Barrette and Charbonneau announce six ‘Super-Clinics’ for Laval

(TLN)

Quebec Health and Social Services Minister Gaétan Barrette and Minister Responsible for the Laval Region Francine Charbonneau announced on May 1 the creation of six super-clinics under the umbrella of CISSS de Laval, as well as the start of a pilot project to speed up appointment-making at the new facilities.

As part of the arrangement, six existing family medicine groups (GMF) have been authorized by the ministry to begin operating as super-clinics. The six facilities are GMF Concorde, GMF Centre Médical Laval, GMF Médi-Centre Chomedey, GMF Sainte-Dorothée, GMF Sainte-Rose and GMF Polyclinique Fabreville.

Longer hours

According to a statement from the government, the super-clinics will be tailored to Laval’s specific needs. Two of the facilities will be open 84 hours per week, while the others will operate 76 hours per week, allowing clients to have access 12 hours per day, seven days a week at two of the super-clinics.

The pilot project, Rendez-vous santé Québec (RVSQ), will allow clients to make appointments online with family doctors. The project was actually announced in early April. It is being implemented in Laval first, before possibly being deployed in areas of the province. RVSQ will be available in June at GMF Concorde, GMF Centre Médical Laval, GMF Médi-Centre Chomedey, GMF Sainte-Rose and GMF Polyclinique Fabreville.

Appointments made online

“With the implementation of these six super-clinics and the first phase of Rendez-vous santé Québec, the population of Laval is at the forefront of changes we want to make overall to the network as concerns access to family medicine services,” said Barrette.

“These are things we are doing in order to make services more accessible to most Quebecers. With this project we are offering a concrete option other than a hospital, notably during evenings and on weekends. I salute the doctors and other health professionals who decided to become involved in this project which should have a positive impact on the population.”

Another option, says Charbonneau

Charbonneau said: “These six super-clinics will complement the service offer which already included family medicine groups in Laval, thus offering one more point of entry to access services. All this demonstrates that our government listens to the population and that it proposes concrete solutions which are adapted to their needs. I am proud that this project saw the light of day here in Laval.”

According to the health and social services ministry, the super-clinics will offer service to patients who are not registered with a family doctor. Patients will be entitled to a medical consultation on the same day or the day after by calling at least in three hours before closing.

Doctors working within super-clinics must use an electronic medical dossier and must also be prepared to handle increased demand for medical services in cases such as flu outbreaks. Additional information on the super-clinics can be obtained on the web at this address: www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/presse.

Martin C. Barry

Several members of the Quebec National Assembly from western Laval have started a petition supporting the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal’s bid to persuade the Quebec Electoral Commission to abandon a plan to restructure the ridings of Fabre and Chomedey which would split the Greek vote and render it less powerful electorally.

Greek natural community

“Since the beginning of work in Quebec on the reform of the electoral map, we have been very busy defending the Greek natural community,” said Fabre Liberal MNA Monique Sauvé who took part with Chomedey Liberal MNA Guy Ouellette in a press conference on the issue at HCGM headquarters in Montreal on April 19.

“In as much as we respect institutions, it’s very clear that our position is that the division of the Hellenic community in virtue of Article 15 of Chapter 1 of the Elections Act for us is a priority,” she continued. “Well above the mathematical equations, and above the calculations which might be made, the essence of this community which we all value must be respected.”

Ouellette said that he, Sauvé and Sainte-Rose MNA Jean Habel made representations on the issue to the electoral commission last September. “As Monique said earlier, the Greek community in Chomedey is the largest in the province of Quebec,” he said.

Against electoral law

“The simple way that the Commission électorale split the Greek community was denounced by Monique, by Jean Habel from Sainte-Rose and by myself. It goes against our own electoral law and it goes against Article 15 that we pleaded in September 2016.

“That is the reason why there will be a petition on the National Assembly network which will be grandfathered by Monique,” Ouellette continued. “There will also be a petition in churches in Laval and in Montreal just to make sure that the voice of the Greek community will be heard at the electoral commission.”

Text of the petition

The text of the petition reads:

In consideration of the Quebec Electoral Commission’s (QEC) March 2^nd 2017 decision to modify the electoral boundaries in the Laval-area ridings of Chomedey and Fabre respectively;

In consideration of the definition of a ‘natural community’ as defined in Article 15 of the Quebec Elections Act, being “an electoral division, which represents a natural community established on the basis of demographical, geographical and sociological considerations, such as the population density, the relative growth rate of the population, the accessibility, area and shape of the region, the natural local boundaries and the territories of local municipalities…”

In consideration of the QEC’s disregard of the above-noted Article 15 in the electoral boundaries redistribution process, We the undersigned, residents of the Chomedey and Fabre ridings in Laval, are opposed to the Quebec Electoral Commission’s March 2^nd 2017 decision and request a reversal of said decision.

HCGM letter to QEC

In a letter to the QEC from the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal signed by HCGM president Nicholas Pagonis, he says boundary reform alternatives proposed by the HCGM ought to have been considered by the commission. He also noted that Ouellette, Sauvé and Habel supported the alternatives and remain dissatisfied with the new map being proposed by the commission.

“This is something that is going to diminish our political clout,” Pagonis said during the press conference, “something which should not be allowed to happen because it is our natural right to maintain that ability that we had up to now.” Pagonis also pointed out an irony in the redrawn riding map: two Greek Orthodox churches located in the same riding until now would henceforth be split between Chomedey and Fabre.

‘Easy way out,’ says Ouellette

While Ouellette acknowledged that an important reason the map of Chomedey is being redrawn is that the riding is growing fast and the size of its population is no longer within electoral norms, he said the QEC took the easy way to making its reform: they based it largely on an arbitrary line drawn at 100^th Ave. in Chomedey, which is the virtual heart of the Laval Greek community.

“They have to work a little bit harder in dividing the six ridings in Laval in some other way, because I’m way above average, Fabre is under average, Laval-des-Rapides and Mille-Îles are under average, so we need to divide Laval in some other way,” Ouellette said. “But it takes time and a lot more work to do.”

‘Short term solution,’ says Sauvé

Sauvé added that the solution the QEC is proposing “is only a short-term solution. Because of the growth of the population in Chomedey they will have to do their homework again after the next election. The scenario that Guy proposed was on a long-term basis reality rather than just doing their homework again, doing it not the right way, and splitting again the community.” She said that what the three MNAs and the HCGM are proposing “is harder work, but also a long-term solution.”

Martin C. Barry

Vimy Liberal MP Eva Nassif has announced that Bio-K Plus International Inc. has been approved for a grant of up to $50,000 to allow the company to reach new markets in the United States with their probiotic capsules and beverages.

According to Nassif, who made the announcement on April 24 at Bio-K’s headquarters on Armand Frappier Blvd. in Laval, the funding will be used to help raise consumers’ awareness about the health benefits of probiotic products, while increasing Bio-K Plus exports to the United States.

Rising awareness of product

With well-targeted promotional activities such as product demonstrations and tradeshow exhibits, the company hopes to increase demand for their products in all regions of the U.S. Probiotics are microorganisms which are believed to provide health benefits when taken orally. Since the late 1990s, the market for consumable probiotic products has grown as the public’s awareness of their benefits has also become greater.

The funding is being provided through the federal government’s Growing Forward 2 AgriMarketing program. Nassif said the Liberal government is committed to helping farmers and food processors grow their businesses, expand existing markets at home and abroad and create jobs to benefit the sector and all Canadians.

Expanding into global market

“Advances in innovation, such as this line of probiotics, help to keep Canada on the cutting edge,” said Nassif. “The government of Canada proudly contributes to expanding markets globally, which improves agricultural business competitiveness, creating jobs, helping grow the middle class and fostering long-term growth for the sector in Vimy and all across the country.”

Nassif praised the company for the progress it has made over the past two decades. “In 20 or so years, you have built a world-class business, while introducing consumers throughout the world to your products,” she said, while noting that Bio-K grew from 10 employees in the beginning to 100 now.

Company creates jobs

Nassif said the company is an example of the ability of small and medium-sized enterprises to create employment in the Canadian economy, and that Bio-K is considered a pioneer in its domain through the development of cutting-edge and scientifically-based production methods. “If Canada remains at the forefront, it’s thanks to your advances in innovation – your range of probiotics being a good example. I have a lot of respect for everything you do.”

“This financial assistance will help with our development in the United States,” said Isabèle Chevalier who is co-president of Bio-K Plus International along with her brother François-Pierre. “The funding will be used, among other things, to hire a resource in the U.S. territory and to develop our worldwide innovation, which is recognized by Health Canada for the primary prevention of Clostridium difficile infections in order to reduce infections and alleviate the suffering of patients in hospitals,” she added.

Species known to invade homes in Canada include the carpenter ant, the little black ant, the odorous house ant, the thief ant, and the pharaoh ant. While some of them can sting, most of them are not aggressive. However, carpenter ants are well known for their ability to damage wooden structures and they can become a nuisance.

Here are some tips to find carpenter ants:

1. Completely inspect areas of high moisture, wood in contact with the soil, areas where ventilation is poor, and exposed structural lumber.
2. Figure out if there is actually an infestation of carpenter ants or if it is just individual ants wandering in the house. Look for a high concentration of ants in a particular area like under the kitchen sink.
3. Pay attention to foraging ants and the patterns of their movement. For example, there may be a trail communicating with a parent colony outside. (Note: ants are most active after sunset.)
4. Notice if there are swarms of winged ants trying to escape to the outdoors, usually in the spring.
5. Look for piles of sawdust-like borings outside galleries dug by ants.
6. Listen for the sound of an active colony, which will create a dry rustling noise that can be heard best at night during high ant activity and quiet time in the house. Use a wine glass or stethoscope to listen to the walls.

Ants

What are they?

Ants are tiny insects and may be black, brown, red, or yellow. Adult ants range in size from as small as 1 millimetre (1/16 to 1/32 inch), like little black ants and thief ants, to as large as 13 millimetres (1/2 inch), like carpenter ants.

Should I be concerned?

Most ants commonly found in Canada are not aggressive, although some can sting. Ants should be tolerated as much as possible since they cause little damage in the garden. They can even be considered beneficial because they eat other insects like young silverfish and moths.

Species known to invade homes in Canada include the carpenter ant, the little black ant, the odorous house ant, the thief ant, and the pharaoh ant. Pavement ants can become a nuisance in lawns, gardens, and pathways, as well as indoors.

Carpenter ants are larger than other species, although the sizes of the workers vary. They can cause structural damage to homes as they destroy wood to make room for their nests. Piles of sawdust may mean you have carpenter ants.

How can I get rid of ants?

Prevention

Ant colonies send out scouts to search for food. Ants are attracted to many types of food. They enjoy eating sugary and greasy foods (like peanut butter or crumbs) and are also attracted to the “honeydew” produced by aphids on infested houseplants. A successful scout leaves a scented trail for other workers to follow back to the food source.

Removing access to food and water is the easiest way to avoid pest problems:

• Store ant-attractive foods in glass jars with rubber gaskets, or in plastic containers with lids that snap tight.
• Keep kitchen countertops clean. Sweep or vacuum the floor often, especially around pet dishes.
• Rinse containers before putting them in the garbage or in recycling bins.
• Empty kitchen garbage containers often.
• Place composters at a reasonable distance from your house.
• Place pet food dishes in a shallow dish of water. Ants can’t swim, so they won’t be able to get at your pet’s food.

Physical control

• Repair and seal as many visible cracks in the foundation and exterior walls of your house as possible.
• Indoors, caulk along baseboards, cracks, and crevices to keep ants from passing through your house. If needed, use duct tape or petroleum jelly to temporarily seal cracks.
• Ants will not cross sticky barriers. Try placing two-sided tape around the legs of plant stands.
• Flood ant nests repeatedly with a garden hose to encourage the ants to move farther away from your house.
• Pour boiling water and detergent down the nest to temporarily reduce the population of a colony.

Non-chemical products

• Diatomaceous earth can be placed in cracks and crevices as a non-chemical means of control. This powder is made up of crushed microscopic marine fossils that scratch the outer “skin” of ants, causing them to dehydrate and die. Diatomaceous earth will remain active as long as it is kept dry. It is non-toxic to humans and pets, but be careful not to inhale the dust when applying this product.
• Natural gum resins can be applied around the base of trees and vines.

Important!

If you use a pesticide to control your pest problem, read the label to make sure you are choosing the right product for the right pest. Follow all label directions and warnings carefully. Always look for a Pest Control Products (PCP) number on the label so you know the product has been approved by Health Canada. See Use pesticides safely for more information on using pesticides safely.

Many chemical products can be used by consumers to control ants:

• Chemicals, sprays, and dusts can be used effectively as barrier and nest treatments. Applying a chemical directly on the nest may eliminate colonies. Anthills show where the colony has built a nest, so look for anthills in your yard or follow the ant trails back to the nest. Nests located indoors in wall voids can be treated with dusts that can be puffed into the area.
• Chemical barrier treatments can be applied to baseboards or door and window frames to keep outdoor nesting species from searching for food indoors. Spraying indoors where trails have been noticed may cut off food and water sources for an indoor nest and encourage the colony to split into multiple new colonies. If the treatment seems to increase the number of ants, try using a bait system to control them.

Did you know?

Some provinces and municipalities have placed more restrictions on the use of certain approved lawn and garden pesticides. Please check with your city, province, or local lawn care centre for more information.

Bait systems

Ants gather food and bring it back to the nest to feed ant colony members. So a bait system must work slowly enough to allow the poison to be fed to all members of the nest. This is a highly effective way of getting rid of nests. Baits containing boric acid are generally of low toxicity to other animals.

• Place bait stations directly in the path of foraging ants, but out of the reach of children and pets. Ant trails are commonly found along baseboards, the carpet edge along walls, or along the edges and inside corners of cabinets.
• Use plenty of bait stations. Two different baits at the same time will give better results.
• Keep baits available for at least two weeks. Repeated bait applications may be needed.
• Do not use chemical sprays to kill ants while using a bait system, or the bait system will not work. Reapply the bait if needed.

Carpenter ants

What are they?

The red carpenter ant and the black carpenter ant are two of the most common types found in Canada. The red carpenter ant has a dark brownish-black body, with a reddish-brown upper body. The black carpenter ant is dark brownish-black all over.

Carpenter ants are from 6 to 25 mm (.24 to 1 inch) long. A carpenter ant’s body is divided into three segments, with a very slim waist separating the upper body and lower body. Their antennae are bent and in sections. Male and female adults have wings at mating time.

Should I be concerned?

Carpenter ants are well known for their ability to damage wooden structures. They are also a nuisance in homes as they search for food. Carpenter ants eat both plant and animal matter. Their natural food sources are insects, other small invertebrates, and sweet body fluids from aphids and other insects. Protein and sweet foods found in and around homes also provide food for foraging workers.

Carpenter ants build nests by burrowing into wood. They dig tunnels (called galleries) much longer than those created by termites. The wood is not eaten, but thrown from the nest as sawdust-like shavings.

Did you know?

Carpenter ants are sometimes confused with termites, but it is easy to tell the difference between them. The termite has straight antennae and a thick waist, and the carpenter ant has a very narrow waist and “elbowed” (bent) antennae. Termites are found only in certain areas in Canada.

Carpenter ants live in large colonies with hundreds of workers (all sterile females), several males and females that reproduce, and one or more queen. When part of an established colony goes into a nearby structure, it sometimes establishes a smaller satellite colony there. Some experts believe this is the main way carpenter ants invade houses.

How do I know if I have a problem?

Outdoors, carpenter ants are found in dead trunks of standing trees, stumps, or logs, or under fallen logs and stones. They can sometimes mine sound wood, but they usually choose a soft type, like pine.

Indoors, because they prefer moist, decaying wood, carpenter ants can signal a moisture problem, or wooden structures that are decaying. As well as tunnelling in the trim of buildings, wooden steps, and window sills, ant colonies can nest in houses without attacking structural timbers, using hollow spaces like wall voids, attic spaces, and hollow doors. They can even be found behind books in libraries, behind drawers in dressers and cabinets, and in styrofoam insulation.

Carpenter ants get into houses by several ways:

• windows
• holes in foundations
• heating ducts and air-conditioners
• power or telephone cables
• points where tree branches or other vegetation come in contact with the house
• wooden structures attached to houses (like porches and sheds)
• firewood brought into the house

To find carpenter ants:

1. Completely inspect areas of high moisture, wood in contact with the soil, areas where ventilation is poor, and exposed structural lumber.
2. Figure out if there is actually an infestation of carpenter ants or if it is just individual ants wandering in the house. Look for a high concentration of ants in a particular area like under the kitchen sink.
3. Pay attention to foraging ants and the patterns of their movement. For example, there may be a trail communicating with a parent colony outside. (Note: ants are most active after sunset.)
4. Notice if there are swarms of winged ants trying to escape to the outdoors, usually in the spring.
5. Look for piles of sawdust-like borings outside their galleries and slit-like openings in woodwork.
6. Listen for the sound of an active colony, which will create a dry rustling noise that can be heard best at night during high ant activity and quiet time in the house. Use a wine glass or stethoscope to listen to the walls.

How can I get rid of carpenter ants?

Physical control

• Clear away any decaying or infested wood from around buildings.
• Remove firewood from inside buildings and away from the sides of buildings.
• Do not bury stumps or other wood debris close to your house.
• Pay attention to the state of landscaping props (like decorative bark, retaining walls, and driftwood).
• Correct humidity problems in your home.
• Replace decaying or infested structural wood with sound material.
• Remove food sources to discourage ants from invading buildings.
• Keep food in sealed containers and regularly sweep up all crumbs and other food fragments.
• Keep your home clean to prevent re-infestation.

Products

Important!

If you use a pesticide to control your pest problem, read the label to make sure you are choosing the right product for the right pest. Follow all label directions and warnings carefully. Always look for a Pest Control Products (PCP) number on the label so you know the product has been approved by Health Canada. See Use pesticides safely for more information on using pesticides safely

Chemicals can help you eliminate existing nests and prevent new nests from forming. Chemical control works best when you use it along with physical control.

Once a colony is well established, you usually need to locate and treat the actual nest site for permanent or long-term control. In the case of a satellite colony, the parent colony should be located and destroyed for most effective control. In difficult situations, use a professional exterminator.

Various pesticide products for are available for homeowners, and can help reduce the number of ants infesting your house. If you plan to do an indoor application, check the product label to make sure it is registered for use inside your home. There are also several other commercial products available to professional pest control operators.

For commercial food processing or preparation, use products specifically labelled for these areas. Carefully follow all label directions and warnings. Remove or cover all food, packaging material, and utensils before treatment. Afterwards, wash all surfaces that may be in contact with food and rinse thoroughly with water before re-use.

Please note: When applying pesticides, you should leave any dead ant bodies where they are. Other scavenging ants will either eat or bring the dead ant back to the nest to feed the rest of the colony. In this way, the pesticide’s effect is passed on.

For more information on ants:
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/pest-control-tips/ants.html

(TLN) During Laval city council’s April 4 meeting, the council members passed resolutions limiting the maximum  building height.

According to the city, Laval has never imposed building heights. As a result, tall towers could be built anywhere and this contributed to an uneven form of urban planning. The city took action to correct the situation.

New urban planning

“Laval is giving itself modern urban regulation in order to create interesting living areas,” said Mayor Marc Demers. “This is the end of anarchy and the beginning of planned development in Laval.

According to Demers, one of the desired effects of the new rules will be design a downtown area that is harmonious. The vast area takes in the Carrefour Laval, the Cité de la Biotech, Collège Montmorency and other locations. The building heights for the downtown area will gradually from six storeys near residential areas to 10, 15 and 25 storeys or more.

Building heights vary

“An emblematic neighbourhood where entertainment, culture and business are important is taking shape in Laval,” added Demers. “We want to make it a place that is inviting, stimulating and beautiful.”

In older neighbourhoods of Laval, the maximum heights will vary from six to eight storeys, out of respect for the established standard. The new rules approved by council apply on an interim basis, until a new urban plan is adopted. In the meantime, modifications will be possible.

Traffic calming coming

According to the mayor, Laval’s residents are looking for safe streets. Following a recommendation by the executive-committee, council awarded two contracts worth a total of $7.5 million for comprehensive traffic analyses to get an understanding of the traffic calming measures that will be necessary.

“Laval residents want somewhere to live that is peaceful,” said Demers. “Car traffic is one of the most report irritants. We take this preoccupation seriously and we are putting into place important measures to answer the expectations of the citizens with regard to neighbourhoods that secure and peaceful.”