From the left: Laval Police chief inspector for risk management Manon Ouellette, Laval Police director Pierre Brochet, Canadian Forces Lt. Col. Stéphane Tremblay and Master Warrant Officer Patrick Barriault.
(TLN)
Last week as the City of Laval was beginning to deal with spring flooding, Lt. Col.
Stéphane Tremblay, commander of operational forces in the greater Montreal
region, and Master Warrant Officer Patrick Barriault visited the city’s
Emergency Measures Coordination Centre.
The two stated their support and the determination of
the troops under their command to provide assistance to Laval residents during
this time of crisis. Laval Police director Pierre Brochet, who also coordinates
civil security in Laval, was on hand to welcome them.
Around 200 Canadian Forces personnel (around a third
of the total number of soldiers deployed in Quebec to deal with the flooding)
were brought into Laval and have been providing assistance in areas of the city
that are most impacted.
The current issue of the Laval News volume 27-09 published May 1st, 2019, (Laval’s English Newspaper) covers local events such as politics, sports and human-interest stories. It features editorials and other columns. Click on the image to read the paper.
(TLN) Quebec Minister for Seniors and Caregivers
Marguerite Blais and Sainte-Rose CAQ MNA Christopher Skeete have announced new
financial assistance to the Table régionale de concertation des aînés de Laval amounting
to $400,000 in 2023.
Budget hike
The 20 per cent increase in the TRCAL’s budget will
allow the organization to increase the availability of services to seniors,
Skeete and Blais said in a statement.
“This significant increase in funding, which was
sought for several years, shows the importance accorded to seniors issues by
our government,” said Skeete.
Subsidies for seniors
TRCAs
exist in each of Quebec’s 18 administrative regions. The TRCAL is overseen by the Conférence des Tables
régionales de concertation des aînés du Québec (CTRCAQ).
The
CTRCAQ is expected to receive an additional subsidy of more than $910,000 by
2023 to assist with its activities. In all, the TRCAL and the CTRCAQ will be
receiving $7.7 million by 2023.
(TLN) This year marks the completion of the City of
Laval’s implementation of its organic waste collection at residences of seven
or less units. From now to the end of September, 44,000 new households will be
added to the list, for a total of 130,000 residences taking part in the
collection.
A positive
response
“In 2018, the organic waste collection made it
possible to avoid waste landfill sites, while processing 14,626 tonnes of
materials, representing 290 kgs per household,” says Laval executive-committee
member Virginie Dufour.
“The response by Laval residents has been greater than
expected. We realize that effectively more than 95 per cent of Laval residents
served by the collection take part. These positive results will only increase
with the deployment of this service across the territory.”
To be fully implemented
Since
mid-April, 26,000 households in Laval have received their organic waste kit.
From the end of next August, the last 18,000 addresses will be added. The
organic waste kits include a small kitchen waste container, an outdoor
receptacle on wheels, some documentation and a few other items.
Implementation
of the kitchen waste collection program began in the autumn of 2016. The
program was a response to provincial government efforts to have kitchen waste
programs across Quebec. It should be noted that some sectors of Laval, such as
Champfleury, Chomedey and Laval-des-Rapides, have had an organic waste program
since 1996.
(TLN) On a tour of flood-devastated
Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac north of Laval last weekend, Premier François
Legault announced that the provincial
government will be donating $1 million to the Red Cross to help victims of the
flood.
“This will help for meals, lodging and medication,”
Legault said. “There are children who will need clothing, because people had to
get out in a hurry.”
With water levels on Lake of Two Mountains expected to
remain at high levels by the middle of this week, residents of the area were
not expected to their homes any time soon. He said the Red Cross could be
counted on to provide help until it becomes possible.
April 26 – Police are questioning four witnesses – two
adults and two minors – in an attempt to determine what started the altercation
that left an 18-year-old man dead.
The incident occurred at about 7:15 p.m. on
Marc-Aurèle-Fortin Ave. in the Ste-Rose district, allegedly as two groups
crossed paths in a residential area.
When police arrived at the scene, they discovered the
victim with stab wounds to his upper torso. He was transported to hospital and
later died of his injuries.
So far, no charges have been laid.
Peaceful End to
12-Hour Stand-Off
April 26 – A 12-hour standoff between the police and a
man barricaded in his home ended peacefully last Thursday.
The incident began at about 11 a.m. when the suspect
entered a local store and began causing damage and behaving aggressively. He
then returned to his dwelling and barricaded himself inside as police arrived.
Police were uncertain whether the suspect, who is known
to police and suffers from psychiatric problems, was armed.
A nearby school, daycare, as well as several neighbouring
businesses were evacuated during the standoff as a precaution.
Officers settled in to wait. Almost twelve hours later,
at about 11:30 p.m., the suspect quietly surrendered himself to police and was
placed in custody.
Pickpocket Swipes
Wallet from Restaurant Customer
April 25 – Laval police are asking for the public’s help
to identify a suspect who allegedly stole a wallet from a restaurant customer at
the Mega-Centre in Ste-Dorothée. The incident happened on March 29 at about 7
p.m.
The suspect and his accomplice entered the restaurant and
sat themselves near the victim. They left the restaurant shortly after without
ordering anything.
The victim eventually discovered that his wallet had been
stolen from the pocket of his coat, which had been draped over the back of his
chair.
Before the victim even noticed his wallet was missing,
six purchases had been made on his credit card in Laval and Montreal.
Police describe the suspect as a white male in his 40s
who stands about six feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds. At the time of the
theft he was wearing glasses, and sported a goatee beard. He was also wearing a
black coat with a fur-lined hood and a black cap.
This incident is similar to a wave of pickpocketing
thefts that occurred two years ago and led the Laval police to launch an
awareness campaign warning diners to be vigilant.
Anyone with information on the suspect in this latest
case is asked to contact Laval police at 450-662-INFO (4636) or 911, and mention
file LVL 190330 042.
Newborn Abandoned
in Shoebox, Teen Mom Arrested
April 24 – Laval police arrested an 18-year-old woman
after it was discovered she had abandoned her newborn baby and left it in a
shoebox on a neighbour’s balcony.
Police received a 911 call last Wednesday around noon
from a woman who reported finding a baby girl in a box on her balcony.
Shortly after, police were alerted by hospital personnel
of an 18-year-old woman seeking treatment after childbirth, but the baby was
not with her.
Police suspect the young woman gave birth alone in an
apartment then left it on her neighbour’s balcony. The baby may have spent
nearly two hours outside with the temperature around seven degrees.
The woman was arrested, but investigators had to wait to
question her because she was receiving medical treatment. She could face a
charge of failing to provide the necessities of life.
The baby, who received medical attention and is doing
well, is in the custody of Quebec youth protection.
Priest Arrested
for Sexual Assault
April 24 – Several weeks after a priest was charged with
sexual assault, Laval police are seeking more people who may have been abused.
Laval police arrested Father Henri Paradis on April 4 and
he was subsequently charged with sexual assaulting an individual in 1988.
According to police, Paradis went to the victim’s home in
1988 to hear a confession, and then touched the victim in a sexual manner.
The complainant came forward many years later, and police
believe Paradis may have other possible victims. People are encouraged to
contact Laval police by calling 450-662-INFO (4636). Calls are treated
confidentially.
Paradis was the founder of the Jourdain Catholic
Charismatic Centre in Montreal North in 1976, which refers to a biblical belief
in the spiritual gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and more.
Paradis is scheduled to appear in court on June 17.
(TLN) While not everyone agrees the plan is fair, Quebec
Premier François Legault says the province will help
compensate flooded homeowners with sizeable payments, although he is warning
that taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to shoulder the bill for flood damage
forever.
Last
week just days after the flooding crisis started, Premier Legault said the CAQ
government would buy out flood-area house owners up to a maximum $200,000. As
well, he said the province would establish a ceiling of $100,000 in
compensation to owners making claims after flooding.
Limiting
compensation
Speaking to media in Gatineau last week while touring
the flood-stricken area, Legault said the provincial government will not be
able to afford offering compensation “every year to solve problems, but only on
a temporary basis.” He said the government preferred to offer incentives to
move to stricken homeowners, since the current environmental conditions are
starting to become a regular occurrence.
The
reaction to Legault’s offer was swift in some quarters. In places affected by
the floods, like Laval or Pierrefonds on the other side of the des Prairies
River, homeowners have expressed their outrage that Legault would offer such
low amounts for properties that in some cases are worth several times what’s
being offered.
Relief for tax payers
Provincial
compensation aside, another type of monetary relief appears to be on the
horizon for those impacted by the flooding.
Revenue
Quebec and the Canada Revenue Agency have both announced that they will
overlook late filing penalties on income tax normally due April 30, as well as
businesses filing for taxes, if the tax files in question are from individuals
or businesses impacted by the floods.
However,
the two agencies said taxpayers in this situation must make contact immediately
to report their circumstances.
April 15 – Laval police are asking for the public’s help
to identify a female suspect involved in a robbery and assault that occurred at
a Dollarama in Ste-Dorothée last fall.
The suspect entered the store at about 1:30 p.m. on
October 10, and made her way through the aisles sneaking several items into her
bag before heading for the exit.
A security guard intercepted her as she tried to leave,
but the suspect pepper-sprayed him in the face and then hit him several times.
A female witness was also pepper-sprayed when she tried to intervene.
The suspect fled the scene by car.
Police describe the suspect as a white female in her 20s
who speaks with an Arabic accent. She stands about 5’5” tall, weighs about 135
pounds and has several face piercings.
At the time of the incident, the suspect had auburn hair
and she was wearing a black coat, dark-coloured pants, and black-and-white
shoes.
Anyone with information on the identity or location of
the suspect is urged to call 450-662-INFO (4636), or 911, and mention file LVL
181010 051. Calls are treated confidentially.
April Ice-Storm
Tally
April 12 – Laval was among the regions hardest hit by
last week’s ice-storm which left hundreds of thousands of Quebec residents with
no power for several days.
Local authorities were quick to react and respond.
Two emergency shelters were opened in Laval for those who
needed to get out of their cold homes and sleep somewhere warm and safe, and to
accommodate those simply seeking a place to charge phones and electronic
devices.
Laval firefighters and police officers reminded the
public that people need to be prudent during weather events.
Firefighters rescued several people who had fallen ill due
to carbon monoxide poisoning.
During the first two days of the storm, four adults and
five children were taken to hospital in three separate incidents. Two of the
incidents involved people who were using barbecues indoors, while in the third
a man had a generator very close to his house and was overcome by the exhaust.
People also accidentally set 17 fires in Laval, often by
knocking over candles.
Laval police spokesperson Evelyne Boudreau said many
people were calling 9-1-1 to ask for help with health issues and with flooding.
“Firefighters were going door-to-door to say that
carbon monoxide detectors have to be checked. Fire detectors also,” said
Boudreau, adding that people with known health issues were also being checked
on.
While proving extremely inconvenient for everyone on the
island (except school-aged kids who enjoyed having the schools closed) the ice-storm
did not cause any fatalities.
Hydro-Quebec, with the help of Hydro-Sherbrooke and crews
from Vermont, had re-established power to nearly everyone by Thursday evening.
Laval Police
Accused of Using Excessive Force on Minor
April 8 – A 16-year-old girl who was arrested recently by
Laval police has accused the officers of using excessive force during her
arrest, and breaking her nose in the process.
Photos of the girl and her injuries started circulating
on social media after the incident, which took place on March 24. The images
also include pictures of a blood smear on a Laval police cruiser’s hood.
The girl, whose name can’t be published because she is a
minor, spoke out about her experience alongside her mother at a news conference
organized by the Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations.
The incident occurred as police officers arrived at the
scene of a complaint they had received.
According to the teen, an officer grabbed her by the arm
and as she tried to pull away, she found herself face down on the asphalt. She
was then handcuffed and her head was placed on the hood of the police cruiser.
She alleged that she was punched twice in the head and then fitted with a spit
guard. Her mouth was full of blood and she had to struggle to breathe without
choking.
She claimed that one of the officers told her it was her
own fault that her nose was broken.
Laval police offer a different version of events.
Responding to a call from a witness who reported seeing
someone breaking the side mirrors of cars parked on a street near a party, officers
attempted to arrest the young woman as part of their investigation.
According to Evelyne Boudreau, a spokesperson for the
Laval police, when the officer tried to put the handcuffs on the teen, she fell
to the ground and hit her face.
After the incident garnered attention on social media,
the arresting officers’ conduct was reviewed by their supervisors, Boudreau
added. The supervisors determined that the officers had done nothing wrong.
The girl was issued two tickets on the night she was
handcuffed: one for public drunkenness, and the other for assaulting a police
officer.
She may face further criminal charges, including
obstruction of justice and mischief related to property damage.
The current issue of the Laval News volume 27-08 published April 17th, 2019, (Laval’s English Newspaper) covers local events such as politics, sports and human-interest stories. It features editorials and other columns. Click on the image to read the paper.
On
April 12th 2019, Agape’s Executive Director, Kevin McLeod received a generous
cheque in the amount of $3,106 from Chomedey MNA Guy Ouellette.
This
money was for the Volunteer Support Program of the Ministry of Education,
Recreation and Sports and was to support Agape’s 2018-2019 efforts with the
Chomedey community.
“Mr.
Ouellette always has and remains to be a big supporter of our organization”
said McLeod. “I think it’s important that the residents of Chomedey know how
involved he continues to be.”
