The current issue of the Laval News, volume 33-24, published on December 17th, 2025.
Covering Laval local news, politics, and sports.
(Click on the image to read the paper.)
Laval News Volume 33-24
Laval Police arrest five for alleged involvement in Facebook Marketplace robberies
The Laval Police are advising those shopping for holiday gifts to be extra careful when making purchases facilitated by Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace in view of an anticipated increase in frauds by some users of the online classified ad platforms over the holiday season.
The LPD reported Tuesday that they recently arrested five suspects in connection with several armed robberies in Laval involving Facebooks Marketplace.
According to a press release issued by the force, between 2023 and 2024, similar incidents were reported in the Vimont and Auteuil neighbourhoods.
The suspects contacted victims on Marketplace to arrange the sale of electronic items, and the victims would then go to a public place with the item they wanted to sell.
At the time of the sale, the suspects, posing as potential buyers, would leave with the stolen item after the victims were pepper-sprayed to facilitate the suspects’ escape.
In some cases, the suspects also threatened victims with a knife, said the LPD.
This past December 10, investigators from the LPD’s Major Crimes Unit arrested five young men, aged 19 to 22, in connection with three of these incidents. All were questioned by investigators and then released on a summons to appear in court with conditions.
Searches were also conducted to gather evidence for the charges and for other cases related to the wave of armed robberies.
The December 10 operation mobilized several dozen investigators, including the LPD’s Azimut squad, patrol officers, the Laval Police’s Tactical Intervention Group and the Sûreté du Québec’s Tactical Intervention Group.
Prevention Tips
The Laval Police are encouraging residents to take these steps to reduce risks:
Use a neutral meeting place or a public space.
Also, preferably use a secure area for online ad transactions set up by the police at 2911 Chomedey Blvd. (the LPD Investigations Centre parking lot).
According to the LPD, the area is available at all times and monitored by 24/7 cameras. Conducting the exchange in a busy public place, such as shopping mall parking lots, can be a safer alternative. Also:
- Avoid meeting on residential streets or at private addresses.
- Never go to a meeting alone.
- Travel with a trusted person and inform a friend or family member of the time and place of the meeting.
- Never share your personal information.
- Avoid sharing your address, social security number, or banking information with the buyer or seller.
- Inspect the item before paying.
- Do not pay any amount before seeing and verifying the item. Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true. Keep evidence of the transaction.
- Take screenshots of the ad, the exchanges and the seller’s or buyer’s contact information before going there.
Anyone with information about this type of event can contact the Laval Police Information Line confidentially at 450-662-INFO (4636) or call 911.
Police raids in Laval and Montreal net $230,000 worth of drugs
Laval was one of two greater Montreal area municipalities where police raids related to drug trafficking were recently conducted, resulting in the arrest of two individuals who now face charges of possessing and trafficking narcotics.
Searches conducted on November 19 in Laval and in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough of Montreal led to the seizure of a variety of drugs with an estimated value of nearly $230,000.
They included 6 kilograms of cocaine, 6,695 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 25,000 speed pills and 360 grams of MDMA (ecstasy). Approximately $144,500 in Canadian currency was also recovered during the operation.
Karim Chawki, 33, was arrested on November 19 in Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension. He appeared in court in Montreal the same day, in custody, to face charges. The other individual, not identified by police, was released without charges.
The investigation and arrests were carried out by the Montreal Police Dept.’s Narcotics Project East Investigations Unit, in close collaboration with several SPVM units. Anyone with information they believe could help the police is encouraged to go to their local police station or call 911.
Metal found in Halloween candy from Champfleury
The Laval Police Dept. recently launched an investigation following the discovery of a metal object inside a Halloween candy given to children on October 31.
On November 25, a resident of Laval’s Sainte-Rose neighbourhood contacted 9-1-1 after his daughter found a metal rod inside a gummy candy she had collected while out trick-or-treating nearly a month earlier.
The candy, a red and green strawberry jelly, was in a partially opened clear wrapper. Part of the candy also appeared to be missing.
According to information provided to the Laval Police, the candy in question can possibly be traced to trick-or-treating which took place in the Champfleury sector, specifically on the following streets: De Chardonneret, Bouvreuil, De la Volière, Des Huards, Des Bécasseaux and Du Passerin.
The Laval Police would like to remind residents of the importance of carefully inspecting any candy collected on Halloween. They urge anyone who has witnessed or been the victim of a similar incident to call 9-1-1 immediately for a rapid response and investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this type of event is asked to contact the LPD on their Information Line at 450-662-INFO (4636) or by calling 911. The file number is LVL-251125-049.
Car parts recycler goes up in smoke in Saint-François
A fire broke out last Saturday evening in Laval at a car parts recycling center in Saint-François, destroying the facility’s main building. By Sunday morning, the cause of the blaze was still unknown.
A 9-1-1 call was made around 11:47 p.m. on Saturday regarding the fire at Recyclage d’Autos Mondiale, an auto parts outlet on Montée Masson.
A caller explained to 9-1-1 that they saw cars burning, as well as flames, and heard explosions, according to a spokesman for the Laval Fire Dept.
Upon arriving on the scene, firefighters determined there was an imminent risk of the building’s collapse, so they called for backup, triggering a fourth alarm.
Due to burning tires, a massive plume of black smoke was rising from the blaze. The Quebec Ministry of the Environment was called in to ensure that runoff didn’t flow into waterways.
Around 6 a.m. Sunday, the plume of smoke was still visible for several kilometers, according to the Laval Firefighters Association.
It wasn’t until around 9 a.m. that the fire was considered to be under control. However, several firefighters remained on site to ensure it was completely extinguished.
The building is a total loss, the LFD said, although there were no reported injuries. Fire investigators were scheduled to be on the scene to determine whether the source of the blaze was arson.
Laval Police investigating after shots fired at Mr. Puffs
Officers with the Laval Police Department’s organized crime investigation unit were on the scene outside the Mr. Puffs outlet on Notre Dame Blvd. near the corner of Melville Ave. Friday Dec. 5 after gunshots were fired on the bakery around midnight the previous night, leaving at least one bullet hole in a shattered front door window.
Friday morning, a police security tape cordoned off all the stores in the strip mall near the corner of du Sablon Rd. in Chomedey where the Mr. Puffs is located, as the investigators continued their analysis of the crime scene.
Local media report that the night before, two similar gunshot incidents took place at commercial establishments located in Laval’s Vimont and Duvernay districts.
This latest firearms incident followed the slaying of Charalambos Theologou, a reputed local organized crime figure, who was shot to death in broad daylight in early October inside a Starbucks coffee shop on the Autoroute 440 south service road, notably just a short distance from the Mr. Puffs head office also on the A-440.
Several media, including CBC Montreal and La Presse, have claimed Theologou was the head of an extortion racket that had set up a base of operations in the Notre Dame Blvd. Mr. Puffs.
Mr. Puffs head office issued a statement denying categorically any connection, as suggested by La Presse in an article.
“The article published suggests that an individual known to police had been associated with criminal activity and had ‘established a headquarters’ within one of our Laval restaurants,” said the company.
“Mr. Puffs categorically denies any business, financial, or operational ties to this individual or to any criminal organizations.”
They went on to say that Mr. Puffs franchise locations “are operated by independent business owners under strict agreements with Head Office.
“At no time has Mr. Puffs authorized, condoned, or been aware of the alleged activities described in the media report. We are deeply troubled by the implications and wish to reassure the public that Mr. Puffs had no involvement in these matters.”
Among the measures Mr. Puffs head office said it had taken, they said they:
- Reached out to law enforcement to offer full cooperation.
- Reviewed internal franchise compliance protocols to ensure strong oversight across all locations.
- Communicated directly with the franchisee concerned to reaffirm contractual obligations and brand standards.
“We strongly condemn any suggestion of links between Mr. Puffs and organized crime,” said Tom Bountis, president and chief executive officer of Mr. Puffs Canada.
This latest incident comes just a few days after the City of Laval and the Laval Police announced a new program of public safety and law enforcement measures to deal with a renewed wave of extortion attempts, punctuated by gunshots, against Chomedey and Laval business owners.
Task Force submits brief to National Assembly on Legault government’s Bill 1
Proposed Quebec constitution law would prioritize French, secularism and collective rights
After reading and analyzing the Legault government’s Bill 1, the Task Force on Linguistic Policy has concluded the proposed constitution legislation “is a threat to the 1.25 million English speaking Quebecers, a threat to Quebec’s future in Canada, and “sends a clear message to all non-francophones: ‘you do not exist.’”
Since its founding in 2021, the Task Force, led by Andrew Caddell, has organized public meetings and rallies, submitted legal briefs to courts, the National Assembly and Parliament, and held expert panel discussions to oppose both Bill 96 and the use of the Canadian constitution’s controversial Notwithstanding Clause.
Their Bill 1 reaction brief submitted to elected officials at the Quebec National Assembly stated the concerns of the Task Force.
Fleeting mention of Anglos
Mentioned in the 11-page document is the draft legislation’s fleeting mention of Anglophone institutions. “In doing so, it fails to recognize the enormous contributions of English-speaking Quebecers for three centuries and more,” stated the Task Force.
“The bill places collective rights, secularism and the French language above human rights,” they maintain. “This creates an inverted pyramid of rights where the collective supersedes the individual.”
The brief outlines Bill 1’s objectives, the Task Force’s objections, legal issues and recommended changes. Among other things, it notes that the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights does not recognize collective rights, stating rather that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”
The brief refutes the CAQ government’s claim of Quebec being self-determined, the ability to hold a referendum with a winning margin of 50 per cent plus one, and denounces Bill 1, saying “the contempt for our federal system runs throughout this legislation,” as the proposed law refers to Canada as a “loose federation of autonomous states.”
‘Radical and unconstitutional’
The Task Force concludes that Bill 1 “is a radical and unconstitutional blueprint for provincial autonomy. It is a blueprint for a controlled demolition of the existing federal system.”
The Task Force stated in its conclusion, “We recognize and encourage the flourishing of French as the majority language in Quebec. But we stand with those who do not speak French: the elderly, visible minorities, the rural poor, the indigenous people, the physically and mentally challenged.
“These are the people who require government services. Many were not educated in Canada, and therefore could be denied government services according to Bill 96 and would be permanently discriminated against in Bill 1.
“That is unfair, egregious, immoral and unconstitutional. It is not the Quebec that we know, and it is not the Quebec we see evolving into the future. Quebec will be a pariah in the western world by adopting such a fundamental law. And we will join in the criticisms of it until it is withdrawn.”
Narrow-minded laws
The Task Force maintains that Bill 1 “promises to ‘define the Quebec nation,’ but rather than describe a dynamic, multilingual society within a majority Francophone province, it entrenches its three most narrow-minded pieces of legislation – Bill 21 on secularism, Bill 84 on identity, and Bill 96 on language – outside challenges of the courts, so their privileged place in this ‘Constitution’ protects them from judicial appeal.”
“This bill places collective rights, secularism and the French language above human rights,” they continue. “It also prevents the use of taxpayers’ dollars for court challenges, a fundamental undermining of democratic principles that any party should be able to challenge any unfair law.”
The Task Forced noted that in Quebec, “scholars and premiers, both indépendantiste and federalist, have advocated for a written Quebec Constitution to underline its autonomy and difference. However, the Liberals, Parti Québécois and Québec solidaire all voted against tabling the bill.”
The Task Force noted that the Barreau du Québec has also criticized Bill 1. “It is time this legislation be shelved, amended enormously or thrown in the recycling bin, where it belongs,” they said.
‘Dangerous, unconstitutional’
Recommending changes, the Task Force said it “sees this bill as dangerous, unconstitutional and inconsistent with the Constitution of Canada and its Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Any and all sections that are beyond the reach of the National Assembly should be withdrawn.”
“The Task Force, as a representative of the 1.25 million English-speaking Quebecers, demands recognition of the non-francophone community as builders, leaders, scientists, doctors, and enormous contributors to the growth of Quebec for the last three centuries,” they continued.
“A chapter of the law should be dedicated to this recognition. If not, this legislation creates a structure of a purely ethnocentric ‘nation,’ comparable to a 19th century nation-state, and not a dynamic, open society of the 21st century.”
Ottawa’s Dental Care Plan reaches new milestone, improving access, says Health Minister
But not everything is covered, Marjorie Michel admits after announcing additional funding
While acknowledging that the Canadian Dental Care Plan may be leaving some users with a relatively small sum to pay off whenever they go to the dentist, federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel says it’s up to the dentists themselves to decide whether they’re willing to shoulder that extra cost.
More funds for oral health
Michel, who is the Liberal MP for the riding of Papineau, held a press conference in Villeray in Montreal on November 24 to announce additional funding of more than $35 million over three years for 30 projects under the Oral Health Access Fund (OHAF).
According to a press release issued by the federal health ministry, the projects will improve training for dental students by allowing them to obtain the hands-on experience they need to provide care to Canadians across the country while strengthening efforts to improve access to care.
According to the ministry, close to six million Canadians are now covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). “The CDCP is making life more affordable by saving eligible Canadians an average of $800 per year on their oral health care services,” says the ministry.
Most dentists are on board
The health ministry says that currently more than 27,000 dentists and other oral health providers are participating in the CDCP, offering a wide range of services that include cleanings, fillings and dentures, representing close to 100 per cent of active providers in Canada.
In Quebec alone, according to summary data posted online by the CDCP, 1,653,165 Quebecers have signed up for the program. The total number of approved applicants in Quebec who received care for benefit year 2025 to 2026 stands at 552,621 users.
According to the ministry, some CDCP program subscribers saw an oral health provider for the first time in decades after signing on. The ministry notes that without access to dental care, many people visit medical emergency rooms for dental issues that could be treated in a dentist’s office. Hence, the CDCP is helping ease pressure on Canada’s health care system, they claim.
“Thanks to the CDCP Canadians are now receiving the preventive care they need, and this program is only possible because of the commitment and participation of almost all oral providers across the country,” Michel said in a statement. “Our support to new training projects will not only empower the next generation of oral health professionals, but also contribute to lower costs for families.”
Not everything is covered
As for the users’ leftover billing fees, CBC News Ottawa reported in July that some dentistry patients were under the impression all their dental work was free. The reality is that the program reimburses dentists’ rates as determined by provincial billing guidelines.
It might also be noted that Health Canada describes the Canadian Dental Care Plan as “helping make the cost of dental care more affordable,” while making no claims about providing full and comprehensive coverage.
As a result, many dentists’ offices charge the difference between the price of the procedures and what CDCP pays them. For example, a recent bill for a total of $257 issued for basic treatments by a practitioner at a west-end Montreal dentists’ office left the patient on the hook for $57.39 after CDCP paid $199.61.
Answering journalists’ questions, Michel maintained that the program was never conceived to cover 100 per cent of costs. She suggested that those enrolled in the CDCP should shop around for a dentist who is willing to waive or charge less for the stub.
How to apply for CDCP
All eligible Canadians can apply to the CDCP. To qualify, applicants must: Not have access to dental insurance; Have filed their individual 2024 tax return in Canada (and their spouse’s or common-law partner’s (if applicable); Have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000; And be a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
Trump’s disruptive ways animate talks at Laval économique conference
More than 300 experts gathered at Château Royal to discuss Laval’s economic future
The spectre of U.S. president Donald Trump and his disruptive economic policies figured prominently in the words of several speakers during a one-day conference on the Laval region’s economic prospects held on November 20 by Laval économique, the City of Laval’s development arm.
For several hours at the Château Royal, Laval was an epicenter of discussions on international trade during the IMPACT Économique Grand conference. More than 300 export experts, visionary entrepreneurs and economic and political decision-makers accepted the agency’s invitation to gather for a day of strategic discussions.
On the agenda were growth prospects, innovative business strategies and concrete opportunities for companies with a base in Laval seeking to establish themselves in national and global value chains.
Experts and stakeholders
The event brought together stakeholders, such as Mayor Stéphane Boyer, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin MP Carlos Leitão who is Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, as well as high-level experts.
They included former Radio-Canada news correspondent Jean-François Lépine, senior Desjardins economist Benoit Durocher, vice-president for exports at Investissement Québec International Marie-Ève Jean, and Frédéric Legendre, director general of Trade Policy and External Relations at the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy.
In opening remarks, Mayor Boyer outlined Laval’s role as an economic hub and the importance of exports in regional development. Lidia Divry, executive-director of Laval Économique, suggested some concrete solutions to support Laval’s businesses during these challenging economic times.
A ‘wake up’ from Trump
“If I’m here today with you, it’s because I want Laval to prosper and grow,” said Boyer, while adding that the well-being of Laval’s nearly 450,000 residents depends largely on the capacity of the region’s businesses and industries to excel.
He called the Trump administration’s actions since the Republican president took office last January a “wake-up call for Canada,” while noting that for the longest time, the U.S. was the country’s most important trading partner.
Still, he suggested that changing world events and a shifting political landscape also hold the potential to create new economic opportunities, and that one of the reasons for the gathering was to see “what we can do” to maximize the potential benefits for the Laval region’s industries and businesses.
A change in values
While noting the emergence of India as an economy poised to become the world’s third largest, and the impact of the Covid pandemic which disrupted the global economic system, Jean-François Lépine said Trump’s re-election a year ago led Canadians to discover that “our best best friend had become a sort of enemy, a figure with whom we no longer share the same values.”
Apart from the economic impact, Lépine said Trump’s arrival may also have brought about the beginning of the end of the U.S.’s military global domination, which peaked after the late 1980s following the dissolution of the Soviet Union when the U.S. was perceived to have become “the world’s policeman.”
“You can see how American democracy has been evolving at great speed towards something we weren’t expecting at all,” Lépine continued. “The rules are being less and less respected. The conflicts are becoming more and more unpredictable with consequences that also are more and more unpredictable.”
Contending with China
Lépine, who was for many years Radio-Canada’s foreign correspondent in the People’s Republic of China, contrasted the authoritian communist nation’s market-driven surge that leveraged 800 million people out of poverty, with western nations like the U.S. where government intervention often is constrained by political quarrels over democratic values.
As well, he noted the emergence of China’s megacities, like Shanghai, populated by 25-35 million or more inhabitants in some cases, with matching mass transit systems to accommodate legions of workers. As he noted, the People’s Republic of China’s middle-class now includes 400 million citizens out of PRC’s 1,408,280,000 population.
However, as Lépine also pointed out, all is not well in China, where economic overreach has resulted in massive overdevelopment of housing, with potential blowback felt by non-Chinese investors. “If all of that were to collapse, there’d be the risk of China’s economy being in a situation from which no one knows whether it would be able to get out,” he said.
Laval maintains highest municipal rating in Quebec from S&P Global
For the fifth consecutive year, S&P Global Ratings has confirmed the City of Laval’s AA+ credit rating, recognizing the strength of its economy and the rigor and prudence of its financial management, despite an economic context marked by widespread infrastructure cost increases and tariff uncertainty.
The rating, the highest awarded to a municipality in Quebec, “is further proof of Laval’s best practices in governance and fiscal discipline,” the city says in a statement issued last week.
Ensuring a balance
“The prudence and discipline that guide the City’s financial decisions have ensured a balance between structural investments and debt control,” said Mayor Stéphane Boyer.
“After delivering long-awaited sports, cultural, and community infrastructure projects to Laval residents, we are now focusing our efforts on upgrading our municipal assets,” he added.
According to the mayor, the City of Laval faces numerous financial challenges in the coming years, “and we must make the necessary responsible decisions to ensure we continue to provide excellent service to the public while maintaining sound financial health,” Boyer said.
The credit rating agency noted Laval’s responsible use of municipal reserves and a controlled adjustment of debt financing to support development priorities.
A diversified economy
The city notes that Laval remains one of Quebec’s most dynamic economies, distinguished by its robust and diversified economy, stable governance supported by clear financial policies, a predictable and favourable institutional framework and excellent access to financial markets.
While the city says it continues efforts to consolidate its financial position and ensure the sustainability of municipal finances without compromising the quality of services provided to the public, it says it remains fully aware of the various scenarios presented by S&P Global Ratings for the coming years.
“With its rigorous planning, Laval intends to pursue proactive management of its liquidity and responsible optimization of its debt, in order to support the confidence of financial institutions and sustainable budgetary stability,” says the city.
Laval donates a record amount to Centraide
The 27th annual United Way campaign for active and retired City of Laval employees surpassed last year’s total and the ambitious goal of $421,000. The mobilization of 801 City of Laval employees resulted in a donation of $428,534 to United Way of Greater Montreal.
“In a context of numerous challenges, the solidarity and collaboration of the City’s teams made all the difference,” said Aline Dib, City Councillor for Saint-Martin. “Their remarkable commitment reflects a sincere desire to support those most in need. I express my deepest gratitude for this exemplary generosity.”
Under the co-chairmanship of Mathieu Monfet, Director of the Environment Department, and Tania Fonrose, Director of the Citizen Experience Department, the 2025 campaign was distinguished by strong participation and several community-building activities. Among these initiatives, we note the City of Laval’s first-ever participation in the Centraide Soccer Cup.
In Laval, Centraide assists nearly 88,000 people annually. In 2024 and 2025, Centraide supported 26 Laval community organizations equipped to create a significant and lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals.
New roles for elected officials in Laval
At a special meeting of City Council on December 2, Mayor Stéphane Boyer, accompanied by the 22 City Councillors of Laval, appointed associate members to the Executive Committee and the boards of directors of various municipal bodies.
“I am pleased to be able to count on experienced individuals, who are well-versed in municipal administration, to successfully manage the priority files for the residents of Laval: maintaining the city’s financial health, initiating the general upgrading of our infrastructure, continuing our extensive efficiency project, and accelerating the construction of affordable housing,” said the mayor.
The Executive Committee, composed of Mayor Stéphane Boyer, Ray Khalil (Vice-President), Christine Poirier, Nicholas Borne, and Flavia Alexandra Novac, welcomed four associate members. These councillors, appointed by City Council on the Mayor’s recommendation, support the work of the committee.
Associate members of the executive committee for the 2025-2029 term:
Aline Dib (Saint-Martin);
Sandra El-Helou (Souvenir-Labelle);
Yannick Langlois (L’Orée-des-Bois);
Mohamed Bâ (Le Carrefour)
Laval Transit Corporation (STL) Board of Directors:
Pierre Brabant (Vimont) is appointed Chair of the STL Board. He will be joined by Vasilios Karidogiannis (L’Abord-à-Plouffe) as Vice-Chair, and Martin Fiola (Laval-des-Rapides), Seta Topouzian (Renaud-Coursol), and Sylvain Yelle (Auteuil).
Other appointments:
Governance Committee:
Aline Dib (Saint-Martin), Carole St-Denis (Champfleury), Louise Lortie (Marc-Aurèle-Fortin), Cecilia Macedo (Marigot), Aglaia Revelakis (Chomedey)
Board of Directors of La Cité de la culture et du sport de Laval
Christine Poirier (Pont-Viau), Martin Fiola (Laval-des-Rapides)
Municipal Housing Office;
Sandra El-Helou (Souvenir-Labelle), Flavia Alexandra Novac (Sainte-Rose)
Urban Planning Advisory Committee (CCU);
Yannick Langlois (L’Orée-des-Bois), Seta Topouzian (Renaud-Coursol), Anick Brunet (Duvernay), Ray Khalil (Sainte-Dorothée)
Environmental Advisory Committee
Carole St-Denis (Champfleury), Mohamed Bâ (Le Carrefour)
Transportation and Sustainable Mobility Committee
Vasilios Karidogiannis (L’Abord-à-Plouffe), Sylvain Yelle (Auteuil), Seta Topouzian (Renaud-Coursol)
Audit Committee
Yannick Langlois (L’Orée-des-Bois), Anick Brunet (Duvernay), Martin Fiola (Laval-des-Rapides), Sylvain Yelle (Auteuil)
Pension Plan
Martin Fiola (Laval-des-Rapides), Chair of the Pension Committee
Public Resources Coordination Committee
Aline Dib (Saint-Martin), Anick Brunet (Duvernay), Annick Senghor (Saint-Vincent-de-Paul)
Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM);
Carole St-Denis and Annick Senghor (Board Members)
Anick Brunet, Carole St-Denis, Martin Fiola, Sandra El-Helou, Vasilios Karidogiannis, and Sylvain Yelle (Committee and Commission Members)
Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ);
Carole St-Denis (Champfleury)
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM);
Seta Topouzian (Renaud-Coursol), Director;
Laval Tourism
Annick Senghor (Saint-Vincent-de-Paul);
Montreal International
Martin Fiola (Laval-des-Rapides) Other appointments will be finalized in the coming weeks.
Quebec allocates over $26 million for water and sewer renewal in Laval
‘Water is an essential service for families,’ Guilbault says during announcement at City Hall
Residents on streets in Laval’s Fabreville and Chomedey districts will be getting an upgrade in the quality of their drinking water, as well as the efficient flow of storm and wastewater flowing into their sewers, thanks to a more than $26 million grant announced by the Quebec Municipal Affairs Ministry last week.
Minister of Municipal Affairs Geneviève Guilbault and Minister responsible for the Laval region Christopher Skeete, were in Laval on November 28 to announce that $26,074,021 has been granted by the CAQ government to the city for the water infrastructure work.
Upgrading sewer and water pipes
A total of 13,520 metres of drinking water, stormwater and wastewater pipes will be replaced under dozens of streets in various neighbourhoods of Laval. The investment will allow for the replacement of aging pipes in several areas where outages and emergency interventions were becoming increasingly common.
In all, 13.5 kilometres of water and sewer infrastructure will be upgraded. The work will be conducted in Chomedey on a grid of streets lying between des Prairies and McNamara boulevards, as well as between Estelle St. and de Normandie Blvd. in Fabreville and Chomedey.
The work will improve the reliability of the drinking water system, its drainage capacity during heavy rainfall, and the quality of service for hundreds of families. It also aligns with the government’s efforts to support municipalities in maintaining their essential infrastructure.
Water ‘essential,’ said Guilbault
“Water is an essential service for families,” Guilbault said during the announcement at Laval’s interim city hall on Saint-Martin Blvd. “With over $26 million in support, our government is keeping its promise, in Laval as throughout Quebec, by giving municipalities the means to provide reliable and efficient water systems.
“More than 13 kilometres of pipes will be replaced,” she added. “And this is exactly the kind of investment that prevents costly outages and improves the services that citizens depend on every day. It’s common sense, and I commend the city for its work on this project.”
“I am very pleased to see that the public will benefit from water systems that are less vulnerable to breaks and from better stormwater management during periods of heavy rainfall,” said Skeete. “This significant grant for our region is proof that we are here to support the City of Laval’s projects.”
“Modernizing our municipal infrastructure is a priority for my administration and will require sustained efforts over the coming years,” said Mayor Stéphane Boyer.
Reducing breaks and backups
“I am pleased to have Quebec’s financial assistance to support our sewer and water main modernization projects,” the mayor added. “These investments allow us to reduce breaks and prevent backups in our territory, which has a direct impact on the quality of life of Laval residents.”
The financial assistance comes from the provincial government’s 2023-2033 Municipal Water Infrastructure Program (PRIMEAU), part of the Quebec Infrastructure Plan (PQI). The plan provides for investments of up to $7 billion in the municipal infrastructure sector for the period 2025-2035, under the auspices of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAMH).
As the overseer of municipalities across Quebec, the provincial government provides support to towns and cities to improve the performance and management of their drinking water systems.
“Through the PRIMEAU 2023-2033 program, municipalities can benefit from increased funding when they commit to better understanding the condition of their infrastructure and planning its maintenance responsibly,” the municipal affairs ministry said in a statement.
Importance of infrastructure
“Infrastructures are the foundation of everything in the proper and figurative sense,” Guilbault added. “So, when we talk about infrastructures, it’s of utmost importance, whether it’s our buildings, our roads, schools, etc. But even more essential and importantly, our water infrastructure is a constantly recurring topic with our municipalities, a topic that keeps coming up again and again.”
According to Guilbault, a lot of water and sewer infrastructure across the province dates back to the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. As a result, most of these networks are reaching the end of their usefulness at around the same time. “This leads to major inconveniences for our citizens,” she said. “We are all working above all else for the quality of life of our citizens, regardless of the level of government we are in.”
Rush-hour crowds test REM’s Sainte-Dorothée station as usage climbs
By Matthew Daldalian
The glass-fronted Sainte-Dorothée REM station during weekday peak return hours. (Matthew Daldalian, North Shore News)
The REM’s new Sainte-Dorothée station is quickly proving essential to Laval commuters, with packed park-and-ride lots and steady afternoon ridership suggesting the service has taken hold just weeks after launch.
Between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., the station saw a continuous stream of returning students and workers. Nearly every parking space surrounding Avenue des Bois was filled, forcing late arrivals to circle for openings or park farther out on residential streets. For many riders, the convenience outweighs the growing congestion.
Luis Canon, an internet technician who lives nearby, said the REM fits naturally into his routine. “It’s amazing. It’s convenient,” he said. Canon takes the train roughly four times a week, often at peak hours. He said the new system is a welcome return after years of replacement buses. “I used to take [the old line], then they shut it down. Now it’s okay.”
The REM restored direct rail to the North Shore after the former exo Deux-Montagnes line closed for conversion in 2020. The new infrastructure promises faster travel and fewer bottlenecks, with trains running automatically every five to ten minutes during peak periods. Travel to downtown Montreal now averages under 30 minutes once aboard, cutting commute times in half for many west-end Laval residents.
The accessibility has made Sainte-Dorothée a busy endpoint on the line. Parking lots at Sainte-Dorothée were near capacity during the afternoon peak, an early sign of strong demand. Similar patterns occurred when the South Shore REM opened in 2023, when ridership climbed steadily during its first months of operation.
For Dawson College student Ricardo Rodriguez, the REM is now non-negotiable. “I use the REM every day to go to school,” he said. Rodriguez said the line significantly reduces his travel time into Montreal. “It’s very fast. I like that. It’s very quiet. It’s way quieter than the Metro.”
Sainte-Dorothée station’s role is expected to grow further when future REM phases connect west to Anse-à-l’Orme and south into Montreal-Trudeau airport by 2027. The station’s strategic location has already shifted commuting habits in Sainte-Dorothée, where car-dependent neighbourhoods long relied on slow multi-transfer bus connections to metro stations.
The REM’s off-peak schedule remains a limitation, particularly for late-night users. Service between Côte-de-Liesse and Deux-Montagnes currently ends at 9:30 p.m., with continuing evening travel handled by replacement bus service.
University student Yanni Athanasoulias takes the REM daily to reach Place-Bonaventure. The speed has changed his mornings. “It comes every five minutes. It goes to where I need to go,” he said. He once spent over an hour in traffic. Now his travel time is cut by more than half. “This takes about 30 minutes when you’re actually on the REM, so it’s good.”
Like others, Athanasoulias planned for the change long before it arrived. “Ever since I heard it was opening, I’ve been planning to take it,” he said. He drives to the station, then transfers to rail downtown.
By late afternoon, the Sainte-Dorothée lots were full up quickly.
A steady flow of passengers moved from the platforms toward the parking rows, many heading directly to their cars. Trains arriving between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. were busy, with most seats occupied and some passengers standing through portions of the route; not overcrowded, but consistently full.
The REM was built to shift more commuters away from car-dependent travel and toward electric rail service. Early usage at Sainte-Dorothée would suggest the demand exists, but long-term performance will depend on how well the network accommodates rider growth, travel patterns and future branch openings.
So far, the station is being used. People are boarding, returning, parking, and adjusting their routines around the new service. The next test is endurance, whether the system can support this level of traffic as months pass and peak travel intensifies.
