The Quebec Ministry of Transport says the Pie IX Bridge linking Montreal to Laval along Route 125 will be closed in both directions between 11 pm and 4 am from Sunday Oct. 25 to Friday Oct. 30 so that workers can fix lighting and repair sewer catch basins.
According to the provincial highways and roads ministry, traffic will be redirected to the Papineau-Leblanc Bridge around three kilometres west. The ministry says the closing could be postponed if weather conditions stand to impede the planned work.
A fire that broke out Thursday in a computer room at École secondaire Curé Antoine Labelle in Laval’s Sainte-Rose sector caused an estimated $80,000 in damage and generated smoke that caused one person to be transported to hospital for treatment.
According to the Laval Fire Department, the school’s 2,400 students had to be evacuated after the fire started around 1 pm Thursday, but were back in class by the middle of the afternoon.
Around a dozen firefighters were called to the scene of the blaze and an investigation has been opened into the possible causes.
The Public Health Agency of Canada said on Thursday that an investigation it opened recently into an outbreak of salmonella infections linked to peaches imported from the United States has been closed.
According to the PHAC, the investigation findings identified exposure to peaches from Prima Wawona from the United States as a likely source of the outbreak.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a consumer advisory for peaches recalled by Prima Wawona, sold from June 1, 2020 to August 22, 2020 in Canada.
These peaches included yellow, white and organic peaches and were sold under various brand names:
Extrafresh
Harvest Sweet
Prima
Sweet 2 Eat
Sweet O
Sweet Value
Wawona
Wegmans
The PHAC says it collaborated with federal and provincial public health partners, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to investigate the outbreak that occurred in two provinces. “Given that Salmonella illness reporting linked to this outbreak has significantly decreased over the last four weeks, the outbreak appears to be over and the investigation has been closed,” the PHAC said in a statement.
Investigation summary
In total, there were 57 confirmed cases of Salmonella Enteritidis illness linked to this outbreak in two provinces: Ontario (41) and Quebec (16).
Individuals became sick between June and August 2020. Twelve individuals were hospitalized. No deaths were reported. Individuals who became ill were between 0 and 91 years of age. The majority of cases (60%) were female.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a related consumer advisory for peaches recalled by Prima Wawona. More information on products recalled by Prima Wawona from the United States is available on CFIA’s website.
The U.S. CDC also investigated an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses with a similar genetic fingerprint to illnesses reported in this outbreak.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection, called salmonellosis, typically start 6 to 72 hours after exposure to Salmonella bacteria from an infected animal, person or contaminated product.
Symptoms include:
fever
chills
diarrhea
abdominal cramps
headache
nausea
vomiting
The symptoms usually last for 4 to 7 days. In healthy people, salmonellosis often clears up without treatment, but sometimes antibiotics may be required. In some cases, severe illness may occur and hospitalization may be required. People who are infected with Salmonella bacteria can be infectious from several days to several weeks. People who experience symptoms, or who have underlying medical conditions, should contact their health care provider if they suspect they have a Salmonella infection.
Canadians are advised not to eat any recalled products or any foods containing recalled products. Peaches grown in Canada were not associated with this outbreak.
City wanted to know it still had its AA credit rating before acting, says Demers
Laval mayor Marc Demers announced on Wednesday afternoon that the city will be freezing taxes in the 2021 budget for residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural property owners.
Laval mayor Marc Demers announced on Wednesday a property tax freeze for 2021.
The move comes after the City of Montreal and other Quebec municipalities previously announced they will be freezing their property taxes.
While the decision means that the average Laval property owner’s tax bill (based on the latest triennial valuation roll which was tabled in September last year) won’t go up in 2021, Demers cautioned that there could be exceptions to the overall rule.
“What we’re doing is freezing the tax income for the whole city at the same amount,” he said.
Properties that are re-evaluated because of significant renovations or improvements made since the last property roll came into force could see tax increases, added Demers.
“But I think that most people won’t see a difference on their tax bill,” he said.
Demers said another factor was the assurance that the City of Laval’s credit rating, which is evaluated annually, would remain stable despite the economic turbulence being generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Laval’s credit rating currently is AA, “the best in the province,” Demers added.
Laval is currently sitting on around $750 million of debt, according to the mayor
“That determines the interest rate for the money we borrow,” he continued, noting that Laval is currently sitting on around $750 million of debt, and that it would be crucial not to increase the amount of interest paid on it.
Keeping interest down
“We didn’t want to increase the payments on interest. That was basically our goal. We were waiting for the government to see what kind of help they would be giving us, and we were also waiting for the advice of Mr. Ulysse and his team of professionals.”
According to Demers, the city administration had to plan ahead at least three years to evaluate the potential consequences of freezing taxes for a single 12-month period. “What are the consequences for the next year three years if we freeze taxes?” he said.
“And with the COVID-19, we don’t know what the impact of that might be in 2021 and 2022. If we are having a second wave, will there also be a third wave, a fourth or a fifth? Nobody knows.”
Elections next year
Some opposition members on Laval city council, while repeatedly pressing the administration to implement a tax freeze, had also suggested recently that a freeze might be an opportunistic move by the administration to curry favour from voters since the next municipal elections are in November next year.
Demers responded in this way to the suggestion. “I would remind you that before the last election, all parties except ours [the Mouvement lavallois] promised a tax freeze,” he said. “And a tax freeze doesn’t mean that you’re looking out for the interests of the citizens of Laval. “If I freeze the tax for two or three years, and the credit rating agency decides to lower the credit rating in three or four years, the citizens of Laval would pay a big, big price. So, I don’t accord any importance to such statements.”
Health Canada is advising Canadians of a recall of some hand sanitizers because they may pose health risks. For more information, including what Canadians should do, visit the online safety alert.
Health Canada says it maintains a list of hand sanitizers that may pose health risks, so that Canadians can easily identify products they may have purchased and take appropriate action. Canadian consumers are encouraged to check the list regularly for updates.
Product
Reason for recall
Company
NPN or DIN
Lot Number(s)
Expiry Date
Date Added
Last Best Brewing and Distilling Hand Sanitizer
Missing risk statements; product not authorized to contain technical-grade ethanol
Last Best Brewing and Distilling, Inc.
80099050
001
May 2021
2020-10-13
Nomad Hand Sanitizer (Lemongrass)
Missing risk statements; product not authorized to contain technical-grade ethanol
Rocky Mountain Soap Company
80097907
04092001 to 06082001
April 9, 2021 to June 8, 2021
2020-10-13
Prairie Potions Purify Hand Sanitizer and Antibacterial Spray
Contains unacceptable ingredient, methanol
Prairie Potions
Unlicensed (no NPN or DIN on label)
All. Not printed on the label.
Not printed on the label
2020-10-13
Sanix – Gel d’alcool pour les mains avec émollients, 70% alcool éthylique en format de 250 mL
Contains unacceptable ingredient, methanol
Sanix
None
All. Not printed on the label.
Not printed on the label
2020-10-13
Sanix – Gel d’alcool pour les mains avec émollients, 70% alcool éthylique en format de 4 L
Cidrerie Solar Inc., which produced a range of apple cider-based alcoholic beverages, was fined more than $1,042,093 by Revenu Québec for tax evasion last week, while an affiliated company was fined $294,750, and three company administrators were fined a total of $309,628.
According to the provincial tax ministry, which lists the company as currently based in Laval, Cidrerie Solar, which operated a subsidiary known as 9127-2021 Québec Inc., acknowledged making false or misleading declarations to Revenu Québec, as well as having made false tax declarations relating specifically to alcoholic beverages.
Revenu Québec said the three administrators pleaded guilty to having failed to maintain records or to keep appropriate documentation to justify their claims.
According to the tax agency, they agreed to pay $480,000 of the total amount due on the day they were found guilty, while also agreeing to pay the remainder within the next two years.
According to records posted online by the Raymond Chabot financial recovery counselling firm, Cidrerie Solar Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection in December 2017 and has been under the trusteeship of Raymond Chabot since then.
The Sûreté du Québec says it arrested a 43-year-old man around 3 am Sunday morning after SQ patrollers saw him driving at 195 km/h along Autoroute 440, then later determined he was under the influence of alcohol and possibly also drugs.
Stopped near Curé Labelle Blvd., he was made to undergo an alcohol detection test, as well as a series of other exercises administered by a police expert to determine whether he might also be under the influence of drugs.
According to the SQ, the driver failed both tests. He was given a ticket for $1,759, as well as 18 demerit points on his driving record.
In addition, his driver’s license was suspended for 90 days and his vehicle was impounded. He was freed on a promise to show up for a court date to be determined, when he will be formally arraigned on the charges.
Quebec more interested in ‘perception,’ than dealing effectively with COVID, says Vince Guzzo
Although the provincial government announced last week that $50 million in compensation will be paid to the operators of cultural venues and live theatres to offset the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, film theatre chain executive Vince Guzzo is wondering why Quebec is penalizing companies like his, while doing nothing to actually enforce COVID-19 sanitation regulations.
Closed until Oct. 28
Never one to mince words, Cinémas Guzzo president Vince Guzzo, centre, says the Quebec government seems interested only in creating a “perception” that it is actively doing something to deal with COVID-19, while needlessly hurting movie theatre owners by forcing them to close during the pandemic. File photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia
Under new regulations that came into effect in the Montreal region last week in the highest-alert “red” zones decreed by Quebec to combat the spread of COVID-19, cinemas, bars, theatres, casinos and museums are closed from Oct. 1 to Oct. 28.
Guzzo, whose family founded the Cinémas Guzzo chain 46 years ago, is incensed that the government seems to prefer not taking concrete action against individuals who are openly breaking sanitary rules, while penalizing companies by forcing them to shut – even though they’ve complied with all the regulations.
A feeling of powerlessness
“The day that my behavior – that is what I do or don’t do – is no longer relevant to what happens, and whether my theatres are open or not, means I have become the most powerless person that exists,” Guzzo said in an interview this week with Newsfirst Multimedia.
‘Whoever doesn’t respect the rules, shut them down. But don’t shut down a whole industry,’ says Cinémas Guzzo president
“In other words, if you’re closing my theatres not because we violated confinement laws, not because we have COVID cases coming out of movie theatres, not because we’re a high-risk market – and you’ve got to remember we were shut down beginning in March – once we re-opened and after operating in July, August and September and there were zero cases coming out of movie theatres, and zero media coverage saying we were not respecting the rules – and everybody was saying there was no issue with movie theatres – but the government still shuts us down.
A perception problem
“But they don’t shut down shopping malls, they don’t shut down gyms and other stuff,” he continued. “So now there’s a problem. And that problem is that we’re being shut down for perception reasons. That’s where the problem is: we are literally in a position where whatever we do or whatever we don’t do is irrelevant.”
While noting that Premier François Legault made it abundantly clear while announcing the new regulations last week that the government was determined to stop people from socializing, Guzzo said he was outraged that Quebec didn’t include parks and other publicly-owned gathering places in the ban.
“When you see that they couldn’t control who was playing the tam-tam at the park,” he said, noting the public drumming events that drew large crowds to the edge of Mount Royal this past summer, in defiance of the government’s standing recommendation against holding large gatherings.
Damned if we do or don’t
“Don’t blame us – shut down your parks,” added Guzzo, maintaining that Cinémas Guzzo meticulously followed all the sanitation rules imposed by the government. “You know, we’ve actually been controlling our premises. It’s a very awkward situation to be in. Damned if we do and damned if we don’t.”
Guzzo’s reading of the government’s message goes like this: “We’re going to shut down theatres because you are a socializing outlet. Whether you are a problem socializing outlet or not is irrelevant to them. We’re shutting you down, they’re saying. Which is what’s bothersome.
“My argument with the Legault government is: whoever doesn’t respect the rules, shut them down. But don’t shut down a whole industry. Shut down the restaurant that’s violating the rules. The bar that’s violated the rules. Shut down whoever’s not getting these rules respected.”
Why no tickets, asks Guzzo
Regarding the province’s notable hesitation up to now to aggressively ticket individual sanitation rule violators, Guzzo said, “They should be giving tickets. When CNESST [Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail] comes into my theatres or onto my construction sites, if there’s something wrong I get a ticket. So how come the government isn’t doing that with such a severe situation as COVID-19?”
(For the record, Guzzo pointed out that Cinémas Guzzo wasn’t cited even once since re-opening in July for any alleged failure to abide by the COVID-19 sanitation regulations.) He suggested that the government seems more interested in maintaining a “perception” that it is taking effective action to deal with the pandemic, while not going after those who are actually causing it and making it worse.
Maple planted at board HQ in Rosemère honours Bletas, who died last May
Friends, colleagues and members of the family of the late Steve Bletas gathered on the front lawn outside the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board’s headquarters in Rosemère on Sept. 23 to plant an ornamental maple tree in memory of the SWLSB’s founding chairman who passed away suddenly last May.
Members of Steve Bletas’s family are seen here outside SWLSB HQ in Rosemère during the ceremony during which a maple tree was planted in memory of the school board’s founding chairman. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)
The board’s first chair
After the Quebec government decided to reform the province’s former faith-based public education system and create new secular school boards in 1998, Steve Bletas was the SWLSB’s first chairman, serving for 14 years until May 2012.
Before becoming the SWLSB’s chairman, Bletas had been a Parent Commissioner on a Provisional Council representing the English minority for their high schools at the Commission scolaire Chomedey-de-Laval, president of Laval Catholic High School’s Orientation Committee and president of Sacred Heart Middle School’s school committee.
Also coached handball
As well, Bletas was a handball coach for the boys’ teams at Terry Fox Elementary, Laval Catholic High School and at Sacred Heart Middle School. During his time as SWLSB chairman, Bletas was instrumental in board development, in negotiations for land grants and other agreements with municipal authorities and provincial officials.
He was also instrumental in acquiring funding for new schools in Rawdon, Blainville and Repentigny, as well as renovation grants for schools in Chomedey (John F. Kennedy Elementary) and Duvernay (Jules Verne Elementary).
Helped start Laurier Foundation
As one of the founding members of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation, Bletas’s time in office saw highly successful fundraisers held for the benefit of students and schools on the SWLSB’s territory. He was regarded as a hands‐on chairman developing important and close ties with students, parents and municipal and provincial politicians.
“There’s never an easy way to speak about a friend who’s left us too soon,” said current SWLSB chairman Paolo Galati, who first met Steve in 2006 at the opening of St-Vincent Elementary School.
He dreamed big, said Galati
“Steve and I became friends almost instantly. We had many things in common. But the one thing that stands out the most is that both Steve and I dream big. Not only was Steve a dreamer, he was a doer. He walked the talk as we would say.”
‘Steve was a visionary and a passionate and fearless leader,’ said current SWLSB chairman Paolo Galati
Steve Bletas dedicated most of his life to English public education, Galati pointed out, and was involved in all aspects of education for many years in various capacities.
“Steve was a visionary and a passionate and fearless leader,” Galati added. “I have always had great respect for him and all that he has accomplished. The Education Ministers he worked with during his tenure knew him by his first name. He had their cell phone numbers on speed dial. I was always impressed by the many contacts Steve had. He knew everyone. And everyone knew him.
Also active with QESBA
“Steve was also a founding member of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation, created in 2004. He’s the one who actually introduced me to the foundation in 2012. He was part of the executive committee of the Quebec English School Boards Association and was a member of many different local and provincial education tables over the years.
“Despite the few bumps along the road, Steve has certainly left a legacy at the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board. Eva-Marie and Michael, you can be proud of what your father has accomplished. Steve, may you rest in peace my friend.”
Strength and endurance
The SWLSB’s communications coordinator, Maxeen Jolin, said the board and employees decided a maple would be the most appropriate way to remember Steve. “This tree symbolizes strength and endurance and I think everyone who knew Steve can definitely agree these are characteristics that he had,” she said.
Bletas’s daughter, Eva-Marie, who is an elementary school teacher with the SWLSB, said her father loved being involved in public education issues. “He lived for this. It was a passion for him,” she said.
Laval-Ouest will have modern, new facility by next fall
Last week, Mayor Marc Demers joined Laval city councillor and executive-committee member Sandra Desmeules as well as fire department head René Daigneault for a ceremony marking the official start of construction of the new firehall to be built at 5580 Dagenais Blvd. West in Laval-Ouest.
The City of Laval is hoping that Firehall Six will obtain a LEED Gold certification for environmentally-sustainable design and construction.
As well, according to the city, the building will be constructed in conformity with provincial requirements in the revised 2015-2019 fire safety plan to have 10 firefighters at the scene of a blaze within 10 minutes of a call in 90 per cent of interventions.
The new firehall will be under construction for the next year or so and is scheduled to be inaugurated in the autumn of 2021.
