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Laval’s Angela Di Paola launches new self-help book for women

August 25, 2021

‘That’s Life… Or is it?’ could become an international bestseller, says publisher

When Angela Di Paola wanted to publish her new book, ‘That’s Life… Or is it?: A Woman’s Guide to Discovering Lasting Happiness,’ she also decided that a portion of the sales would be going to Shield of Athena, the Laval- and Montreal-based organization that also has a stake in the well-being of women and their families.

‘Role model,’ says Kamateros

Di Paola, a social worker, self-development coach and Laval-des-Rapides resident, officially launched the book last week with a webcast event, during which Shield of Athena executive-director Melpa Kamateros was among the guests.

“We have to thank Angela for her perseverance and for being a nice role model for other women, because that’s what we all aspire to be: Autonomous, independent and doing what we really want to do,” said Kamateros. “We look forward to reading her book.”

Possible bestseller, says publisher

“Listen, because of what’s happened in the last year and more through the pandemic, people are more anxious, more stressed, more overwhelmed than ever before,” said Gerry Robert, head of Black Card Books which published De Paola’s book.

“And that’s why we feel, and are extremely confident, that this book’s going to become an international bestseller.”

Di Paola suggested the book is just right for the times we now live in. “As people are coming out of COVID and adjusting to their new reality, my book offers simple strategies they can easily implement so that they can have the life they want,” she said

A labour of love

“I help women gain the clarity and mindset needed to achieve goals that matter to them so that they can feel energized, confident and living life on their own terms without fear, overwhelming and guilt. My book has been a labour of love and I am pretty excited with the timing of the launch.

“COVID has been so challenging, and a time of reflection and self evaluation for a lot of us,” she added. “My book doesn’t just offer hope that life can get better, but provides concrete and simple strategies to put all that self reflection to good use.”

Book available

‘That’s Life… Or is it? is available through Amazon and Kindle. The book is also available in paperback in Canada, but not yet in the U.S., although she said they are working on that issue.

And an audiobook version is also expected.

The following professional life coaches, performance coaches, wellness consultants, psychologists, physical therapists and life planners also took part in the book launch: Justin Muniz, Toni Rebic, Rusiana Tjiu, Tamara Liebmann, Georgiana Kovell, Carmen Robles Macy, Tanya Gutierrez and Carol Ketelson.

Société de transport de Laval launches ‘Compagnon’ app for special-needs clients

Martin C. Barry

August 25, 2021

Société de transport de Laval launches ‘Compagnon’ app for special-needs clients

Autistic, intellectually disabled and dysphasic will get help riding the bus network

The Société de transport de Laval (STL) has launched a comprehensive new program and smartphone app, designed to provide real-time guidance to help reduce the anxiety sometimes experienced by special-needs bus passengers when they are using public transit.

The STL says the Compagnon program will empower users to travel more safely and become increasingly autonomous and confident as they make public transit a regular part of their active lifestyle.

The transit agency says its new program and app will help people in this category travel by themselves to their place of study or work, or to medical appointments.

According to the STL, for the time being the program is aimed at people 12 years and older living with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a mild intellectual disability (MID) or a language impairment (dysphasia).

CISSS and CSSL helped

Users of the program will be referred by an affiliated agency and must meet certain eligibility criteria, including having the ability to move around on their own. The STL says that the Centre des services scolaire de Laval (CSSL) and the CISSS de Laval, who provided input that helped create the program, deserve to be recognized for their contribution.

While the project has been running as a pilot for some years, the STL says it is now official and part of the STL’s regular operations. For now, a maximum of 10 active users will be accepted in the program at one time. Spaces will be then be reassigned to new users as they become available (registration required, available on Android only).

Some Compagnon features

The STL says the Compagnon program will have the following distinctive features:

Customized and user-tailored routes;
Monitoring by STL customer service agents;
Guidance in collaboration with the partner organization’s stakeholders;
Registered users only: user record with emergency contact in case of need;
Possibility of free telephone loan for a trial period, as most of the young people targeted do not have one;
Free first month of transportation.

Parents pleased by project

The STL says the project was made possible through funding granted by the Ministry of Transport of Quebec and the ministry’s Programme d’aide gouvernementale au transport collectif des personnes (PAGTCP).

“We are immensely pleased to have the privilege of promoting the Société de transports de Laval’s STL Compagnon program,” said Ingrid Falaise and Cédrik Reinhardt, stepmother and father of an autistic child. “As parents of an autistic teenager, we know how important it is to guide our child to success with independence, pride and dignity.

“We salute the STL’s ambition, their involvement in our society and their commitment to making a real difference in the development of people with special needs. Thank you to the STL for taking over and holding our children’s hands, if only for a bus ride.”

Fostering independence

“This is a tremendous program full of promise that will foster the independence of young Laval residents living with functional or intellectual limitations,” said Laval Deputy Mayor Stéphane Boyer, who is also vice-president of the executive-committee and city councillor for Duvernay-Pont-Viau.

“This gives them greater freedom to use public transit with confidence and without any anxiety as they will always be supported by someone who can help them find their way should the need ever arise.

‘As parents of an autistic teenager, we know how important it is to guide our child to success with independence, pride and dignity,’ say Ingrid Falaise and Cédrik Reinhardt, stepmother and father of an autistic child

“This program is another innovation by the STL and like me, all Laval residents have every reason to be extremely proud of it, which meets our values of inclusive active mobility on our exceptional island.”

“This initiative is in line with the STL’s innovation values,” said Éric Morasse, president of the board of directors of the STL and city councillor for Saint-François.

Alternative to paratransit

“Empowering as many people as possible to include public transit in their travel habits is at the heart of our corporate mission, our strategic plan, and our universal accessibility plan,” added Morasse.

“It’s also a way to provide an alternative to paratransit for those who have the inclination and ability.”

“Promoting and enhancing public transit are priorities, much like access to this service for the greatest number of people,” said Quebec Transport Minister Chantal Rouleau.

“That’s why I am proud of the support provided by your government for this innovative project. There’s no doubt that the mobile app users will also feel a sense of pride when they get on an STL bus by themselves.”

City signs cultural agreement with Collège Montmorency

Martin C. Barry

August 25, 2021

City signs cultural agreement with Collège Montmorency

As part of a long-term plan to expand its network of cultural facilities and infrastructure in the city-centre, the City of Laval says it has reached an agreement with Collège Montmorency, by which the CEGEP will be taking part in preliminary studies.

According to a statement issued last week by the city, Laval and the community college will be working together to develop complementary policies in which teaching and research will take place while the city provides support.

“Alliances between these sectors have existed for quite some time in Laval, and this approach with Collège Montmorency will facilitate the creation of dynamic and innovative partnerships,” said Laval deputy mayor and executive-committee vice-president Stéphane Boyer.

“We are happy to work in conjunction with the City of Laval to carry out these feasibility studies in view of the construction of a new building which will allow students to benefit from modern study spaces,” said Olivier Simard, director-general of the college, noting that in June Collège Montmorency had announced an increase in its enrollment for the coming years.

Work begins for redevelopment of Berge des Baigneurs

City of Laval officials were on hand Aug. 17 in Sainte-Rose to help begin work on a new public square outside Église Sainte-Rose-de-Lima and a new parking area near École Villemaire, the two projects being part of a first phase to rehabilitate the entrance to the Berge des Baigneurs alongside the Rivière des Mille Îles.

“I was proud to be here for this important stage in the development of an exceptional site, very appreciated by people in Laval and located in the centre of a very dynamic neighbourhood,” said Sainte-Rose city councillor Virginie Dufour, a senior member of the executive-committee.

“The major revitalization of this site will be added to by facilities better adapted to the needs of visitors, improved security and activities, as well as more convenient access to the site and the nearby Mille Îles River,” she continued.

“All of this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Sainte-Rose-de-Lima parish, which I would like to thank for their collaboration.”

Last year, the city conducted a significant archeological excavation on the site, prior to the beginning of the work.

This year until Aug. 20, the city was conducting an additional inventory, the principal goal of which was to uncover vestiges of the former parish enclosure in order to document it and come to a better understanding of its historical significance.

Laval pays homage to city employees after COVID-19

The City of Laval began a social media campaign last week, designed to publicly thank its employees for all the work they have done since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

“The employees have shown themselves to be greatly devoted and very adaptable in order to maintain a very high level of quality, while ensuring the security and well-being of the citizens and members of the staff,” said Deputy Mayor Stéphane Boyer.

“Each of the actions they took illustrate not only their love of public service, but also their capacity to innovate and be efficient during some of the most trying circumstances,” he added.

“The pandemic has forced us to change the way we do things, and the mayor, all our colleagues and myself are proud of the cooperation and empathy shown by the various teams to answer to the needs of the population.”

According to the city, 25 per cent of the City of Laval’s workforce is still working remotely.

Quebec aims to deploy 90,000 CO2 detectors in schools by mid-December

Martin C. Barry

August 25, 2021

Quebec aims to deploy 90,000 CO2 detectors in schools by mid-December

Education ministry had wanted to complete task by autumn and back-to-school

Air quality experts with the Quebec government are giving their assurances that up to 90,000 carbon dioxide (CO₂) detectors will be installed in schools across the province by mid-December in a bid to improve the overall air quality in Quebec’s public education institutions.

The news, delivered by Deputy Education Minister Marc Sirois and air quality researcher Ali Bahloul during a press conference in Montreal recently, contradicted Education Minister Jean-François Roberge’s assertion in June that CO₂ detectors would be installed in all Quebec’s public schools by fall when classes resume after the summer break.

Doing it correctly

Although Sirois maintained during the technical briefing that implementation of the detectors will begin in September, he added that the government wants to see they get installed effectively and correctly, hence more time is needed to meet the goal.

“This is a major undertaking,” said Sirois. “We are talking about 90,000 detectors in 4,000 locations. We wanted to do this quickly, but also to do it well. In 90 per cent of cases, ventilation is adequate.”

While saying that the government tried to do things as quickly as possible, he said the suppliers of the detectors needed time to get into the schools where the detectors will be deployed. “We proceeded at the greatest speed we could while assuring quality,” Sirois said.

December deadline

While the government had planned to issue calls for bids on the supply of the CO₂ detectors at the beginning of June, it was only in mid-July that the process got underway. Installation of all the detectors is expected to be finished by Dec. 17.

Based on testing conducted last winter, the education ministry insists that the quality of the air at most schools across the province is “acceptable,” although the detectors will help maintain it at that level or lead to improvements.

Health not an issue

Installation of up to three-quarters of the CO₂ detectors is expected to be completed by the middle of November, half by mid-October, and a quarter by mid-September. “In 90 per cent of cases, the ventilation is adequate,” added Sirois. “This is something involving comfort. So, there are no issues involving the health of students.”

The Quebec education ministry plans to install 90,000 CO₂ detectors in 4,000 public school locations by mid-December

Ali Balhoul, who is a clean air specialist with the Robert-Sauvé Institute of research for Workplace Health and Security (IRSST), agreed the delay installing the CO₂ detectors is justifiable and valid, and due in part to logistics impacting the suppliers.

“It’s time to stop the fear campaigns,” said Balhoul. “In addition to improving the quality of the air, we will be testing it as never before.”

Current levels ‘acceptable’

The provincial government hopes to lower the concentration of CO₂ to 1,000 parts per million (ppm) throughout the public school system. According to the government, the average level is currently 1,500 ppm, regarded as acceptable and much lower than the 5,000-ppm level Health Canada defines as posing health risks.

Explaining how the detectors will operate, Sirois said they will be taking air readings every five minutes during every hour when classes are in session in the schools. As CO₂ levels fluctuate, teachers will be able to take measures to counteract excessive levels by opening doorways or windows as deemed necessary.

No impact on Covid

In the meantime, health and air quality officials acknowledge that detecting the excessive presence of CO₂ in classrooms will have no impact on the spread of COVID-19. Still, the education ministry is advising that the best protection against Covid in classrooms in the coming school year will be face masks to protect against airborne droplets which are the most common medium for Covid spread.

In addition to all this, the cost for the implementation of the CO₂ detector program remains secret, since the CAQ government claims it didn’t want public information on costs to interfere with the call for bids.

An election win by inches, not yards

Robert Vairo

August 25, 2021

I’m not sure why we are having a federal election at this time. Isn’t it a four-year mandate? And is this only two years since the October 2019 campaign? We know what the ruling liberals are all about. A left wing, woke, millennial political party, that would continue that political route, if re-elected. The Liberals needed the support of at least one other party to pass legislation and they have been getting it, making a deal here and there, surviving in their minority government role. It was either a deal with the Bloc for debate closure on Bill C-10, the government’s controversial plan to bring streaming giants such as Netflix under Canada’s existing broadcasting rule, or the NDP for Bill C2. That was a confidence vote where the ruling liberals could have fallen but Jagmeet Singh shook Trudeau’s hand, and a deal was made to assure a two-week sick leave for Canadians. There are many more examples of deals between parties. The point is, this government was working. There is a lot to be said about minority governments. Canadians benefit for the most part. So why an election after 23 months, and not the traditional 48?

Thankfully the campaign lasts 36 days, nowhere near the year long affair that goes on with the Americans every four years. The Trudeau liberals no doubt decided on the shortest campaign allowed under federal law, 36 short days, because the polls show them ahead, and with just over month, you would think that would mean less time for other parties to present their platforms, and less time to allow Canadians to change their minds and reverse the polls.

Well timed for the election is the compulsory vaccination of federal employees including travellers by air, plane or train in Canada. (The Conservatives leave the option for mandatory daily tests to the unvaccinated.) That decision pleases 80% of Canadians (Ipsos-Global pollster). In fact, Canadians are angry at those who are not jabbed. And with reason. The unvaccinated are mostly responsible for spreading the virus and creating variants, flooding the emergency rooms and occupying hospital beds, and weighing heavily on an overworked community of health care workers, grappling with mental health issues.

The bottom line for the liberals, and the academics who teach political science seem to agree, when the polls show a minority government with an opportunity for a majority, it usually means a visit o the Governor General’s office. And it did.

For the biggest spender in Canadian history, with the largest deficit ever, the Prime Minister has allotted an additional 100 million for mail in ballots during this fourth wave of the pandemic. It’s estimated this election will cost Canadians close to 700 million dollars.

Strange that the most recent Ipsos poll shows the Liberals handily ahead, but the same poll shows 57% that say it’s time for a change of party. (41% want a change, in a recent Moru poll) Hmmm…it leaves one thinking of just how to interpret those results. Very often the national leaders’ debates (SEPT 8,9), do not move the needle, but sometimes they do create a massive shift in voter intentions. In 2015, the third place Trudeau had everything to gain, and he did, but this time he is on top, with everything to lose.

Interesting to note that in the five pandemic elections held provincially, all re-elected the governing party. Except one. A week ago, Tuesday the 17th, Nova Scotians toppled a liberal party that had ruled 8 years, and had one poll actually leading by over 20 percentage points when the election was called. Premier elect Conservative Tim Houston, a chartered accountant, campaigned with a laser focus on eliminating “chronic shortages of family doctors, nurses and long-term care beds.” It worked.

Some of the issues of concern, millennials, the biggest group of home buyers leaving their city apartments and moving to the suburbs in search of an affordable home, our abandoned Afghan interpreters, mixed vaccines not acceptable by all outside of Canada, Joe Biden no friend of Canada, begging Saudis for more oil, while cancelling our KXL pipeline to the U.S.

In this federal election, the Maru poll identified jobs, health care, taxes and public spending, equally, as top concerns for Canadians. Surprisingly, the dole out of billions of dollars the liberals are hoping will buy them votes, including the $500 deposit to all seniors, is not that prominent in this poll where “just one in ten (11%) saying the government’s response to the pandemic is most important to their vote.”

Affordability has suddenly taken center stage.

This could be an election of inches, not yards, or a big surprise.

That’s what I’m Thinking.

Robert Vairo

robert@newsfirst.ca

Laval is hoping Moderna will build a facility at Cité de la Biotech

Martin C. Barry

August 25, 2021

Laval is hoping Moderna will build a facility at Cité de la Biotech

U.S.-based vaccine maker has benefited hugely from the COVID-19 pandemic

With one of its most prized pieces of industrial parkland primed and ready to welcome major players from the domain of scientific technology and research, the City of Laval is making no secret of the fact it is inviting one of the world’s largest Covid vaccine manufacturers to set up operations in the Cité de la Biotech.

In a statement issued by Mayor Marc Demers’ office last week, the administration calls on Moderna to choose Laval and the Cité de la Biotech for an expansion the multinational company says it wants to make somewhere in Canada.

“As a leader in the domain of biotechnologies, Laval’s economic community quickly contacted management at the company in order to let them know all the facts about the Cité de la Biotech, the qualified workforce and the strength of the economy in Laval,” the mayor’s office said in its statement.

Laval’s the place, says Boyer

Deputy Mayor Stéphane Boyer was more direct. “Laval has everything it takes to accommodate such an investment,” he said, maintaining that the city has a base of highly qualified workers, an already-established international clientele at Cité de la Biotech, high-quality available industrial space, and a diversified economy guaranteeing stability during potentially turbulent times.

Caroline De Guire, president and CEO of the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Laval (CCILaval), is also sold on the idea that Laval has what it takes to welcome virtually any company that might wish to set up operations in Laval – including Moderna.

“Bolstered by around 12,000 enterprises, retailers and industries, the Laval business community has all the requirements in terms of diversity in its qualified workforce, as well as complementarity in its economic sectors and projects for sustainable mobility,” De Guire said.

Laval is courting Moderna

The CCIL says that key sectors of the city’s industrial parklands, such as the Cité de la Biotech, will have a key role to play in the process for jump-starting the economy once the post-Covid recovery gets underway.

“Laval places a high value on the research and innovation taking place in this sector and has a highly resilient, inclusive and dynamic business community, conferring on the city a very attractive and competitive cachet,” added De Guire. “We would be honoured to welcome Moderna into our business community and contribute to its arrival in Quebec.”

“With the arrival of Moderna in the Cité de la Biotech in Laval, the company would be able to rely on a logistical chain specialized in life-sciences as well as expertise in infectious diseases and bio-manufacturing with the presence of the INRS biotechnology campus of the Armand Frappier Institute,” said Perry Niro, executive-director of the Centre québécois d’innovation en biotechnologie (CQIB).

Moderna’s fast rise

“Moderna will also be able to count on innovations from a new generation of entrepreneurs supported by our incubator,” he added, referring to the CQIB, which leases out research and development facilities, while helping guide the way towards subsidized support for entrepreneurs launching startup biotech ventures.

Headquartered in Cambridge Mass. USA, Moderna was regarded in recent years as little more than a biotech startup. That is until the COVID-19 pandemic struck in early 2020. Monderna has come a long way in a short time, compared to other global pharma and biotech companies whose fortunes have also been buoyed by the pandemic.

Seen here from an eagle’s-eye point of view, the City of Laval’s Cité de la Biotech is home to more than a dozen science and research companies doing active work towards finding treatments and a vaccine for COVID-19.

But while other companies involved in the development of Covid vaccines (Pfizer, Astra-Zeneca) have at least some history behind them and a degree of diversification, Moderna was founded just 11 years ago and focuses exclusively on producing vaccines based on a proprietary messenger RNA (mRNA) process.

Future in Canada

As well, Moderna’s only commercially-successful product to date has been its COVID-19 vaccine, although it is said to have as many as two dozen vaccine candidates for other health issues including influenza and AIDS.

In terms of its Canadian expansion plans, the company announced on Aug. 10 that it has signed a non-binding pre-contract memorandum of understanding with the federal government to build a state-of-the-art mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Canada.

This understanding with the federal government would presumably be a precursor for Ottawa to eventually provide significant subsidies to Moderna as an incentive for its establishing a production facility on Canadian soil.

Although details are scant, the idea is that Moderna Canada would use a Canadian site to supply this country with direct access to rapid pandemic response capabilities, including the company’s current version of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine, according to a statement issued by Moderna.

Two suspects arrested after shots fired in Chomedey

Martin C. Barry

August 18, 2021

Two suspects arrested after shots fired in Chomedey

The Laval Police made two arrests and have launched an investigation after shots were fired on the afternoon of Aug. 9 in Laval’s Chomedey district.

A police spokesperson said the LPD received an initial call reporting gunfire shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 9.

Several police officers who were nearby answered the call and saw two men walking away from the area from where the first report of gunfire had been made.

One of the suspects fit the description of a possible suspect and both were apprehended for questioning, according to the LPD.

A subsequent on-site investigation found spent shell casings near the intersection of 2nd St. and 80th Ave., although it appeared no one had been injured.

Two days after the shooting, the LPD issued another statement saying two individuals had been arrested.

The LPD identified one of those arrested as Grant Alexandre Jean- Louis, age 25, who was arraigned at the Laval courthouse and charged with illegally discharging a firearm.

The second suspect, age 21, wasn’t identified by the police and was released with conditions after making a statement. The LPD said two handguns were seized during their intervention.

Anyone who feels they have information regarding this incident can contact the Laval Police confidentially at their Info-Line at 450 662-INFO (4636), or by balling 911. The file number is LVL 210809 053.

Murder attempt, three suspects arrested

The Laval Police Department has confirmed that three individuals have been arrested following an incident which took place on July 10 at the Aztec Bar in Chomedey.

According to the LPD, around 1 am that night, an altercation broke out involving several individuals inside the Aztec. Then, around 1:20 am, another altercation broke out in the parking lot outside.

The LPD says one gunshot was fired, injuring two individuals and they were transported to hospital. An investigation led to the identification and arrest of three suspects believed to be associated with the incident.

The three suspects were arraigned at the Laval courthouse and face charges of attempted murder. They are identified as Marc Kenson Milien, 28, and Chayanne O N’eil Peralta Garcia, 27 ans. Both remained in custody last week.

The third suspect, identified as Johaina Fahmy, 21 ans, was released with a number of conditions to be followed. All are expected back in court on Aug. 19.

Anyone with information about the above incident is encouraged to call the Laval Police Department’s confidential Info-Line at 450 662-INFO (4636), or 911. The file number is LVL 210710-009.

Ottawa invests over $85 million in garage expansion at the STL

Martin C. Barry

August 18, 2021

Ottawa invests over $85 million in garage expansion at the STL

Project to include 100 new parking spaces to recharge electric buses

On Aug. 10, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Catherine McKenna, along with Laval-Les Îles MP Fayçal El Khoury, Alfred-Pellan MP Angelo Iacono Vimy MP Annie Koutrakis and Marc-Auréle-Fortin MP Yves Robillard announced more than $85 million in federal funding to expand a garage for the Société de transport de Laval (STL) by nearly 20,000 square metres.

For public transit

The project will include approximately 100 new parking spaces to recharge electric buses, as well as additional vehicle maintenance and repair bays.

“The government of Canada is proud to invest in infrastructure that supports public transit in Quebec,” McKenna’s ministry said in a statement.

“While creating good jobs, these investments will provide Quebecers with more options to get around, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote the electrification of public transit.”

Efficient and safe

According to the Infrastructure and Communities Ministry, Ottawa is contributing to the STL’s project through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The government of Quebec is also investing in the project and will reveal its contribution at a later date.

“Investments in public transit infrastructure allow Quebecers to travel efficiently and safely,” said McKenna. “I am pleased to announce today federal funding of more than $85 million for the STL garage expansion.

Fighting climate change

“Thanks to this project, the STL will continue its transition to green and sustainable energy, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support our fight against climate change,” she continued. “Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds cleaner, more inclusive communities.”

The four local MPs were impressed by the government’s contribution and grateful for the amount allotted. “I would like to thank the federal government and Minister Mckenna for having thought once again about the safety and quality of the public transport network in Laval by investing more than $85 million in a major project to expand a garage of the Société de Transport de Laval,” said El Khoury.

‘A positive impact’

“Through this investment, residents of my riding of Alfred-Pellan will enjoy greener services from the STL and I am proud to be a partner for Laval residents,” Iacono added. “This collaboration reinforces my commitment and that of our federal government to keep on investing in infrastructure projects that have a positive impact in our Laval community.”

‘Through this investment, residents of my riding of Alfred-Pellan will enjoy greener services from the STL and I am proud to be a partner for Laval residents,’ says Member of Parliament Angelo Iacono

“As the Member of Parliament for Vimy, I am proud of this announcement from our government and I thank Minister McKenna for this investment in the STL,” said Koutrakis. “Our investment of more than $85 million will benefit all transit users in Laval and help further protect our environment.”

Electrification necessary

Yves Robillard noted that the federal government’s contribution comes at a time when electrification is becoming increasingly necessary to eliminate the use of fossil fuels in order to deal with the long-term consequences of climate change.

“In order to achieve our goal of a 45 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2028, we must encourage the electrification of public transportation,” he said.

“In this regard, I am very pleased with the government’s funding announcement made by Minister McKenna. This announcement of $85 million will allow the Société de transport de Laval to double the surface aera of its current site to provide it with new infrastructure adapted to electric buses.”

Overall Quebec investment

According to McKenna’s ministry, the federal government will be investing more than $7.5 billion in Quebec between 2018 and 2028 through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) for cultural and recreational infrastructure projects, green infrastructure, public transit and infrastructure in rural and northern communities.

As well, adds the ministry, since 2015 the government has invested $7.3 billion in Quebec in more than 1,880 infrastructure projects under Ottawa’s Investing in Canada plan.

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Laval’s Angela Di Paola launches new self-help book for women

‘That’s Life… Or is it?’ could become an international bestseller, says publisher

Société de transport de Laval launches ‘Compagnon’ app for special-needs clients

Autistic, intellectually disabled and dysphasic will get help riding the bus network

City signs cultural agreement with Collège Montmorency

Quebec aims to deploy 90,000 CO2 detectors in schools by mid-December

Education ministry had wanted to complete task by autumn and back-to-school

An election win by inches, not yards

Laval is hoping Moderna will build a facility at Cité de la Biotech

U.S.-based vaccine maker has benefited hugely from the COVID-19 pandemic

Laval News Volume 29-28

Two suspects arrested after shots fired in Chomedey

City council creates a new committee for senior citizens

Laval’s seniors will finally be getting a voice of their own

Ottawa invests over $85 million in garage expansion at the STL

Project to include 100 new parking spaces to recharge electric buses

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