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Mayor pleased with $2.3 billion aid pledged to cities by Quebec for second wave of pandemic

Bus in Laval Qc.
Mayor Marc Demers says financial assistance from Quebec will help defer budget cuts at the STL, which might have become necessary because of the pandemic.

Laval mayor Marc Demers said on Friday he was pleased and relieved to hear news that the province’s CAQ government decided to allot $2.3 billion to municipalities across Quebec to help them cope during the upcoming second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The announced financial support will be lending us a hand for expenses we ran up helping our citizens, by postponing the payment of taxes, for example, or by developing complementary assistance programs to support our businesses which were caught up with labour and supply problems,” Demers said in a statement.

At the same time, Demers said he was greatly relieved to hear Quebec will also be furnishing $1.2 billion to the municipalities to help keep the province’s many public transit agencies afloat during a period when ridership and fare revenues have dropped drastically.

“A lack of funds would have led the Société de transport de Laval (STL) to have to make drastic budget cuts,” said Demers, adding that the STL hopes to continue with the environmentally-sustainable program it had established before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

Outbreak of COVID-19 at CHSLD Idola St. Jean in Pont-Viau

Staff at CHSLD Idola St. Jean on Cartier Blvd. in Pont-Viau have been doing double-duty over the weekend, as they have tried to contain an outbreak of COVID-19 on one of the floors at the long term care residence.

According to information posted by the CISSS de Laval on Sept. 26, 11 patients and seven workers had tested positive.

Staff at CHSLD Idola St. Jean on Cartier Blvd. are coping with an outbreak of COVID-19 that had infected 11 patients and seven workers as of Saturday.

Since last Monday, the residence administration created a “hot zone” for confirmed cases, as well as for staff who tested positive or who showed symptoms and were sent home.

The outbreak is said to have happened startlingly quickly. All visitors to CHSLD Idola St. Jean since Sept. 7 are being contacted and are being advised to get themselves tested.

Since the beginning of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic last spring, CISSS de Laval has changed some of its practices. Among other things, staff are no longer working at more than one residence or facility in order to limit the spread of the virus.

Still, shortages of medical and support staff are said to still be hampering efforts as the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic gets underway.

In Laval, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases rose by 50 from Friday to Saturday, for a total of 6,881 cases on the island as of Saturday. To date, there have been 683 deaths from COVID-19 in Laval since the start of the pandemic.

Landscaper electrocuted while trimming a hedge in Auteuil

A landscaping company worker was taken in serious condition to hospital Saturday after accidentally being electrocuted while trimming a cedar hedge at a private residence in Laval’s Auteuil neighbourhood.

The 47-year-old man was using a trimmer mounted on a long pole around 1:30 pm. While standing on a ladder and reaching towards the top of the hedge, he failed to see a high-tension electric wire, was electrocuted after coming into contact, and fell to the ground.

Police and ambulance technicians responded to the scene. Quebec’s Committee on Standards, Equity, Health and Safety at Work in Quebec (CNESST), which investigates workplace accidents, has opened a file and will eventually issue a report.

Laval-based Neptune Wellness to supply B.C. with non-med cannabis products

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Laval-based Neptune Wellness Solutions, a rising presence among suppliers of non-medical cannabis products, says it has entered into an agreement with the British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch (BCLDB), the wholesaler and public retailer of non-medical cannabis in Canada’s westernmost province, for the sale and distribution of Neptune’s new proprietary Mood Ring product line.

The agreement, announcement on Sept. 24, marks the launch of Neptune’s “Mood Ring” line of non-medical cannabis products for the Canadian market.

According to the Neptune Wellness website, the Mood Ring product line includes cannabis oils, two varieties of hashish, and high CBD (cannabidiol) cannabis capsules.

“We are pleased to be partnering with BCLDB to bring Mood Ring to the province of British Columbia,” said Michael Cammarata, Chief Executive Officer and President of Neptune. “This will allow Neptune to bring the benefits of legal cannabis to a larger group of people.”

One dead, two seriously injured, after high-speed collision in A-440 construction area

Excessive speed is considered to have been a factor in a motor vehicle accident that happened in a work zone on Autoroute 440 earlier this week that killed one person while leaving two others with serious injuries.

Autoroute 440 near the spot where a motorcyclist died and two others were injured in a high-speed accident on Wednesday.

Police and ambulance technicians were called around 9 pm on Wednesday after a motorcyclist sped through the protected road repair zone on the eastbound A440 near Pie IX and Montée Masson and struck a worker.

At the time, the work crew was in the process of closing the left lane. The motorcycle, estimated to have been travelling 150 km/h, struck a pickup truck parked in the work area. The motorcyclist and a passenger were ejected following impact.

While the 28-year-old motorcycle driver, identified as Ian Jacobsen of l’Épiphanie, subsequently died of his injuries, the 28-year-old female passenger and the 34-year-old male road worker were left in critical condition.

According to the Journal de Montréal on Friday, the worker, a father of three children, underwent surgery for the amputation of a leg and his condition is said to be stable.

Laval sets new rules at its facilities following ‘Orange’ COVID-19 status

After Laval was declared an Orange (Alert) zone on Tuesday for COVID-19 by the Quebec government, the city issued a list of new regulations for the number of persons who can gather or take part in activities at the various municipal facilities.

The city says its facilities and services are all operating, although on a modified basis. Here are some examples:

At interior and exterior sports facililties (arenas, indoor pools, soccer and football fields)Nomber of participants: max. of 25 per distinct area. The play area and the spectator area are regarded as distinct from each other. For interior facilities, activities can take place in distinct play areas simultaneously, bringing together 25 participant each.
Nature CentreAll special activities cancelled. Visits only. Gatherings of more than 25 persons forbidden.
Community centresMax. 25 persons per locale, as well as in common areas and waiting areas. Two metres physical distancing, hand washing and face masks mandatory.
Maison des arts (Theatre area)Max. 250 persons and mandatory sanitary measures (see above).
LibrariesMandatory sanitary measures. No activities involving gatherings.
Municipal countersMandatory sanitary measures.
Police stationsMandatory sanitary measures. Four out of six neighbourhood police stations are open on a modified schedule. Hours available here.

Infrastructures managed by city’s partners

The city says it is working with its partners to limit the number of people present at these installations.

As such, the Champfleury community centre, the Centre du Sablon, the Centre sportif Bois-de-Boulogne, Place Bell and Place des aînés are some of the facilities owned by the city and managed by separate organizations that will adjust the occupancy levels in accordance with government requirements as they evolve.

Interior pools and gymnasiums that are located in schools where the city offers activities will be limiting the number of people present.

For any questions or concerns beyond the above-mentioned issues, the city invites residents to contact the Quebec government’s special line for COVID-19: 1 877 644-4545.

Quebec issues warning about undeclared ingredients in pizzas sold at Marché Adonis

The Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Inspection has issued a warning of particular interest to persons with compromised immune systems regarding food products sold at Marché Adonis which were made with non-pasteurized milk that was not declared on the packaging.

The table below shows some of the products

Denomination of productFormatLot visé
« PARMESAN CHEESE GRANA PADANO »VariedUnits packaged in store and sold up to September 23 2020
« PARMESAN CHEESE REGGIANO »

The Ministry is also advising that persons suffering from an allergy or intolerance to Grenoble nuts or peanuts, to mustard, to milk, to eggs, to sesame, to soya or to sulfites shouldn’t consume the product in the following table. This product could contain any of these ingredients, which are not declared on the packaging.

Denomination of productFlavourFormatLot targeted
« PIZZA ADONIS »VariousSingleUnits sold until September 23 2020

The ministry says the products in question were offered for sale up to Sept. 23 inclusively, at all stores in the Marché Adonis network. They were sold while refrigerated. They were covered by a clear plastic wrap and were labeled as having been produced by “Groupe Adonis inc.”

The ministry noted that the company has voluntarily recalled the products in question and has worked closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Inspection to get the word out about the recall.

Persons with compromised immune systems who are in possession of any of these products are advised to return them to the store where they were purchased, or to use them as ingredients in other dishes cooked to at least 74 °C, or to throw them out.

Those with allegies to Grenoble nuts or peanuts, mustard, milk, eggs, sesame, soya or sulfites are advised to return the products to the store where they were purchased or to throw them out. The ministry noted that to date there have been no reports of illness or adverse effects connected to the products in question.

Quebec infrastructure legislation Bill 66 gets enthusiastic endorsement from Demers

Following the tabling of the Quebec government’s Bill 66, which proposes among other things to fast-track the extension of the REM light rail train system to Laval, Mayor Marc Demers says he wholeheartedly supports the legislation.

“This draft law will allow several major projects to go ahead, including the extension of the REM towards downtown Laval, and a new axis connecting the two extremities of the city,” Demers said.

Council hears complaints about city’s slow response to snow and ice
Seen in this file photo, Laval mayor Marc Demers is enthusiastically supporting the CAQ government’s Bill 66, which contains important measures to improve road travel in the Laval region.

Demers pointed out that the proposed legislation contains elements which will allow recommendations that came out of the Forum on mobility and mass transit in Laval-Lower Laurentians in 2018 to be implemented.

Among these were the long-awaited extension of Autoroute 19, the creation of reserved lanes on Autoroutes 15, 440, 640 and 25, as well as a rapid bus service (SRB) on the Concorde/Notre Dame boulevards axis.

“I would encourage all the elected officials in the National Assembly to come to an understanding and rapidly adopt this draft law in order to re-launch the economy,” added Demers.

LPD Blue: News from the Laval Police beat

Drivers avoided Curé-Labelle, A-440 Sept. 17 after serious accident

The Laval Police issued an advisory to motorists on a recent Thursday afternoon to avoid Curé-Labelle Blvd. between Saint-Elzéar Blvd. and Simone-de-Beauvoir St., as well as Autoroute 440 in that area, because of a serious motor vehicle accident that created a massive traffic jam.

According to reports by the Laval Police Department, the scene of the accident was on Curé-Labelle Blvd. near Fabreville. As traffic continued to back up and social media accounts went into a frenzy over the situation, Curé-Labelle remained closed to traffic between Simone-de-Beauvoir and Saint-Elzéar into the evening on that day.

Gunshots in Chomedey and St-François kept Laval Police busy

The Laval Police were kept busy on Saturday night Sept. 12 by reports that came in an hour apart from two different areas of the city where the sound of gunshots was heard by some residents.

Just before 6 pm on Sept. 12, the LPD answered a call from 77th Ave. in Chomedey where they were met by a witness who was close at hand when several shots were fired nearby, although there were no injuries.

Nonetheless, the police officers found a few spent bullets on the ground and an investigation was opened into the circumstances which led up to the incident.

A little more than an hour later, the LPD received a second call about gunshots, although this time it was from the other end of the island.

Upon arrival at the scene on Roxane St. in the district of Saint-François, officers came upon a man in his late 20s who was suffering from a serious and potentially life-threatening gunshot wound.

At last word, the LPD was treating this incident as an attempted murder. A command post was set up for a few days near the crime scene to facilitate a thorough investigation.

Laval Police identify suspect in alleged cell phone thefts

A suspect sought for about a week by the Laval Police Department for alleged fraud after three smartphones were picked up at a Laval Purolator courier branch by someone who hadn’t paid was finally identified.

According to the LPD, the victim of the alleged scam ordered the phones from a cellphone company in November last year. A month later, he called the company to report that the phones had never been delivered.

However, when the cell phone company investigated, they discovered that someone had picked them up at a Purolator branch located on Dagenais Blvd. West near Laval’s Champfleury area.

Upon further investigation, Purolator found that the individual who picked up the smartphones had presented a printed delivery notice, although there is no mention of whether he was asked to show a piece of identification.

The suspect, seen in a widely circulated photo taken by a surveillance camera at Purolator, was described as being in his 20s, with black hair, eyeglasses and wearing a black coat.

Public Security Minister happy with police op for COVID-19

Quebec Deputy Premier Geneviève Guilbault, who is Minister of Public Security, expressed satisfaction last Monday with a province-wide police operation designed to help counter a resurgence of the COVID-19 virus. In all, 30 police forces took part.

During the operation, more than 2,200 commercial establishments were visited across Quebec and 90 tickets were issued to individuals not wearing face masks, not respecting self-distancing rules, consuming alcohol in bars after legal hours, hosting more than 10 persons at a time, or failing to keep a register of customers.

As well, three notices were sent to the Quebec Director of Public Health’s office regarding establishments whose activities were regarded as being a risk to public health.

Also, five notices to appear were issued regarding hearings to be held in the near future by the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux over establishments that broke the rules and now face the possiblity of losing their license.

“I want to thank all the police officers for their great professionalism,” Guilbault said in a statement issued by the provincial government last Monday. “They did incredible work all weekend long, thanks to which the ambitious goal of visiting more than 1,000 establishments were largely surpassed.

A well-planned operation

“The operations took place in conformity with the planned goals and the visits were well received by those carrying them out as much as by the clients who, in the vast majority, were respecting the rules,” added Guilbault.

The purpose of the operation, according to the provincial government, was to identify the places where there could be problems having rules for safeguarding against COVID-19 respected. During the operation, more than 1,000 establishments holding liquor permits, consisting mostly of bars, restaurants and receptions halls, were visited.

All regions in Quebec were visited, with special attention being paid to areas where Yellow or Orange codes for COVID-19 were recently invoked by the provincial government.

Public health officials have now been notified by the police regarding establishments where additional sanitary measures were found to be necessary.

It is notable, according to the provincial government, that of the more than 1,000 bars, restaurants and other gathering places visited, only one refused to allow the police in. Charges are currently pending against that business.

Table régionale de concertation des aînés to mark International Day of Older Persons

‘Senior citizens should become one of our priorities,’ says TRCAL’s Carole St-Denis

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to impact many lives – but especially those of senior citizens – the Table régionale de concertation des aînés de Laval is reminding everyone, as the annual International Day of Older Persons approaches, to be mindful of the needs and wishes of senior citizens throughout the year.

The International Day of Older Persons is observed on Oct. 1 annually. The day started to be officially observed after Dec. 14, 1990, when the United Nations General Assembly voted for a resolution to establish Oct. 1 as the International Day of Older Persons.

Spotlight on seniors’ issues

International Day of Older Persons was observed for the first time on Oct. 1, 1991. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of the issues affecting senior citizens, such as elder abuse and senescence. (Senescence is the gradual deterioration of a person as he or she grows older, otherwise known as biological aging.)

The day is also regarded as an occasion to appreciate the contributions that older people make to society. And the observance has become a special focus for many senior citizens’ organizations in Quebec, including the Table régionale de concertation des aînés de Laval.

“It would be very important for people to remember on this day that senior citizens need to become one of our priorities – that they should remember to prioritize the well-being of senior citizens and be present for them,” said Carole St-Denis, executive-director of the Table régionale de concertation des aînés de Laval.

Seniors need more attention

She maintains that, unfortunately as things are now, the well-being and needs of senior citizens often seem to come last in society’s list of priorities. But she also noted that the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly placed senior citizens’ problems in the foreground of news coverage, “because those problems were already there,” St-Denis said.

‘We should be acknowledging senior citizens’ accomplishments, as well as the fact so much that we have today is because of them’

“So I think that we must keep this in mind at the end of the day, because these are people who contributed towards the creation of our society and who built it. Therefore, we should be acknowledging senior citizens’ accomplishments, as well as the fact so much that we have today is because of them.”

Carole St-Denis suggested that this is an especially important year to be marking International Day of Older Persons, because the pandemic has drawn out longstanding senior citizens’ problems and issues.

Greater focus on seniors

“This is a year that has raised awareness of everything that seniors normally experience – isolation, abuse, depression, lack of resources – which are all things seniors were dealing with before,” she said. “But now these issues are even more present. We should make these issues part of our top priorities from now on.”

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