Martin C. Barry

Residential as well as non-residential property owners in Laval will be paying 1.8 per cent more in taxes in 2019, according to the city’s latest annual budget which was released to the media last Monday at Laval city hall.

The Demers administration’s sixth budget since first being elected in 2013 allocates funding for $875.3 million in expenses over the coming year. This compares to $836.3 million in operating expenses and a 1.4 per cent tax increase for 2018.

$59 hike on average bill

In real dollars, the 1.8 per cent hike translates into a $59 increase on a municipal tax bill for a single-family house valued at $358,000 based on the last property roll. The increase in the bill for an average condominium property is just $5 based on a condo worth $255,705.

Regarding the obvious disproportion in the size of tax hikes for the two types of property, Sylvain Gouin, the City of Laval’s director of finance, acknowledged during a media briefing on the budget last Monday morning that the disparity is indeed “odd,” although he didn’t elaborate.

Rate of inflation

While critics of Mayor Marc Demers’s administration are putting him on the defensive for presenting yet another budget with a tax increase, Demers pointed out, as he has in previous years, that the hike is in line with the prevailing rate of inflation.

However, while the Demers administration claimed last year when tabling the 2018 budget that its overall property tax hike was below the rate of inflation, an official statement issued by the mayor’s office earlier this week says of the 2019 tax increase that it “corresponds to the growth in inflation that is projected.”

Honouring commitments

Addressing journalists, Mayor Demers said, “The City of Laval’s 2019 budget faithfully reflects the commitments that we made towards the population. It is based on our profound wish to offer to citizens quality services, always evolving, and all delivered with respect for their capacity to pay. It also bears witness to our desire to do more with regards to sustainable development and active mobility.”

The 2019 budget allots an additional $36 million for the overall improvement of municipal services in areas that include organic waste recycling and snow removal. The Demers administration says it will be paying particular attention next year to the repair and maintenance of pavement on Laval’s streets, continuing support for public transit, the processing of citizen complaints and requests, and measures to deal with backed up sewers.

More hirings planned

To reach these goals, the city plans to hire more employees. A “Snow Patrol,” which was created by the city to improve snow removal coordination and which is said to be a success, will have three new permanent employees. New hiring is also planned at the urban planning and permits department, as well as at the engineering department where three technicians are being taken on. Up to 15 new employees are being hired to help deal with the backed-up sewer problem, including four specialized engineers.

Also in the new budget, the city is introducing a tax credit program for owners of non-residential buildings in order to encourage construction or improvement of admissible buildings. A second tax credit program will encourage revitalization and modernization of some of the oldest sections of Laval’ industrial parks. The city says it is also introducing changes in the way agriculturally-zoned properties are taxed, while noting that 30 per cent of Laval’s territory is farm land.

Capital works budget

Laval’s three-year capital works budget earmarks more than $1.04 billion for the upgrading and safeguarding of the city’s existing properties and infrastructure, as well as for the development of new infrastructures. The city is allotting more than $50 million in the three-year plan for the construction of the much-anticipated Aquatics Centre which goes to tender in 2019.

Other major projects in the capital works budget include the construction of new firehalls in Pont-Viau and in Laval-Ouest at a cost of $21.7 million. The Laval Police Department will get a new police station to serve the western end of Laval at a cost of $12.8 million. The city plans to spend $16.6 million for work to improve aquatics equipment at swimming and wading pools at several parks, including Berthiaume-Du Tremblay in Chomedey.

Opposition’s reaction

Reacting to the budget, the official opposition Parti Laval denounced the 1.8 per cent tax increase. They claim that since 2015, property taxes in Laval have risen by a combined 8.2 per cent, while the rate of inflation has been just 5.1 per cent during that period. As a result, the Parti Laval wants the city to decree a tax freeze.

For their part, Action Laval issued a statement in which Chomedey councillor Aglaia Revelakis, the party’s sole member of city council, said, “Citizens are having more and more difficulty closing the month and are being constantly asked for more money. I don’t accept that! We are going to fight for them.”

TLN

On Thursday November 8, the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction celebrated their 20^th anniversary of the Design Awards for Excellence in Steel Construction, at the “Salle des Spectacles” of the Casino de Montréal, offering a welcoming cocktail and a 4-course gourmet dinner coupled with music from a jazz-trio. The evening was animated by Stéphanie Levesque (tv host, columnist, author).

Hellen Christodoulou, Ph.D, B.L., LL.B, M.B.A, is the Director General of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction and in charge for the province of Quebec; the institute is the voice of all the steel construction industry in Canada, actively engaged in building a prosperous, sustainable and globally competitive construction sector with ability, vision and leadership to meet growing construction needs.

The 20^th Anniversary theme was “A TRIBUTE TO THE STEEL INDUSTRY – AN IMPORTANT LEGACY FOR QUEBEC”, showcasing the leadership and contribution of the steel industry to the Quebec and the Canadian economy, as well as its North American and International footprint. The steel construction industry is dynamic, and important to Quebec and is constantly evolving; the steel construction industry employs some 17,000 people in more than 1,300 fabrication and erection companies, representing more than 8% of the manufacturing sector.

At this annual event the Institute rewards Québec teams who carry out exceptional projects in steel, showcasing complex and innovative steel construction projects for their beauty, uniqueness and originality. Each year, professionals and key stakeholders in the world of steel construction submit their projects.

105 Nominations were received this year, out of which 38 finalists were picked and finally a distinguished jury of renown Architects and Engineers, selected by Dr. Christodoulou, selected 1 winner for each of the 12 categories. Magnificent videos of the 12 categories were shown during the evening, naming the winner at the end. Plaques were presented to the winning teams, as congratulations and special recognition by the industry.

The fabricator of the year, selected amongst peers was awarded a beautiful portrait representing this year’s theme, prepared by the talented artist Patricia Lagopatis. A donation was also made by the Institute to the Centre for handicap children “Petite Échelle” and the winner of the raffle took home a beautiful painting, donated by the renown artist Katerina Mertikas.

Martin C. Batty

The sound and fury of heavy metal and hard rock – with a dose of Alice Cooper-style theatrics tossed in – helped raise thousands of dollars worth of children’s Christmas toys for Saint Justine’s Hospital during a benefit event held last Saturday night at Juliano’s Resto Bar on Saint-Martin Blvd. in Chomedey.

Called called Rockin’ for Kids, it was a night of amazing rock talent and stars, filled with great talent such as tributes to the Tragically Hip, AC/DC, Alice Cooper, as well as the organizers’ favourite band, The Damn Truth.

The entry fee was simply a brand new toy. “I need help putting smiles on children’s faces,” said chief organizer Lora Di Mora, before inviting the Laval News to drop by to see for ourselves. This wasn’t the first time she’d organized a Christmas toys charitable event.

For St-Justine’s Hospital

While various charitable groups have benefited in the past, this year she decided to hold the event for Saint Justine’s so that the children confined there during the upcoming Christmas holidays will have toys all the same.

“I’ve been doing this for around 15 years now,” she said in an interview. “I just love seeing children happy.” It was the first time that Di Mora, who lives in Montreal’s Borough of Rivière-des-Prairies/Pointe-aux-Trembles, staged the drive in Laval.

Just after 6 pm last Saturday evening when the event was getting underway, more than 200 toys had been collected, with many more donations to be received as the night wore on. For anyone who would like to make a donation of new toys to the cause, Lora can be contacted by e-mail at ldimora@colonialelegance.com.

Martin C. Barry

Vimy Liberal MP Eva Nassif held a pre budget consultation meeting at Château Royal on the evening of Nov. 15 in preparation for the expected tabling of the Liberal government’s 2019-2020 budget in February.

“The government wants to hear from Canadians across the country and from all walks of life,” said Nassif. “We want your feedback on different issues related to Canada’s current and future economic situation.”

Suggestions for gov’t

During the meeting, constituents of Vimy shared their insights and suggestions on how the government could add to its current program, which consists significantly of assisting the middle class as well as helping those working hard to join it.

The meeting was just one of many that are taking place across the country in keeping with a nationwide consultation launched by Liberal Finance Minister Bill Morneau.

Global Entrepreneurship

Nassif began the meeting by informing the participants it was Global Entrepreneurship Week and that the World Bank recently ranked Canada second in the world for starting a business through the programs offered and by lowering taxes for small businesses.

She also mentioned that the government has signed trade deals that provide access to 1.5 billion new customers overseas. Among them was the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA), which Nassif said is an important step forward.

Recent trade agreement

“The USMCA preserves key elements of this trading relationship, makes it easier for Canadians to do business in a wide range of sectors and helps maintain the global competitiveness of the North American region,” she said.

“Let there be no doubt: our southern neighbours will always be important to us. But have to look to new markets too. That’s why Canada has embarked on an ambitious trade diversification strategy.”

During another part of the meeting, she provided participants with an overview of the economic outlook for 2019, while outlining measures the government has already put in place, including the Middle Class Tax Cut, the Canada Child Benefit and the strengthening of the Canada Pension Plan.

To transform the economy

Nassif pointed out that “the challenge and the opportunity is to build on this momentum and focus on the long term, transforming the economy to strengthen the middle class and position Canada for the global economy of tomorrow.”

According to Nassif, all of the input from the meeting will be sent directly to Minister Morneau. He will be working with all Members of Parliament to build on the foundations that we will be put in place in the government’s budget for 2019, so that middle class families can help drive the economy forward over the next year and into the long term.

Constituents’ suggestions

Among the individuals and organizations making statements during the meeting was Patricia Lagopatis, past president of the Hellenic Women’s Federation of Laval (Electra). She said she became aware of grants offered by the federal government through newsletters Nassif distributed to constituents.

“I know that there are many programs and solutions being offered to help entrepreneurs, but we don’t always know everything about them,” she said, asking whether there is a way to improve communications about them. Nassif suggested additional means for obtaining more information.

Prioritize pensions rights

Presenting a list of a half dozen suggestions to Nassif, Jean Robitaille of the Table régionale de concertation des aînés de Laval told her that federal law should be changed to recognize employees’ pension funds as being first in line to be compensated when companies go out of business.

Robitaille was also critical of “oveseas tax havens,” which allow wealthy Canadians to avoid paying income tax by keeping savings in accounts registered in low-tax nations around the world. “We hear about them, but nothing gets done,” he said, adding that the unpaid income taxes “are sums which are due to the Canadian population.”