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Quebec Ombudswoman’s COVID-19 report points finger squarely at Legault government

Martin C. Barry
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Quebec Ombudswoman’s COVID-19 report points finger squarely at Legault government

Of the 5,634 Covid deaths reported up to June 30 last year, 69 per cent were in CHSLDs

In a special report tabled last week in the National Assembly on how the COVID-19 crisis was managed in CHSLDs during the first wave of the pandemic, Quebec Ombudswoman Marie Rinfret makes 27 recommendations, while allowing the facts to suggest negligence on the part of the CAQ government.

They ‘were the blind spot’

As they braced for COVID-19, Rinfret’s report states, government authorities were quick to make hospitals the focal point. Then, in order to free up hospital beds, many patients were transferred to CHSLDs. Of the 5,634 COVID-19 deaths reported up to June 30 last year, 3,894 (69 per cent) were in CHSLDs.

In a scathing new report on the provincial government’s performance last year during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Quebec Ombudswoman Marie Rinfret provides evidence that CAQ government officials made decisions which may have worsened the situation.

“CHSLDs were the blind spot in bracing for COVID-19,” said Rinfret. “The truth is that, above and beyond the CHSLDs, it was the residents who were cast aside when the attack against the virus was being mounted.”

CHSLDs ‘were doubly hit’

A progress report released by Rinfret’s office in December 2020 highlighted firsthand witness statements. The new report includes an analysis of accounts by experts and government authorities in key areas, including health institution management, geriatrics, crisis management, epidemiology, and infection control and prevention.

“Our investigation made it possible to dig deep and understand why CHSLDs were doubly hit – under siege during the pandemic, and unable to deal with the outbreaks and deaths,” Rinfret said in a statement. “Our report brings into sharp relief the frailty of services, structures and communication channels.”

Were already short-staffed

The Ombudswoman’s office said the CHSLDs “already short-staffed, did not have the resources needed to accommodate the sudden influx of people who were already fragile. As a result, decisions were made by authorities who did not have the wherewithal to adequately gauge the ability of CHSLDs to fulfil this unusual mission.”

According to Rinfret, other factors contributed to a decline in service and disorganization, including the authorities’ underestimating CHSLD residents’ vulnerability to the virus. The effects of staff absenteeism due to COVID-19 hadn’t been foreseen either. She said the complex nature of the jobs of the healthcare teams should have quickly sounded the alarm about why things went as they did and required an urgent solution.

Knowledge was lacking

Rinfret said that when planning for the pandemic, the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services hadn’t considered how serious it was that CHSLD staff knew very little about best practices in infection prevention and control during major outbreaks.

Given the circumstances, she added, the virus spread widely, exacerbated by a lack of personal protective equipment, as well as outdated facilities. Moreover, Rinfret continued, lack of managers in each CHSLD often slowed the response to a succession of ever-changing instructions from health authorities.

The recommendations

Given the extent of the crisis during the first wave and the dramatic repercussions on the province, the Ombudswoman’s office recommended that the Ministry of Health and Social Services put in place various mechanisms. Here are the principal ones:

  • A risk assessment and management policy concerning CHSLDs;
  • A detailed plan for strengthening the CHSLDs’ ability to apply infection prevention and control measures;
  • A personal protective equipment supply strategy;
  • A provincial plan for deploying emergency personnel within the health and social services network to make the most of back-up resources;
  • Protocols with professional orders, federations and associations, unions, and educational institutions for deploying extra staff in exceptional circumstances;
  • A Quebec strategy to combat staff shortages and to promote health and social services trades and professions;
  • An action plan to recognize the complexity of care and service provision in CHSLDs.

Memorials should be held

Rinfret said all the reforms should include the introduction of reliable and efficient information systems. The Ombudswoman’s office also recommended that the ministry organize annual services of commemoration for the COVID-19 victims in CHSLDs and for the people who worked with them directly or indirectly.

‘CHSLDs were the blind spot in bracing for COVID-19,’ said Rinfret

“It is important to remember what these people went through so that their experiences are the catalyst for sustainable action and change,” said the ombudswoman’s office. Rinfet also asked the minister to provide a progress report about the implementation of the recommendations by March 1 next year and that a follow-up schedule be agreed upon.

Premier Legault’s reaction

In Quebec City, Premier François Legault reacted to Rinfret’s 66-page report, saying it was relatively easy for an onlooker to second-guess the situation, but that the provincial government did its best to manage given the extreme circumstances.

“With the information I had, I did the best I was able to do at the time,” he told journalists last week. “It’s tough to take decisions when you don’t have all the information.

“And the information we had was that we would have problems in our hospital ERs and not in our long-term care facilities. So, it’s easy Monday morning to say you should have done things differently. But I think with the information we had we did the best we were able to do.”

‘No real action taken’

Despite the government’s claim it warned CHSLDs to prepare for the pandemic as early as January 2020, the report states that no real action was taken until April, when devastating Covid outbreaks in Montreal and at Laval’s CHSLD Sainte-Dorothée led to hundreds of Covid deaths.

Rinfret’s report described a disconnect between Quebec’s Ministry of Health and Social Services and the regional health authorities overseeing the CHSLDs. Staff absenteeism worsened the problems.

The report states that between March 1 and June 14 last year, 13,581 health-care workers contracted COVID-19, representing 25 per cent of all reported cases in the first wave. While eleven health-care workers died, many others were left psychologically and emotionally scarred by the death and suffering they witnessed first-hand.

Marquise Condominiums Laval shines at 2021 Habitat Design Awards

Renata Isopo
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Marquise Condominiums Laval shines at 2021 Habitat Design Awards

Les Prix Habitat Design’s annual competition which aims its spotlight at the housing industry and rewards the best-equipped model units and sales offices, has awarded the Marquise Condominiums Laval the 2021 People’s Choice prize in the category of Furnished Model Unit Component.

The awards are part of the much-appreciated and much anticipated contest that focuses on promoting better design for living. In the The People’s Choice competition, Marquise Condominiums Laval scored top marks for attractive design and functionality. Better design for living Marquise, with their creative architect, translates unique tastes and aspirations into forever homes with visions of hassle-free design, offering unique and elegant lifestyles which cater to many tastes, supported by outstanding recreational amenities, esteemed scholarly and health facilities, transport, and shopping, benchmarks of exclusive community living, winning designs which reflect modern luxury, warmth, and effortless elegance.

Award winning Marquise’s approach to luxury is about craftsmanship, curation, and a sense of authenticity, a more ethereal quality to the design of the buildings, telling the essence of this city that is about a sense of lightness, the sense of transparency.

“Buyers love the more and more varied proposals that are presented to them,” say the Habitat Design Awards organizers. “For builders, the buyers visits, this translates into beautiful, finely decorated model units, (and) buyers can thus fill up with ideas of a future new home.” Multidisciplinary adjudication For the Furnished Model Unit Component, the jury was made up of interior designers who are all members of APDIQ (Professional Association of Interior Designers of Québec) – Michèle Lalumière, Jean de Lessard, Lucie Roy, and Mélodie Violet.

“The promotion of the design professions, all disciplines combined – architecture, landscape, interior design, graphic design – is an avenue that we must clearly support to ensure a better design of our living environments. The Habitat Design Awards challenges us in this regard. An important and highly relevant initiative, these awards demonstrate the soundness of interprofessional collaboration,” notes renowned industrial designer Michel Dallaire, who sat on the multidisciplinary committee that adjudicated the Habitat Design Grand Prize in the category of Jury’s Choice.

The sponsors and partners of the 2021 Habitat Design Awards are the Professional A s s o c i a t i o n o f Interior Designers of Quebec (APDIQ), the Association of Landscape Architects of Quebec (AAPQ), t h e S o c i e t y o f Graphic Designers of Quebec, duProprio, Électroménagers GE, Rinox, as well as FORMES magazine.

City of Laval receives ‘AA’ score from S&P Global Ratings

Martin C. Barry
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City of Laval receives ‘AA’ score from S&P Global Ratings

In a report released on Nov. 22, the U.S.-based credit rating agency Standard & Poors (S&P) Global Ratings said it was maintaining the City of Laval’s “AA” rating.

In a statement, the city says that S&P confirmed that the observable dynamics, the expected strong growth of economic activity and the sound financial management of the city were factors that favoured maintaining Laval’s credit score.

A stable economy

The report also notes that the diversity of economic sectors active on Laval’s territory was a factor in helping to keep Laval’s economy stable while attenuating any potential volatility.

“Beyond the numbers, this outcome allows us to take advantage of some very real benefits for all Laval residents, such as an excellent credit rating,” said Mayor Stéphane Boyer. “For several years, we are in excellent shape financially, and this is something we can be proud of.”

Restarting the economy

Duvernay–Pont-Viau city councillor Christiane Poirier, who sits on the executive-committee with responsibilities for economic development, commented, “Our sound management of public funds allowed us to be there for local businesses while the pandemic was striking a number of industries. This good result shows our commitment to pushing forward the Laval business community so that it can reap the benefits of a robust economic restart.”

According to the city, each year it goes to great efforts to be as transparent as possible to publicly account for all its investments and expenses. “The rating accorded by S&P Global Ratings demonstrates that the City of Laval has the capacity to respect its commitments while ensuring that the level of debt remains predictable and under control,” city officials said in a statement.

Laval executive-committee approves purchase of more woodlands

During a meeting on Nov. 24, the members of the City of Laval’s executive-committee approved the purchase of three wooded lots in several districts of Laval in order to add to the city’s growing inventory of woodlands and green space.

In keeping with the city’s plan for improving and conserving Laval’s natural areas, the executive-committee members gave the go-ahead for a disbursement of $213,200 for the purchase of the lots.

More green space added

Some of the lots in question are located in the City of Laval’s Val-des-Arbres district and are part of a wooded area measuring more than a hectare which has several wetlands. Another lot, located in the Auteuil woods near the Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, is also part of an area that conservationists and the city have had their eyes on for some time.

The acquisitions are taking place as part of a greater Montreal regional plan, known as the Trame verte et bleue, which is aimed at carefully planning the preservation of natural spaces and biodiversity in the Montreal region, while taking into account the impacts of climate change at the same time.

Who’s on the executive-committee?

The City of Laval’s executive-committee meets weekly to make decisions on a range of issues. The committee’s lead members are Mayor Stéphane Boyer and Sainte-Dorothée councillor Ray Khalil (vice-president).

Regular members are Concorde–Bois-de-Boulogne councillor Sandra Desmeules, Duvernay–Pont-Viau councillor Christine Poirier, Laval-les-Îles councillor Nicholas Borne, followed by associate members Saint-Martin council Aline Dib, Souvenir-Labelle councillor Sandra El-Helou, and Laval-des-Rapides councillor Alexandre Warnet.

Centre De Pédiatrie Sociale Laval asks community to lend a helping hand

Martin C. Barry
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Centre De Pédiatrie Sociale Laval asks community to lend a helping hand

Pediatrics centre sets ambitious $50,000 goal for Laval’s most vulnerable children

In time for the upcoming holiday season, the Centre De Pédiatrie Sociale Laval is launching its annual Guignolée, which will be held from Dec. 1-17 in the four corners of the city.

After a year’s break due to the Covid pandemic, the organization is back on the streets and in front of Laval businesses to raise awareness of social pediatrics in the community and to give Lavallois the opportunity to support it.

An essential role

The organization, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, played a more crucial role than ever with vulnerable children in Laval during the pandemic.

Indeed, say organizers, the prevention of child neglect and abuse is of paramount importance in this context of uncertainty. The report of the Laurent Commission, published last spring, emphasized the importance of funding front-line services to protect children.

The demand is overwhelming

However, the Centre De Pédiatrie Sociale has a waiting list of 56 families residing in some of the least privileged neighbourhoods of Laval. Some of these families have been on their own for almost a year and some of the children on the waiting list are in a very vulnerable situation. They are at risk of neglect, integration difficulties, developmental delays, food insecurity, anxiety and depressive disorders, as well as academic failure.

Unsuitable premises

The centre says that two of its three points of service have very limited capacity, which reduces the proper functioning of their activities. As a result, the team is currently looking for a new space that would be better suited to social pediatrics services, as well as funding for this purpose.

But with the real estate market on the rise, they say, it is currently impossible for the centre to invest in space without cutting professional resources dedicated to clinical services.

Space lacking, says director

“Our workers and doctors have the time and desire to take care of more toddlers, but the space to accommodate them is not adequate,” says Mylène Du Bois, executive-director of the centre. “As a result, the children are waiting impatiently for their turn, which, when the time comes, will give them access to a better future.”

“The need to expand our premises in order to be able to adequately meet the needs of the children is one of our most pressing issues,” adds Me Jean Marius Mottet, president of the centre’s board of directors. “Access to an adapted space would allow us to double the number of interventions on a weekly basis and thus ensure that we fully realize our mission.”

Chomedey a critical sector

According to the centre, Chomedey, the third most vulnerable neighbourhood in Quebec, is currently in an emergency situation. They say the Centre De Pédiatrie Sociale Laval would need to take action immediately in order to avoid potentially tragic incidents within families.

Unfortunately, the news of the last few months shows how much children are affected. As Régine Laurent, president of the Special Commission on the Rights of the Child and the Protection of Youth, said in a report released earlier this year: “We can no longer accept, in 2021, in a society that has the means to do so, that children do not have their most basic needs met.”

Many ways to support

The Centre De Pédiatrie Sociale Laval is asking the Laval community to help raise $50,000 to continue to provide clinical services to vulnerable children in Laval. Donations can be made online at cpslaval.org, or at street corners in the downtown area and at various partner businesses on Saturday Dec. 11.

“More than a third of our funding comes from private donors and 90 per cent of the donations collected go directly to the children through much needed services: social workers, psychoeducators, speech therapists, music therapists, etc. Together, let’s form a caring community that takes care of its children,” Du Bois says.

Here for Laval’s children

The centre de Pédiatrie Sociale Laval is a non-profit organization that provides activities and care to children in the community. The centre contributes to the overall development of children and adolescents with developmental, social or health problems in disadvantaged areas.

The centre also promotes the interests and rights of children and their families. Its mandate is to offer interdisciplinary health services to a vulnerable clientele that is at odds with the current service network, in a living environment integrated into the community.

Did Climate Change Cause Noah’s Ark?

Robert Vairo
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Did Climate Change Cause Noah’s Ark?

I don’t want to get into a climate change debate, but one thing is for sure. Climate change is happening and it can not be reversed by humankind. It’s just the way it is and has been since the Big Bang, some 14 billion years ago. It’s been “expanding, cooling and evolving” ever since. Can it be slowed? According to most, yes it can. But stopped or reversed, no. Our earth has been fluctuating from ‘super green house to an ice house’ many times since life began. Some semblance of records, we are told, began only in the 19th century. That’s not very long ago. In fact, it’s a grain of sand considering the period we stopped climbing trees and eventually began to walk upright three to six million years ago. So, what did really happen?

Do you believe in Noah’s Ark? The Bible says he did build it, but that’s not enough to convince everyone. The fact is, evidence indicates massive floods in then called Mesopotamia, today known as Iraq, were prevalent, with heavy and continuous periods of rain flooding the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Egyptian archeologists among others, have found evidence of fossiliferous “flood deposits”, in Iraq.

According to The National Center for Science Education, over hundreds of thousands and millions of years have resulted in “changing configuration of continents and oceans, changes in the Sun’s intensity, variations in the orbit of Earth, and volcanic eruptions.” This is climate change.

A Saskatchewan farmer once told me overlooking his field of golden wheat, “It’s hard to imagine all this was underwater long ago. Yup, that’s Mother Nature”. Today it’s called climate change.

Which brings us to the BC ‘flood of the century’. We now say, and especially those directly impacted “we’ve never seen anything like this”. Of course not. It doesn’t mean it never happened. It did. So, one has to wonder why politicians did not heed the warning signs. Yes, there were warning signs. This could have been avoided. In the 1920’s one huge B.C. Lake called Sumas, was actually drained and the water that naturally flowed into it was stopped, diked, and voilà, there was suddenly one very fertile prairie where just about anything and everything could grow. It was hailed as a great engineering feat.

But this has to be underlined. As early as three years ago, 2018, a B.C. historian had a warning. Chad Reimer wrote a book, Before We Lost the Lake: A Natural and Human History of Sumas Valley. Author Reimer warns of the evidence of flooding every 45 to 100 years that “should not lull us in a false sense of security. This complacency has been unfounded”. Reimer was spot on! Oh yes, politicians from every level had been commissioning reports and studies, but let’s face it, spending taxpayers’ money on solidifying infrastructure does not attract votes. And today, Canada is paying for it. Yes Canada, not just BC, because we were literally cut off from the Port of Vancouver for a week. Yes, the folks in BC had to ration gasoline, because the Alberta pipelines of oil and gas were shut, but a lot leaves and arrives from the west coast that serves all of Canada, and parts of the U.S. And with roads and rail snapped like uncooked spaghetti, the gateway of goods from around the world stopped. I’m referring to the Port of Vancouver which handles everything from “clothes and candy, to electronics, grain and produce, canola oil, chemicals, fuels, lumber products, machinery, and automobiles.”

In fact, the Vancouver Port handles $1 of every $3 of Canada’s trade in goods outside of North America. It has 120,000 employees, compared to the much smaller 19,000 at the Port of Montréal. This life-line is a federal jurisdiction, so the onus is clearly on Ottawa to stop the focus on carbon taxes and more on floods. Implement measures with immediate results, to assure this destruction does not happen again in Newfoundland Labrador, and on the ‘wet coast’.

Notes: Omicron and other variants will occur as long as the other half of the world is not vaccinated.

In Saskatchewan, if you own an EV, there is now a $150.00 yearly tax on your car because owners don’t pay the 15 cents per liter gasoline tax. Fair is fair.

Shamefully, no one in the Trudeau cabinet condemned self-proclaimed environment king David Suzuki for suggesting domestic terrorism, pipelines will be blown up if more is not done on climate change.

Joe Biden is importing 844,000 barrels of oil a day, from Russia. He killed the Canadian XL Keystone pipeline, (no objection from our P.M.) which would have delivered the same amount of Canadian oil to the U.S.

After stopping our oil exports, Biden’s EV tax credits to Americans could kill Ontario’s auto industry. Thanks so much, smiling Joe.

Comedian Rick Gervais: “I hope the next generation cancels the ‘cancel culture’ generation.”

That’s what I’m Thinking.

Robert Vairo

robert@newsfirst.ca

Canada Post workers on unpaid leave, because of Covid vax non-compliance

Martin C. Barry
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Canada Post workers on unpaid leave, because of Covid vax non-compliance

During leave without pay, anxieties increase within families, says CUPW’s Alain Robitaille

The labour union representing Canada Post workers is contesting the crown corporation’s temporary suspension without pay of employees who are not complying with the federal government’s order that they become fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

Covid vax mandatory

On Oct. 6, the Trudeau Liberals announced their government’s plan to require COVID-19 vaccination across the federal public service and federally regulated transportation sectors. Under the new policy, federal public servants in the core public administration, including members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, were required to confirm their vaccination status by Oct. 29.

Those who were unwilling to disclose their vaccination status or to be fully vaccinated were to be placed on administrative leave without pay as early as Nov. 15. Crown corporations such as Canada Post and separate agencies were asked to implement vaccine policies mirroring the requirements announced for the rest of the public service.

Leave without pay

According to Alain Robitaille, president of the greater Montreal local of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), the deadline for postal employees to comply with Ottawa’s order was midnight Nov. 26, failing which they would be placed on leave without pay until further notice.

“The postal union is not against Covid vaccination,” he said. “We are aware that it is the best solution possible for the population in general. We know that it is a good thing and we feel it is important to say so. However, what we are contesting to an arbitrator is that we feel there are alternatives for those who don’t want to be vaccinated which are also valid – including frequent screening.”

Many non-compliance reasons

Although the anti-vax movement has perhaps created in certain people’s minds a stereotypical image of those who oppose mandatory Covid vaccination, Robitaille said there are many reasons why some CUPW members are reluctant to or don’t want to comply, including concerns over individual rights, religious convictions and health issues.

Alain Robitaille, president of the CUPW’s local for the greater Montreal region, says Ottawa’s ‘leave without pay’ order for the Covid-unvaccinated is “yet another blow” some of the union members have to deal with just as the Christmas season is starting. (Photo: Courtesy Radio-Canada)

“A certain number of members of the postal workers’ union have all sorts of concerns about the vaccines, both founded and unfounded,” he said in an interview with Newsfirst Multimedia. “I am sure that a certain number of those concerns are unfounded. However, that being said their fears are very real.”

In all, the CUPW’s Montreal region local (which takes in Montreal Island, the South Shore, Laval and the North Shore) has around 6,000 members, around 600 of those being from Laval.

Workers feeling the strain

Robitaille said that 10 per cent of the membership have expressed concerns about the government’s order to become fully vaccinated, corresponding roughly to a trend seen in the rest of the population. He said the government’s decision to enforce the vaccination requirement has greatly impacted the postal workers and is weighing heavily on some of them.

“During leave without pay, debts accumulate, anxieties increase within families, damage is done,” he said, noting that the postal service has been one of the few sectors of the country’s economy that continued to operate without stopping since the start of the pandemic early last year.

‘Hard on families’

“We’ve been on the job since the beginning. It’s been hard on families, on human resources. And now this latest development will be yet another blow they’ll have to deal with just as the Christmas season is starting.”

On Nov. 25, the national CUPW announced that a “cease and desist” order the union had sought in court against Canada Post’s vaccination position wasn’t granted.

10 per cent of the membership have expressed concerns about the government’s order to become fully vaccinated

The arbitrator did, however, order a hearing on the merit of CUPW’s case, allowing the union to present its arguments within a shorter period than would ordinarily be the case.

“CUPW is disappointed by the result, but we still feel we have a good case on the merit,” said Carl Girouard, the CUPW’s national grievance officer.

Laval News Volume 29-42

Laval News Staff
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Laval News Volume 29-42

The current issue of the Laval News volume 29-42 published December 1st, 2021.
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, December 1st, 2021 issue.

Surveillance images show suspect in Laval daycare arson

Martin C. Barry
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Surveillance images show suspect in Laval daycare arson

The Laval Police are asking for the public’s help to identify a suspect wanted in conjunction with an arson attack at the Les Soleils du monde daycare centre for children in Laval’s Sainte-Dorothée neighbourhood.

Surveillance footage from Saturday Nov. 13 at 6:54 p.m. showed a suspect approaching the daycare and placing what looked like an incendiary item on the window.

According to police, the suspect quickly left the scene in the direction of a wooded area, between the CPE and Parc-école Pierre-Laporte.

The suspect is a Caucasian male. He was wearing a gray tuque, a gray hoodie under a dark blue coat and black sneakers with orange laces. The Laval Police noted that this was the third criminal incident to take place at this address recently. As well, there were fires in August and in October.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the arson incident is asked to call the LPD’s Info-Line at 450 662 INFO (4636) or 911. The file number is LVL 211109-023.

16-year-old Laval girl missing, and she could be in Montreal

The Laval Police are asking for the public’s help to find 16-year-old Sabrine Ghammouri, who has been reported missing for more than two weeks.

The LPD says Ghammouri made “worrying remarks about her safety” prior to going missing.

She is 5’4” (1.65 metres) tall, has brown eyes, black and red hair, speaks French and wears several earrings in her ears.

She left her home on Oct. 31 and didn’t return, according to the LPD, and may be in Montreal. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is urged to contact the LPD through its Info-Line at 450-662-INFO (4636) or at 911. The file number is LVL file 211031-073.

Laval Police discredit former officer’s crime analysis comments

The Laval Police Department issued a statement last week discrediting comments made by a former LPD officer about a recent murder in Montreal, while also disassociating the force from the ex-LPD policeman at the same time.

Former LPD officer Daniel Cléroux had made the comments on a Montreal TV station’s morning program, when he maintained that a 16-year-old youth who was shot to death in an incident in Montreal’s Saint-Michel district didn’t fit the profile of a gang member because of his race which was white.

Following the comments, a number of users of social media accused Cléroux of racism, saying he was stereotyping the situation. A spokesperson for the LPD said the force wished to distance itself from its former employee.

“In no way does the SPL advocate the comments made by Mr. Cléroux,” the LPD said in a statement to the Montreal Francophone daily Le Devoir, adding that the comments “don’t represent our values or our thinking.” According to the LPD, Daniel Cléroux retired from their ranks around 15 years ago to become a police and crime analyst, and “he no longer has anything to do with us.”

Shield of Athena thanks Newsfirst for raising awareness of domestic abuse

Martin C. Barry
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Shield of Athena thanks Newsfirst for raising awareness of domestic abuse

In Quebec, one woman a month has been killed since the start of Covid pandemic

Newsfirst Multimedia co-publisher George Guzmas was one of 20 Montreal-area news media influencers who were presented with certificates of appreciation last week by officials from Shield of Athena in recognition of their efforts to raise awareness of domestic violence during the Covid pandemic.

Violence soared

As Shield of Athena executive-director Melpa Kamateros explained during an interview prior to the Victims and Survivors of Crime Week event held at Rotisserie Panama in Park Extension on Nov. 18, domestic violence against women increased in Quebec in the more than 18 months since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Left, Shield of Athena board president Chris Ann Nakis speaks during the group’s event to thank Montreal-area media at Rotisserie Panama in Park Extension on Nov. 18. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

Underlining the reality, Shield of Athena compiled a list of the names of 24 women and girls who were killed since May 2020, two of whom were from Laval and seven from Montreal – including one in Park Extension.

Traumatic stories

“It’s one woman a month who has been killed,” said Kamateros. “With this terrible situation of Covid, it’s just reinforced everything and there have been many more murders.”

In a press release, Shield of Athena says, “Many victims have had traumatic experiences but it is only in the telling of their stories that we can raise awareness and prevention.”

According to the organization, during this period of global pandemic, access to services and support for many victims has become very difficult. And in cases of violence against women, there has been an upsurge, particularly during this period when victims have been more isolated and vulnerable.

Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis delivered a message from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is the Member of Parliament of Papineau. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

Yet another statistic…

Shield of Athena acknowledges the role that various media in Montreal have played during the pandemic to raise awareness of domestic violence “and thanks them for their constant support to victims, especially during the pandemic,” they said. “Without their assistance, many could have died and become yet another statistic.”

Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis, whose riding in Laval is home to a large number of the Montreal region’s Greeks, delivered a message sent by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who is the Member of Parliament for Papineau.

Message from PM Trudeau

“He wanted to be here himself, because this is his riding,” she said. “And he’s also a great friend of Shield of Athena and the work they’ve been doing for many years. Unfortunately, he’s in the United States right now and he was unable to be here himself. And so, his office reached out to me and asked if I would be able to deliver his message on his behalf.”

Koutrakis praised Shield of Athena, especially for its diversity. “They’ve hired front-line workers to be there for the women and children who flee violence,” she said, noting that the group has also gone to great lengths to make its services available in a wide range of languages.

“I’m really happy with the work that they’ve been doing. For our government to be able to partner with organizations such as Shield of Athena which take a leadership role means a lot not only to the Hellenic community, but also to women across all communities.”

‘A front-line role’

In his message, Prime Minister Trudeau said he felt honoured to be able to formally recognize the crucial role played by mainstream and ethnic media who supported Shield of Athena’s campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence against women during the pandemic.

“Shield of Athena is the perfect example of an organization playing a front-line role to help women, children and the communities to break the cycle of psychological, emotional, verbal and economic violence,” Trudeau said. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the ethnic media for their continued support and work to address violence against women, especially during the pandemic.

From the left, Shield of Athena board president Chris Ann Nakis, executive-director Melpa Kamateros, Vimy Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis and board member Eramelinda Boquer. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

‘Ending gender-based violence’

“During Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, let us reaffirm our commitment to ending gender-based violence here in Canada and around the world,” he added. “I invite Canadians to consider what we can all do through our words and actions to end gender-based violence and build a better future world.” Québec solidaire MNA for Laurier-Dorion Andrés Fontecilla underscored the fact that one of the femicides was in Park Extension.

On July 19 this year, Rajunder Prabheed Kaur, age 32, was murdered by her partner, leaving behind two orphaned children. “These women are killed because they are women,” he said, noting that media today are finally acknowledging this truth.

Long-awaited extension of Autoroute 19 sees light of day

Renata Isopo
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Long-awaited extension of Autoroute 19 sees light of day

Northward expansion expected to revitalize economy of Laval and North Shore region

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti, on behalf of federal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities Domenic Leblanc, and Québec Transport Minister and Minister responsible for l’Estrie François Bonnardel, were joined by Laval Mayor Stéphane Boyer, at a November 19, 2021 press conference held in Laval to announce the extension of Autoroute 19 between Laval and Bois-des-Filion.

Dignitaries from all three levels of government, including ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of the National Assembly and mayors of municipalities directly or indirectly impacted by the much-awaited and highly-desired highway project were present in large numbers to mark this important historical moment heralding the addition of 10-km to Autoroute 19, also known as Autoroute Papineau, which crosses the Rivière des Prairies the Papineau-Leblanc Bridge connecting Montréal’s Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough to Duvernay in Laval.

After numerous years on hold, the project, begun in Eastern Laval, will relieve congestion between Montréal and Bois-des-Filion by widening Route 335 to three lanes, a continuation of A-19 from Autoroute 440 to the Athanase-David Bridge, spanning Rivière des Mille Îles. Currently, nearly 34,000-55,000 vehicles use the Athanase-David Bridge daily.

The lands reserved for the project were expropriated in 1973 in anticipation of a future extension of A-19. That extension is now a virtual reality.

The first phase will stretch the 19 between Laval and Bois-des-Filion. This initial stage covering the construction of the Saint-Saëns interchange in Laval, is scheduled to start immediately and run until 2023. Work on other segments of the extended highway will follow.

Québec and Ottawa funding

The federal government pledged $260.4 million for the work in 2019, based on $520.9 million in eligible project costs. The Government of Quebec has kicked in with $360 million. The entire project is estimated at $500-$600 million. The additions propose a new bridge east of the Athanase-David link, as well as new interchanges at Dagenais, des Laurentides, Mille Îles, and Adolphe-Chapleau.

The re-development of Autoroute 640 interchange, a 690-space incentive parking lot, and a terminus in the northeast quadrant of expressways 640 and 19 are also on the roster. Route 335 will be widened to three lanes in each direction, lanes for buses, electric vehicles and carpooling over the 10 kms between St. Martin Blvd. and Industriel in Bois-des-Filion. The project also provides for noise barriers, the redevelopment and extension of the multi-purpose path for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as refurbished roads between St. Martin Blvd. East and Autoroute 440.

With palpable enthusiasm reigning in the conference venue, David Lametti stated that he had never seen so many journalists and guests at a press conference, apparently well-impressed with the full house at the event. Amongst the many people present, he thanked Quebec Transport Minister Bonnardel, federal MPs Angelo Iacono (Alfred-Pellan) and Yves Robillard (Marc-Aurèle-Fortin), and various North Shore mayors.

Lametti stated that he’s “proud of this first phase in the construction of efficient and safe roads and in contributing to the economy, and community life.” An apparent fan of the world’s most beautiful game, the minister pointed to soccer activities as an important part of community life that will be positively affected by the enhanced transport services the completed highway project will provide for residents of the region. “The outcome,” he concluded, “will be good jobs and business opportunities.”

Crucial role for Québec

Québec minister Bonnardel described the province’s crucial role in this massive project. “It is with great pleasure that I confirm the extension (widening) of Highway 19 between Laval and Bois-des-Filion,” he said. “Finally, we begin the work. It’s been 30-40 years in the making. This first step testifies to our government’s commitment to improve mobility in the suburbs of the metropolitan region, and to contribute to the region’s economic recovery. I had told my team that we wouldn’t hold a press conference until we had a site where you’re going to see tractors and workers about to start the work.”

In Laval, Auteuil will have a street reconstructed over a stretch of approximately 1.2 Km that will lead to the widening and reconstruction of the roadway structure, the addition of closed drainage and bicycle paths to be completed by 2023. It will also permit the construction of a section of the 19 northbound for 1.45 km, a multi-use path, west links for Saint-Saens East.

The bill for the Papineau Highway is $600 million. As for the other phases, 2022 will tell, since a timeline will be established to complete the intended project, according to Bonnardel.

Without exception, Minister Bonnardel emphasized the carbon neutrality of the entire project. This first segment will begin 2021 and last until 2023. ”There will also be a bus terminus (19 and 640), a bicycle lane and a sidewalk for pedestrians, and 1.2 kilometers of new street lights. This Phase 1 of the construction will cost $60 million which will be completed in 2023.” Minister Bonnardel thanked and gave credit to past ministers and politicians who were actively involved in moving this dossier forward.

Laval, others, on board

Recently-elected Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer, concurred with the Ministers, saying he was clearly thrilled that the project is finally on its way. “It’s been talked about for at least 40 years,” he stated, joking that “I probably wasn’t born yet (when it was first conceived). “Transport and congestion are a necessity that must be resolved and the importance of public transit in carrying out the work (is evident). We are no longer in the days of only building highways. You have to consider public transit and safety. I’m delighted that we are now thinking about pedestrians and cyclists when we build highways.”

In an earlier press conference, federal MP Mario Laframboise added his view of the announced project: “We have listened to the people and we are delivering the goods. Highway 19 is moving ahead, finally. Our government is proud to carry out a project that will support economic vitality, improve travel, reduce road congestion and thus give a better quality of life to the citizens of my region.”

Other voices have also welcomed the good news of this highway project, among them Christopher Skeete, Member of the National Assembly for Sainte-Rose: “Today’s announcement marks the start of a new chapter related to mobility in Laval and surroundings. It’s with great pride that welcome the unfolding of this project. The reconfiguration of the Saint-Saens interchange will improve the daily lives of people who use this very busy sector.”

In order to execute the work, partial or complete, there will be closures in the evening on Route 335, Saint-Saens Street East, and Perron Avenue in the upcoming weeks. The Quebec Ministry of Transport will advise in advance. Detour signposts, including a temporary intersection which will be built at the Route 335 intersection and Avenue des Perron.

This project was the subject of a commitment by the Government of Canada for a contribution of $260 million through the New Building Canada Fund, Territorial Infrastructure Component – National and Regional Projects.

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