Martin C. Barry

While the month of January can be a dull and depressing time of the year, a hopeful ray of light shone for the staff and clients at Agape in Chomedey last week when city councillor Vasilios Karidogiannis dropped by with a $450 donation to the charitable services group.

First time for everything

Although it was the first time Karidogiannis, who represents the district of l’Abord-à-Plouffe, made a major donation to Agape, he said it’s something that will probably be an annual tradition from now on.

“We’re allocated a certain amount of money every year to help support our community organizations, and it’s up to us to find which ones need support,” he said. “Agape is at the top of my list. This is the first year, but hopefully not the last. And hopefully we can make this donation grow somehow.

A friend to Agape

“I’m always offering a helping hand whenever Betty needs something,” Karidogiannis continued, referring to the organization’s secretary-treasurer Elizabeth McLeod. “It’s not always easy, but I try to help as much as I can. They’re also my neighbours because I live just down the street. The people that Agape helps are also my neighbours. And you never know when you may also be in a position to needs Agape’s help.”

Agape was just one on a list of eight or nine charitable organizations that benefited from donations from Councillor Karidogiannis. They included local community supermarket Au Panier de Chomedey on Lévesque Blvd. West. “I had four-and-half thousand dollars at my disposal this year and it was partitioned to as many groups and organizations as possible,” he said. “And hopefully next year it’ll be for even more.”

Praises anglo services group

He praised Agape for being the only group of its kind in Chomedey to stand up for the rights of its principal clients. “It’s the only anglo services community organization in the neighbourhood, which is very important since the anglophone community is growing,” said Karidogiannis.

In an interview with the Laval News, McLeod said the money “will help us feed more people. We have more refugees and immigrants coming in. We have people who arrived in this country last year who are no longer receiving support and they’re starting to come to us now. So every penny that we receive now really helps us to feed everyone who comes in to us.”

Ongoing refugee crisis

While maintaining that the refugee situation hasn’t changed much since last year at this time when it was being treated as a crisis, she added, “we sort of got used to dealing with it. We’ve kept most of the families who arrived. The bigger crisis happens when they’ve been here a year and their support runs out. They’re learning French, but they can’t find a job. That’s when they become eligible to apply for welfare which is not a large enough amount of money to survive.

“So we have to continue seeing to their needs, feeding and clothing them. I don’t see an improvement over last year, but I do see a regular flow continuing of what started for us last year. We have to bear in mind through this that we still have our regulars. Some of our people can’t work because they have severe handicaps and restrictions for work. Others suffer from mental health issues. We have to take care of all of them. These are some of the biggest challenges we face.”

A tight financial situation

All this being said, Agape is not anticipating any major increases in subsidies or donations in the near future, McLeod continued. “I would love to say yes, that all kinds of money is coming in and we can all be happy about it, but this is not the movies.

“Our biggest concern is to make sure that we can keep our heads above water,” she said. “Being the secretary-treasurer, of course, I always feel the big responsibility of seeing that our financial affairs stay proper. But the money just doesn’t come in. We’ve been operating at loss for a few years. We promised our chartered accountant that this year we would break even, but I don’t know if that’s going to happen.”

TLN-

Last week thousands of Lavallers were without power due to the freezing rain. In case of emergency are you and your family prepared?
If an emergency happens, it may take emergency workers some time to reach you. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours.
Learn how quick and easy it is to become better prepared to face a range of emergencies – anytime, anywhere. Use the checklists to build a 72-hour emergency kit. These basic steps will help you take care of yourself and your loved ones during an emergency.

Step 1. Know the risks

Although the consequences of various disasters can be similar, knowing the risks in your region can help you better prepare. Across Canada, we face a number of hazards. In addition to natural disasters, there are other types of risks, such as power outages and industrial or transportation accidents.

Step 2. Make a plan

Every Canadian household needs an emergency plan. It will help you and your family know what to do in case of an emergency. It will take you about 20 minutes to make your plan.
Your family may not be together when an emergency occurs. Plan how to meet or how to contact one another, and discuss what you would do in different situations.
Neighbourhood safety plan
Work with your neighbours to identify people who may need extra help during an emergency. To help make sure everyone is taken care of, assign “block buddies.”
Write yourself a reminder to update your emergency plan one year from now.
On this date next year, review your contact information, practise your emergency evacuation plans, change the batteries in your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector, and restock your kit(s). Change the batteries, food and water in your emergency kits once a year.
-Household plan; -Emergency exits
Draw up a floor plan of your home that shows all possible exits from each room. Plan a main exit route and an alternate exit route from each room. If you live in an apartment, plan to use the stairs instead of the elevators. If you are unable to use the stairs, notify emergency personnel ahead of time. Also, identify an evacuation route from your neighbourhood in case you need to leave in a hurry (and think of more than one option).

Meeting places

Identify safe places where everyone should meet if you cannot go home or you need to evacuate.
Safe meeting place near home:________________________________________
Safe meeting place outside immediate neighbourhood:_______________________
Evacuation routes from neighbourhood: __________________________________

Safe idea

Make copies of important documents
Make copies of birth and marriage certificates, passports, licences, wills, land deeds and insurance. Take photos of family members in case a lost persons record is created. Keep them in a safe place, both inside and outside your home. You might want to put them in a safety deposit box or give them to friends and family who live out of town.

Workplace

Learn about the emergency evacuation plans in place and what you will need to do. You may want to have some basic supplies at work, such as water and food that won’t spoil, in case you need to stay put for a while.
Check  with your employer about workplace emergency plans, including fire alarms, emergency exits, meeting points, and designated safety personnel or floor wardens.

Children

Ask your children’s school or daycare about their emergency policies. Find out how they will contact families during an emergency.
Find out what type of authorization the school or daycare requires to release your children to a designated person if you can’t pick them up. Make sure the school or daycare has updated contact information for parents, caregivers and designated persons.
Designated person 1: Phone:
Designated person 2: Phone:
School contact information: _____________

Plan for pets

In case of an evacuation, remember that pets are not allowed in some public shelters or hotels. In case of an evacuation, prepare to take your pets with you to the home of a relative or friend, or take steps to identify pet-friendly hotels or pet boarding facilities in your area and further away from home.

Special health needs

Establish a personal support network of friends, relatives, health-care providers, co-workers and neighbours who understand your special needs.
Write down details about:
Accommodation needs
Insurance information
Allergies
Medical conditions
Emergency contacts
Medication
Family medical history
Recent vaccinations
Health screenings
Surgeries
Keep a copy of this information in your emergency kit, and give a copy to your personal support network.
Talk to your doctor about preparing a grab-and-go bag, if possible, with a two-week supply of medication and medical supplies. Include prescriptions and medical documents. Remember that pharmacies may be closed for some time, even after an emergency is over.
Health information:
Medication and medical equipment:
Grab-and-go bag location:
Emergency numbers
Arrange for each family member to call, e-mail or text the same out-of-town contact person in case of an emergency.
Choose an out-of-town contact who lives far enough away that he or she is unlikely to be affected by the same event. If you are new to Canada or have recently moved to a new area, make arrangements through friends, cultural associations or community organizations.
Family doctors
Patients’ names: ____________________________________
Doctors’ names and phone numbers: __________________
Insurance agent/company
Agent’s/company’s name: ____________________________
Phone: __________________________________________
Home and Car Policy numbers: ________________________
Home security system
Company’s name:____________________________________
Phone: __________________________________________

Safe home instructions

Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector, smoke alarm, fire extinguisher and well-stocked first aid kit. If you live in an apartment, or if you are staying in a hotel, know where the fire alarms and at least two emergency exits are located.
Make sure you have a fire extinguisher on every level of your home, including one in your kitchen. Everyone in your home should know where to find the fire extinguishers. All capable adults and older children should know how to use it. See instructions regarding the lifetime of your fire extinguisher and check with your local fire department for more information.
Older children and adults should know how to turn off your home’s water, electricity and gas. Make large, easy-to-see signs for water and gas shut-offs as well as for the electrical panel.
Teach children how and when to dial 9-1-1 as well as how to call the designated out-of-town contact.
Limit phone calls to urgent messages only. Keep calls short to free up the lines for others.
Fire extinguisher location: ___________________________________
Water valve location: ______________________________________
Utility company phone number:_______________________________
Electrical panel location: ____________________________________
Utility company phone number:_______________________________
Gas valve location: ________________________________________
Gas Utility company phone number: ___________________________
(Shut off gas only when authorities tell you to do so.)
Floor drain location: _______________________________________
(Always make sure it is clear of boxes, furniture, etc., in case of flooding.)

Emergency instructions

Call 9-1-1 (where available) to report a fire, a crime or to save a life.
For non-emergency calls, use the ten-digit numbers listed in your local phone book, or this emergency plan, for police, fire and other health services.
When notifying emergency services of your location, provide the exact street or civic address and nearest intersection.
For the gas and water valves, keep shut-off instructions close by and read them carefully.
In an emergency
Follow your emergency plan.
Get your emergency kit.
Make sure you are safe before assisting others.
Listen to the radio or television for information from authorities. Local officials may advise you to stay where you are. Follow their instructions.
Stay put until all is safe or until you are ordered to evacuate.

Evacuation orders

Authorities will not ask you to leave your home unless they have reason to believe that you may be in danger.
If you are ordered to evacuate, take your emergency kit, your wallet, personal identification for each family member and copies of essential family documents with you. Bring a cellular phone and spare battery or charger with you, if you have one. Use travel routes specified by local authorities.
If you have time, call or e-mail your out-of-town contact. Tell them where you are going and when you expect to arrive. Once you are safe, let them know. Tell them if any family members have become separated.
If possible, leave a note telling others when you left and where you are. Shut off water and electricity if officials tell you to do so.
Leave natural gas service on unless officials tell you to turn it off. If you turn off the gas, the gas company has to reconnect it. In a major emergency, it could take weeks for a professional to respond.
Take pets with you. Lock your home. Follow instructions from authorities.
If you go to an evacuation centre, register your personal information at the registration desk. Do not return home until authorities advise that it is safe to do so.
Step 3. Get an emergency kit
In an emergency, you will need some basic supplies. You may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.
You may have some of the items already, such as food, water and a battery-operated or crank flashlight. The key is to make sure they are organized and easy to find. Would you be able to find your flashlight in the dark?
Make sure your kit is easy to carry and everyone in the household knows where it is. Keep it in a backpack, duffle bag or suitcase with wheels, in an easy-to-reach, accessible place, such as your front-hall closet. If you have many people in your household, your emergency kit could get heavy. It’s a good idea to separate some of these supplies in backpacks. That way, your kit will be more portable and each person can personalize his or her own grab-and-go emergency kit.

Basic emergency kit

Water – at least two litres of water per person per day; include small bottles that can be carried easily in case of an evacuation order
Food that won’t spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods (replace food and water once a year)
Manual can-opener
Crank or battery-powered flashlight (and extra batteries). Replace batteries once a year.
Crank, battery-powered radio (and extra batteries) or Weatheradio
First aid kit, Extra keys to your car and house
Some cash in smaller bills, such as $10 bills and change for payphones
A copy of your emergency plan and contact information
If applicable, other items such as prescription medication, infant formula, equipment for people with disabilities, or food, water and medication for your pets or service animal (personalize according to your needs)
Recommended additional items
Two additional litres of water per person per day for cooking and cleaning
Candles and matches or lighter (place candles in deep, sturdy containers and do not burn unattended)
Change of clothing and footwear for each household member
Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each household member
Toiletries, Hand sanitizer, Utensils, Garbage bags, Toilet paper,  Water purifying tablets
Basic tools (hammer, pliers, wrench, screwdrivers, work gloves, dust mask, pocket knife)
A whistle (in case you need to attract attention)
Duct tape (to tape up windows, doors, air vents, etc.)
If you think your water is contaminated, check with your municipality or local authorities for details. When in doubt, do not drink water you suspect may be contaminated.
Keep some cash on hand, as automated bank machines and their networks may not work during an emergency. You may have difficulty using debit or credit cards.
If applicable, other items such as prescription medication, infant formula, equipment for people with disabilities, or food, water and medication for your pets or service animal (personalize according to your needs).
You can find emergency kits at your local pharmacy.

Martin C. Barry

A long and traumatic chapter in the City of Laval’s history came to a dramatic conclusion last Thursday when Gilles Vaillancourt, the disgraced former mayor of Laval, pleaded guilty to charges of corruption and agreed to give up his million dollar condo on Île Paton and to pay the city up to $9 million.

Six-year sentence

Although he pleaded not guilty three years ago when charges of breach of trust, fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud were initially filed against Vaillancourt, on Thursday he entered a guilty plea at Laval’s Palais de Justice and was remanded in custody before sentencing Dec. 15 to what is expected to be a term of six years imprisonment.

“I sincerely regret the errors I committed,” Vaillancourt is reported to have said during the hearing. “I feel a pain that I will have for the rest of my life. I did a lot of things for Laval. But I made mistakes that are unacceptable.”

According to the prosecutor overseeing Vaillancourt’s case, ownership of the former mayor’s condominium estimated to be worth more than $1 million is being transferred to the office of the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions.

Swiss bank account seized

As part of an agreement, proceeds from a bank account Vaillancourt had set up in Switzerland containing more than $8 million are also being transferred to the DPCP, which has a mandate to deal with the proceeds of criminal activities. At Laval city hall last Thursday morning, Mayor Marc Demers held a press conference during which he reacted to the turn of events.

“Since the beginning of our mandate, we were committed to recover Laval citizens’ money,” he said, while adding that many people were convinced Vaillancourt would get off without punishment. “Since last April, we have been negotiating with his lawyers,” said Demers, before providing details of the settlement.

Among other thing, Vaillancourt voluntarily agreed to give up his $30,000 annual pension paid by the city. Total value of the pension is estimated at $500,000. As well, Vaillancourt transferred ownership of his condo to the city, although it is being held for the time being by the DPCP.

We got the maximum: Demers

While Demers said the city has effectively recovered $7.5 million from the former mayor, he later referred to an amount as high as $9 million. “I am convinced that we were able to recover the maximum amounts possible from Mr. Vaillancourt,” Demers said.

“Damages he caused to the citizens were undoubtedly greater but we had to take his assets into account and I am positive that we got the maximum.” Demers said “the amounts recovered today on behalf of Laval citizens prove us right for having undertaken all necessary actions to seek redress.”

‘Short changed,’ says opposition

The official opposition at Laval city hall also reacted. “The citizens of Laval are short changed in this agreement,” Action Laval leader Jean-Claude Gobé said in a statement. “We remove all other lawsuits including the most severe – charges of gangsterism with a trial. (If) we would have all the proofs, the sentence would be exemplary. There was organized crime and gangsterism, and just one or two years of jail time is not enough, it’s unacceptable.

“I am appalled,” Gobé continued. “Nine million dollars and a six-year jail sentence may seem huge. However, let’s not forget the magnitude of the fraud itself on the taxpayers over a period of almost 25 years, and that Gilles Vaillancourt will be able to get out of jail in one-sixth of the sentence – in other words, a year later. Given the seriousness of the offence and that he can begin to come out of jail after just one year is totally unacceptable.”

Gobé not happy with outcome

Furthermore, the leader of the opposition said the $8.5 million, including the $1 million condominium returned to the city “represents a small fraction of the real stolen amount hidden all over in tax havens.” He said a large part of that money will only end up being paid in taxes to the federal and provincial governments.

“By dropping all other lawsuits, absolving Gilles Vaillancourt of all the rest, the citizens of Laval will never see the color of their money,” said Gobé. “Only an exemplary sentence should be imposed to allow for a clean break from the past, which is not the case with this agreement.” Gilles Vaillancourt “will be walking down the streets of Laval in two years maximum,” Gobé predicted. “The message being sent to society is that we can rob the citizens, disregard the laws and get away with it.”

Martin C. Barry

Residential property owners in Laval will be paying about 1.4 per cent more in taxes in 2017, according to the city’s latest annual budget which was released to the media on Monday.

While city officials point out that the hike is less than the 2 per cent rate of inflation, it means the average tax bill for a $337,000 house will be $43 higher when the invoice arrives by mail in April. If you paid around $2,774 in taxes in 2016, your bill could be approximately $2,817 in the coming year.

An $825 million budget

The fourth budget put together by Mayor Marc Demers’s administration since he and the Mouvement Lavallois formed the majority on Laval city council in 2013 foresees $825 million in operating expenses in 2017. This compares to $810.5 million in the 2016 budget a year ago.

Laval is allotting $944.5 million for its three-year (2017-2019) public works and infrastructure renewal budget (PTI), in annual instalments of $323.6, $306.2 and $314.7 million per year. According to the city, the amounts are being divided between renewal and rehabilitation of existing facilities and structures (43.9 per cent) and the development of new infrastructures (56.1 per cent).

“This budget and this triennial public works plan represent a fair balance between the development of large planned infrastructures and the growth of communities in various neighbourhoods,” Mayor Marc Demers said.

Balancing big and small

“We are structuring the city with major projects,” he continued. “We are also investing in local neighbourhoods as well as local services. The sustainment of neighbourhood life, as well as security, mobility, sustainable development and culture have a major place in the list of our priorities.”

During a journalists’ question period, Demers was asked whether his administration’s decision to keep the tax increase lower than in previous years was influenced by the fact 2017 is an election year. “Our goal was always to be below inflation,” he responded, while noting that Laval froze property taxes in its first budget. “We have always managed to maintain a balance and this remains our goal.”

Compared to the last PTI budget (2016-2018) of $848 million, the new PTI budget for 2017-2019 is almost $100 million larger. Demers noted that the cost for one of Laval’s biggest expenditures ever, Place Bell, comes to $200 million, which must be factored in. “We had to give ourselves the means to raise our capacity to realize projects,” he said.

Arenas and libraries

The three-year PTI plan includes $140 million for the construction of a bio-methane, composting and eco-centre facility. The city will spend $13.3 million rehabilitating several sports facilities, including the Mike Bossy and Hartland Monahan arenas. Laval says it will also invest in the upgrading of the Multicultural library, the Philipppe Panneton library branch and the construction of a new public library headquarters building.

The city’s contribution to the operating expenses of the Société de Transport de Laval is increasing by $4.7 million to $70.1 million. The city has decided to expand a municipal program providing at-home support for senior citizens. Laval is creating a new police investigation division to deal with sexual exploitation and human trafficking. The city is also adding $800,000 to a fund dedicated to social housing.

In terms of municipal administration, the city is pursuing a policy to have more legal services provided from within its own bureaucracy, rather than by outsourced legal firms. (This became a key issue during the former Vaillancourt’s time when the city’s legal division was much smaller and legal work was contracted out to a firm of lawyers which kept offices in a building right across the street from Laval city hall.)

Sablon leasing changes

In the new budget, the city also announced changes in the way it administers leases with organizations and community groups which use municipal buildings such as the Centre du Sablon, the Cosmodôme and the Place des Aînés.

According to Sylvain Gouin, a finance department official, the previous arrangement between the city and the groups established leases with a symbolic value of $1, which did not reflect the actual worth of the facilities, he said.

“We decided to make leases with these three organizations based on the actual market value of the facilities,” he added, while maintaining that the new arrangement will give a clearer idea of what each organization receives in subsidies from the city. The new arrangement won’t change anything in actual costs for the organizations, he insisted.