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Liberals commit to making housing more affordable across Canada

Martin C. Barry
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Liberals commit to making housing more affordable across Canada

Ahmed Hussen feels certain Ottawa is well-positioned to meet targets by 2024

Federal Minister of Housing, Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen says he is confident his ministry will be able to double the number of homes built in Canada in the next ten years, while being on target to meet quotas for new affordable and social housing by the time the Trudeau government’s current mandate comes up for renewal as early as 2024.

In a statement issued in early April with the Liberal government’s 2022 budget, the government said it recognized that it is becoming increasingly challenging in Canada to find a safe and affordable place to live.

An ambitious plan

An important part of the Trudeau government’s plan to boost the availability of affordable housing is a Housing Accelerator Fund, which will make $4 billion available to the country’s largest cities, facilitating their ability to accelerate their housing plans towards a target of 100,000 new mid-range homes by 2024-25.

According to the ambitious plan, the government wants to double housing construction over the next decade, with additional provisions that include a $1.5 billion investment to extend its Rapid Housing Initiative to create a minimum of 6,000 more affordable housing units across Canada.

Federal Minister of Housing, Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen tells Newsfirst Multimedia the Trudeau government’s latest plan to build the country’s supply of housing is on track to meet targets by 2024.

A range of measures

As well, the government wants to help out first-home buyers by introducing the Tax-Free First Home Savings Account to allow them to save up to $40,000; by doubling the First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit to $10,000; by providing up to $1,500 in direct support to home buyers; by extending the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive to end of March 2025 to allow first-time home buyers to lower their borrowing costs; and by investing $200 million to help develop and scale up rent-to-own projects across the country.

In addition to these measures, the government says it wants to curb unfair practices that have been driving up the price of housing in the last few years, by imposing a two-year ban on foreign capital coming into Canada to buy residential real estate, as well as by taking steps to make property flippers “pay their fair share.”

Multifaceted approach

“We’re tackling speculation, we’re tackling foreign investment, and eventually all of those measures taken together will make a difference,” Hussen said in a phone interview with Newsfirst Multimedia. “Canadians understand that the housing sector is complex, and our tax system is also complex.

“So, we’re moving deliberately in a comprehensive manner to make sure that we’re addressing different aspects of this challenge. With that kind of approach, you begin to have an impact, because you’re not just tackling one thing – you’re tackling supply, you’re tackling speculation, you’re tackling demand, you’re tackling access, while also dealing with unfair business practices. Because we’re doing all of it, I believe it will have an impact.”

Help coming, says Hussen

Although the country’s residential real estate market still shows no signs of cooling off, Hussen said the Trudeau government remains “dead-focused on recognizing that Canadians need help to purchase their homes. They need help to access their due home-ownership and we need to take action to increase supply.

“The issue is not just about price increases,” he continued. “The issue is also just availability of housing supply. We’re taking leadership there, but we’re also been taking leadership on accessibility and fairness while cracking down on speculation and building more affordable housing. So, that’s what we’re focused on and hopefully all of those things will start to bring down prices and make housing more affordable for Canadians.”

“We’re tackling speculation, we’re tackling foreign investment, and eventually all of those measures taken together will make a difference,” says Hussen, seen here with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (second from right) during a housing announcement in Hamilton, Ont.

Not meeting demand

Hussen noted that Canada currently has the fastest growing population of the G7 countries (including France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the U.S.), although our supply of new housing has not kept up with the demand. “So, we have to take the initiative and do what we can to increase the housing supply in this country,” he said.

This year’s budget marked the third time since Justin Trudeau first became Prime Minister in 2015 that his government promised to provide Canadians with more affordable housing, but failed to deliver in the first two tries.

According to some real estate sector estimates, housing in Canada is now 100 per cent more costly than when Trudeau first moved into the Prime Minister’s Office, with the average price of a Canadian home now being $869,000, compared to $430,000 around seven years ago.

Unfulfilled pledges

Following earlier pledges to impose a two-year ban on residential real estate foreign ownership, the minority Liberal government had to back off, although the government may now well be able to follow through because of a deal they struck recently with the opposition NDP, who have pledged to support Liberal government initiatives until 2024.

In the meantime, Ahmed Hussen is sounding more confident than ever that the Trudeau government will finally be able to honor its long-delayed housing promises. “It is in our budget and we will be doing everything that we can to make sure that we move ahead on these measures which we promised Canadians,” he said.

Fans and colleagues pay last respects to Habs legend Guy Lafleur

Martin C. Barry
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Fans and colleagues pay last respects to Habs legend Guy Lafleur

Gainey, Houle, Cournoyer among ex-teammates who paid homage to ‘The Flower’

The remains of former Montreal Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur lay in state at the Bell Centre earlier this week, as fans and former team colleagues paid a final tribute on Sunday and Monday to Lafleur who passed away on April 22 at age 70.

A national funeral was held on Tuesday May 3 at 11:00 a.m. at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral in downtown Montreal. Some of Guy Lafleur’s former teammates shared some special memories of the Hockey-Hall-of-Famer.

Shortly before the start of the Bell Centre tribute, they gathered to share their favorite memories of Lafleur. As reported on NHL.com, a few of the alums included Yvan Cournoyer, Lucien DeBlois, Bob Gainey, Rick Green, Réjean Houle and Chris Nilan.

Cournoyer remembers

“When I saw him for the first time in Verdun, I said, ‘Wow!’ I’d won five Stanley Cups before he arrived,” said Cournoyer. “I said, ‘With this guy, I’m going to win more Stanley Cups.’ And I was right.

Close family attended the wake of Former Montreal Canadiens great Guy Lafleur at the Bell Centre on May 1 in Montreal. Lafleur died April 22 at the age of 70. (Photo: Vitor Munhoz / NHLI via Getty Images)

“I’ve been thinking about Guy the last two years when he started to get sick and having problems with his health, but you don’t forget a guy like Guy,” added Cournoyer.

“I’m talking about the man. The man is so popular, but he deserves it. He’s a natural with the people. Guy loves everybody and everybody loves him. He’s just a natural guy. We were together for 40 years, and every time we see each other, we shake hands. I’m going to miss him everyday.”

Gainey’s memories

Bob Gainey shared this anecdote about the homecoming of Guy Lafleur after he joined the New York Rangers. “The first time the Rangers came to play at the Forum, he was not involved in the game, he was injured, so the expectation just built until he was going to make that appearance. At some point in the game, the score was tied and he had both New York Rangers goals.

Former Montreal Canadiens Yvan Cournoyer and wife Evelyne attended the wake of Habs superstar Guy Lafleur at the Bell Centre on May 1 in Montreal. (Photo: Vitor Munhoz / NHLI via Getty Images)

“There were still a few of us left on the team who had been playing with him, and so we weren’t quite sure whether to cheer or not cheer for him,” Gainey added. “Ultimately, the Canadiens won the game, but I thought it was just an incredible story of perseverance and still being able to show flashes of brilliance that used to be so common, but maybe aren’t so common now.”

Réjean Houle remembers

Réjean Houle said: “What I remember most about Guy is, when we weren’t playing well, which wasn’t often, Scotty Bowman divided us into two teams and made us practice 5-on-5, 4-on-4 and 3-on-3. At 3-on-3, nobody could rival Guy Lafleur. If he had space on the ice, you couldn’t catch him. He was a notch above everybody else. When it was 3-on-3, everybody skated to the bench quickly so they wouldn’t have to practice against him because he was so good.”

Montreal Canadiens fans paid tribute during the wake of Former Montreal Canadiens Guy Lafleur. (Photo: Vitor Munhoz / NHLI via Getty Images)

Fans wishing to honor Lafleur’s memory by contributing to the Guy Lafleur Fund for Cancer Research can make a donation in his name to the Fondation du Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM).

Laval News Volume 30-14

Laval News Staff
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Laval News Volume 30-14

The current issue of the Laval News, volume 30-14, published on May 4th, 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.
Front page of the Laval News, May 4th, 2022 issue.

Trudeau issues statement following death of Habs legend Guy Lafleur

Martin C. Barry
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Trudeau issues statement following death of Habs legend Guy Lafleur
This autographed Guy Lafleur Montreal Canadiens jersey was among the items auctioned off for the benefit of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation at one of their fundraisers. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued the following statement Friday afternoon following the death of former Montreal Canadiens hockey legend Guy Lafleur.

“I was saddened to hear of the passing of hockey legend, Guy Lafleur,” Trudeau said. “He was unlike anyone else on the ice – his speed, skill, and scoring were hard to believe.

Guy Lafleur, left, seen here with former Laval mayor Marc Demers and property developer John Garabedian helped launch the Aquablu Phase 2 condo project in Laval in 2017.

“Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Mr. Lafleur enthralled fans across the country and throughout North America in the old Montreal Forum, winning five Stanley Cup championships while playing with the Montreal Canadiens. He went on to play with the New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques, becoming only the second player to play in the National Hockey League after induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

“As a child, Mr. Lafleur loved the game so much that he would sleep in his hockey equipment so that he could jump on the rink as soon as he woke up. Later in life, his impressive shot and skating prowess earned him the nickname le ‘Démon blond’, and won his adversaries’ admiration, winning him three Lester B. Pearson Awards for most outstanding player, as decided by fellow players. To this day, he remains the all-time points leader of all those who have worn ‘la Sainte-Flanelle’ of the 24-time Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens.

Such was former Habs star Guy Lafleur’s stature in Canada that the country’s postal service issued a stamp in 2016 in his honor.

“In 1980, Mr. Lafleur was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. He was also inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, and appointed a Knight of the Ordre national du Québec in 2005.

“On behalf of all Canadians, Sophie and I wish to express our deepest sympathies to Guy Lafleur’s family and friends. My thoughts are with all who are mourning this tremendous loss – in Quebec, across Canada, and around the world. We’ll miss you, Number 10.”

Massage therapist jailed seven years for sexual assault

Martin C. Barry
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Massage therapist jailed seven years for sexual assault

Saying that she wanted to send out a warning to potential sexual predators, a judge last week sentenced a male massage therapist from Laval to seven years imprisonment and a lifetime on a list of sexual offenders.

In sentencing Jean-François Morrison, age 41, at the Laval courthouse on April 15, Quebec Court judge Sandra Blanchard followed a recommendation made by the prosecution that the accused be given a sentence that would be “severe” as well as “exemplary.”

Morrison was found guilty in February of sexually assaulting 20 women between 2015 and 2018, most of whom were massage clients. According to evidence presented during his trial, he had also posted a compromising photo on Facebook of another woman without her permission.

In a pre-sentencing report, the judge called Morrison a “predator” who lied about his qualifications as a massage therapist and who manipulated his clients.

Prosecutor Stéphanie Gilbert said the Crown felt it was necessary to send out a warning message to anyone who might feel tempted to act as Morrison did towards his victims – at least one of which was under the influence of alcohol or drugs when assaulted.

Statements heard in sexual assault by woman on boy

Impact statements were heard last week at the Laval courthouse in a case involving a 43-year-old woman who pleaded guilty last year to sexually assaulting an eight-year-old boy she had been hired to improve his grade-school marks.

According to a statement taken from the boy, he now suffers from insomnia, nightmares, learning difficulties, and obsessive-compulsive disorders, as a result of the sexual abuse by the woman, identified as Josianne Lévesque.

After two years, the boy decided to tell his mother what was going on, even though, according to testimony, Lévesque warned him that she could go to jail if he were to tell anyone about their relationship.

Lévesque had been the boy’s school teacher at a Montreal-area private school the year before the abuse started. She was later hired by the parents as an academic tutor for their son over a period of 17 months, according to evidence heard by Judge Serge Cimon.

Lévesque is scheduled to be sentenced in May. The prosecution is seeking a jail sentence of two years or more.

Construction industry’s underground economy steals billions every year

Martin C. Barry
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Construction industry’s underground economy steals billions every year

‘Time to stand up and speak out,’ says Canadian carpenters’ union president

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) held its 2022 Tax Fraud Days of Action (April 11-16) last week to raise awareness among Canadians about construction industry tax fraud.

The Winnipeg-headquartered UBC is not alone in complaining about the construction industry tax fraud phenomenon.

Construction tax fraud

United Brotherhood of Carpenters Canada president Jason Rowe.

In Canada, government taxation authorities at the federal and provincial levels have maintained for years that the highest levels of tax evasion and tax fraud they deal with take place consistently within the construction industry sector.

“The underground economy is thriving in Canada, especially in the construction industry, stealing billions of dollars every year,” says Jason Rowe, vice-president of the UBC’s Canadian district. “Tax fraud is robbing honest and hardworking Canadians and their families of the services they have worked for and deserve,” he maintains.

Evading responsibilities

The UBC says communities and Canadians suffer as funding for essential programs and infrastructure is lost to dishonest contractors who operate in the underground economy, while evading their tax responsibilities and breaking the law.

They say dishonest employers also intentionally misclassify workers as independent contractors or pay them in cash to ensure workers do not appear on official employer payroll records and are not covered by employment insurance and workers compensation.

According to the UBC, when employers shift their tax burden onto their employees, the employees are forced to pay their employer’s employment taxes, which places a substantial financial burden on working families.

Honest firms can’t compete

The UBC says construction industry tax fraud also punishes honest, fair-minded construction firms that cannot compete with fraudulent labour costs.

Statistics Canada says the underground economy accounted for $61.2 billion in economic activity in 2018 and that the most significant slice of Canada’s underground economy activity in 2018 was in the residential construction industry (26.2 percent or $16 billion).

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters points out that this represents billions of dollars in lost tax revenue that would otherwise be used to repair roads, bridges, schools, care for veterans, and fund other essential public programs.

Statistics Canada defines the underground economy as consisting of market-based economic activities, whether legal or illegal, that escape measurement because of their hidden, illegal or informal nature.

Impact on the economy

According to figures released by the federal agency in late 2020, the estimated gross domestic product (GDP) at market prices for overall underground economic activity in Canada reached $61.2 billion, or 2.7% of total GDP, in 2018.

The underground economy is thriving in Canada, especially in the construction industry

UBC’s Jason Rowe

However, the agency goes on to say that the Canadian underground economy decreased 0.8% in real terms in 2018 on a year-over-year basis, compared with a year-over-year growth of 1.9% in 2017.

Although the underground economy data published nearly two years ago pre-dated the COVID-19 pandemic, they provided an important benchmark to measure the full effect of the pandemic on the Canadian economy.

Residential construction

In 2018, four industries accounted for more than half of underground economic activity: residential construction (26.2%), retail trade (12.3%), finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing and holding companies (10.3%), and accommodation and food services (9.1%). These industries have been the main contributors to underground economic activity in Canada since this study began in 1992.

Wages and undeclared tips Of the $61.2 billion in unreported income in 2018, the largest share went to employees (42.4%) in the form of labour compensation. Wages that are not accounted for in payroll records and tips on undeclared transactions were $26.0 billion, equivalent to 2.3% of official compensation of employees.

The remaining portion of underground income went to unincorporated business owners (28.6%) and incorporated business owners (26.1%).

Canada will be doing its bit for space exploration on ‘Lunar Gateway’ project

Martin C. Barry
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Canada will be doing its bit for space exploration on ‘Lunar Gateway’ project

Moon could soon be revealing its secrets, says Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen

Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen joined students from across Canada last week for ‘Let’s Talk Lunar: Exploring the Moon,’ a virtual event organized by Let’s Talk Science.

Canada’s space mission

Hansen was selected to join the CSA in the 2009 CSA selection of future Canadian astronauts. Let’s Talk Science, a non-profit educational venture, focuses on education and skills development for children and youth in Canada through science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) based programs.

Canada will be playing a key role in the upcoming Lunar Gateway development, says Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

During the 90-minute event on April 2, done in conjunction with the CSA, Hansen talked to more than 1,000 students from grades 9 to 12 about lunar exploration, including Canada’s role in the Artemis program, the Lunar Gateway and how astronauts are preparing for missions to the Moon.

Lunar Gateway project

Just as Canada has been participating for decades along with other countries in supporting the International Space Station (ISS) which is in low Earth orbit, Canada is also participating in the planned Lunar Gateway, another space station that will be placed in lunar orbit.

The current goal is to land humans on the Moon by 2024. The last time we were on the Moon was in December 1972, when the U.S.-sponsored National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) led the final mission of its Moon exploration program with Apollo 17.

Moon secrets revealed

“We learned a lot about the Moon in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, but we have a lot more to learn,” said Hansen, adding that when the Moon was explored that last time, it was only around the equatorial region. However, now because of improvements in technology, astronauts will be able to reach other locations, including shadowed craters and the Moon’s south pole because trapped water-ice is believed to be located there.

“We need to go back,” he said. “We want to learn more about the Moon to figure out where we can build bases in the future, where we can get resources to help us explore. We want to learn more about the geology of the Moon and how we can leverage that geology.”

We learned a lot about the Moon in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, but we have a lot more to learn

Tech advances in space

So, even though humans are returning to the Moon, Hansen said the technical advances made over the past 50 years are such that robotics will be playing an immensely more important role in the coming Moon mission.

“This human/robotic collaboration is super-important,” he said, noting the important contribution Canada made in the past to space exploration programs with development of the Canadarm1 robotic arm deployed on the Space Shuttle beginning in the early 1980s, followed by Canadarm2 in 2001 on the ISS, and Canadarm3 which will be fitted to the Lunar Gateway.

Goals important

After Canadarm 1 and 2, Canadarm 3 will be fitted to the future Lunar Gateway which will be in orbit around the Moon.

Hansen said that if there was one thing he hoped the web conference’s participants would take away, it would be the importance of setting goals. “I don’t necessarily want you to desire being a space explorer, but I want you to set goals. Short-term goals, long-term goals, to understand that if you set goals and share those goals with others, people will enable you to accomplish amazing things.”

Hansen said that as a youth, he wanted to be a space explorer. “But I didn’t get here because I was special or better than others. I got here because I was surrounded by people who lifted me up. And that’s exactly what’s happening with our program today: we set big goals and the team is coming together and we are accomplishing incredible things.”

Work starts on new social housing project for low-income single moms in Laval

Martin C. Barry
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Work starts on new social housing project for low-income single moms in Laval

Twenty-three new units to be built on Dumouchel Ave. near city’s centre

Laval-area officials from the federal, provincial and municipal governments gathered with local community representatives last week on Dumouchel Ave. in central Laval to mark the start of work on the new Avenir de femmes housing project, which is being led by the Bureau d’aide et d’assistance familiale Place Saint-Martin.

A three-way deal

The 23-unit building has been designed for low-income single mothers in Laval. The project represents a total investment of more than $10.1 million from the three levels of government.

“This project marks a new era for the Place Saint-Martin neighbourhood,” said Martin Badia, president of the Bureau d’aide et d’assistance familiale Place Saint-Martin, which will be welcoming the housing project’s first tenants as early as winter 2023.

From the left, Bureau d’aide et d’assistance familiale Place Saint-Martin president Martin Badia, Laval city councillor Sandra El Helou, Sainte-Rose MNA Christopher Skeete, Laval-Les Îles MP Fayçal El-Khoury and Laval-des-Rapides MNA Saul Polo did the honours turning the first soil for the future Avenir de femmes housing project on Dumouchel Ave. in central Laval. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

Meeting local needs

He said the project “will not only provide better prospects for many single-parent families, but also perpetuate the presence of our organization in the neighbourhood, which will be better equipped to meet the needs of the community.”

“Safe and affordable housing is essential to the health and prosperity of communities,” said Laval-Les Îles Liberal MP Fayçal El-Khoury.

“Today’s announcement is another step toward addressing the housing crisis. Through the Rapid Housing Initiative, we are expanding the supply of affordable housing for women and their children right here in Laval.”

A better quality of life

“I congratulate the Bureau d’aide et d’assistance familiale Place Saint-Martin for this wonderful initiative that will help single mothers regain an active place in their community,” said Sainte-Rose CAQ MNA Christopher Skeete. “This investment clearly demonstrates our intention to improve the quality of life of citizens across the Laval area.”

“The City of Laval is pleased with the development of the Avenir de femmes housing project, which aims to promote the provision of a housing supply adapted to the needs of the Laval population, including vulnerable people,” said Laval city councillor for Souvenir-Labelle Sandra El-Helou, who is responsible for the status of women, youth and seniors on the executive-committee.

Improving local conditions

El Helou said access to affordable housing “is one of our administration’s priorities, and this project is a concrete example of what we can do to sustainably improve the housing conditions of Laval residents.”

‘This project is a concrete example of what we can do to sustainably improve the housing conditions of Laval residents,’ said Sandra El Helou

The Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ), through its AccèsLogis Québec program, is contributing more than $4.8 million, including $2 million as part of the Canada-Quebec Agreement under the federal government’s Rapid Housing Initiative.

As well as securing the organization’s mortgage loan, the SHQ will provide additional assistance to help tenants pay their rent by providing a rent supplement. For its part, the City of Laval is providing more than $1.2 million for the construction of the building.

Further phases expected

The construction of the new social housing units will make it possible to implement phases I and II of the Implantation d’Avenir de femmes project, which is being carried out thanks to more than $235,000 in funding from the City of Laval and the Government of Quebec.

The Fonds québécois d’initiatives sociales (FQIS), under the Alliances pour la solidarité and in collaboration with the Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale, also contributed to the agreement.

Some project highlights

  • All the tenants will benefit from the SHQ’s Rent Supplement Program, ensuring that they will not spend more than 25 per cent of their income on housing. This additional assistance of more than $395,000 over five years is assumed by the SHQ (90 per cent) and the City of Laval (10 per cent).

The Bureau d’aide et d’assistance familiale Place Saint-Martin also received over $448,000 in financial assistance from the SHQ’s Rénovation Québec program.

Former NY Islanders great Mike Bossy passes away at age 65

Martin C. Barry
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Former NY Islanders great Mike Bossy passes away at age 65

NHL Hall-of-Famer got his start playing for the QMJHL’s Laval National

Whether it was in Laval, where Mike Bossy spent an important part of his early life, or in Elmont NY, where he spent his entire hockey career (1977-1987) playing for the NHL’s New York Islanders, hockey pros and sports writers alike were remembering him last week following the Hockey Hall of Famer’s death on April 14 at age 65.

Mike Bossy was honored by the Islanders after his playing days were over. (Photo: Courtesy of CBC)

Known as “Mike” to English language sports writers and as “Michel” by their counterparts in Quebec’s French-language sports media, Bossy was versatile – just as he was warmly embraced by people on each side of the linguistic divide – because all wanted to claim him as one of their own.

Attended Laval Catholic H.S.

Mike Bossy was the fifth in a family of ten children, and spent part of his childhood in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville district of Montreal. He later attended Laval Catholic High School in Laval. Former Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Pierre Creamer (for whom the City of Laval renamed the Chomedey Arena in 2019) was Bossy’s brother-in-law.

Mike Bossy started his junior career with the Laval National of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) at the age of 15. After the Laval National moved to New Brunswick in 1998 to become the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Bossy’s No. 17 sweater was retired in recognition of his excellence. After joining the Islanders, he helped propel them to four consecutive Stanley Cups during the early 1980s.

A major record holder

Mike Bossy was inducted into the NHL’s Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991, after which his No. 22 Islanders sweater was retired. He holds several NY Islanders team records, including as the all-time regular season goals leader with 573. He is also the Islanders’ leader in career playoff goals with 85, and he holds the team single-season record for playoff goals, which he achieved in three straight playoffs starting in 1980–81.

In January 2017, Bossy was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history. As of 2022, he held or shared the following NHL records:

  • Most consecutive 50+ goal seasons: 9
  • Most 50+ goal seasons: 9
  • Most 60+ goal seasons: 5
  • Highest goals-per-game average career: .762 goals per game
  • Most power-play goals, one playoff season: 9
  • Most consecutive hat tricks: 3

Tributes from near and far

In Montreal, the Gazette’s veteran sports writer Stu Cowan paid homage to Mike Bossy last week, quoting Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis (another hockey great with roots in Laval) as saying, “It’s a sad day for the hockey community.”

Former New York Islanders great Mike Bossy (seen here on the far right in December 2019 during a ceremony marking the renaming of the Chomedey Arena to the Aréna Pierre Creamer) passed away last week at age 65. (Newsfirst Multimedia file photo: Martin C. Barry)

“He’s somebody that did so much for the game of hockey, so much for the community – even after he was done playing,” added Habs right-winger and alternate captain Brendan Gallagher.

In New York last week, the venerable New York Times considered Mike Bossy’s passing significant enough to warrant not just one, but two articles.

New York Times pays homage

“The Canadian-born Bossy was among the N.H.L.’s fastest skaters, and he possessed an uncanny ability to get off wrist shots before opposing goalies had any notion that the puck was coming their way,” wrote NYT sportswriter Richard Goldstein. In an article published on the same day last week, NYT sports columnist George Vecsey referred to Bossy as “the indispensable artiste — as they say in his native Quebec — of the greatest team I ever covered: so many superb players and mentalities who came through, game after game.”

City of Laval makes Forbes list of Canada’s Best Employers

Martin C. Barry
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City of Laval makes Forbes list of Canada’s Best Employers

Officials with the City of Laval now have at least one more thing they can boast about to colleagues from other municipalities.

On April 11, Forbes Media LLC, which publishes Forbes Magazine on business as well as several prestigious lists of top companies and wealthy individuals, said that Forbes was recognizing the City of Laval “as one of Canada’s Best Employers” in 2022, based on the results of an independent survey.

The city was recognized by Forbes within the category of Government Services, with the following parameters being taken into consideration:

Direct Recommendations (employee willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family), and Indirect Recommendations (employee valuation of other employers in their respective industries).

Action Laval’s Piché and Revelakis say new skateparks coming along

Action Laval city councillors Aglaia Revelakis (Chomedey) and Isabelle Piché (Saint-François) say work is well underway on new skateparks in their districts: at Moulin à Saint-François Park in Saint-François and at the Centre du Sablon in Chomedey.

The two city councillors noted that they had each pledged to build the facilities, to promote healthier living for youth through exercise and physical activity, when they were campaigning for office in the last municipal election.

“The City of Laval still has a lot to do so that our parks become spaces where sports and social activities are up to date, interesting and accessible to all our citizens,” said Revelakis. “Nonetheless, it is projects like this one that give me cause to celebrate,” she added.

“Centre du Sablon and its park are spaces that bring people together, and the imminent opening of this pump track is sure to attract even more youths. I am pleased to see that our youths will be able to enjoy their favourite activity with friends and in their own neighbourhood.”

“I am all for this initiative to offer skateboarders this new dynamic and accessible facility in their neighbourhood,” said Piché. “I am proud that this idea, which I shared with citizens of the Saint-François district during the last elections, is finally taking shape. The enjoyment that these young people will get from these new facilities is the main reason why we are involved in municipal politics.”

STL warns riders to expect service disruptions

The Société de transport de Laval (STL) issued a statement last week, in which they said they were advising transit users to expect service disruptions last week, due to illegal pressure tactics by the bus drivers’ union.

The STL said it condemned “the concerted action to boycott overtime and school route assignments,” while adding that “the STL also regrets the intimidation that some drivers were subjected to following the order to refuse overtime.”

The STL maintained that over a period of three days last week, nearly 450 trips had to be cancelled because of the labour dispute, “which is exceptionally high, and unfortunately left more than 6,000 riders without bus service.”

The transit agency said “these actions violate the safeguard order obtained through Québec’s administrative labour tribunal in November.” The STL said that as a result, it will be taking legal action to stop the pressure tactics.

STL drivers insist city officials should take action

Bus in Laval Qc.

For its part, the union representing Société de transport de Laval (STL) drivers noted that they demonstrated in front of Laval City Hall recently to demand that the mayor and city council provide the STL with necessary mandates to get negotiations back on track and come up with a satisfactory agreement for the employees affected.

“Elected officials must show they really believe in the importance of public transit in Laval,” said Patrick Lafleur, president of CUPE 5959. “This mobilization of drivers is intended to ensure sustainable public transit service in our municipality. Investing in public transit also means investing in employees.”

The union claims that a recent CROP survey in which 473 of the 625 STL bus drivers participated uncovered some notable management deficiencies and serious problems affecting the working environment.

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