The Laval Police Department is investigating fires that destroyed pricey cars last week in Chomedey and Sainte-Dorothée.
The first incident, around 11:30 pm, was on Devonshire St. in Chomedey.
A witness contacted 9-1-1 to report hearing an explosion, after which the vehicle, parked on the street, was consumed in flames.
A few hours later, another expensive car parked on des Roseaux St. in Sainte-Dorothée was also destroyed by fire.
Again, a witness called 9-1-1 after hearing an explosion followed by intense fire. Although the LPD do not believe the two incidents are related, they have opened an investigation all the same.
Car chase with stolen vehicle from Laval ends in Montreal
Two people driving a stolen vehicle led the officers of the Service de police de Laval (SPL) in a chase that finally ended in the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, in Montreal, on Sunday evening.
The theft of the Subaru brand vehicle, in the Saint-Vincentde-Paul sector, was reported to the police a few hours earlier.
He had been seen in the neighborhood originally, but the driver had greatly accelerated and was difficult to catch up, according to Lieutenant Jean-François Gignac, of the SPL.
It was finally at the intersection of Boulevard Henri-Bourassa and Rue Saint-Hubert that the vehicle was abandoned, in very poor condition, after it lost control.
The two suspects fled, and after police raided the area, one of them, a man in his twenties, was found and arrested. The investigation is still ongoing to find the other fugitive.
Retired singer is being billed as opposition party’s ‘star’ candidate
For decades now, Quebec’s television viewers and music-buying public have purchased her records and watched her on reality TV.
However, voters in Laval’s Vimont district will decide in November whether Jacynthe Millette-Bilodeau – better known professionally simply as Jacynthe – also scores a Top 10 with them when they go to the polls during the city’s municipal elections.
The Action Laval party announced last week that Jacynthe Millette-Bilodeau would be the party’s “star” candidate in the Nov. 7 vote.
Galati connection
Incumbent Action Laval city councillor for St-Vincent-de-Paul Paolo Galati, who built a career as a showbiz agent prior to entering politics, is credited for having used his connections to recruit her as a city council candidate for the party.
The 41-year-old native of Quebec City has recorded five albums since 1996, when she launched her career while still in her teens. She had two Top 10 hits with Seize the Day and Look Who’s Crying Now, a series of No. 1 hits on Quebec radio stations, and a significant base of fans in Japan.
Works as an ESL teacher
In 2004, she was part of the cast of the French-language reality TV series La Vie Rurale, which was produced by Quebec vocalist and businesswoman Anne-Marie Losique. In more recent years, she’s been a teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL) atÉcole du Bois-Joli in Duvernay/Laval.
‘During my career as an entertainer, I always tried to establish a close connection with people,’ says 41-year-old entertainer and aspiring politician
“During my career as an entertainer, I always tried to establish a close connection with people and to give back by participating in telethons while working with a number of foundations,” she said during a press conference. “Now, as a teacher and as a mom, I continue to be involved as a parent and a volunteer.”
But popcorn and snacks won’t be sold in Laval or Montreal until June 7
Following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown which kept most movie theatres in the province closed since last year, Vincenzo Guzzo, President and CEO of Cinémas Guzzo, has announced the reopening of all Cinémas Guzzo theatres, in accordance with provincial health and safety guidelines.
The owner of the largest independent chain of movie theatres in Quebec, and a “Dragon” on CBC Television’s entrepreneurially-focused show Dragons’s Den, says moviegoers will finally be able to enjoy the complete experience Cinémas Guzzo offers its guests in all nine of its locations throughout the province.
End of confinement
Mega-Plex Marché Central 18 (IMAX,) Mega-Plex Taschereau 18 (IMAX,) Mega-Plex Lacordaire 16, Mega-Plex Pont-Viau 16 (IMAX,) Mega-Plex Lacordaire 16, Mega-Plex Terrebonne 14 (IMAX,) Mega-Plex Jacques-Cartier 15, Mega-Plex Deux Montagnes 14 (IMAX,) and Cinéma Guzzo des Sources (IMAX) will once again greet movie goers with feature films.
Additionally, according to Guzzo, later this summer the ever-popular movie theatre chain’s new state-of-the-art Mega-Plex Saint-Jean 12 will be inaugurated on Montreal’s South Shore.
“I’m confident people will return to cinemas as they are tired of being confined mainly to their homes and they crave that special moviegoing experience,” Guzzo said in a statement. “There is simply nothing like seeing a good movie on a big screen.
Long-awaited reopening
“We’ve been closed since late September of last year and from the overwhelming feedback we’ve received, it’s clear that our loyal customers are anxiously awaiting our reopening and it will be an honour to welcome them back,” he added.
“I’m also excited to announce that our tenth theatre will soon open in the community of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and it will feature Giulietta Pizzeria,” Guzzo said.
Following official health and safety measures, each Cinémas Guzzo auditorium will be allowed a maximum of two hundred and fifty guests, while maintaining the required physical distancing. Furthermore, government-approved air filtration systems and disinfection protocols will be in place.
Some restrictions ‘til June 7
Guzzo wasn’t waiting for Laval or Montreal to become Orange pandemic zones to reopen his theatres. Although the government decreed a general relaxation of the curfew beginning on May 28, Laval and Montreal still remain under some Red zone restrictions, such as the sale of popcorn and other snacks in theatres, until June 7.
“I am a little disappointed because I was hoping to reopen my food counters at the same time as my theatres, beginning on May 28,” he told a Montreal daily last week. “But I understand the situation and I can live with it.”
‘I’m confident people will return to cinemas as they are tired of being confined,’ says chain owner Vince Guzzo
However, Montreal’s South Shore, as well as the Laurentian and Lanaudière regions, entered Orange zone status beginning on May 31, meaning that Cinémas Guzzo was able to reopen the snack concessions at its theatres there.
Waited until now
Since February, only theatres in Orange and Yellow zones have had the right to sell snacks to customers. It was for that reason that Cinémas Guzzo had decided in February not to reopen its theatres, since the loss of revenue from the food concessions made reopening before then impractical.
Vince Guzzo is widely regarded as a seasoned entrepreneur, with a diverse portfolio of businesses that includes his multi-theatre chain, restaurants, a construction company, an e-commerce gourmet food platform, and a personal fashion brand called “Mr. Sunshine.”
A true ‘Dragon’
In addition to these business successes, in 2007 he and his wife, Maria, established the Guzzo Foundation to centralize their philanthropic endeavours, through which they have raised millions of dollars to support medical research aimed at the prevention of cancer and the support of mental health initiatives.
As well, his role as a “Dragon” on CBC’s wildly popular and internationally syndicated Dragons’s Den program has provided Vince Guzzo with a platform to share his personal insights on entrepreneurialism, while giving entrepreneurial guidance to people around the world.
From June 1 to September 6, whenever Environment Canada issues a smog warning for the Laval region, the Société de transport de Laval (STL) will reduce its fare to $1 the following day throughout its regular bus and shared taxi network.
The STL hopes that this initiative—which is unique in Canada—will encourage public transit use in Laval and reduce the number of cars on the road, which are responsible for a large part of atmospheric pollution during the summer.
“Once again this year, we are proud to launch our Smog Alert program. Public transit plays a crucial role in fighting climate change, and this initiative reflects our commitment to improving air quality,” explains STL Board President Éric Morasse.
The special $1 fare in effect the day following a smog event is equivalent to a reduction of almost 70% off the regular single fare.
Watch for smog alerts!
When there is a smog alert, the STL will issue a special bulletin on its website, on its newsletter, social media and on variable message signs operated by the ministère des Transports (MTQ) along the region’s main highways, in addition to providing announcements to media outlets.
STL providing accessible transportation to disabled women fleeing domestic violence
To mark Quebec Week for Disabled Persons, the Association Lavalloise du Transport Adapté (ALTA) and Société de transport de Laval (STL) are proud to announce a new initiative making it possible for disabled women who are victims of domestic violence to use accessible transit services free of charge, with no registration required.
The project began in spring 2019 with the creation of a task force made up of women working for the following organizations: Table de concertation de Laval en condition féminine (TCLCF), Société de Transport de Laval (STL), Regroupement des Organismes pour la Promotion des Personnes Handicapées de Laval (ROPPHL), Lina’s Home, Maison le Prélude, Maison l’Esther, and the Association Lavalloise pour le Transport Adapté (ALTA). Evidence shows that 39% of women with functional limitations are likely to experience spousal violence, but they are underrepresented in shelters.1
“Domestic violence against disabled women is a serious issue, and given that transportation to shelters has been identified as a barrier, I am very proud that the STL is part of the solution. The initiative provides women and children fleeing domestic violence with an option that is free of charge, quick and easy to use,” says Éric Morasse, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Société de transport de Laval.
“We are proud to work with the City of Laval and support the project as part of the sectoral development agreement to promote gender equality in the region. The Secrétariat à la condition féminine has provided close to $100,000 in funding over two years to ensure the successful implementation of the project. This is a meaningful initiative developed jointly with a number of regional partners. The new project will enable women with disabilities to get out faster of abusive relationships and find their way to a shelter. Removing barriers for women who need to go seek help is a step in the right direction,” says Isabelle Charest, Minister for Education and Minister responsible for the Status of Women.
“The new approach is a community-driven solution to the pressing issue of domestic violence against women with disabilities. The City of Laval is pleased to be the launchpad for this initiative, which is the first of its kind in the province. Quebec’s disability awareness week is the perfect opportunity to spread awareness of the many barriers to inclusion and of the serious challenges disabled people are facing in their daily lives, even when they find themselves in abusive situations,” says Stéphane Boyer, Deputy Mayor.
The service is easy to use. Women can call any of the three shelters in Laval and the shelter then contacts the STL to book a ride without disclosing the victim’s name. Rides can be booked for the same day with a minimum of two hours’ notice. The drivers, who have experience working with people with functional limitations, are sensitive to the issue of domestic violence and will respect the women’s privacy.
An awareness campaign led by ALTA
In addition to the initiative, ALTA is distributing awareness materials to better support at-risk women with functional limitations who are fleeing abusive relationships.
“It is critical that we address the issue of domestic violence against disabled women. We want to circulate the awareness campaign logo and posters to give a voice to women with disabilities. More information and details will soon be available on the project website. We are proud to continue working on this initiative and other projects over the coming months”, says Mara Audet-Leblanc, Chief Executive Officer of ALTA.
The website can be accessed at www.fshlaval.ca as of June 15.
Liliya Boyadjieva hopes to make breakthroughs in health technology
A young Laval woman with aspirations to advance in the traditionally male-dominated domain of electrical engineering is one of five female university undergraduates from across Canada who’ve been chosen to receive scholarships from the Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation.
An ÉTS student
Liliya Boyadjieva, who currently is attending École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) in Montreal, is a second-year electrical engineering student. She and the others were selected as 2021 CEMF Undergraduate Women in Engineering Scholarship winners, the CEMF says.
They were chosen as the strongest regional ambassadors in their profession, based on their leadership, volunteerism and community involvement. Each award is valued at $5,000 and comes with extensive networking and promotional opportunities for the recipients.
Women in engineering
The scholarships are awarded annually to the most promising women in an accredited undergraduate engineering program in Canada. Since 1990, the CEMF has been promoting engineering as a career choice for young Canadian women through an extensive award and networking program.
While the level of competition is always outstanding, with many strong contenders among the women in engineering, the CEMF says the five women chosen this year stood out as the very best. All of the recipients are actively involved in their communities, volunteer many hours to helping others and are strong role models for the engineering profession.
Inspired by robotics
Liliya, 23, lives in Laval’s Sainte-Dorothée district. She went to high school at École internationale de Laval in Chomedey.
In an interview with the Laval News, she explained how she became interested enough in electrical engineering to pursue a career in the domain. “It was a long road,” she said. “When I was in high school, I had the opportunity to participate in robotics competitions and I participated one year. And that sparked an interest for me in robotics.
“When I went into CEGEP at Collège Bois-de-Boulogne, they had a team in competition there. And it was there that I really just fell in love with creating things with my hands, the process of designing something from scratch. That’s really when I started to love engineering.”
Interested in health technology
Currently studying at ÉTS for a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, she hopes eventually to apply her learning and skills towards the development of health and medical technology, a field where robotics are increasingly being used in areas such as surgery.
She was inspired to pursue electrical engineering as a career after taking part in robotics competitions
“I think there’s a lot of work to be done in that area, and not a lot of people going into it,” she continued, noting that part of her current studies include health technology. While she had previously received awards for her entries in robotics competitions, she said the CEMF scholarship “is the biggest honour I’ve been given so far. It is indeed a great honour for me.”
Worthy award winners
“It is heartening to see so many qualified and capable applicants,” said Julie Lassonde, the CEMF’s president.
“Each of these young women are worthy award winners and we look forward to watching them continue to help connect young Canadians, through their passionate volunteerism, with engineering and its vast possibilities as a viable career choice for other young ladies.
“We’re delighted to see their infectious enthusiasm for engineering, and are thrilled to be supporting them in their future endeavours.”
Region’s four MPs say they are making life more affordable for parents
The Laval region’s four federal Members of Parliament say families have been hit hard by the pandemic and many have had to choose between paying for groceries, rent or their electricity bill.
They note that since the beginning of the pandemic, the federal government has been there for families, notably through the temporary increase of the Canada Child Benefit (CCB).
In the Fall 2020 Economic Statement, according to the four MPs, the government reiterated its commitment to low- and middle-income Canadian families with a supplement to the Canada Child Tax Benefit of up to $1,200 per child under the age of six. Families who are eligible to receive the CCB in January, April, July or October 2021, and whose net income is $120,000 or less, will receive a payment for each child under six.
Those most in need
“Since 2015, the Canada Child Benefit has been making a difference for Laval families by providing more support to those who need it most,” say the four MPs from Laval (Annie Koutrakis [Vimy], Fayçal El Khoury [Laval-Les Îles], Angelo Iacono [Alfred-Pellan], and Yves Robillard [Marc-Aurèle-Fortin].
“With the Early Childhood Supplement, our federal government continues to be there for families with children under the age of six,” they say. “The first payments will be issued on May 28, 2021 and will include January and April payments for those who qualify. The other payments will be made on July 30 and October 29, 2021.”
Since its implementation, the CCB has supported more than 80,000 Laval children and has helped lift nearly 435,000 children out of poverty across the country.
Details from Prime Minister
Last week in Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provided details about the government’s additional COVID-19 pandemic-relief for families.
Under terms of the program, families with a net income of $120,000 or less will receive up to four tax-free payments of $300. Families with a net income above $120,000 will receive up to four tax-free payments of $150, for a total benefit of up to $600.
To ensure that more money goes to the families that need it the most, families with net incomes that are too high to be entitled to the CCB will not receive these additional payments.
Helping parents, says Trudeau
The first and second payments were issued last week, with subsequent payments on July 30 and October 29, 2021. The government says the measure will benefit approximately 1.6 million Canadian families and approximately 2.1 million children under the age of six.
“This immediate investment in our children will help hard-working parents provide for their families by putting more money directly in their pockets. We will continue to make life more affordable for Canadian families, grow the middle class, and build a better country for everyone,” Trudeau said.
“Having raised my children as a working mother, I know the challenges that parents face when balancing the well-being of their children with economic necessity,” added Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue. “The Government of Canada is committed to supporting families with young children as we work together towards recovery and a return to a new normal for all Canadians.”
Tax returns must be filed
Families that already receive the CCB will not need to take any action to receive the payments. However, families do need to file their 2019 and 2020 tax returns to access them. The payments made last week were for each of the first two quarters – January and April – based on the family net income for 2019.
The July and October payments will be based on the family net income for 2020. This may mean that payment amounts differ for some families midway through the year. Families that have not yet filed for either year could still be entitled to receive the CCB and the CCB young child supplement by filing their income taxes as soon as possible.
Transit agency will be buying only electric beginning in 2025
Despite the reputation battery-electric motor vehicles have acquired for reduced efficiency in cold weather, elected officials gave assurances last week that such problems have been largely overcome and Quebec’s gruelling winters won’t impact the performance of the Société de Transport de Laval’s growing fleet of electric buses.
Over the coming weeks, the STL expects to deploy the first of 10 new 100 per cent electric buses. They are part of a new generation of electric vehicle technology that optimizes battery performance, while allowing the buses to roll 250 kilometres under normal conditions before recharging becomes necessary.
The future of transit
The 10 buses, built by New Flyer Industries of Winnipeg MB, were acquired as part of a group purchase – the largest ever in Quebec, according to the STL – through the Association du transport urbain du Québec (ATUQ) in conjunction with the Société de transport de Montréal (STM).
Like many other public transit agencies, the STL believes that electric vehicles are the future of transportation. As such, the company is investing in electric technologies and stands committed to only purchasing electric buses beginning in 2025.
In 2019, the STL began testing Quebec’s first slow-charge electric bus, which has a 250 km range, taking one step further toward the goal of electrifying the entire fleet.
Transmissionless power
The New Flyer 40-foot Xcelsior electric buses are powered by direct-drive (no transmission), seat 32 passengers and are equipped with Thermo King rear-mounted air-conditioning units. Four years from now, the STL plans to open a new garage built especially for its fleet of all-electric buses.
According to the STL, the benefits of electrification include: lower energy costs per kilometre, with an estimated reduction of 40 to 50 per cent; lower maintenance costs, with a reduction of 15 to 20 per cent, because the vehicles have no engine, transmission or exhaust; reduced GHG emissions, with a reduction of 70 to 80 tonnes per bus per year; and improved passenger experience thanks to the quiet electric motor.
Step in the right direction
“Laval is the first city in Quebec to actually have this type of electric bus,” Sainte-Rose MNA Christopher Skeete said in an interview with the Laval News during a launch event at the STL’s Cartier intermodal public transit terminal last Friday. “This is a really big deal and good news. I think we’re taking a step in the right direction of electrifying all our transports eventually.”
He noted that the efficiency of electric buses has been growing exponentially over the past decade. “The evolution of technology is such that in 2012 buses like this took seven hours to charge for 100 kilometres of autonomy,” he said. “Now, 13 short years later, we’re at 250 kilometres of autonomy with a three-hour charge. So, the technology is moving really fast.”
Winter heating issue
According to Laval city councillor for Saint-François Éric Morasse, who is the STL’s president, the heating of battery-electric buses during the winter does indeed use up a larger amount of battery energy. But he noted that the new buses come equipped with auxiliary heating systems that will kick in when the temperature drops below minus -5º Celsius.
The new buses are being paid for largely with the assistance of the federal and provincial governments. Ottawa is providing more than $6 million and Quebec is providing nearly $5 million. The STL expects to have replaced all its buses with a 100 per cent electric fleet by 2035.
Makes sense to electrify
“The STL is always very innovative in everything it undertakes, and this marks another first for them,” noted city councillor for Auteuil Jocelyne Frédéric-Gauthier.
“Transportation is very important to the federal government and there are multiple reasons why it makes sense to electrify it, including the environment,” said Alfred-Pellan MP Angelo Iacono.
‘The electric bus allows us to save money, whether in fuel or maintenance costs,’ says Laval’s deputy mayor Stéphane Boyer
“I think this is the future,” added Vimy MP Annie Koutrakis. “Everybody’s concerned about the environment. So, what a great example Laval is setting for other cities in Quebec to follow their example.”
The STL believes repair costs will be significantly lower because electric bus engines aren’t as complex as traditional gas-fuelled motors and require far less maintenance.
Reduced GHG emissions
“In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Laval, the electric bus allows us to save money, whether in fuel or maintenance costs, and to improve customer experience on board,” said Stéphane Boyer, the City of Laval’s deputy mayor and executive-committee vice-president.
According to an online encyclopaedia, at least 37 major cities in the U.S. have begun regularly using electric buses (both battery electric and trolley buses).
In Canada, the adoption of electric buses appears to be concentrated in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. Globally, the Russian city of Moscow currently leads on the European continent with at least 500 electric buses in its public transportation fleet as of October 2020.
(This should not be surprising, since Russia, as a former communist society, always placed greater emphasis in its priorities on public transit rather than on private transportation.)
Beginning in 2022, firefighters in Laval will be trained to provide First Responder services for medical situations involving cardio-respiratory arrests or acute allergic reactions, city officials have announced.
According to the city, all firefighters in Laval will receive the training beginning this fall, and the service will become available in stages in conjunction with Urgences-Santé.
The city says that currently around 1,600 calls are received for this type of priority medical service. They say the early intervention of firefighters will allow lives to be saved, since firefighters typically arrive on the scene of incidents within three to six minutes.
“Just months away from retiring, I can confirm that I will be writing this announcement in the book about our greatest successes,” Mayor Marc Demers said last week while announcing the new development.
(Left to right) Mayor Marc Demers, Laval fire chief Patrick Taillefer, Yvan Gendron, president and interim general manager of Urgences-santé, Sandra Desmeules, executive-committee member responsible for public safety. (Photo credit: Vincent Girard)
“This is the concretization of a commitment that we made to save the lives of Laval residents. It isn’t every day that this can be said.”
“The population of Laval will be able to count on more than 280 firefighters certified as First Responders to intervene in situations involving pre-hospital emergencies,” said city councillor Sandra Desmeules, an executive-committee member responsible for public safety dossiers. “I thank them sincerely for having accepted to take this step forward to improve safety in Laval.”
The role of the PR-1 First Response certified firefighters will be to maintain the stability of victims suffering from cardio-respiratory arrest and anaphylactic shock, until the arrival of paramedics from Urgences-Santé.
“The implementation of this major project changes considerably our ways of intervening, and this transformation took colossal efforts,” said Laval Fire Department chief Patrick Taillefer.
“I would like to salute the contributions of all those involved since 2014 in the work to build a service based on results and being close to people. Everything is now in place so that the First Responder service can be deployed gradually. More lives will be saved, strengthening the primary mission of the LFD.”
Laval becomes the fourth city in Quebec to deploy a First Responder service provided by its firefighters. An agreement between the firefighters and the city was signed at Laval city hall on May 19. The agreement is good for six years, retroactive to 2019.
The National Congress of Italian Canadians, The Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy and the National Federation of Canadian Italian Business Professional Association have been working tirelessly, for close to 40 years, towards an official and formal apology from the Government of Canada with respect to the treatment of Italian Canadians during the Second World War. Together, these three national organizations represent 1.6 million Italian Canadians.
On June 10th, 1940, over 17,000 families of Italian origin were declared enemy aliens and required to report at least once a week to the RCMP or authorized government reporting centers including men, women, and children. This caused irreparable damage and a grave injustice with many being interned in camps across the country. 6000 were arrested and over 600 were imprisoned; some for up to 3 years, without ever being charged. The entire Italian Community was humiliated by the unjust elements of discrimination and harassment.
To this day, descendants of these individuals continue to come forth, for some sort of closure. Acknowledging the historical injustices that those of Italian origin endured in Canada during this dark time in Canadian history, creates a path towards closure and a final chapter to the endless story of these families. The Internment caused irrevocable harm and hardships not only to the families but to whole communities who suffered ongoing discrimination.
On behalf of the many families and the Italian Canadian communities affected and its respective memberships, the National Congress of Italian Canadians, the Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy, and the National Federation of Canadian Italian Business Professional Associations, graciously accept this formal apology by the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Canada and the Government of Canada.
Let us now embark on the task of educating Canadians about these events thereby ensuring that they are never repeated.
Roberto Colavecchio,
président | president
National Congress of Italian-Canadians
Never consulted…
Dear editor,
The residents of the following streets in Chomedey, Korman, Webb and Ridgewood were not consulted on a major project from the Ville de Laval which will reduce the overall quality of life. Under the guise of replacing the decades old sewers and water pipes, which we are in full support since they have been doing it to other streets around us, they had another agenda. The other sneaky project is to increase the width of the sidewalks on both sides of the street BUT eliminate completely one side of parking completely.
This will be a nightmare in the winter since where will the citizens push the snow to, with no parking lane … on to oncoming traffic? Where can you stop to drop off groceries for 5 minutes? This also presents a problem with several handicapped people that require a parking spot in front of their house. This also presents a hazard for pedestrians walking on a sidewalk (full of cracks to trip on) so close to traffic, without the parking lane buffer should someone take a fall or slip. We really believe that the decision from whomever at Ville de Laval was not well thought out in practice. It appears these 3 streets are the guinea pigs for what will eventually happen to all of Laval.
The quality of life will go down as well as the value of properties on the side of no parking. I stress again, we were NEVER consulted on this part of the operation. The outgoing mayor Demers and his team of engineers do not even want to hear us. Our City councillor for Chomedey, Aglaia Revelakis, is desperately trying to fight for us. We are also looking for a lawyer since this made up in the courts.
Emmanuel (Manny) Axais
Chomedey Resident
CRTC’s Chairman should resign
Dear editor,
As the largest independent internet service provider in Quebec, employing more than 450 people and serving over 130,000 clients for 23 years-, EBOX is calling for CRTC ’s Chairman resignation.
In a stunning reversal, CRTC has decided to backtrack on their 2019 decision that was lowering internet rates for Canadians. Evidence was found in a 3-year-long process that highlighted rates being inflated by large providers.
In a multi-year court process following 2019 decision, the Federal court of appeal concluded that the case brought up by large telecom providers were of dubious merit. However regardless of what the court of appeal and supreme court of Canada said, CRTC decided to do a 180-degree stunt and rollback on old tariff essentially selling out Canadians to the big telecoms and throwing competitors under the bus.
The CRTC chair and ex-Telus VP have a clear bias towards large telecom providers’ facilities-based competition. The appearance of a conflict of interest due to pressure from the major providers, the incompetence, as well as the inefficiency in handling this case are simply too great to be ignored.
