Mayor Demers pleased with CAQ government’s first budget

(TLN) Laval mayor Marc Demers says he is pleased with the Coalition Avenir Québec government’s first annual budget which was released last week by Finance Minister Éric Girard.

Demers said he was impressed by the $16.6 billion amount over 10 years that the government allotted to public transit.

Pleased with measures

“This measure squares perfectly with the vision at the Forum on Mobility and public transit to develop an integrated network of transport for Laval-Lower Laurentians with the goal of countering road congestion,” said Demers.

“Also, I am happy to see that several measures which emerged from the Forum can be seen in the Quebec Plan for Infrastructures,” he added.

More changing stations

The CAQ government’s extension of its ‘Roulez vert’ program, which facilitates the purchase of electric vehicles, as well as the acquisition of electrical charging stations, were both greeted eagerly by the mayor. The measures are added to similar ones announced in the federal budget recently.

Laval has a considerable number of households on its territory with low revenue, while also suffering from a deficit of social housing units to meet that need. As such, Demers said he also welcomed the government’s supplementary investment of $250 million. “With this amount, we hope to be in a position to support the realization of social, community and affordable housing projects on our territory,” he said.

Integrating immigrants

Laval is the second-most important area in Quebec where new immigrants first arrive. In the context of a growing Laval economy, the mayor said the government’s announcement of $733 million to further integrate the new arrivals in the work force is encouraging.

“Laval is among the leaders in its making available cultural activities to children,” continued Demers. “As such, we can only rejoice at the investment of $135 million for cultural outings in school settings. What’s more, in a city that positions culture as an important vector of its development, the measure linked to creativity and cultural entrepreneurialism that was announced will allow to better support cultural artists and players from Laval.”

Budget reactions from Laval Chamber of Commerce and Industry

(TLN) The Laval Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued statements last week reacting to the new budgets issued by the federal and provincial governments.

Ottawa ignores deficit

Regarding the federal budget, the CCIL said it is concerned about Ottawa’s continuing practice of not dealing with the growing federal deficit. Among the federal government’s measures the CCIL felt were most important were those affecting the availability of labour and improvements for transportation.

“The Chamber feels that all initiatives helping business to face an urgent shortage of labour, as well as development of skills for workers and access to employment, must remain priorities for our government and put forward so that our businesses can answer adequately to the needs of the markets in an extremely competitive environment,” said CCIL president and executive-director Louise Leroux.

Sustainable measures

Regarding sustainable mobility, the CCIL said it recognized efforts in the budget to encourage businesses to use electric vehicles with zero or low emissions through subsidies. The CCIL was also impressed by federal measures to encourage low energy use in building and construction, as well as by the government’s encouragement of sustainable development practices within businesses.

While noting that Ottawa expressed its intention to invest substantially in the deployment of high-speed Internet everywhere in Quebec, the CCIL said that industrial parks should be a major focus of this. “The  automation and digitalization of businesses demands fast access to information and new technologies,” said Leroux, while adding that some businesses in Laval’s industrial parks don’t yet have access to high-speed Internet at a price that is competitive.

No plan for deficit

Regarding the federal deficit of $19.8 billion, the CCIL said it was concerned the government has no plan for eventually reducing the debt. “Given the favourable economic circumstances these past few years, we would have wished to see in this budget a more concrete plan to favour a return to budgetary equilibrium,” said Leroux.

Regarding the highly-publicized situation of regional print media in recent years, the CCIL said it was disappointed the federal government didn’t include measures to help regional media who have suffered from steep losses of advertising revenue.

Pleased with CAQ budget

Regarding the provincial budget, the CCIL said it was pleased by measures introduced by the new CAQ government that will help with a labour shortage being felt particularly by businesses located in Quebec’s outlying regions.

The Chamber said it was happy about provincial budget measures designed to help businesses retain employees older than 60 years who are experienced. Another measure that pleased the organization was integration of immigrants. As well, the Chamber said it was happy about investments being made by the CAQ government to strengthen the position of the French language in the sphere of business, manufacturing and services.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board Satisfied with the 2019-2020 Québec Budget   

The Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board (SWLSB) is pleased with the outcome of the 2019-2020 budget announced yesterday. Although it is too early to communicate specific details as to the outcome this budget will have on the SWLSB, the 5.1% increase announced for the education sector demonstrates that the government is making education a priority. The school board looks forward to seeing the new budget rules.

“I am pleased with the government’s budget and I am reassured that education remains at the forefront. I am confident that this new injection of funds will allow us to expand certain services and programs that will benefit our students.” stated Mr. Paolo Galati, SWLSB Chairperson. The school board is also pleased that this budget includes additional funding towards investment and maintenance of infrastructure, which is much needed. Another positive element is that funds will be dedicated to measures to support teachers and promote the teaching profession.

The Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board is the third largest English school board of the Province of Québec and boasts an 85,9% graduation rate. Its territory comprises the administrative regions of Laval, Lanaudière and the Laurentides. It provides preschool, elementary, secondary, adult education and vocational education services to over 14,000 students in 35 schools and 4 centres, as well as a business training division (Service aux entreprises). The school board has a workforce of nearly 2,000 employees. 

The Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) expressed its deep disappointment with and opposition to Bill 21, An Act respecting the laicity of the State, which prohibits broad categories of government employees, including public school teachers and principals from wearing religious symbols.

“Bill 21 is a divisive and an unnecessary piece of legislation that can only lead to societal discrimination. Once again, this government is claiming there is a problem that clearly does not exist. Québec’s public schools have a proud record of inclusion, of celebrating the different ways to be Quebecers and Canadians. Our teachers’ unions and our school boards have always found ways to strike a positive balance between religious differences and common values. QESBA and its member Boards would far prefer the government to be working with us to address the real issues, such as student success and increased services in the classroom, that matter to the future of the students,” said QESBA President Dan Lamoureux.

Going further than the 2008 Bouchard-Taylor report entitled “BUILDING THE FUTURE: A Time for Reconciliation,” the draft law proposes to ban the wearing of religious symbols by public sector employees in a position of authority, including teachers and administrators in our schools. The fact that the prohibition would not apply to current employees does nothing to make it more acceptable. The use of both the Canadian and Québec “notwithstanding” clauses in Bill 21 is a clear indication that even the Government of Québec recognizes that the proposed measures are an infringement on individual rights.

“Inclusion, inquiry and fairness are basic principles that guide the teaching we do in all nine English school boards across Quebec. QESBA sees nothing in Bill 21 that strengthens these principles. QESBA will insist on presenting its thoughts on the key aspects of this bill when Parliamentary Committee hearings are set. We will do so after speaking with teachers, administrators, parents and communities served by our nine member Boards. We will look at the draft law with a clear focus on what is best for our students and employees and with a steadfast commitment to the values of openness, tolerance and mutual understanding so crucial to our society,” concluded the President.

Classes are also opening at Anglophone schools. Skeete is encouraging parents to take advantage of the classes which are being offered for free. In all, 644 kindergarten classes for four-year-olds should become available across the province in 2019-2020.

Bill 5 amendments

(TLN) Saint-Rose CAQ MNA Christopher Skeete says he is pleased that six kindergarten classes for four-year-olds will be opening at Francophone schools in the Laval region: at Eurêka, Quatre-Vents/Monseigneur-Laval and Nouvelle école of Laval-des-Rapides.

In February, the CAQ government tabled Bill 5 to amend the provincial public education system. The new law will gradually broaden access to full-time kindergarten for four-year olds whose parents choose this.

As parliamentary assistant to Premier François Legault, with responsibility for Relations with English-Speaking Quebecers, Skeete said he was also thrilled by the scheduled opening of the classes for four-year-olds in pre-kindergarten at these primary schools: Jules-Verne, Souvenir and John-F. Kennedy.

“This is incredible news for students and parents in our region,” said Skeete. “Pre-kindergarten for four-year-olds, free and non-mandatory, will allow for quicker detection and problem solving for children having potential impediments to their development, while offering them learning through play.

Four-year-olds pre-k for all

“Over the next five years, our government wishes to make pre-k for four-year-olds available for all children in Sainte-Rose and Quebec,” continued Skeete. “I invite all admissible parents to register their children for this service now in view of the next back-to-school.”

According to Skeete, an additional 250 classes are expected in September 2019 for a total of 644 classes across Quebec. Registration is taking place now for schools where pre-k for four-year-olds is set to be available.

Beginning this fall, classes will be open to families who are economically disadvantaged, although the criteria are expected to be widened. The CAQ government hopes to make pre-k for four-year-olds available to all families within the next five years.

Martin C. Barry

With more than two years to go before the next municipal elections, Action Laval – which lost its Official Opposition status in the last election – is claiming the title once again following the arrival of five former Mouvement Lavallois councillors in the Action Laval caucus – raising the total to six.

The five new Action Laval councillors, Paolo Galati (Saint-Vincent-de-Paul), Daniel Hébert (Marigot), Michel Poissant (Vimont), David De Cotis (Saint-Bruno) and Isabella Tassoni (Laval-des-Rapides), are joining Aglaia Revelakis (Chomedey), who was elected under the banner of Action Laval in 2013 and re-elected in 2017.

Strength in numbers

The additions represent a major change in the composition of city council, effectively making Action Laval’s six elected representatives the main opposition group to Mayor Marc Demers’ administration – at least in terms of numerical superiority.

“We never made a secret of our intention to rally all the oppositions in Laval and to create a single large team for the next election,” Action Laval interim leader Achille Cifelli said during a press conference held last week at the Embassy Plaza. “It was part of our plan. Now, we will move forward and offer real listening to all Laval residents and, and most importantly, we will make sure the administration acts in their interests.”

New leadership next year

The plan calls for Cifelli to remain Action Laval’s interim-leader and president until a new leader is chosen by the membership sometime next year. “With six municipal councillors, Action Laval now becomes the main opposition force in Laval,” he said. “The role of our party in the municipal council will change, just as it will with the management of the city and various organizations.”

Chomedey councillor Revelakis, who succeeded in keeping her head high while bearing the Action Laval banner as the party’s only council member these past few years, welcomed the rallying of her five colleagues to the party, as well as the accession of the new caucus as the main opposition to the Demers administration.

‘New chapter begins’

“Today a new chapter begins for Action Laval,” she said. “We will be forming the biggest opposition ever at city hall. United, we will be there to care for the interests of our citizens and make sure that the present administration is accountable for their actions. We will be building the party that will defeat Marc Demers in 2021.”

Speaking on behalf of the five new members of the caucus, David De Cotis (a founding member of the Mouvement Lavallois and former vice-president of the Demers executive-committee) said he and his colleagues considered it was the right time to “turn the page” on their past political allegiances.

A fact-based opposition

“We are now joining an organized and trusted team, with whom we share the values of service to citizens, integrity and transparency,” he said. “We will continue to defend the interests of all Laval residents. But we will be doing it in an objective and responsible fashion by relying on facts.

“We will be rigorous in our criticisms, but respectful in our approach,” added De Cotis. “But mostly we will continue to listen to everyone in Laval. My colleagues Isabella, Daniel, Michel, Paolo and myself we are turning the page on the old political accusations. We are now members entirely of the Action Laval party and its caucus.”

De Cotis won’t run for mayor

Answering journalists’ questions, De Cotis maintained steadfastly that he was not interested in running for mayor in 2021. “It’s something I thought about long and hard,” he said. “When I entered politics it was really to serve the citizens. I feel just fine as the district councillor for Saint-Bruno and I will continue to serve my citizens well.”

While four of the other Action Laval councillors also claimed they weren’t interested in running for mayor, Michel Poissant responded “we will see” when prompted to state whether he’d consider seeking the mayoralty.

Not ‘official’ opposition

Although Action Laval has now become the largest block of city councillors who are unaffiliated with the Demers administration, the Parti Laval (which has only one elected councillor) will continue to be designated as the “official opposition,” since they won that privilege in the 2017 election when they were the second-place party with the largest share of votes.

While the title also allows the Parti Laval to receive a budget of more than $600,000 annually to conduct research and to hire support staff, De Cotis said Action Laval will be conducting research of its own using a team of dedicated volunteers instead of salaried staff.

The route will include 15 stops in Montreal and two in Laval

Starting Monday, Pie-IX Boulevard will undergo a major overhaul to develop a bus rapid transit route.

The work will reduce the six-lane road that stretches from Hochelaga-Maisonneuve to Laval to two lanes heading south and one lane heading north.

To avoid extra traffic congestion, the northbound bus lines 139 and 439 will be temporarily diverted to neighbouring residential streets.

Residents irked by plan to divert buses to their street during 4 years of construction on Pie-IX Blvd.

Workers will tackle one section at a time, fixing gas lines, building electrical infrastructure and rebuilding the roadway.

Residents who use the road regularly say they are bracing for the changes, but hoping for the best.

Once the project is done, the bus rapid transit will span more than 10 kilometres.

The route will include 15 stops in Montreal and two in Laval. Work is expected to be completed by December 2022

The Key Tag Service was launched after the Second World War so that returning war amputee veterans could not only work for competitive wages, but also provide a service to Canadians that would generate funds for the Association.

Each key tag has a confidentially coded number. If you lose your keys, the finder can call the toll-free number on the back of the tag or place them in any mailbox, and The War Amps will return them to you by courier, free of charge.

The War Amps receives no government grants. With the public’s support of the Key Tag Service, the Association is making a difference in the lives of amputees by providing financial assistance for artificial limbs, peer support and information on all aspects of living with amputation.

Those who do not receive their key tags in the mail can order them at waramps.ca or call 514-398-0759.