From the left, five of the six Laval CAQ candidates at the Fête de la Famille last Sunday: Alice Abou-Khalil (Fabre), Céline Haytayan, (Laval-des-Rapides), Julie Séïde, (Mille-Îles), Valérie Schmaltz (Vimont), and Christopher Skeete (Sainte-Rose). Missing from photo: George Platanitis, the CAQ’s Chomedey candidate.
With a provincial election set to take place on Oct. 3, party candidates were out to meet the people at Laval’s Centre de la Nature during the Fête de la Famille last weekend.
Among them were five of the six candidates running in Laval for the Coalition Avenir Québec, including incumbent Sainte-Rose MNA Christopher Skeete.
“Really just like them, we’re family people and most of us I believe have kids,” Skeete said regarding the CAQ’s slate of Laval candidates. “For me, celebrating families is all about recognizing the thing that makes Quebec special.
“In Quebec we have subsidized daycare that allows women to leave the home and pursue their careers,” he added. “So, we’re just out here to meet everyone and get a sense of what’s important to them, and let them know what we’re offering in this next election.”
Laval’s Centre de la Nature becomes a children’s amusement park
By afternoon last Sunday, the crowds were surging at Laval’s Centre de la Nature during the Fête de la Famille. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
Although the day’s activities may have started out a little slow last Sunday because of an overcast sky and light rain in the morning, by afternoon, when the sun had emerged in all its glory, the City of Laval’s Fête de la Famille was drawing large crowds of moms, dads and kids who came out for a last stab at summer before the beginning of the cold season.
What you see here is proof that it’s not just kids who get to have a fun time at the Fête de la Famille, as this man did on Labour Day Weekend. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
There can be no doubt that once a year on Labour Day Weekend, it’s fun to be a boy or girl at Laval’s biggest annual outdoor family party, which is always held at the Centre de la Nature, a sprawling 50-hectare green space in Duvernay.
A fun day for kids
This finely-dressed lady may be one of the biggest flowers ever to walk around the grounds at Laval’s Centre de la Nature during the Fête de la Famille. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
The city has been staging the Fête de la Famille since the year 2000, when the event was created to mark Laval’s 35th anniversary. This year’s event included all the things that kids love most, including inflatables, strolling clowns, fantasy characters, stage acts and fitness challenges.
This musical team was just one of the acts that took to the central stage for the Fête de la Famille on Labour Day Weekend. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
While the theme of family clearly took front stage, there was no mistaking for even a moment that the day belonged to the children.
The Centre de la nature was transformed for the day into a vast amusement park that also featured interactive shows, science workshops, makeup artists and more.
It’s ‘necessary to tax undesirable forms of behavior,’ says Mayor Stéphane Boyer
Taxing property speculators who buy land and wait for it to increase in value without developing it was one of the solutions to the housing crisis raised by Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer at the beginning of the first Housing Summit held jointly by the cities of Laval and Longueuil at the Laval Sheraton on Aug. 26.
Longueuil mayor Catherine Fournier and Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer are seen here listening to a presentation on Aug. 26 during the Housing Summit at the Laval Sheraton. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
“I learned in the courses I took in economics that it was necessary to tax undesirable forms of behavior,” Boyer said in opening remarks addressed to the 400 elected and non-elected representatives, as well as academics and housing activists, from towns and cities from all over the province.
Make them pay, says Boyer
“So, why shouldn’t we make those who own lands but who don’t build pay?” he said, while adding that these property owners often apply for and obtain municipal zoning changes, which cause the value of their lands to further increase. “Only this doesn’t create employment and it doesn’t fix the problem of a lack of housing,” said Boyer.
Among other things, Mayor Boyer proposed that a special tax also be imposed on the owners of vacant housing units, which often are being held for investment reasons alone without serving their intended purpose.
Also considered during the summit was a proposal to increase the capital gains tax on the sale of secondary or third homes by a single owner. The additional funding coming from this would be used to help first-time buyers purchase homes.
Tax on speculation expected
Longueuil mayor Catherine Fournier and Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer helped draft the declaration by Quebec’s towns and cities on the course to be followed to find remedies for the province’s current housing crisis. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
Real estate investors in Laval can soon expect to see at least one immediate result of the day-long exercise: The City of Laval pledged in a collective statement issued by the participating municipalities to implement a new tax on real estate speculation to help finance new affordable housing initiatives.
The City of Longueuil pledged to bring together strategic levers to encourage moderate and diversified densification on its territory. As it is, the chronic lack of housing that is currently afflicting Quebec and many other areas of Canada and North America was high on the day’s agenda.
The situation is such that low vacancy rates, soaring rents and increasing home values are pushing many people, including those in the middle class, out of the home ownership market.
Addressing the housing crisis
One of the issues that many of those taking part in the Housing Summit insisted ought to be addressed is a lack of affordable housing units. Tens of thousands of units are needed across Quebec, although there is no clear course of action as to how this can be accomplished quickly.
At the end of the day, following a half-dozen detailed presentations on housing issues, Mayor Boyer and Longueuil mayor Catherine Fournier, along with the mayors of the 10 largest cities in Quebec, adopted a declaration reflecting their common concerns and interests in the housing crisis, while calling on Quebec to take immediate and drastic action.
‘Why shouldn’t we make those who own lands but who don’t build pay?’
The towns and cities committed themselves to contributing over the coming years to new and innovative projects to increase access to affordable housing and to adopt the resolution at the local level in municipal councils.
Municipalities’ commitments
The City of Montreal pledged to produce a non-profit project that would create 200 housing units that are 100 per cent affordable on the site of the former Blue Bonnets horse raceway in Côte des Neiges.
In an interview with the Laval News, Mayor Boyer said the purpose of the summit was two-fold. “To mobilize people and to inspire people,” he said. “In terms of both, I think we can say mission accomplished.”
Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer and Longueuil mayor Catherine Fournier are seen here with representatives from government, private enterprise and non-profit group sectors with an interest in housing issues at the conclusion of the first Housing Summit held at the Laval Sheraton on Aug. 26. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
He noted that representatives from all the important sectors involved with the issue, including the federal and provincial governments, the private sector and the non-profit sector, participated. In addition to the 400 in-person participants, 900 more took part online.
Much work to be done
“In terms of inspiring people, there were several solutions that were put forward,” Boyer continued. “Some were in terms of laws and by-laws. Others were fiscal. There were also strategies that cities can implement, as well as business models that are different and that cities can use.”
He said all the cities that signed the declaration, including Laval, stand committed to carry out their projects. As well, the Union des Municipalités du Québec has been asked by the towns and cities to monitor the progress of the project so that the best practices stemming from them can be shared among the members.
The Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board says that after a long series of negotiations, an agreement was finally reached last Friday with remaining bus carriers that had refused offers made by the Quebec government, although they were accepted by the Fédération des transporteurs par autobus (FTA).
As of Sept. 6, according to the SWLSB, all students will be receiving transportation services. “However, the driver shortage continues to be a reality for all school boards and school service centres,” they added.
In a statement, the SWLSB said “the Government’s offer to put an end to negotiations is not a ‘one size fits all’ solution and, because of the SWLSB’s unique reality, does not suffice, as we will be underfunded in our transportation envelope.
“Unlike other school boards and school service centres, the SWLSB covers an extremely vast territory — 35,000 square kilometres — which makes our bus routes longer and more costly to operate.
“As a consequence, the Québec Government’s contingency funding formula did not meet the expectations of all our carriers,” they added. “This is why it is crucial for the SWLSB to be funded adequately in order to provide transportation services to all our students across our entire territory without ending the year in a deficit.”
Based on their own calculations, the SWLSB said they are looking at a deficit of over a half a million dollars annually for the next six years, for a total deficit of close to $4 million.
“This situation puts our school board in a difficult position,” said SWLSB chairperson Paolo Galati. “At SWLSB, we manage our budget rigorously and present a balanced budget each year.
“The Québec Government must provide us with the adequate transportation funding, as it is responsible for meeting the needs of all students,” Galati continued. “The alternative we face is a budget deficit and financing shortfall which would unfortunately directly impact student services.”
According to the SWLSB, Galati has reached out to Education Minister Jean-François Roberge, “in hopes of resolving this urgent matter as soon as possible.”
The current issue of the Laval News, volume 30-22, published on September 7th, 2022. Covering Laval local news, politics, sports, and our new section Mature Life. (Click on the image to read the paper.)
Front page of the Laval News, September 7th, 2022 issue.
The Laval Police Dept. says it has arrested eight suspects believed to be connected to a vehicle theft ring that was operating mainly in Laval.
The LPD said it launched “Project Quartz,” the name of this anti-car theft operation, following a growing number of citizen car theft reports.
According to a statement from the force, from Aug. 18 to 22 LPD officers closely watched hotel parking lots.
As a result, they ended up arresting suspects who were allegedly targeting Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Ram and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles at night.
The eight suspects taken in as a result of the operation are between the ages of 19 and 38. They face charges of vehicle theft and possession of burglary tools.
Transports Québec is advising drivers who use several key autoroutes near the Laval region that certain stretches of the A-25, A-40 and A-640 will be partly closed at night to allow workers to safely replace overhead signage used along the highways to provide information on local tourist attractions.
Near Mascouche on the North Shore, workers will be replacing signage structures on the A-25 northbound, where the right-hand lane will be closed.
In Terrebonne, they will be replacing sign structures on the A-640 eastbound, necessitating the closure of the right lane and the shoulder, as well as the on-ramp leading from Claude-Léveillée Ave., with a detour implemented.
On the A-40 eastbound (Lachenaie), the right-hand lane will be closed.
In Repentigny: Workers will be replacing sign structures on the A-40 westbound, necessitating closure of the right-hand lane.
In Charlemagne: They will be replacing structures on the A-40 westbound, necessitating closure of the shoulder.
Transports Québec advises that changing weather conditions could lead to some or all of the work being postponed or cancelled.
Any modifications or changes can be found on the the transport department’s webpage, Québec 511.
Fines range from $1,000 – $6,000 for those facing criminal and health act charges
Following an investigation launched by Quebec’s UPAC anti-corruption unit last January into alleged fraud involving the production and sale of fake Covid vaccine passports, the provincial force has announced it has issued an initial 10 tickets with fines that could range from $1,000 to $6,000 each.
More tickets coming
Although the province’s proof-of-vaccination system came to an end last March, Health Minister Christian Dubé has said it could be reinstated if and when necessary. According to UPAC, the tickets are only the first they plan to send out in the coming weeks in response to the fraud scheme.
The provincial agency says many more investigation files are currently open, with potential consequences involving criminal as well as non-criminal infractions.
DPCP prosecutions
UPAC is working in conjunction with the provincial government’s Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP). The agency is encouraging members of the public to report anything involving the suspected use of fake vaccine passports through an anonymous form available on the agency’s website.
It should be recalled that last January as strict sanitary measures against Covid continued to be enforced, Quebecers were obliged to show proof of vaccination in order to access certain businesses, including gyms, restaurants and bars.
Fake passports widespread
The offences being prosecuted relate to the provincial public health act. Preliminary investigations have tended to show that the offences weren’t restricted to any particular region and occurred throughout Quebec, the UPAC commissioner said.
Last January, Covid vaccine passports found to be faked were revoked and criminal charges against people who bought them or produced them followed.
In February, the head of the DPCP decreed that the manufacture or use of a false vaccine passport should “not be subject to non-judicial treatment or alternative measures,” leading to the most recent announcement.
‘Dangerous,’ minister said
“The people who, unfortunately, did this … it’s very dangerous what they’ve done; to let unvaccinated people go to places that were reserved for vaccinated people,” Health Minister Dubé told journalists earlier this year during one of the government’s many press briefings during the crisis.
UPAC said at the time that it wanted to keep information gathered about the alleged fake Covid vaccine passport schemes confidential, “so as not to prejudice the gathering of evidence and the reputation of those who may be involved,” the agency said.
Attempts at restaurants
Shortly after the vaccine passport fraud schemes were discovered, the government took measures to ensure that establishments such as restaurants would be able to report suspected fraudulent vaccine passports and prevent their users from entering.
UPAC is working in conjunction with the provincial government’s Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP)
Eventually, charges were laid not only against individuals suspected of making the fake vaccine passports, but also those who purchased them. Those who now stand to be found guilty are being prosecuted under the Criminal Code and the province’s Public Health Act.
According to news reports earlier this year, UPAC had started to be tipped off about false vaccine passports as early as last fall.
Probe began last January
“Given the context of public health guidelines and the confidence people place in the places they can access with the passports, it is important that these fraudulent passports be thoroughly investigated,” UPAC spokesman Mathieu Galarneau told journalists last January.
He said UPAC wasn’t dismissing the possibility that organized networks of individuals were involved in the scams. Anyone who feels they have information regarding the production or distribution of fake vaccine passports is asked to contact UPAC at 1-844-541-UPAC.
A man from Laval man has been charged with indecent exposure and voyeurism after allegedly exposing himself to a young girl in a park in the city’s Laval-des-Rapides district.
Benoit Hotte, age 55, has been charged with indecent exposure and voyeurism allegedly committed at Parc Bernard-Landry in Laval-des-Rapides.
According to the Laval Police Dept., Benoit Hotte, 55, inserted his hand into his pants in front of a young girl in Parc Bernard-Landry on Aug. 13, then dropped his pants to the ground while staring at her.
After being arrested, Hotte had a court appearance on Aug. 15 and was released on bail with several conditions to be followed. He is scheduled to return to court in November.
Court records show that Hotte was arrested in Laval last year under similar circumstances. He was charged on July 8 last year with committing an indecent act and exposing himself to a minor the previous December.
That case is still pending at the Laval courthouse. Anyone who believes they may have been a victim or a witness to Hotte’s alleged acts is urged to contact Laval police at 450-662-INFO (4636) or call 911. The file number is LVL 220813-055.
Experienced economic development expert sees a great future for Laval’s biotech sector
In an opening bid to win the Laval region’s five provincial ridings – three of which are now held by the Quebec Liberals – Premier François Legault was in Laval-des-Rapides to announce the Coalition Avenir Québec’s candidate in this current PLQ riding.
Economic development professional Céline Hatayan has been chosen to run for the Coalition Avenir Québec in Laval-des-Rapides.
L-D-R a ‘swing’ riding
She is Céline Haytayan, and she will be trying to pry this swing riding that has swayed unpredictably at times in many past elections from Quebec Liberal Saul Polo, a veteran of two National Assembly terms who is the only incumbent PLQ MNA from Laval to be seeking another mandate in the Oct. 3 elections.
Haytayan has a professional background in corporate management. She is currently director of international corporate affairs with the global video game producer Ubisoft.
An impressive C.V.
For fourteen years, she was a senior staffer and member of the board at the Montreal International economic development agency. Haytayan also has university degrees in business administration and law from HEC Montréal, Université de Montréal, UQAM and McGill University.
“Céline is an expert in economic development and business, which will be excellent for Laval-des-Rapides,” Legault said during the launch.
“Her experience will be highly useful to further develop the economy of Laval-des-Rapides, where the potential is great. I feel truly privileged to have a candidate of such great caliber as Céline Haytayan on the CAQ team. She is the best person to make your voices heard in the National Assembly and with the government.”
‘A woman of action’
Haytayan described herself as a woman accustomed to being “on the territory. A woman of action. I commit myself today to go out on your behalf and to devote myself for the common good in the best interests of the families in Laval-des-Rapides, the senior citizens, the community organizations, the people who are in business, the industries.”
In an informal speech, Legault spoke of the CAQ government’s commitments to supporting various City of Laval development projects, including extending the Metro system’s orange line northward into Laval, and the extension of Saint-Martin Blvd. eastward to better link Laval’s west and central areas with the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul and Saint-François districts.
Laval’s east-west corridor
“We’ve placed a lot of emphasis on the north-south these past years,” said Legault. “But we are discovering that there are also needs on the east-west axis. So, we are working on many dossiers.” One such dossier – the extension of Autoroute 19 north of the A-440 to cross the Mille-Îles River onto the North Shore – is progressing, according the Premier.
“That and other dossiers are advancing,” he said. “We have a lot ambition for Laval and we needed a candidate from Laval with an equal amount of ambition. For us, Céline is an important addition to our economic team. She has worked virtually all her life in economic development.”
A cancer survivor
For her part, Haytayan revealed that part of the reason she is running for the CAQ is a desire to serve the community – something which she became acutely aware of last year when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo intensive treatment.
“When you go through something like this, it raised many questions, including the way in which one lives,” she said. “When you overcome a challenge such as this, there is a before and an after. I was my wish that my after would serve the community.
“It occurred to me during this reflection that the person I am, with values and acquired experience, could serve the public good,” she continued. “I have always found political commitment very noble. It is a noble calling. Taking an interest in public affairs, having the desire to contribute to the well-being of the community, I want to be part of this.”
Economic development
Regarding Laval’s potential for ongoing economic development, Haytayan said the Centre Québécois d’innovation en biotechnologies (a science-based business incubator on Cartier Blvd. West), in conjunction with provincial and municipal economic development agencies, stands to attract more biotech businesses to Laval in the future.
“If I am elected, I will work in conjunction with Mayor Boyer’s team to attract more businesses of this specific sector, in life sciences and health technology, in technology proper,” she said, while adding that she also plans to pay close attention to problems that impact families in Laval-des-Rapides, such as social exclusion and poverty.
