(TLN)

Laval mayor Marc Demers reacted favourably overall to the Quebec Liberal government’s 2017 budget which was released last week. According to Demers, the new budget contains measures that augur well for the coming years.

“We are pleased with the Quebec government’s intention to invest more than $255 million in the construction of 3,000 new social housing units, although it would have been preferable that money would be available over the next three years,” said the mayor, noting that the investments are scheduled only for the year 2020.

Mass transit investment

“Taking into account that active mobility and mass transit are priorities for Laval residents, the sums announced by the Finance Minister over five years to improve the service offer, including an increase in the frequency of buses, is good news,” the mayor added.

“It will be interesting to see how the new aid package from Quebec for longstanding senior citizen owners is implemented,” he continued. “This type of program, combined with Laval’s measures, including a subsidy for at-home seniors 65 years of age and older and the free public transit for seniors, contributes to the legitimate recognition that we all owe them.”

Quebec’s life sciences strategy

Demers said the City of Laval is also pleased with an additional investment of $117.5 million the provincial government is making for the implementation of a life sciences strategy. “We are impatient to know the life sciences strategy of the government. We hope that these measures help sustain the emergence and development of businesses on Laval’s territory.” It’s worth noting that pharmaceuticals is one of the important poles in Laval’s life sciences sector.

The mayor also said that the city is very happy with the government’s announced investments in the agricultural and food production sector, including $19.2 million in 2017-2018. “Whether it’s the modernization of buildings, the reduction in use of pesticides or the development of greenhouses, there is no doubt these measures will echo favourably among our farmers,” said Demers.

Martin C. Barry

The City of Laval will be doing its part throughout the month of April to raise awareness of the impact of autism by lighting up the exterior of City Hall in a pleasant blue aura as a sign of Laval’s ongoing support for the cause.

Mayor Marc Demers, as well as executive-committee vice-president David De Cotis and executive-committee member Ray Adams, were on hand at the Laval Sheraton on March 30 for the official launch of Autism Awareness Month.

Understanding autism

This year, up to 20 organizations in Laval that provide services for those with autism and their families have united in an effort to promote Autism Awareness Month. They are doing their part to help organize a range of activities to raise the public’s awareness of autism.

The Laval Knights of Columbus District 54 are playing a prominent role in this year’s Autism Awareness Month. One of the largest events, taking place on April 22 between 10 am and noon, will be the Knights’ Walk for Autism. The walkers will be setting off from the Laval Sheraton to cover a 3.7-kilometre course.

A united effort by groups

Among those on hand for the launch were Germain Larivière, executive-director of the Société de l’autisme et des troubles envahissants du développement de Laval, Danièle Dulude, president and executive-director of the CISSS de Laval, Commission scolaire de Laval commissioner Françoise David (representing CSDL president Louise Lortie), and Jean-Marc Laccopo, president of Services du Chat Botté de Laval which assists those with autism and their families.

Sarah Scopacasa, a CSDL student, spoke briefly on what it’s like to be afflicted with autism. “For a number of years now, we have been proud to say that we are a municipality which is a friend of the autistic,” said Demers, noting that the city has implemented a number of measures to assist the autistic.

City has a role to play

These include providing police and fire personnel with special training and knowledge to recognize situations involving autism. “For us this is important and it is something that continues to develop,” Demers continued. “A large number of our staff have been trained and this remains a daily challenge since we also have new staff to deal with.”

David De Cotis pointed out that 2017 marks the second year the Société de transport de Laval (STL), which he leads as president, takes part officially in Autism Awareness Month. “Public transit has a key role to play in the integration of all citizens into life in Laval,” said De Cotis.

Autism and the STL

“That’s why to us it remains important to be vigilant to sensitizing our drivers and supervisors, but especially our dedicated teams in adapted transport. We have a team of supervisors which has been specially trained and who share their knowledge with our employees so that they better understand the behaviour of autistic persons, while also refining their approaches for intervention.”

According to De Cotis, teams from the STL and from Autisme Laval will be present at Laval’s Montmorency Metro station on Wednesday April 19, and at the Cartier Metro station on Wednesday April 26 to provide information to passengers. Products from the Bio Ferme de Laval will be on sale, with the proceeds going towards the cause.

Needs taken into account

“The inclusion of each individual in our society, no matter how he or she might be different, is essential for us to live together,” added De Cotis. “At the STL, we are very aware of the needs of special clientele and we take great pride to offer and adapt our services on our regular network as in adapted transport.”

The Knights of Columbus’s Walk for Autism will be starting at the Laval Sheraton and make its way east along Le Carrefour Blvd., south on Le Corbusier, west on St-Martin, north on Pierre Péladeau, east on Cosmodôme then north on Terry Fox to end back at the Sheraton. Information is available by calling (450) 663-5551, local 5. Additional information is also available at the following website: www.regard9.ca.

Martin C. Barry

A bit of a setback was announced at Agape NPI Partners’ latest meeting. Agape Inc., the founding player in the Networking Partnership Initiative group, saw its application for $100,000 in funding from Ottawa for a new English Speaking Seniors’ Wellness Centre in Laval turned down recently.

NPI Partners, which was founded by Agape more than five years ago, brings together organizations in Laval that are active in the health and social services sector for meetings during which they share strategies and trade information.

Not among the finalists

Agape executive-director Kevin McLeod, who led the March 29 meeting in the auditorium at Laval’s Cité de la Santé hospital, said a funding application had been made to the federally-financed Community Innovation Fund which is overseen by the Quebec Community Groups Network.

According to the QCGN’s website, the CIF is a resource for Quebec’s English-speaking communities “to put social innovation into action.” Out of 40 funding applications received by a QCGN committee, fewer than a dozen were chosen as finalists.

“We did not get chosen,” said McLeod, noting that most of the successful applicants were in the Montreal region, while others were in the Magdalen Islands, Gaspé and Quebec City. Disappointed with the outcome, Agape reached out to its local representative in Ottawa, Laval-Les Îles Liberal MP Fayçal El-Khoury.

El-Khoury working on it

“Mr. El-Khoury is very aware that we did not get the funding,” McLeod said, while being careful to point out that the situation “is not his doing. He’s not the one who said don’t give them the money. But since it is federal money, Mr. El-Khoury will be doing a followup.”

El-Khoury, who attended the NPI Partners meeting, said he had already intervened and would have had something “positive” to say right there, but couldn’t announce it for a few days yet. “We are doing our best in order to reopen the file,” he said, while adding that he was trying alternative paths for obtaining the necessary funding. “I’m doing everything within my means, in my power as MP and representative of Laval-Les Îles in order to be able to do something,” said El-Khoury.

McLeod said the application Agape made “was quite solid” and that a lot of work by Agape personnel had gone into it. “It’s a big application and all the proof is there that there is definitely a need for this Wellness Centre. We have the numbers.”

Quebec money might do

As for a Plan B, McLeod said Agape had taken into account what it might do in the event its application was rejected. The alternative involves getting help from the provincial government. Two weeks ago or so, Agape was among several Laval-area social services groups which received invitations to attend a lunch with Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard.

“I didn’t get too excited because last time I went to one of these events I was one of 200 people sitting in a big room and I spoke for about three seconds,” McLeod said. Still after a little investigating, he decided the event would be worth going to. And as things turned out, he ended up seated at the same table as Premier Couillard, as well as Mille-Îles MNA Francine Charbonneau, who among other things is the Minister Responsible for the Laval Region.

“Being opportunist, as Agape is, we took the time to leave two of these folders for Mrs. Charbonneau and Mr. Couillard,” he said, referring to some printed promotional material for Agape. All the same, McLeod admitted “we do prefer federal money.”

Not giving up on project

The reason for that, he continued, is that as a non-profit organization, receiving a considerable amount of money from the provincial government can change your status. Thus when dealing with large amounts, “we’d much rather deal with the federal government than with the provincial. But if we can deal with both that would be even better.”

So while Agape’s funding application to Ottawa would have allowed the Wellness Centre to operate for two years, with additional funding from Quebec “maybe it could sustain us for four years which would be even greater.” As for the Wellness Centre, “it’s not forgotten,” said McLeod. “We’re not letting it go. And we will not let it go until we get it. Rest assured it will happen.”

Martin C. Barry

With the month of April nearly here – traditionally the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Month – public officials from Laval and the North Shore regions gathered at Cité de la Santé hospital in Laval last week for the official of this year’s Daffodil Campaign.

Daffodils for sale

In the Laval and Lanaudière regions, hundreds of fresh-cut daffodils will be going on sale through a network of 1,000 volunteers stationed at 100 points of sale in banks, food stores, senior citizens’ centres and at some businesses. Across the province, nearly two million daffodils will be sold by 20,000 volunteers at a total of 1,800 locations.

For the fourth year, Quebec radio and TV hostess Josée Boudreault will be the official spokesperson for the Daffodil Campaign in this province. “My mother died from lung cancer three years ago a few months before the birth of my daughter, Flavie,” says Boudreault.

“I am hopeful that one day those we love won’t die from lung cancer as my mother did. Support those who are afflicted by cancer. Buy flowers or offer them. That’s a good way to support research against cancer, to support prevention efforts, while giving hope to those who are presently living with this disease.”

Show your support

The Cancer Society says there are a number of things members of the public can do to show their support: buying daffodils between March 30 and April 2 (they are 3 for $5 or 10 for $10); proudly wearing the Cancer Society’s daffodil pin throughout April (they are sold in the same places where the flowers are available or at the Cancer Society’s regional offices).

“People afflicted by cancer want support and want to be heard,” Vimont MNA Jean Rousselle, who is supporting the campaign but was unable personally to attend the launch, said in a statement. “Every day, 370 Quebecers turn to the CCS for support, information and for means to prevent cancer,” added Rousselle, who has taken part in the local Daffodil Campaign for five years. “Last year, 49,500 Quebecers were told they had cancer.”

Support on the North Shore

On the North Shore in the Deux-Montagnes area, local MNA Benoit Charette has taken on the task of being honorary chairman of the regional Daffodil Campaign. “I encourage all the population of the MRC to show support and to buy daffodils from March 30 to April 2 so that the CCS can be there for those and those around them,” he said.

Also from the North Shore, Bois-des-Filion mayor Paul Larocque is supporting this year’s Daffodil Campaign and is serving as honorary president in his region. “I would like to note that I consider this daffodil campaign to be very important for getting our citizens to take concrete actions, whether it’s having fresh flowers at city hall, or wearing the daffodil pin,” he said, while pointing out that he will be serving as a volunteer selling daffodils at a kiosk. “I hope that we are more numerous in 2017 to demonstrate our support for this big cause.”

Rising cancer survival rates

Based on statistics alone, it’s evident that the money raised from the annual Daffodil Campaign is saving lives. Today, according to the CCS, 63 per cent of people who have been told “you have cancer” are alive five years later. As well, for some forms of cancer survival is even better. The survival rate for infant cancers is 82 per cent, breast cancer 88 per cent, prostate cancer 96 per cent and testicular cancer 97 per cent.

Comparatively, during the 1940s the overall survival rate for cancer was 25 per cent. And the CCS points out that a good deal of work remains to be done. Today, every 26 minutes a Quebecer dies of cancer, 50,000 Quebecers learn they have cancer each year, and cancer remains responsible for 30 per cent of all deaths in Quebec.

(TLN)

Alfred-Pellan Liberal MP Angelo Iacono has announced that three organizations from his riding have received financial assistance allowing them to purchase new equipment to facilitate their work.

The announcement was made on behalf of Family, Children and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos as part of the New Horizons program for the well-being of senior citizens.

Here are the projects:

The group wishes to replace and improve its fitness equipment for seniors.
Amount: $1,496

Group: Cercle des Fermières de Saint-François
Title of project : Improvement of equipment
The organization will purchase a loom to facilitate and improve weaving techniques.
Amount: $6,010

Group: Fabrique Saint-Noël-Chabanel
Title of project: Improvement of main room at community centre
The group will be upgrading its floor and replace its chairs in order to accommodate                certain activities.
Amount: $25,000

“The government of Canada is determined to see that Canadian senior citizens can participate in community activities meeting their needs and their range of interests,” Iacono said in a statement. “As part of the New Horizons program for seniors, we finance projects such as those in St-François so that seniors may participate in community activities which are useful and keep them active.”

The federal government has allotted around $35 million to the New Horizons program for seniors with the goal of financing nearly 1,850 community projects which have been approved following a call for proposals for 2016-2017. Since 2004, New Horizons has financed nearly 19,700 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada, for a total investment by the federal government of around $417 million.

The Quebec Provincial Police crime unit has opened up an investigation after a man’s body was found lifeless on highway 13 (in Laval) northbound between highways 440 & 640.

A call to the police about a seriously injured person came in at around 11h30am. Unfortunately the man passed away before the Police came on the scene.  The death is being treated as suspicious because on Tuesday morning (March 21, 2017) it was reported a man in his 30s was surrounded by a group of men and beaten before being forced into a car in the parking lot of the Tutti Frutti restaurant in the Ste-Dorothée district of Laval and are believed to be related.

The incident has caused the northbound side of Highway 13 to be closed until further notice. Major traffic problems as drivers are being forced onto the service road.