the consensus in the House of Commons and so the budget is going through and that’s good. So, we want to govern.”
A difficult election call
Still, Leitão conceded that given the current global instability and its impact within Canada, it would be difficult for him to say whether the minority Liberals would be able to hold on to the end of 2026 without having to call an election.
Despite this, he was optimistic about the Carney government surviving. “We never know,” Leitão said. “Being in a minority, we are always susceptible to a motion of non-confidence. But honestly, I don’t see it [an election] in 2026.”
By next April 28, it will have been exactly a year since the last federal election when the Liberals won a fourth term under its new leader, Mark Carney, while again falling short of a majority by a few House of Commons seats. And while some opposition MPs have crossed the floor to the Liberals, the government’s position remains precarious.
Liberals favored in poll results
According to the results of an Angus Reid Institute poll released late last month, two-thirds (64 per cent) overall of those surveyed across Canada said Mark Carney had done a good or great job handling the Canada–U.S. relationship so far – nearly identical to the proportion (63 per cent) who approved of his overall performance as prime minister.
“That approval appears to be translating into improved electoral prospects for the Liberals,” the non-profit public opinion research foundation said. Forty-five per cent of those polled said they would vote for the Liberals in a future federal election, compared to 32 per cent who preferred the Conservative Party. The resulting 13-point lead marked a 10-point increase in the Liberals’ advantage compared to the previous month’s tracking.
According to Angus Reid, Canadians’ assessments of their prime minister continue to trend in a positive direction as Carney nears the one-year anniversary of his takeover of the office from predecessor Justin Trudeau.
Riding’s social housing needs
Of all the issues currently affecting constituents in Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, Leitão said the most pressing is affordable and social housing. “There have been a few projects that are now on the way to getting started – especially in social housing,” he said.
As for privately-developed, for-profit housing projects, he said “that’s fine – there’s a lot of investment there” in that particular sector of the local economy, but the federal government “is also getting involved directly in the construction of social housing,” Leitão added.
Regarding the issue of homelessness, he noted that Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, as a middle-class and mostly residential riding, has so far shown relatively few signs of homelessness, although that could change as conditions evolve.
No signs of homelessness ‘yet’
“I would say not yet,” is how he put it. “But it’s something that we are keeping an eye on, because we see it everywhere in the region of Montreal. And it’s a complex issue. There are many aspects to it. But in the end, it all comes down to housing.
“People have to have access to affordable or subsidized housing,” he continued. “And at the intersection of housing and mental health, people also need assistance like social workers. They need the tools so they can stay. Because it’s not just the question of finding an apartment, but to also create the environment that allows them to remain in those apartments.”
‘We are carrying out strategic investments,’ says local MP, promotingDefense Industrial Strategy
“The world is evolving rapidly, global commerce is disrupted, and supply chains are being subjected to enormous pressures.”
It was with those opening words that Marc-Aurèle-Fortin Liberal MP Carlos Leitão addressed entrepreneurs and business people attending Laval Innov’s IN Forum 2026. It focused this year on the themes of Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation and digital transformation.
Leitão, who is parliamentary secretary to Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, is also a former Quebec Liberal finance minister, as well as the former chief economist at Laurentian Bank Securities.
“There is a lot of uncertainty,” Marc-Aurèle-Fortin Liberal MP Carlos Leitão told Laval’s business community last week at Laval Innov’s2026 IN Forum. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Opportunity despite uncertainty
“There is a lot of uncertainty,” Leitão continued, saying one thing is certain: Canadians are not only reacting to change, but are benefiting from it.
Canadian businesses – and especially in Quebec – have always succeeded by innovating, Leitão insisted, while noting the assistance provided in the form of strategic investments by the current Liberal government.
In a moment of candour, Leitão admitted that he’d found himself lately having to defend the enormous deficits run up by the current and previous Liberal governments.
“We are carrying out strategic investments to reinforce the economic sovereignty of Canada,” he said, while adding that one of the government’s current goals is to focus on the potential advancements that stand to be gained through investments in AI technology developed in Canada.
Productivity and employment
“Of course, positivity is the key to success and innovation is the key for productivity,” he continued. According to Leitão, the federal government hopes its strategy will help create 125,000 jobs over the next decade. Currently, he said, there are 80,000 people employed in sectors of the Canadian economy supplying goods and services for defense purposes.
Leitão pitched the Carney government’s latest economy-building endeavour – the new Defense Industrial Strategy. Through this program, federal officials are inviting the country’s small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) to consider bidding for the half-a-trillion dollars in investment Ottawa plans to make in the next ten years to build up the country’s self-defense abilities, while relying less on outside manufacturing sources and providers.
Rapidly changing situation
“The world is changing rapidly,” the federal government said in a statement issued last month when the initiative to boost the country’s security while building the economy was announced in Montreal by Prime Minister Carney.
TheDefense Industrial Strategy is expected toposition Canadian industry to take advantage of $180 billion in defense procurement opportunities and $290 billion in defense-related capital investment opportunities in Canada, with an anticipated $125 billion downstream economic benefit by 2035.
Canada’s defense sector is considered an important contributor to the economy with close to 600 firms directly accounting for 36,000 jobs in 2022, supporting a total of 61,200 jobs across the defense chain. The Defense Industrial Strategy is expected to increase defense exports by 50 per cent, raise the share of defense acquisitions awarded to Canadian firms to 70 per cent, and grow Canadian defense industry revenues by 240 per cent.
A noon-hour dinner-conference featured a panel on the “Challenges of the Manufacturing Sector.” (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Acceleration and transformation
Billed as an innovation and technology event for Laval’s small and medium-size businesses, the annual IN Forum is considered the leading event in Laval for organizations looking to accelerate their digital transformation and discover concrete solutions for innovation.
This year’s forum highlighted key themes for businesses of all sizes, including: Digital transformation: from idea to action plan; Artificial intelligence: concrete use cases for SMEs; Automation and robotics; Customer and employee experience; Data analytics: making faster and better decisions; Culture of innovation and change management; and collaborations and innovation ecosystems.
Aerospace engineer’s perspective
The opening conference at the 2026 forum, by aerospace engineer Farah Alibay, was “An Explorer’s Perseverance: Innovating to Push the Boundaries.” In it, she reflected on her career and the innovations that have made some of the greatest space exploration missions possible.
She shared the challenges, lessons learned and the importance of perseverance and teamwork for innovating in complex environments. A Q&A session with the audience concluded her presentation. A noon-hour dinner-conference featured a panel on the “Challenges of the Manufacturing Sector.”
An expert business panel
The panel speakers were Julie White, CEO of Quebec Manufacturers and Exporters; Maud Cohen, the first woman to lead Polytechnique Montréal; Ludovic Soucisse, CEO of the CCTT Network; and Rose-Marie DiRosa, Manufacturing entrepreneur and CEO of Prox Industriel.
The panel brought together experts from the manufacturing and innovation sectors to discuss the current challenges and opportunities for businesses in Quebec. Participants shared their experiences and advice on stimulating growth, technological adaptation and strategic development.
MH2 L’Odyssée is expected to meet the need for safe and accessible housing
Officials from the governments of Quebec and Canada, the City of Laval and Shield of Athena gathered last Monday to officially open ‘Shield of Athena Family Services: MH2 L’Odyssée,’ a $6.9 million 17-unit second-stage transitional home with community support for highly vulnerable women and their children in Laval.
“In 2010, after our caseworkers told us about the difficulties women face when they leave our shelter, the board of directors decided to provide longer-term support to meet the need for safe and accessible housing,” said Chrysanthe Sclavounakis-Nakis, president of Shield of Athena.
Seen here with a certification plaque from Canada and Quebec to be installed at MH2 L’Odyssée are Laval-des-Rapides CAQ MNA Céline Haytayan, Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis, Vimont CAQ MNA Valérie Schmaltz, Saint-Laurent Liberal MP Emmanuella Lambropoulos, and Laval city councillor for Souvenir-Labelle Sandra El-Helou and other officials. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Protecting women and children
“Fifteen years in the making, this project is now a resource that helps and protects women and children fleeing violence. We sincerely thank everyone involved,” she added.
Shield of Athena is a non-profit, non-denominational community organization whose purpose is to provide professional support, prevention and intervention services that are culturally and linguistically tailored to the needs of women and their children from diverse ethno-cultural communities.
The launch at The Palace on Le Corbusier Blvd. was attended by Laval-des-Rapides CAQ MNA Céline Haytayan, Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis, Vimont CAQ MNA Valérie Schmaltz, Saint-Laurent Liberal MP Emmanuella Lambropoulos, and Laval city councillor for Souvenir-Labelle Sandra El-Helou.
“In Laval, we’re moving quickly and getting things done,” Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer said in a statement. (He was represented at the launch by El-Helou, who is responsible for family and social services dossiers on city council.)
Living in safety and dignity
“Since 2020, the city has supported 1,078 social and affordable housing units – including 49 specifically for women and families fleeing violence – through three significant projects,” said Boyer. “These are concrete actions toward building a city where everyone can live in safety and dignity.”
From the left, Shield of Athena executive-director Melpa Kamateros and Chrysanthe Sclavounakis-Nakis, Shield of Athena’s president. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
The government of Quebec contributed over $1.9 million to the project through the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ), which is also securing Shield of Athena’s mortgage loan. The government of Canada contributed more than $995,000 to the project through the Canada-Quebec Rapid Housing Initiative Agreement. The City of Laval contributed more than $900,000.
Shield of Athena also received over $307,000 in additional financial assistance through the Société d’Habitation du Québec’s Rénovation Québec program. Assistance under this program is funded equally by the SHQ and the City of Laval. The location of MH2 L’Odyssée is not being disclosed in order to ensure the privacy and safety of women and children who will be relying on its services.
Making a positive impact
Some of the accommodation at MH2 L’Odyssée. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
“Our government is proud to support this Shield of Athena project, which is part of our ongoing efforts to build strong and affordable communities across the country, even for the most vulnerable populations,” said Vimy MP Koutrakis, who isParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Jobs and Families.
“This second-stage home will have a big impact on the lives of women and their children in Laval and is another important step in building a more equitable Canada for everyone,” added Koutrakis.
“Our government is determined to provide housing solutions for vulnerable women throughout Quebec,” said Lambropoulos. “Supporting this Shield of Athena project is a concrete example of our commitment. I’m proud of our participation in this important project which will make a real difference in the lives of women and their children living in extreme vulnerability.”
Habitation Palerme will house individuals, seniors and persons with physical disabilities
Officials from the federal, provincial and municipal governments as well as from Laval’s housing authority recently marked the start of a new social housing project in Laval that will be providing more than 30 social and affordable housing units to individuals, independent senior citizens and people living with physical disabilities.
Located on rue de Palerme in Laval’s Vimont district, Habitation Palerme will include a total of 31 new housing units at a cost of just over $14 million.
An official ground turning took place on February 20, with Alfred-Pellan MP Angelo Iacono, Vimont MNA Valérie Schmaltz, Laval city councillors Nicolas Borne and Sandra El-Helou, and interim general manager of the Corporation d’habitation Laval David Bélanger doing the honors.
Elected officials from Ottawa, Quebec and the City of Laval, as well as the municipal housing authority, helped start off construction of the Habitation Palerme housing project in Vimont on February 20. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Three-way financing
For its part, Ottawa is contributing more than $6.3 million to the project through the third Canada-Quebec Rapid Housing Initiative Agreement. Quebec is contributing more than $6 million through the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ). And the City of Laval is investing more than $1.7 million in the project.
“Laval is experiencing strong growth in the housing sector and we want everyone to benefit from it,” Mayor Stéphane Boyer (who was not among the guests) said in a statement.
“We are actively working to accelerate projects like Habitation Palerme so that the city’s growth will concretely result in accessible and inclusive living environments for those who need it most,” Boyer added. “Laval must remain an affordable city for our entire community.”
“The Habitation Palerme project, through the revitalization of a high-potential site in Vimont, will make 31 social housing units available to a vulnerable clientele,” said City Councillor for Laval-les-Îles Nicholas Borne, who is vice-chair of the board of directors of the Corporation d’habitation Laval.
Social housing with adapted units
“This building will also include adapted units to increase the supply of social housing for people with reduced mobility,” he continued. “We are therefore convinced that this project will support the Laval community by helping to develop new non-market housing in the city.
“Through Habitation Palerme, we are building a sustainable and promising partnership with a Laval community organization working with homeless people to mitigate the effects of the housing crisis on the most vulnerable populations,” said Borne.
“Our government is tackling the housing crisis by investing in all types of housing in Laval and across Canada,” said Liberal MP for Alfred-Pellan Angelo Iacono. “The construction of Habitation Palerme is a big step forward for the Laval community, as these units provide quality of life and residential stability to the most vulnerable people in the riding of Alfred-Pellan,” he added.
Making a difference
“Today, we are marking the start of work that will make a concrete difference in the lives of the residents of the riding of Vimont,” said Valérie Schmaltz, the Coalition Avenir Québec MNA for Vimont.
“This project is more than just jobs,” she continued. “It’s a commitment to our community, an investment in our collective future and proof that when we work together, we can build safer and more accessible living environments for everyone.”
“I’m proud to see this major project get under way in our beautiful region of Laval,” Christopher Skeete, the CAQ Minister Responsible for the Laval Region, said in a statement.
“It demonstrates our commitment to providing safe and adapted living environments for various client groups,” he added. “Our government is taking action to provide Laval residents with environments that are in keeping with their expectations, by prioritizing their well-being and independence.”
Shovel-ready: Elected officials from Laval were on hand rue de Palerme in Vimont on February 20 to kick off construction of the Habitation Palerme social housing project. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Solutions to housing challenges
“Our government is committed to helping communities develop local solutions to housing challenges,” Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure in the federal cabinet, said in a statement.
“Today’s announcement shows what can be done when governments and municipalities work together. It’s also another step in our bold and ambitious plan to build a strong Canada,” he added.
“This is a wonderful and concrete example of our government’s efforts to ensure that Quebecers can enjoy a quality living environment,” Caroline Proulx, Quebec Minister Responsible for Housing and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, also said in a statement furnished by her ministry.
“We continue to support initiatives that strengthen the housing supply and support our communities,” said Proulx. “This is proof once again that our investments benefit all regions of Quebec and all those seeking social or affordable housing.”
The City of Laval announced last Monday that a new programme of animal-based activities will be starting at the Centre de la nature (Nature Centre) in early June, while also confirming that the mini-farm at the nature centre is closing permanently.
Offered free of charge in conjunction with the Permaculture, Art, Community and Education (PACE) mobile farm organization, the new program, according to the city, will allow Laval residents to have fun, educational and accessible experiences.
“We heard how much Laval families value the animal-based activities at the Nature Centre,” said city councillor for Pont-Viau Christine Poirier, who is responsible for local services dossiers on the executive-committee.
“It was important for us to find a way to maintain this special connection, in a renewed format that is accessible to everyone,” she added.
“Thanks to this partnership, we can offer an engaging and educational experience while respecting our financial responsibilities. I am delighted that residents can continue to enjoy these precious moments in the heart of our park.”
According to the city, the PACE mobile farm will welcome visitors to the Centre de la nature with about fifteen farm animals, including alpacas, sheep and goats. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every weekend from Saturday June 6 to Sunday September 27, the animals will be grazing in the heart of the park.
The initiative also aims to offer a special opportunity to interact with the animals in small groups within the safe environment of their enclosures. Other educational activities also be part of the Centre de la nature’s summer program will be announced in the coming weeks.
The city said the mini-farm will permanently cease operations on Friday March 6 at 4:30 p.m. “Until then, visitors will be able to see the animals during their gradual relocation to permanent living environments better suited to their needs,” said the city.
The city says it had to make “this difficult but responsible decision, consistent with its financial capacity and its primary mission of providing essential services to the public while managing public funds responsibly.”
First payment on property tax bills due soon
The City of Laval is reminding property owners that the deadline for payment of municipal taxes is almost here and that extra fees can be applied when payments aren’t made on time.
The city says it is working to limit tax increases to protect homeowners’ budgets, while maintaining essential services such as snow removal, park maintenance and garbage collection. They also say that even if property values increase, adjustments are made to minimize the impact on tax bills.
The municipal tax bill represents the taxes homeowners pay each year to fund municipal activities and services. The first installment of the 2026 tax bill is payable no later than March 18. The second installment is payable no later than June 16.
In case of late payment, fees are calculated daily at a rate of 8.5 per cent for interest and 5 per cent for penalties. How to pay? Through your financial institution, by check or money order, or in person.
Municipal taxes are the City of Laval’s main source of revenue to fund public activities and services such as waste collection, road and water system maintenance and development, libraries and the police and fire departments.
Check your smoke and CO detectors
The city is also reminding homeowners as well as other Laval residents that the only way a smoke or carbon monoxide detector or a fire extinguisher can be of use is if they’re working properly. Municipal regulations require that your residence be equipped with a smoke detector.
How do you choose one? In residential buildings constructed before 1985, smoke detectors with a long-life (10-year) non-removable lithium battery are mandatory, replacing 9-volt battery-powered detectors.
Is your house built before 1985 but equipped with electric smoke detectors? In this case, this kind of building is not affected by the regulatory change. Residential buildings protected by electric smoke detectors connected to a private monitoring station are also not affected by this regulatory change. However, floors without a detector connected to a monitoring station must be equipped with smoke detectors that comply with regulations.
Action Laval and resident ask mayor to reconsider a public consultation
Action Laval city councillor for Saint-Bruno David De Cotis has announced that, along with Laval resident Wael Hamdar, he has sent a joint letter to Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer, asking him to reconsider a decision to refuse to hold a public consultation on the switch to bi-weekly garbage collection, scheduled to begin on April 1.
The request comes as a citizen petition demanding the continuation of weekly collection has nearly reached 9,000 signatures.
No public acceptance, says AL
Action Laval maintains that this clearly demonstrates the lack of public acceptance of the new measure imposed without consultation by the mayor and his team. The petition will be officially tabled next week at the March city council meeting.
“When nearly 9,000 people express their dissatisfaction by signing a petition, the least we can do is open a dialogue,” De Cotis said in a statement. “Refusing any consultation in this context sends the message that citizens’ opinions don’t matter,” he added.
Action Laval maintains that the decision to reduce the frequency of garbage collection was announced in June 2025 without prior consultation with citizens.
Proposal rejected by mayor
The following month, Action Laval city councillor David De Cotis submitted a proposal for a public consultation before the change took effect. The proposal was subsequently rejected by the mayor and his councillors who hold the majority of city council seats.
“Continuing to refuse a public consultation gives the impression that the decision has already been set in stone, regardless of the concerns expressed,” said Wael Hamdar, the resident who launched the petition. “At this point, the mayor must explain why he is choosing to ignore this citizen voice.”
De Cotis and Hamdar are asking the mayor to show openness and to reconsider his position in light of the strong citizen mobilization, in order to allow a genuine public discussion before the change comes into effect.
According to the Canadian Infrastructure Council (whose primary focus is developing national infrastructure assessments that provide an evidence-based picture of Canada’s long-term infrastructure needs), Ontario and parts of Quebec are within a decade of possibly running out of existing authorized landfill capacity.
According to the CIC, landfilling remains the primary method of municipal waste disposal in Canada. Modern landfills collect and treat leachate, the rainwater that accumulates and becomes contaminated as it travels through waste, says the CIC, while landfills equipped with the proper equipment can also capture methane, which can then be used for energy production.
The CIC views landfills as a cost-effective way of managing solid waste, although they do not lead to resource efficiency as a considerable portion of the waste disposed of could have been reused, recycled or composted.
“The nature of the Canadian economy makes landfilling more ideal than recycling in many cases, as both landfilling and raw materials are relatively affordable in Canada,” the CIC states in Solid Waste Management Systems in Canada, a technical paper posted on the CIC website.
Canada is home to over 1,500 active landfills, the majority of which are small and service the many rural communities across the country, adds the CIC.
The contents of landfills can include garbage, which is not processed, and also residual material from processing operations (e.g., material recovery facility residues, incinerator ash, organic processing residues).
Although in theory there is no shortage of land for new landfill sites, environmental, social and legal considerations limit what areas can be developed into landfills.
“In 2022, the Government of Quebec identified that several communities could face local landfills reaching capacity within ten years,” the CIC states in its paper.
“With waste disposal volumes remaining at 2019 levels and no new capacity added to existing landfills, 9 of Quebec’s 38 engineered landfill sites are projected to reach capacity before 2030, and 13 by 2040. Only 16 sites are expected to maintain residual capacity after 2041,” they continue.
They refer to this situaiton as “particularly concerning as engineered landfills account for 92 per cent of disposed waste in Quebec, while noting that some landfills may reach capacity by 2025, and “many of those close to Metro Montreal would reach capacity by 2030 to 2040.”
With focus on recycling, trash will be collected every two weeks starting in April
Of all the issues over which Laval city councillors Yannick Langlois, Nicolas Borne and Ray Khalil took questions last week from a room full of west-end Laval residents, probably none resonated with more emotion than the dilemma the City of Laval is currently facing over changes in its garbage collection.
The city’s decision to move garbage removal to just one day every two weeks – instead of once a week as it was for decades – has hit a nerve in many of Laval’s densely populated residential neighborhoods.
Although it may offer little to some in the way of consolation, the fact is that many towns and cities in the Montreal region – and indeed all over the province – are currently dealing with the same problem: a deadline to scale back garbage disposal imposed by the Quebec government.
From the left, Laval city councillors Yannick Langlois (L’Orée-des-Bois), Nicolas Borne (Laval-Les-Îles) and Ray Khalil met residents of their districts to discuss local issues, including changes in waste removal, at the Centre communautaire Accès Laval in Laval-Ouest on February 20. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Recycling prioritized
The province wants municipalities to drastically cut down on the mixed waste gathered during the garbage collection – which goes straight into landfill – while strongly encouraging municipalities to concentrate on the recycling of waste matter.
Langlois, who represents the district of L’Orée-des-Bois, often deals with city council dossiers involving financial and urban planning. Khalil, the longtime city councillor for Sainte-Dorothée, was responsible at one time for public works, although he’s been overseeing the tricky issue of waste management lately. And Borne, who’s been the city councillor for Laval-Les-Îles since 2013, deals frequently with issues involving public administration.
Every two weeks as of April
In Laval, household waste collection has generally taken place once or twice a week, depending on the area. However, starting on April 1, this frequency will change to every two weeks to encourage waste reduction. Bins must be placed at the curb after 7:00 p.m. the evening before or before 7:00 a.m. on the day of collection.
While explaining the looming adjustment last week at the Centre communautaire Accès in Laval-Ouest to around 60 residents, Khalil said the city had no real choice but to comply with the provincial government’s order, although some alternatives are available.
For instance, the drastic reduction in the amount of waste materials that normally would be going into the garbage stream will be raising the quantities of waste going henceforth into recycling. As a result, the capacity of household recycling bins may not be up to the looming demand.
Extra recycling bins available
Sainte-Dorothée city councillor Ray Khalil said the city had no real choice but to comply with the provincial government’s order to cut back garbage collection to once every two weeks. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
However, according to Khalil, residents will be able to request additional recycling bins. “You shouldn’t have any problems getting them,” he assured them.
He said that if they run into any resistance from city employees, they should tell the employee to contact their respective city councillor. “They’re not supposed to say no for a recycling bin,” he said.
According to the Sainte-Dorothée councillor, an analysis revealed that up to 82 per cent of waste that had been going into landfill until recently didn’t belong there because it could be recycled.
The waste recycling program in Laval and other Quebec cities now includes separate streams for several types of recyclable materials, including moist kitchen waste and dry recyclable solids.
Savings seen for city
While some Laval residents (especially older ones) may find the new waste management system inconvenient, Langlois maintained that the city will be saving more than $3 million annually from the reduction of the garbage collection service.
Still, as at least one resident at the meeting with objections pointed out, a few million dollars isn’t much in an annual City of Laval budget that now stands at $1.293 billion annually.
“Rimouski, Chicoutimi – do you want me to rattle off the cities that are in the midst of voting to return to the old system,” said the resident, who also pointed out some of the problems – such as the proliferation of mice and rats – that were encountered in some cities where garbage collection was scaled back.
Khalil pointed out that the City of Laval is among the remaining municipalities in Quebec that have yet to comply with the provincial requirement. “We haven’t been leading the parade in this dossier – we’re among the last,” he said.
It may be worth noting that in Montreal, the City of Westmount is among the municpalities that have been toying with the idea of restoring weekly garbage collection because of a chorus of complaints from some of their residents.
The current issue of the Laval News, volume 34-05, published on March 4th, 2026. Covering Laval local news, politics, and sports. (Click on the image to read the paper.)
Front page of The Laval News, February 18th, 2026 issue.
A tow truck driver suffered a stab wound to the arm during a road rage incident that erupted on Thursday morning after a dispute on Autoroute 15 in Laval.
Shortly before 6:00 a.m. while the tow truck was travelling along the A-15 near Saint-Martin Blvd., the driver drifted slightly out of his lane because of tire ruts in the heavily-travelled road surface.
The other driver reportedly swerved, believing the tow truck was about to hit him, although the two vehicles never came into contact.
However, angered by the near miss, the second driver is alleged to have followed the tow truck when it took an exit onto Saint-Martin.
The second driver then reportedly cut off the tow truck, positioning his car to block it, then got out and verbally abused the tow truck driver, finally stabbing him in the arm.
The 52-year-old tow truck driver, who sustained a minor arm injury, was taken to the hospital for treatment and his life was not considered to be in danger.
The police got a description of the 30-year-old suspect who fled the scene and were able to arrest him shortly afterwards in Montreal.
