Martin C. Barry

Splendid summer weather with lots of sun and just a few drops of rain provided many Laval residents as well as visiting vacationers with the opportunity to appreciate and purchase some of eastern Canada’s finest paintings and sculptures during the 23^rd annual Symposium de Ste-Rose.

Held from July 26 to 29 in Laval’s historic and picturesque Vieux Sainte-Rose neighbourhood, more than 20,000 people were on hand over four days to view the creations of 90 artists from Laval and many other regions, while also purchasing hundreds of art works.

Quebec singer is an artist

For this year’s symposium, the Corporation Rose-Art had the endorsement of renowned Québec pop singer Shirley Théroux, who was the symposium’s official spokesperson. “We were very fortunate to have Mme Théroux with us this year,” said Carole Faucher, president of the Corporation Rose-Art which sponsors the event.

For Théroux, who is an accomplished painter as well as a recording artist, the symposium was an opportunity to exhibit some of her own art works.

It was a new opportunity

“This is the first time I’ve been able to show some of my work within an art symposium,” she said in an interview with the Laval News. “This is absolutely marvellous because they are discovering me now as a painter.”

Théroux did not rule out the possibility of taking part in next year’s Symposium de Ste-Rose. “If I am invited it would be a pleasure to come back,” she said.

Among the participating artists was Laval painter Claire Gauthier, who exhibits her art in various other shows and symposiums in Quebec throughout the year.

Ste-Rose Symposium’s ‘the best’

“I do a lot of symposiums and this one in Sainte-Rose is the best,” she said. “It’s the largest in the region, it offers a large choice of artists and many people come to visit.” According to Gauthier, the Symposium de Ste-Rose is the art exposition where she succeeds the most in selling her works.

Another painter, Diane Lafond of Laval, agreed that the Symposium de Ste-Rose is a first-class venue for painters and sculptors to exhibit their art. “Many of the people who drop by are on vacation and often they’re looking to purchase gifts for loved ones back home,” said Lafond, who has also exhibited her work in some very picturesque surroundings such as Kamouraska east of Quebec City.

Artists from all over

While most of the artists and sculptors whose works were featured in the show were from the Laval region, some came from more distant reaches of Quebec such as Trois-Rivières, the Eastern Townships, the Laurentians, Matagami, Rimouski, Rivière-du-Loup and Quebec City. One was from Riley Brook in New Brunswick.

The artist who probably travelled the furthest to take part was Stéfanie Thompson. She made a very long and arduous journey by road from Matagami in northwestern Quebec to Laval. A native of Laval’s Fabreville district, she moved with her partner to Matagami seven years ago and isn’t planning on returning south any time soon.

(TLN)

As a member of Quebec National Assembly, ChomedeyMNA Guy Ouellette attended the 58^th annual meeting and regional policy forum of CSG-ERC (The Council of State Governments-Eastern Regional Conference) in Rye Brook, New York from August 4 – 8.

The National Assembly has been represented on the executive committee of the Eastern Regional Conference since 1990 and has been able to vote on this committee since 1994.

Canada/U.S. dialogue

ERC is a non partisan organization regrouping legislators from 11 Eastern-U.S. states, plus Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands territories, plus five Canadian provinces (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island).

As past co-chair of ERC 2016, Ouellette is a member of the executive committee and also a member of the Canada-US Relations committee. Incidently on Aug. 6, Ouellette was voted by his peers co-chair of that committee along with assemblyman Robin Schimminger of New York.

Topics on the table

This year, the two sessions of the Canada-US Relations Committee were on NAFTA, with renowned experts and panellists Laura Dawson from the Canada Institute, Mark Warner from MAAW Law, and Khawar Nasim, Canada deputy Consul General in New York, along with David Slack from Bombardier and Dan Kolundzic from Nanos Research.

Ouellette attended workshops on Autonomous Vehicles, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands: The long Road to Recovery, CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) in Football Players and Clean Disruption of Energy and Transportation.

Martin C. Barry

The City of Laval’s economic development division will have close to half a million dollars more than its usual budget in the next three years to promote Laval on the international scene thanks to a subsidy announced by Vimy Liberal MP Eva Nassif at Laval city hall on Aug. 6.

A regional export promotion organization known as ORPEX Laval will be receiving the non-repayable contribution of $442,500. The ORPEX’s objectives include raising awareness among Quebec businesses about the growth potential associated with exporting and, subsequently, helping them diversify and break into foreign markets.

Helping grow business

The announcement was made by Nassif on behalf of Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development (CED).

According to a statement issued by Nassif’s office, ORPEXEs help businesses obtain basic exporting information; organize their activities aimed at breaking into foreign markets; receive a diagnosis regarding their export capacity; find out about funding opportunities for their export projects; get specialized training; and develop an international business plan.

The funding, provided under the Quebec Economic Development Program, will allow the ORPEX to continue offering its services aimed at helping potential exporters go ahead with their projects involving new market sales.

Nassif ‘confident’

“I am thrilled that we are supporting the International Affairs division of the City of Laval’s Economic Development Service, which helps small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region diversify and develop export markets,” said Nassif. “The industrial fabric of Laval has the potential to become one of the most diversified: 11,200 businesses, over 1,400 of which offer exportable products and services. We have full confidence in the organization’s ability to help businesses look to the future and prosper.”

“The investment announced today is intended to provide tangible support for Laval businesses looking to break into foreign markets,” said Marc-Aurèle-Fortin Liberal MP Yves Robillard who was also on hand for the announcement.

“This contribution will ensure that the International Affairs division of the City of Laval’s Economic Development Service has the necessary means to fulfill its mission, which is to assist potential exporters in carrying out their projects involving new market sales by providing them with various services right from the outset of their export ventures.”

Businesses to benefit

“One of the broad orientations of the City of Laval’s ‘Urbaine de nature’ strategic vision is to develop a prosperous, sustainable, competitive and cutting-edge economy,” said Mayor Marc Demers. “Laval has some 11,200 businesses, over 500 of which export their products and services. Canada Economic Development’s financial support will allow Laval to continue providing export services to help businesses achieve their full growth potential and to ensure their long-term sustainability.”

Demers also pointed out that Laval, with its highly-diversified multicultural population, has many residents who have business contracts all over the globe, significantly raising the importance of import/export in the city’s priorities. He said the federal government’s contribution will be added to the investment the City of Laval already makes towards improving Laval’s economic prospects internationally.

Martin C. Barry

Speaking on behalf of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, Vimy Liberal MP Eva Nassif announced on Aug. 10 that the Laval-based Centre québécois d’innovation en biotechnologie (CQIB) has been granted a $1,425,000 non-repayable subsidy to support the creation and start-up of innovative businesses in the life sciences sector.

Incubating science business

Known as a “life sciences incubator,” the CQIB is located in a repurposed research facility on Cartier Blvd. West in the heart of Laval’s thriving Cité de la Bio-Technologie district. It offers mentoring services not just to enterprises across Quebec, but also around the world.

An initiative of the Laval Technopole municipal agency in conjunction with the Université du Québec’s Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), the CQIB is supported financially by Quebec, Canada, the City of Laval and corporate interests.

The CQIB maintains it has helped dozens of science- and technology-based businesses get started, including Bio-K + Pharma Inc., whose corporate parent manufactures the highly-successful and increasingly visible Bio-K probiotic consumer line of health products.

Nassif proud to give support

“By supporting the CQIB, the Government of Canada is reiterating its commitment to support the creation of innovative businesses that generate value and strengthen promising sectors, including life sciences, in the greater Montreal area,” said Nassif.

“I am proud to see that this organization can continue to take root, develop and contribute to Canada’s economic well-being.” According to Nassif, the funding will allow the CQIB to cover a significant amount of its operating costs over the next three years.

“Our government is committed to building a strong economy and creating good, well-paying jobs,” she said. “The growth and development of innovative enterprises is central to a strategy and to the economic prosperity of our regions. The government of Canada is working hard to ensure that they have the tools they need to innovate and grow.”

Jewel in the Biotech crown

“For the City of Laval, the CQIB is the spearhead of the Cité de la Biotech,” said Mayor Marc Demers. “Thanks to this incubator, 54 companies have been launched, with more to come. I am proud that the City of Laval is world-renowned in the life sciences and health technology sector.”

According to the mayor, the CQIB has helped Laval region’s economy grow over the past 20 years or so “in a spectacular fashion,” he said, while noting that some 5,000 jobs in Laval are in the pharmaceutical sector at more than 100 companies.

“Several of these came into being with the help of the CQIB,” said Demers. “This very important in a community like ours. These are quality jobs in development and research which also contribute to the health and well-being of everyone. We are very, very proud of this and of the results.”

Unique service for startups

Founded in 1995 by the Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS) and the City of Laval, this incubator is located in the heart of Laval’s high-tech science park. It is the only business incubator that specializes in biotechnology in Quebec and the first life sciences incubator in Canada.

Apart from its preincubation and incubation programs, the CQIB provides consulting services in business development, financing and technical support. It also gives companies access to a large inventory of specialized equipment and leased premises. The funding was granted through CED’s Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP) and will help the CQIB cover its operating costs over a three-year period.

Martin C. Barry

During a pre-election campaign stop in Laval last week to lend support to Sainte-Rose Liberal MNA Jean Habel, Quebec Finance Minister Carlos Leitão sounded a warning about the potential impact on the province’s English-speaking community from the Coalition Avenir Québec’s plans to abolish school boards, while changing how Quebec collects school taxes.

Seemingly determined to make inroads in Laval where the region’s six National Assembly seats are currently held by the Liberals, CAQ leader François Legault has raised the issue of school taxes during recent visits to Laval, while reminding Laval residents that they pay higher school taxes than is often the case in other regions.

Region versus region

“He’s playing a dangerous game because he’s pitting regions against other regions,” said Leitão, while maintaining that the school tax issue is complex. “We proceeded with a reform that we announced in the last budget, which was to create a unified tax rate for every region,” he said.

Leitão acknowledged that because there was a big imbalance between school boards, mainly English and French school boards within the same regions, there were some issues here in Laval particularly “where you had one house on one side of the street paying a certain tax rate” while another house just next door “paid a different tax rate just because you go to an English school board or a French school board.

Addressing an imbalance

“That was a huge imbalance and it was clearly unfair,” he continued. “So we proceeded with a reform to unify the tax rates within the region, so in Laval now everybody pays the same tax rate regardless of the school board, English or French, that they send their children to within each region.”

However, in the meantime, Leitão pointed out, CAQ leader Legault wants to go further by implementing a province-wide single tax rate, so that everybody in every single region will pay the same tax rate. “Two problems with that,” said the finance minister, noting this would cost the government several hundred million dollars (just as it did to implement the initial school tax reform).

Disagrees with CAQ proposal

“We think that there are perhaps other priorities where those $700 million could be put to better use,” he said. “So that’s one problem with his proposal. The second problem is that he says that by doing so it would address the issue of equity.

“Well, no, because the regions of Quebec are not uniform. Property values are not the same obviously everywhere. And I think to have one single tax rate province-wide doesn’t really address the differences in regions, the differences in real estate values, the differences in the kind of services that some of the school boards offer.”

CAQ would abolish boards

Habel said that when the governing Liberals pushed forward the school tax reform, Legault and the CAQ voted against several elements of the bill, while also noting that Legault and the CAQ have long advocated the outright abolition of the province’s system of school boards.

“That’s an issue that’s also very important,” said Leitão, “the fact that the Coalition Avenir Québec has only said several times that they would eventually abolish school boards.” Asked what are his concerns about such a move, Leitão responded:

“The English-speaking community is very attached to its school boards. And it’s not just some sort of emotional attachment. It’s very concrete, it’s very real, I mean, because it’s one way where the community can exercise some control over its institutions.”

Leitão defends school boards

Citing the experience of English-speaking constituents in his own riding of Robert-Baldwin on Montreal’s West Island, Leitão said Anglophone school boards there “are very active and parents’ groups have a great deal to gain from continuing to control the school boards. And if you look at the school board election turnouts at the Anglophone school boards, their participation rate is significantly higher.”

While admitting that the Liberal government back in 2014-15 flirted with the idea of shutting school boards, “we quickly moved away from that because of communities in the West Island and elsewhere in Quebec,” Leitão said. “Anglophone communities told us that they are very much attached to the school boards. And it makes sense. On top of all that also it would trigger all kinds of constitutional debates, which I don’t think is necessary to do that now.”

Martin C. Barry

Last Monday morning, the Laval region’s six Coalition Avenir Québec candidates held an unofficial launch of their campaign for the Oct. 1 provincial election with the opening of their headquarters on de l’Avenir Blvd. in central Laval.

With the campaign set to begin officially on Aug. 23, Laval CAQ supporters are hoping to score a breakthrough in the 2018 election, expanding the party’s number of seats in the region beyond those it currently holds on the North Shore.

Support from councillors

The six CAQ candidates running in Laval in the election are Mauro Barone (Mille-Îles), Alice Abou-Khalil (Chomedey), Adriana Dudas (Fabre), Christine Mitton (Laval-des-Rapides), Michel Reeves (Vimont) and Christopher Skeete (Sainte-Rose).

Some of the candidates, such as Mauro Barone who is running against Liberal incumbent Francine Charbonneau, received apparent support from members of Laval city council. Several Laval city councillors were among the 75 or so people who crowded into a rented storefront on de l’Avenir Blvd. for the headquarters opening.

Chomedey CAQiste determined

“As you have no doubt surmised, I am not a homegrown Quebecer,” said Chomedey CAQ candidate Alice Abou-Khalil. “But I am Québécoise in my heart and, even better, Québécoise by choice. And I have always consecrated a great deal of time to my community and I decided to run for the CAQ and stir things up a bit.”

She said she wants to put an end to the “inaction” of the Liberals, while following CAQ leader François Legault who has “intergrity and determination.” According to Abou-Khalil, the CAQ’s three priorities are education, the economy and health, “which align very well with what I hope to accomplish in Chomedey.”

CAQ’s Skeete confident

The CAQ’s Sainte-Rose candidate Christopher Skeete, a founding member of the party, said, “This is my third election as a candidate in Laval. I am convinced that this time will be the right one, because I am surrounded by competent people.”

Of the six candidates, perhaps it is Alice Abou-Khalil who faces the steepest challenge since the riding of Chomedey has long been a Quebec Liberal stronghold. “I agree that it is a château fort,” she said in an interview with the Laval News.

“But I believe that people want a change and they see that things haven’t been changing for the last 15 years. We need a government that will bring this change and do things better.”

Martin C. Barry

During a visit to Laval on Aug. 2 to bolster local Coalition Avenir Québec candidates running in the Oct. 1 provincial election, party leader François Legault pledged the CAQ’s long-term support for a Concorde Blvd. East prenatal and maternity services centre, where the management claims the incumbent Liberals turned down their appeal for financial help.

“As you may know, our team from Laval sounded the alarm on the question of financing for prenatal services in Laval,” Legault said during a press conference held at Mieux-Naître Laval. “This is a file that has dragged on too long.

Laval birth rate rising

“I would like to remind you that Laval is still growing very much: we’re now at 4,200 births each year,” added Legault. “And, of course, Mieux-Naître Laval is an important organization which gives services before and after birth. And also as MNA for Lanaudière I can tell you that there are comparable organizations in other regions which are financed by the government of Quebec with financing that is recurring.”

According to the CAQ, nearly a dozen regions in Quebec benefit from organizations similar to Mieux-Naître Laval with financial support from the Quebec government. Legault maintains that MNL’s executive-director, Lysane Grégoire, tried several times to obtain similar funding for the Laval-based group without success.

No prenatal funding

“Despite the efforts made by Mme Grégoire over the years, for example towards Mme Charbonneau who is an MNA here but is also a minister and towards the minister of health Gaétan Barrette, it has not been possible – there was even a refusal on the part of Gaétan Barrette – to finance the prenatal services here in Laval,” said Legault.

“We don’t understand – there is a problem with equity,” he continued. “As I say, there are equivalent organizations in 10 regions which have financing that if it was applied per child in Laval would represent from $500,000 to $650,000 per year. How is it that in Laval it is refused?”

While acknowledging that Charbonneau was known to have expressed support for Mieux-Naître Laval as well as a degree of willingness to obtain funding for the group, Legault said Barrette declined to provide funds after deciding there were already enough prenatal services being offered in the Laval region.

Legault pledges funding

“And yet, there was a study done by the City of Laval with specialists from UQAM which shows that adequate services given in other regions don’t exist or aren’t financed in Laval,” said Legault. “So why is Laval being treated differently? I want to make a commitment today that if a CAQ government is elected next Oct. 1, then we will finance in a recurring manner the organization Mieux-Naître Laval in the same way as it’s done in other regions.”

For her part, Grégoire said, “After four years of mandate, the Liberals haven’t yet been able to solve this problem which is actually not complicated and consists of re-establishing equity in the region with regards to prenatal services. But finally there is hope that we will get the means to fulfill our mission with the families. This would be enormous because an incredible injustice has been done to families, which is completely inexplicable.”

Says Liberal inconsistent

The CAQ’s Sainte-Rose candidate Christopher Skeete agreed the Liberal government’s treatment of the issue shows inconsistency on their part. “There are six MNAs from the Liberal Party here, so I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that somehow they must have fumbled the ball if they weren’t able to move this forward,” he said.

During his stop at Mieux-Naître Laval, Legault was accompanied by the six CAQ candidates running in Laval in the Oct. 1 election: Mauro Barone (Mille-Îles), Alice Abou-Khalil (Chomedey), Adriana Dudas (Fabre), Christine Mitton (Laval-des-Rapides), Michel Reeves (Vimont) and Christopher Skeete (Sainte-Rose).

“It is high time that the people of Laval, as well as the rest of the population of Quebec, were able to speak out on the issues that concern them, while electing the party offering the best program,” said CAQ candidate in Vimont Michel Reeves. “Our program is based on three priority elements: education, the economy and health, which are crucial issues for everyone.”

Martin C. Barry

The Quebec government will be providing nearly $1.7 million in funding over the next four years for 14 cultural, artistic and business projects in Laval through a provincial fund designed to support and enhance social and economic development throughout the province’s regions.

Mille-Îles Liberal MNA Francine Charbonneau, who is Minister Responsible for the Laval Region in the Couillard cabinet, was at Laval city hall on Aug. 10 to announce the subsidies made from the Fonds d’appui au rayonnement de régions (FARR). The funding comes through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Occupation of the Territory.

FARR investments

“The FARR offers to elected officials the tools and financial means to solidify projects that are well-adapted to their contexts,” Charbonneau said. “It also allows precious aid to be given to developers in the region. I would like to thank all the organizations that came together to propose interesting projects that answer to the specific needs and the reality of our community.”

Mayor Marc Demers, who was also on hand for the announcement, said, “The FARR is an important lever for the support of various initiatives which encourage development in Laval. The sums given out today will have positive repercussions on the growth of sectors that include culture, economic and social development as well as the environment. The 14 projects that were selected this year bear witness to the dynamism, the creativity and the innovation of Laval’s organizations.”

The projects: