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Municipal council’s opposition parties weigh in on City of Laval’s 2026 budget

Martin C. Barry
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Municipal council’s opposition parties weigh in on City of Laval’s 2026 budget

We’re at the ‘breaking point’: Parti Laval; Tax hike is inflation times two: Action Laval

While at least one of Laval city council’s two opposition parties gave an unqualified thumbs-down to the latest annual budget tabled by the Boyer administration, the “official” opposition Parti Laval was more reserved earlier this week when asked by the Laval News for a reaction to the city’s 2026 budget.

Parti Laval leader Claude Larochelle. (File photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)

“Paying more taxes for fewer services,” is how Parti Laval leader Claude Larochelle (formerly the councillor for Fabreville) summed up the party’s reaction. “That’s what awaits Laval residents in the coming years,” he said.

At the breaking point

“Laval has reached its breaking point,” he continued. “We aren’t investing enough money in our underground sewer and water infrastructure, there’s no real program to help citizens protect themselves against climate events, we’re cutting important services, but are we raising taxes?

“I said it at the beginning of the year, this is Stéphane Boyer’s legacy: the debt is exploding, the financial reserves are depleted. Families will have to pay the price,” he added.

« Since 2021, we have maintained the illusion of the city’s financial capacity by depleting reserves, increasing debt and ignoring problems,” said Parti Laval city councillor for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin Louise Lortie.

“The Boyer administration misled the public with numerous promises. The mayor prioritized his mega-projects. Now, citizens are faced with tax increases and dwindling services. Unfortunately, this was predictable and could have been avoided.”

Costly projects criticized

Action Laval, which won two seats in the November municipal elections but holds the status of a second and unofficial opposition, responded to the well over one-billion-dollar budget with accusations of overspending and poor planning by the Mouvement lavallois administration led by Mayor Stéphane Boyer.

The party is more specific than the Parti Laval in its criticism of the 2026 budget, targeting such areas as the construction of the new municipal library system’s downtown headquarters, the ongoing renovation of City Hall on Souvenir Blvd., and the construction of a new municipal court building next to City Hall.

Before that, however, Action Laval noted that the 4.3 per cent overall property tax hike on single-family residences in the 2026 budget (compared to 1.9 per cent last year) is not in keeping with a claim Mayor Boyer had made to keep the increase in line with the prevailing rate of inflation.

Tax hike exceeds inflation

“His budget is 4.3 per cent and the inflation rate is 2.1 per cent,” said longtime Action Laval city councillor for Saint-Bruno David De Cotis. “So, it’s double the inflation rate. This is directly related to his mismanagement of the city’s funds.”

Regarding the library (La grande Bibliothèque) project, De Cotis said the $180 million cost to taxpayers was never fully justified as the Boyer administration failed to reveal to opposition party members the detailed costs of the project.

Action Laval city councillor for Saint-Bruno David De Cotis. (File photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)

“There were no business studies,” he maintained. “All they said was ‘trust us, we know what the people want.’” De Cotis also maintained that in a poll conducted outside the Montmorency Metro last year, the vast majority of the respondents had no idea the central library building was going to be built.

Library project under fire

Furthermore, he claimed that most Laval residents would have preferred to have more library branches in districts rather than a comprehensive central location. “Either you build new ones or you renovate existing ones,” De Cotis suggested.

“The fact that you’re spending $180 million just for construction, plus another $5 – $7 million just for maintenance, this has a direct impact on the budget. If you compare budgets 2025 and 2026, the budget has increased by almost $100 million.”

Noting that the city is moving to cut back garbage and recycling collections to once every two weeks, De Cotis said “we’re removing services, increasing taxes,” while building infrastructures “that nobody is asking for. Nobody asked them to build a library at a cost of $180 million. That’s why we’re seeing this bad mismanagement of public funds.”

Inflated City Hall renovation costs

Regarding the City Hall renovation project, De Cotis pointed out that it was originally estimated at a little more than $20 million, but has now reached more than $70 million. “That is insane – that is mismanagement of public funds,” he said.

“That is laughing at the citizens of Laval, saying, ‘we’re just going to raise taxes, but we don’t care how much we spend.’ At $70 million, they’re turning this into a luxury hotel – that’s what it is – for the mayor of Laval and the city councillors. When it’s public funds, you’re supposed to be modest in the way that you spend. He’s doing the opposite.”

In the meantime, the City of Laval is in the midst of building a new municipal courthouse right next to City Hall at a cost of $45.5 million. While cost overruns are a common occurrence in public construction projects, De Cotis insists that “no one is managing the costs of construction” and “there is no accountability.”

Councillors pay their respects to former colleague Jocelyne Frédéric Gauthier

Martin C. Barry
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Councillors pay their respects to former colleague Jocelyne Frédéric Gauthier

Outgoing police chief Brochet also thanked at December meeting of Laval city council

The December meeting of Laval city council began on a somber note, with city councillors and members of the audience observing a minute of silence in memory of former city councillor Jocelyne Frédéric Gauthier who passed away in November at age 69 at Laval’s Cité-de-la-Santé hospital.

Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer answers a resident’s questions during the December 9 meeting of city council. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)

A minute of silence

The three-term councillor for the district of Auteuil had been under treatment for cancer for a year. She had been one of the initial supporters of the Mouvement lavallois which came to power in Laval city council in 2013 around five years after the party was first created.

Flags in front of Laval city hall on Souvenir Blvd. (currently closed for extensive renovations) were placed at half-mast in recognition of Frédéric Gauthier’s passing.

“Up to the moment of her last breath, Jocelyne was able to take care of the needs of her citizens, while being the mother of her two grown-up sons and while being there for the whole community,” said Cecilia Macedo, speaker and president of the city council. “Thank you for all your work, dear Jocelyne,” she continued. “You were a pioneer.”

Police chief’s departure

During a period for new business and councillors’ special statements, Saint-François city councillor Isabelle Piché noted the recently-announced resignation and departure of Laval Police Dept. director Pierre Brochet after 12 years service.

Brochet, whose functions with the LPD end officially on January 9, is going to work for Mouvement Desjardins where he has been hired as vice-president of corporate security.

Sylvain Guilbault, representing a dozen property owners near rue Cyrille-Delage in Laval’s Auteuil district, submitted a petition from the residents demanding the City of Laval carry out infrastructure work on the undeveloped portion of the street. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)

“Normally the career of a police officer lasts 30 years,” said Piché, a member of the Action Laval opposition party. “Mr. Brochet is now in his 40th year of service, including 12 with the Laval Police. It’s been a long and marvelous career for a policeman.”

While noting that Brochet began work in Laval in 2012 when the city had been placed under trusteeship, she said he learned to navigate within that environment and led the police in Laval “with great skill and great wisdom.

Left his mark on department

“I think we’re going to be losing a great leader for our police,” added Piché. “Mr. Brochet, the Laval Police service will carry your mark for a long time, I am certain. I wish you the greatest happiness and success in the new challenge that awaits you.”

Also paying homage to police chief Brochet was Mouvement lavallois city councillor for Sainte-Rose Flavia Alexandra Novac.

“We can affirm proudly that he showed great leadership within the organization,” she said, noting that it was Brochet who created the Bureau d’intégrité et d’éthique de Laval (BIEL), which was one of the measures instituted by the Mouvement lavallois as part of an anti-corruption undertaking.

“On behalf of the municipal council, we thank you Mr. Brochet for your remarkable work,” she added.

Dead-end on Cyrille-Delage

During the public question period, Daniel Guilbault from the district of Auteuil led a group of a dozen property owners from rue Cyrille-Delage to table a petition asking the city to open up a portion of their dead-end street where there has been no development for several decades.

In a statement Guilbault read out to the mayor and council, he noted that Laval city council enacted loan by-laws for the street in 2004, while passing on the expense to nearby property owners to pay for the installation of stormwater and wastewater sewer pipes.

Saint-François city councillor Isabelle Piché praised Laval Police Dept. chief Pierre Brochet who is leaving after 12 years heading the police service. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)

“The owners have paid between $2.5 – $3 million in taxes over the past 21 years and you continue to tax us,” said Guilbault. “The owners have a right to receive services for the taxes they contributed. In my work as an accountant, I have to tell you right up, this type of situation is considered legalized theft.”

Not in the PTI budget

He went on to ask Mayor Stéphane Boyer why the development of rue Cyrille-Delage is still not included in the city’s three-year public works spending budget (PTI). Responding, the mayor explained that the PTI doesn’t always provide detailed street-by-street information for public works projects.

He suggested that Councillor Ray Khalil, who is vice-president of the executive-committee and responsible for development dossiers, meet with Guilbault and the other residents in order to become better acquainted with their situation.

Shriners Hospital marks 100 years

Matthew Ralph Daldalian
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Shriners Hospital marks 100 years

By Matthew Daldalian

The exterior of Shriners Hospitals for Children, which is celebrating 100 years of care in 2025. (Matthew Daldalian, The Laval News)

The Shriners Hospital for Children marked its 100th anniversary with an open-house event that brought families inside treatment areas, activity rooms and research spaces rarely seen by the public.

The pediatric orthopedic hospital, which moved to its current site near the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) in 2015, now treats patients from across Canada and abroad.

For visitors

Visitors arrived throughout the afternoon for guided tours, demonstrations and children’s workshops. Displays highlighted a century of clinical development, including the hospital’s role in treating rare bone disorders and in advancing mobility care.

Among those in attendance was nine-year-old Lucas Paul Gurunlian, who receives treatment at the hospital. He spoke about some of the activities that have helped him during long recovery periods. “When I broke my ribs here, they did like special stuff with arts and crafts,” he said.

Patient Lucas Paul Gurunlian smiles in the lobby of Shriners Hospital as the hospital celebrates its centennial. (Matthew Daldalian, The Laval News)

Gurunlian recalled one memory that stood out from his visits. “They would watch a movie with popcorn, and I get to meet Santa Claus […] but on the TV because it was during COVID,” he said.

Staff

Shriners staff positioned the centennial as both a celebration and a statement about the hospital’s place in pediatric research.

Acting hospital administrator Kelly Thorstad said the milestone reflects years of development in treatment methods and patient support. She said the open house was meant to highlight “100 years of hope, innovation and healing,” and to show families how patient care and research work together.

Thorstad emphasized that advancements made within the hospital have shaped care across the country. She pointed to the creation of treatment protocols for osteogenesis imperfecta as a milestone that established Shriners as a leader in rare bone disease treatment.

Acting hospital administrator Kelly Thorstad, pictured during the 100th anniversary celebrations at Shriners Hospitals for Children. (Matthew Daldalian, The Laval News)

The hospital’s open house included science demonstrations, activity rooms for children, and presentations from clinical leaders.

Staff said showing families how care is delivered day-to-day helps the hospital build transparency and trust. Information tables guided visitors through physical therapy tools, surgical approaches and child-life support practices.

Nursing leadership also pointed to the role of technology in shaping recovery for young patients. Assistant head nurse Vanessa D’aquila said access to resources and updated equipment has let staff adapt best-practice guidelines into local care. “There’s so many generous donors that provide us with the resources to grasp that new technology and the new way of doing things,” she said.

Nurse Vanessa D’Aquila stands in a patient room at the Shriners Hospital Montreal facility during its 100th anniversary year. (Matthew Daldalian, The Laval News)

D’Aquila described spinal surgery recovery as one example where interdisciplinary coordination affects patient outcomes.

Mobilization sometimes begins within hours of waking from major procedures. She said seeing patients return after recovery remains a constant reminder of why long-term rehabilitation work matters.

“Seeing how they recover over the days that follow in the hospital, then coming back to visit us, is one of the most rewarding views that we could have,” D’Aquila said.

Research teams continue to evaluate virtual-reality distraction tools to manage pain during certain treatments. Staff said the method has reduced reliance on medication in some cases, though use varies depending on procedure and age.

D’aquila said VR is used in multiple areas of the hospital. It gives patients a way to stay focused on something other than discomfort while remaining engaged with staff when needed.

Significance

Shriners Hospital performed more than 1,500 surgeries last year and continues to treat children from about 20 countries.

The centennial event aimed to highlight that reach while positioning the hospital as a continuing research hub in Quebec and Canada.

The hospital’s leadership noted that the goal now is to maintain progress while holding to the mandate first set a century ago: specialized pediatric orthopedic care for children, regardless of background or financial status.

The anniversary marked a moment of reflection for staff, researchers and families whose lives have intersected with the institution. For Gurunlian, the milestone is measured through small victories inside treatment rooms and activity halls.

Local floor hockey team takes home the cup for Greece

Matthew Ralph Daldalian
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Local floor hockey team takes home the cup for Greece

By Matthew Daldalian

Members of Team Greece celebrate with the Men’s Champion trophy after capturing the title at the international ball hockey tournament (Matthew Daldalian, Laval News)

The Hellenic Ball Hockey Association’s street and ball team took a moment of hard-earned respite after pulling off an unexpected victory as champions of the international ball hockey title.

The ball hockey team shared a meal at Casa Grecque on Daniel-Johnson street on Dec. 3. Their aptly named “miracle on dek” came only a few weeks ago as this group of mostly Laval residents traveled across the world to bring home the championship.

Not a puck

Ball hockey is considered a hybrid of ice hockey and street hockey, played with a plastic ball instead of a puck, and often without the padding and contact regulations familiar to the ice game.

For the local team, the sport took on a new level of intensity thousands of kilometres away, where international teams approached the game with a level of physicality and speed many of the players had never encountered.

“It started as an idea which became a reality,” said head coach Peter Chiotis. “We gathered up a couple of friends… and finally we decided to go there and give it our all and hopefully medal.”

Head Coach Peter Chiotis points to his championship medal after guiding Team Greece to a first-place finish at the international tournament (Matthew Daldalian, Laval News)

Chiotis described the turning point of the tournament not as a win, but as a loss — when the team dropped a game, they believed they had controlled.

The setback forced a reassessment as they slipped into a lower seed early on. Chiotis said he spent the night planning quietly while players reconsidered the stakes. The next morning’s discussion, he said, became a reset for the team that shifted their mindset for the rest of the tournament.

The games

The team went on to defeat powerful opponents and regain momentum. Wins against North America and Canada secured the confidence they needed and positioned them to advance.

Chiotis said the challenge wasn’t simply skill, but composure and belief. “Our chances of winning were very slim,” he said. “And when we beat North America 4-0 and then win against Canada 2-0, we got that spark again.”

The roster did not come together through formal tryouts or months of preparation. It formed through familiarity, players who had been adversaries in leagues across Montreal now stood together on the same line.

That process, according to team president Emmanuel Mavroudis, was both the risk and the payoff.

“It’s one of the greatest achievements that I’ve ever done in my life,” Mavroudis said. He described a tournament that was rougher and more unpredictable than expected, with opponents who treated each game as a statement.

Team Greece president Emmanuel Mavroudis holds the Men’s Champion trophy after leading the national side to victory in Puerto Plata (Matthew Daldalian, Laval News)

After early injuries and frustrations, adjustments were made on the fly, including shifts in player positions and approach.

He said the athletes needed to adapt quickly when the reality of the tournament set in. Teams from countries where ball hockey is professionally funded were playing with intensity from the opening minutes.

Mavroudis said the team had no choice but to respond in kind, and that willingness to endure helped steer their path to the final.

“Like a family”

The team’s unity became a defining advantage as the competition progressed. Veteran defenseman Nicko Kokovidis, who has played alongside members of the team for two decades, said trust shaped how they handled pressure. “We were always together like a family,” Kokovidis said.

He credited the tone set on the bench: calm direction, private guidance, and a focus on contributing without blame. Kokovidis said that atmosphere translated to more confident play in a demanding setting where small errors could end a run.

The group relied on one another to stay grounded and composed, especially in the closing matches where the stakes were highest.

Player Niko Kokovidis displays the Men’s Champion trophy and gold medal following the squad’s historic win at the international ball hockey tournament.

That confidence helped the team withstand the physicality that defined the tournament. Kokovidis said respect among teammates was key to staying focused and performance-ready as they faced experienced opponents.

As stories were exchanged around the table at Casa Grecque, players reflected not on scores or statistics but on moments where the team held together under strain. The challenge of the tournament, the travel, and the pressure of representing both Greek heritage and the local community framed the achievement.

“Being down in both games […] and finding ways to win shows us how much character this team has,” Chiotis said.

Laval News Volume 33-24

Laval News Staff
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Laval News Volume 33-24

The current issue of the Laval News, volume 33-24, published on December 17th, 2025.
Covering Laval local news, politics, and sports.
(Click on the image to read the paper.)

Laval Police arrest five for alleged involvement in Facebook Marketplace robberies

Martin C. Barry
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Laval Police arrest five for alleged involvement in Facebook Marketplace robberies

The Laval Police are advising those shopping for holiday gifts to be extra careful when making purchases facilitated by Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace in view of an anticipated increase in frauds by some users of the online classified ad platforms over the holiday season.

The LPD reported Tuesday that they recently arrested five suspects in connection with several armed robberies in Laval involving Facebooks Marketplace.

According to a press release issued by the force, between 2023 and 2024, similar incidents were reported in the Vimont and Auteuil neighbourhoods.

The suspects contacted victims on Marketplace to arrange the sale of electronic items, and the victims would then go to a public place with the item they wanted to sell.

At the time of the sale, the suspects, posing as potential buyers, would leave with the stolen item after the victims were pepper-sprayed to facilitate the suspects’ escape.

In some cases, the suspects also threatened victims with a knife, said the LPD.

This past December 10, investigators from the LPD’s Major Crimes Unit arrested five young men, aged 19 to 22, in connection with three of these incidents. All were questioned by investigators and then released on a summons to appear in court with conditions.

Searches were also conducted to gather evidence for the charges and for other cases related to the wave of armed robberies.

The December 10 operation mobilized several dozen investigators, including the LPD’s Azimut squad, patrol officers, the Laval Police’s Tactical Intervention Group and the Sûreté du Québec’s Tactical Intervention Group.

Prevention Tips

The Laval Police are encouraging residents to take these steps to reduce risks:

Use a neutral meeting place or a public space.

Also, preferably use a secure area for online ad transactions set up by the police at 2911 Chomedey Blvd. (the LPD Investigations Centre parking lot).

According to the LPD, the area is available at all times and monitored by 24/7 cameras. Conducting the exchange in a busy public place, such as shopping mall parking lots, can be a safer alternative. Also:

  • Avoid meeting on residential streets or at private addresses.
  • Never go to a meeting alone.
  • Travel with a trusted person and inform a friend or family member of the time and place of the meeting.
  • Never share your personal information.
  • Avoid sharing your address, social security number, or banking information with the buyer or seller.
  • Inspect the item before paying.
  • Do not pay any amount before seeing and verifying the item. Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true. Keep evidence of the transaction.
  • Take screenshots of the ad, the exchanges and the seller’s or buyer’s contact information before going there.

Anyone with information about this type of event can contact the Laval Police Information Line confidentially at 450-662-INFO (4636) or call 911.

Police raids in Laval and Montreal net $230,000 worth of drugs

Martin C. Barry
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Police raids in Laval and Montreal net $230,000 worth of drugs

Laval was one of two greater Montreal area municipalities where police raids related to drug trafficking were recently conducted, resulting in the arrest of two individuals who now face charges of possessing and trafficking narcotics.

Searches conducted on November 19 in Laval and in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough of Montreal led to the seizure of a variety of drugs with an estimated value of nearly $230,000.

They included 6 kilograms of cocaine, 6,695 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 25,000 speed pills and 360 grams of MDMA (ecstasy). Approximately $144,500 in Canadian currency was also recovered during the operation.

Karim Chawki, 33, was arrested on November 19 in Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension. He appeared in court in Montreal the same day, in custody, to face charges. The other individual, not identified by police, was released without charges.

The investigation and arrests were carried out by the Montreal Police Dept.’s Narcotics Project East Investigations Unit, in close collaboration with several SPVM units. Anyone with information they believe could help the police is encouraged to go to their local police station or call 911.

Metal found in Halloween candy from Champfleury

The Laval Police Dept. recently launched an investigation following the discovery of a metal object inside a Halloween candy given to children on October 31.

On November 25, a resident of Laval’s Sainte-Rose neighbourhood contacted 9-1-1 after his daughter found a metal rod inside a gummy candy she had collected while out trick-or-treating nearly a month earlier.

An image issued by the LPD of the tampered candy distributed in Champfleury last Halloween. (Photo: Courtesy of LPD)

The candy, a red and green strawberry jelly, was in a partially opened clear wrapper. Part of the candy also appeared to be missing.

According to information provided to the Laval Police, the candy in question can possibly be traced to trick-or-treating which took place in the Champfleury sector, specifically on the following streets: De Chardonneret, Bouvreuil, De la Volière, Des Huards, Des Bécasseaux and Du Passerin.

The Laval Police would like to remind residents of the importance of carefully inspecting any candy collected on Halloween. They urge anyone who has witnessed or been the victim of a similar incident to call 9-1-1 immediately for a rapid response and investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this type of event is asked to contact the LPD on their Information Line at 450-662-INFO (4636) or by calling 911. The file number is LVL-251125-049.

Car parts recycler goes up in smoke in Saint-François

A fire broke out last Saturday evening in Laval at a car parts recycling center in Saint-François, destroying the facility’s main building. By Sunday morning, the cause of the blaze was still unknown.

A 9-1-1 call was made around 11:47 p.m. on Saturday regarding the fire at Recyclage d’Autos Mondiale, an auto parts outlet on Montée Masson.

A caller explained to 9-1-1 that they saw cars burning, as well as flames, and heard explosions, according to a spokesman for the Laval Fire Dept.

Upon arriving on the scene, firefighters determined there was an imminent risk of the building’s collapse, so they called for backup, triggering a fourth alarm.

Due to burning tires, a massive plume of black smoke was rising from the blaze. The Quebec Ministry of the Environment was called in to ensure that runoff didn’t flow into waterways.

Around 6 a.m. Sunday, the plume of smoke was still visible for several kilometers, according to the Laval Firefighters Association.

It wasn’t until around 9 a.m. that the fire was considered to be under control. However, several firefighters remained on site to ensure it was completely extinguished.

The building is a total loss, the LFD said, although there were no reported injuries. Fire investigators were scheduled to be on the scene to determine whether the source of the blaze was arson.

Laval Police investigating after shots fired at Mr. Puffs

Martin C. Barry
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Laval Police investigating after shots fired at Mr. Puffs

Officers with the Laval Police Department’s organized crime investigation unit were on the scene outside the Mr. Puffs outlet on Notre Dame Blvd. near the corner of Melville Ave. Friday Dec. 5 after gunshots were fired on the bakery around midnight the previous night, leaving at least one bullet hole in a shattered front door window.

Friday morning, a police security tape cordoned off all the stores in the strip mall near the corner of du Sablon Rd. in Chomedey where the Mr. Puffs is located, as the investigators continued their analysis of the crime scene.

Local media report that the night before, two similar gunshot incidents took place at commercial establishments located in Laval’s Vimont and Duvernay districts.

Laval Police organized crime investigators were on the scene outside the Mr. Puffs on Notre-Dame Blvd. after an early morning December 5 shooting incident. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)

This latest firearms incident followed the slaying of Charalambos Theologou, a reputed local organized crime figure, who was shot to death in broad daylight in early October inside a Starbucks coffee shop on the Autoroute 440 south service road, notably just a short distance from the Mr. Puffs head office also on the A-440.

The shattered front door (including a bullet hole just above the door handle) of Mr. Puffs on Notre -Dame Blvd. on Friday Dec. 5 after an overnight firearms incident. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)

Several media, including CBC Montreal and La Presse, have claimed Theologou was the head of an extortion racket that had set up a base of operations in the Notre Dame Blvd. Mr. Puffs.

Mr. Puffs head office issued a statement denying categorically any connection, as suggested by La Presse in an article.

“The article published suggests that an individual known to police had been associated with criminal activity and had ‘established a headquarters’ within one of our Laval restaurants,” said the company.

“Mr. Puffs categorically denies any business, financial, or operational ties to this individual or to any criminal organizations.”

They went on to say that Mr. Puffs franchise locations “are operated by independent business owners under strict agreements with Head Office.

“At no time has Mr. Puffs authorized, condoned, or been aware of the alleged activities described in the media report. We are deeply troubled by the implications and wish to reassure the public that Mr. Puffs had no involvement in these matters.”

Among the measures Mr. Puffs head office said it had taken, they said they:

  • Reached out to law enforcement to offer full cooperation.
  • Reviewed internal franchise compliance protocols to ensure strong oversight across all locations.
  • Communicated directly with the franchisee concerned to reaffirm contractual obligations and brand standards.

“We strongly condemn any suggestion of links between Mr. Puffs and organized crime,” said Tom Bountis, president and chief executive officer of Mr. Puffs Canada.

This latest incident comes just a few days after the City of Laval and the Laval Police announced a new program of public safety and law enforcement measures to deal with a renewed wave of extortion attempts, punctuated by gunshots, against Chomedey and Laval business owners.

Task Force submits brief to National Assembly on Legault government’s Bill 1

Martin C. Barry
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Task Force submits brief to National Assembly on Legault government’s Bill 1

Proposed Quebec constitution law would prioritize French, secularism and collective rights

After reading and analyzing the Legault government’s Bill 1, the Task Force on Linguistic Policy has concluded the proposed constitution legislation “is a threat to the 1.25 million English speaking Quebecers, a threat to Quebec’s future in Canada, and “sends a clear message to all non-francophones: ‘you do not exist.’”

Since its founding in 2021, the Task Force, led by Andrew Caddell, has organized public meetings and rallies, submitted legal briefs to courts, the National Assembly and Parliament, and held expert panel discussions to oppose both Bill 96 and the use of the Canadian constitution’s controversial Notwithstanding Clause.

Their Bill 1 reaction brief submitted to elected officials at the Quebec National Assembly stated the concerns of the Task Force.

Fleeting mention of Anglos

Mentioned in the 11-page document is the draft legislation’s fleeting mention of Anglophone institutions. “In doing so, it fails to recognize the enormous contributions of English-speaking Quebecers for three centuries and more,” stated the Task Force.

“The bill places collective rights, secularism and the French language above human rights,” they maintain. “This creates an inverted pyramid of rights where the collective supersedes the individual.”

The brief outlines Bill 1’s objectives, the Task Force’s objections, legal issues and recommended changes. Among other things, it notes that the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights does not recognize collective rights, stating rather that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

The brief refutes the CAQ government’s claim of Quebec being self-determined, the ability to hold a referendum with a winning margin of 50 per cent plus one, and denounces Bill 1, saying “the contempt for our federal system runs throughout this legislation,” as the proposed law refers to Canada as a “loose federation of autonomous states.”

‘Radical and unconstitutional’

The Task Force concludes that Bill 1 “is a radical and unconstitutional blueprint for provincial autonomy. It is a blueprint for a controlled demolition of the existing federal system.”

The Task Force stated in its conclusion, “We recognize and encourage the flourishing of French as the majority language in Quebec. But we stand with those who do not speak French: the elderly, visible minorities, the rural poor, the indigenous people, the physically and mentally challenged.

“These are the people who require government services. Many were not educated in Canada, and therefore could be denied government services according to Bill 96 and would be permanently discriminated against in Bill 1.

The Task Force on Linguistic Policy’s Andrew Caddell.

“That is unfair, egregious, immoral and unconstitutional. It is not the Quebec that we know, and it is not the Quebec we see evolving into the future. Quebec will be a pariah in the western world by adopting such a fundamental law. And we will join in the criticisms of it until it is withdrawn.”

Narrow-minded laws

The Task Force maintains that Bill 1 “promises to ‘define the Quebec nation,’ but rather than describe a dynamic, multilingual society within a majority Francophone province, it entrenches its three most narrow-minded pieces of legislation – Bill 21 on secularism, Bill 84 on identity, and Bill 96 on language – outside challenges of the courts, so their privileged place in this ‘Constitution’ protects them from judicial appeal.”

“This bill places collective rights, secularism and the French language above human rights,” they continue. “It also prevents the use of taxpayers’ dollars for court challenges, a fundamental undermining of democratic principles that any party should be able to challenge any unfair law.”

The Task Forced noted that in Quebec, “scholars and premiers, both indépendantiste and federalist, have advocated for a written Quebec Constitution to underline its autonomy and difference. However, the Liberals, Parti Québécois and Québec solidaire all voted against tabling the bill.”

The Task Force noted that the Barreau du Québec has also criticized Bill 1. “It is time this legislation be shelved, amended enormously or thrown in the recycling bin, where it belongs,” they said.

‘Dangerous, unconstitutional’

Recommending changes, the Task Force said it “sees this bill as dangerous, unconstitutional and inconsistent with the Constitution of Canada and its Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Any and all sections that are beyond the reach of the National Assembly should be withdrawn.”

“The Task Force, as a representative of the 1.25 million English-speaking Quebecers, demands recognition of the non-francophone community as builders, leaders, scientists, doctors, and enormous contributors to the growth of Quebec for the last three centuries,” they continued.

“A chapter of the law should be dedicated to this recognition. If not, this legislation creates a structure of a purely ethnocentric ‘nation,’ comparable to a 19th century nation-state, and not a dynamic, open society of the 21st century.”

Ottawa’s Dental Care Plan reaches new milestone, improving access, says Health Minister

Martin C. Barry
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Ottawa’s Dental Care Plan reaches new milestone, improving access, says Health Minister

But not everything is covered, Marjorie Michel admits after announcing additional funding

“Thanks to the CDCP Canadians are now receiving the preventive care they need,” says Liberal Health Minister and Papineau MP Marjorie Michel. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

While acknowledging that the Canadian Dental Care Plan may be leaving some users with a relatively small sum to pay off whenever they go to the dentist, federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel says it’s up to the dentists themselves to decide whether they’re willing to shoulder that extra cost.

More funds for oral health

Michel, who is the Liberal MP for the riding of Papineau, held a press conference in Villeray in Montreal on November 24 to announce additional funding of more than $35 million over three years for 30 projects under the Oral Health Access Fund (OHAF).

According to a press release issued by the federal health ministry, the projects will improve training for dental students by allowing them to obtain the hands-on experience they need to provide care to Canadians across the country while strengthening efforts to improve access to care.

According to the ministry, close to six million Canadians are now covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). “The CDCP is making life more affordable by saving eligible Canadians an average of $800 per year on their oral health care services,” says the ministry.

Most dentists are on board

The health ministry says that currently more than 27,000 dentists and other oral health providers are participating in the CDCP, offering a wide range of services that include cleanings, fillings and dentures, representing close to 100 per cent of active providers in Canada.

In Quebec alone, according to summary data posted online by the CDCP, 1,653,165 Quebecers have signed up for the program. The total number of approved applicants in Quebec who received care for benefit year 2025 to 2026 stands at 552,621 users.

Canadian Health Minister and Papineau Liberal MP Marjorie Michel (third from right) is seen here with Marc-Aurèle-Fortin Liberal MP Carlos Leitão (third from left) and representatives from various local community groups during Michel’s announcement in Villeray on November 24. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

According to the ministry, some CDCP program subscribers saw an oral health provider for the first time in decades after signing on. The ministry notes that without access to dental care, many people visit medical emergency rooms for dental issues that could be treated in a dentist’s office. Hence, the CDCP is helping ease pressure on Canada’s health care system, they claim.

“Thanks to the CDCP Canadians are now receiving the preventive care they need, and this program is only possible because of the commitment and participation of almost all oral providers across the country,” Michel said in a statement. “Our support to new training projects will not only empower the next generation of oral health professionals, but also contribute to lower costs for families.”

Not everything is covered

As for the users’ leftover billing fees, CBC News Ottawa reported in July that some dentistry patients were under the impression all their dental work was free. The reality is that the program reimburses dentists’ rates as determined by provincial billing guidelines.

It might also be noted that Health Canada describes the Canadian Dental Care Plan as “helping make the cost of dental care more affordable,” while making no claims about providing full and comprehensive coverage.

As a result, many dentists’ offices charge the difference between the price of the procedures and what CDCP pays them. For example, a recent bill for a total of $257 issued for basic treatments by a practitioner at a west-end Montreal dentists’ office left the patient on the hook for $57.39 after CDCP paid $199.61.

Marc-Aurèle-Fortin Liberal MP Carlos Leitão (who is a Parliamentary Secretary) and Health Minister Marjorie Michel announced improvements to the Canadian Dental Care Plan on November 24. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

Answering journalists’ questions, Michel maintained that the program was never conceived to cover 100 per cent of costs. She suggested that those enrolled in the CDCP should shop around for a dentist who is willing to waive or charge less for the stub.

How to apply for CDCP

All eligible Canadians can apply to the CDCP. To qualify, applicants must: Not have access to dental insurance; Have filed their individual 2024 tax return in Canada (and their spouse’s or common-law partner’s (if applicable); Have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000; And be a Canadian resident for tax purposes.

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