Celebrations!
Happy 10th birthday to Nina and 9th birthday to Michael!
Caregivers Financial Assistance for Canada’s Army of Unpaid Caregivers Strongly Supported
CNW
Canadians are calling for governments to provide financial support for caregivers who have to reduce their work hours or leave the workforce, according to a survey of more than 4,000 Canadians, the results of which are published in a new Conference Board of Canada report, Feeling At Home: A Survey of Canadians on Senior Care.
“Canadians who provide unpaid care to family are under pressure to balance employment with their caregiving responsibilities,” said Louis Thériault, Vice-President, Public Policy. “The results from this survey show that Canadians say that governments should provide financial compensation for those who have to reduce their work hours. Providing caregivers with the support they need should be part of strategies to care for Canada’s growing senior population.”
Highlights
- Sixty per cent of Canadians surveyed said that governments should provide financial assistance to those who have to reduce work hours or leave the workforce to care for seniors.
- No province or territory in Canada has mastered provision of senior care—all have strengths and weaknesses, and all can learn from each other.
- “Unaffordable costs” is the number-one reason respondents with unmet needs gave for not receiving home and community care service.
When surveyed, 60 per cent of respondents agreed that governments should provide financial assistance to those who have to reduce work or leave the workforce altogether. In contrast, 28 per cent of respondents supported an obligatory private insurance plan; and 25 per cent said care should be provided by close relatives of the dependent person.
In addition to the results about supporting caregivers, other key findings from the report include:
- No single province or territory in Canada has mastered senior care—all have strengths and weaknesses, and all can learn from each other.
- Home and community care services are affordable for those who obtain them, but costs are a barrier to access. “Unaffordable costs” is the number-one reason respondents with unmet needs gave for not receiving service.
- Transportation is the home and community care service most likely to require Canadians to incur out-of-pocket expenses, but transportation is also seen as one of the most affordable services.
EKOS Research Associates conducted the survey of 4,127 Canadians in 2014. The margin of error for a sample of 4,127 Canadians is +/−1.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20. The margin of error increases for the population subgroups. Respondents were frequently responding on behalf of individuals who were recipients of care. Respondents 55 years of age and over were oversampled to reach those who were more likely to have interaction with home, community, and long-term care services. Therefore, the sample contains a greater share of older, wealthier, and more-highly educated respondents than in the general population.
This briefing is part of a broader research program by the Conference Board’s Canadian Alliance for Sustainable Health Care (CASHC) on future care for seniors. The series takes a broader look at the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s seniors, as well as the services that respond to those needs.
Fete de quartier Saint-Bruno on August 20
(TLN)
Laval executive-committee vice-president David De Cotis, who is city councillor for the district of Saint-Bruno, is inviting everyone to come out and attend the second annual Fete de quartier Saint-Bruno for the benefit of the Société Alzheimer de Laval.
Star Wars screening
The event, being held in conjunction with the 21st anniversary of the Alzheimer society, will be taking place at Lausanne Park on Aug. 20. That evening, the film Star Wars: Le réveil de la force will be screened outdoors at 8 pm. Free popcorn will be served.
“I am happy to be involved with the Fête because it will be an occasion to get together and have fun for neighbours, while also expressing support towards the families from Laval facing the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease,” said De Cotis.
To benefit Société Alzheimer
Société Alzheimer Laval executive-director Lise Lalande said the event will be an opportunity for the society to spread the word about their mission. “We offer a number of services, most notably consultations, respite for families and support groups,” she said. “The funds we raise during the event will allow us to continue our work and we are grateful for this.”
Mercedes-Benz Laval will be the principal sponsor of this family event. “I believe it is important for businesses to become involved in the community and this is a good example,” said the dealership’s owner and vice-president Louise Leblanc.
St-Jerome: Infant found dead. Forgotten in a car.
Sûreté du Québec opened up an investigation about a St-Jerome infant found dead. A baby boy, (less than a year old) which had been found forgotten in a parked car. The car had been parked in front of the daycare where the young infant had been registered at “Le Centre de la Petite Enfance Notre-Dame” which is located in St-Jerome.
Laval City Hall Watch – August 17 2016
Laval City Hall Watch - August 17 2016
Laval funds research chair in solid waste management
Philippe Vaillancourt acting division head of Laval’s environmental service has been named by the city executive committee to act as its representative on a newly created research chair for solid waste management technologies at Montreal’s Polytechnic Institute. As of August 2016 the city council has approved funding for the research venture. Laval will pay the institute $10,000 annually for a total of fifty thousand dollars over the five year term of the engagement.
Membership in this study program will give Laval’s environmental engineers access to state of the art research and technologies that address issues submitted by the partners, training for qualified personnel and the addition of relevant knowledge which will allow the continued development of rational and sustainable resource use.
Promoting Scientific Exploration activity in parks
The Executive Committee has approved funding for an innovative initiative to promote life and health related biological sciences as part of its summer park activities. An amount of $22,000 has been budgeted for the Armand-Frappier Museum to present exhibitions, laboratory activities, and itinerant scientific workshops at various parks of Laval as part of Laval’s summer community events.
The mission of the Armand Frappier Museum includes the dissemination and popularization of scientific knowledge to promote comprehension of the important issues related to human, animal, and environmental health. While a primary goal is to broaden the scientific and technical knowledge of the general population it is hoped that the exhibits and activities may generate interest among young people for scientific careers in health sciences.
Closing Celebration for Laval Music Zone summer tour
Residents who took advantage of the great summer weather and spent time outdoors in one of Laval’s many public places may have been treated to live musical performances. As part of Laval’s Zone Musical program concerts of pop, folk, classical, swing and jazz music resonated in all regions of Laval. The shows featured local talent highlighted by Laval’s Symphonic Orchestra.
The summer musical tour culminates with a closing weekend party on September 9th to 11th where the music world will be honored in the city center at Maison des Arts. On Friday September 9th Laval’s Symphony Orchestra partners with Quartetto Gelato to provide music for dancing the Argentinian tango, Italian tarantella, Spanish flamenco and Polish polka to name a few. Saturday Florence K and friends will present a festive show of Latin and jazz hits including original songs from their latest albums. These performances begin at 8:00 pm.
Sunday’s musical program of African percussion with Melissa Lavergne will be presented at 3:00 pm but festivities and activities will run from noon including food trucks providing tastes of the world’s cuisine. The shows are free of charge.
Funding of the Regional Social Economy Center of Laval (PRESL)
The Executive Committee has granted the second installment of funds earmarked for the social economic development of Laval to the local organization PRESL (Pole Regional D’Economie Sociale de Laval). The disbursement of $20,000 is part of a first year global budget of $110,000. The monies are needed to help PRESL establish a permanent administrative presence in Laval and provide it with working capital to fund its first year of operation.
The social economy is a concept that combines the words “economy” and “social”, which means that an organization of this type is pursuing a social mission, while providing support for economic development. Unlike a private company where the owner has the power to make all decisions, the social enterprise is democratic, that is to say, it is composed of members who participate in decision-making processes of the organization. In Laval, collaborators of social economy development are primarily non-profit organizations, like work integration groups or adapted work, and cooperatives. Much of the work undertaken is in the health sector and social services (personal services), and also in the areas of environment, manufacturing, food, financial services, arts and culture.
While the organization is non-profit company its projects pursue a goal of economic viability. This means that the company conducts business and marketing development activities to sell its products and services and if there is a surplus, it can be reinvested in the organization for the development, creation and consolidation of jobs, improved working conditions or in the community as well as allotting reserves for future expenses. Primarily the goal is to invest in projects that address local social needs and whose profits are reinvested in the community. The primary mandate is to create employment, integrate people on the fringes of society and to combat poverty.
Des Praries Park bustling with free summer activities
Friday July 8th 2016 marked the launch of the summer program and activities at Des Praries Park. This natural green space 30 hectares large is located adjacent to the river and street of the same name and can be accessed on 5 avenue du Crochet. The mayor of Laval Marc Demers who was on hand for the festive open ceremonies said, “I am very pleased to see how one of our great parks is so popular and crowded. Citizens will benefit from the visit to the park this summer thanks to the wealth of programming and the involvement of several community partners, “said Mayor Demers.
The park is crisscrossed by five kilometers of Quebec’s Green Route bicycle path, multiple Trek Fit exercise stations and pedestrian walkways for those wishing to stroll, run or cycle through a natural environment. The programming includes musical performances highlighted by a concert by Laval’s Symphonic Orchestra. While back to school is fast approaching there is still time for family fun as activities run till August 28th. Wednesdays and Thursdays get physical in an outdoor setting with scheduled Tai Chi, line dancing, Zumba gold, circuit training and Latino cardio for all ages.
Popular Latin dance nights are on the menu every Friday night till the 26th of August with lessons at 7:00 pm for salsa, bachata, merengue, cha-cha-cha followed by open dancing from 8:00 pm. Saturday evenings at 7:00pm hit movies including The Good Dinosaur, The Jungle Book, Angry Birds were screened under the stars.
A new mobile ice cream stand will operate on Thursdays through Sundays manned by young entrepreneurs twelve to seventeen years of age as part of a youth cooperative program. They will sell the products of the dairy CaFardeur as well as other refreshments.
The Laval-des-Rapides and the Pont-Viau (formerly held at Cluny Park) neighbourhood fests, will also highlight the last weekend of activities on the 27th of August. A corn roast, shows, activities and kiosques will be ongoing all afternoon and the summer program will close with the last movie night presentation of Zootopia (French language version).
The municipal leisure activity office has noted the contributions of the community organisations Loisirs Bon-Pasteur and Diapason-Jeunesse who were active partners in the organization of this summer long celebration. The best part is that all these activities are free for residents of Laval and their families.
Laval News Volume 24-16
Laval News Volume 24-16
Click here to read the Laval News Volume 24-16 online
This is a archived copy in PDF format of the Laval News Volume 24-16 that was published and distributed August 17, 2016.
This issue covers local events such us politics, sports and human interest stories. It features editorials and other columns
New riverside park could include Rivière-des-Mille-Îles beach access
(TLN) Laval’s executive-committee has announced that four lots along the Rivière-des-Mille-Îles near the Arthur Sauvé bridge in northwestern Laval are being acquired by the city for the purposes of setting up a new riverside park.
“Protecting natural areas while expanding access to them by citizens helps make Laval a city that is urban in nature,” commented Mayor Marc Demers. “The west of the island will soon be enriched by a magnificent park alongside the river.”
According to the city, the acquisition of the lands will allow the consolidation of lots already owned by Laval in the area to link up the old Riviera beach and the Arthur Sauvé bridge, while allowing for the creation of a roadside halt with possible beach access on the Rivière-des-Mille-Îles. The purchase is costing the city $1.4 million.
Laval’s Roseline Filion, Meaghan Benfeito win bronze
Roseline Filion Meaghan Benfeito the duo became bronze medallists in the women’s synchronized 10-metre platform diving event at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre and Benfeito said she didn’t mind the water of the Olympic pool turning green with algae.
“We’ve had a hard time this week with the sun shining down on the water, it really blinds us sometimes. So the fact that it was green, we took advantage of it,” Benfeito said.
The duo spoke with CBC Radio Noon‘s Steve Rukavina about their Olympic moment.
Here is an excerpt of the interview.
What were you thinking before your last dive?
Meaghan Benfeito (left) and Roseline Filion were Canada’s big winners of Tuesday, earning a bronze medal in the women’s synchronized 10-metre platform diving final. (Wong Maye-E/Associated Press)
Meaghan Benfeito: For the first time of our 11-year career I didn’t look at the scoreboard, so I didn’t know we were fifth going into the last round.
We’ve worked so hard on this so I didn’t want to let the nerves get to me. The coaches looked at us and said, ‘Okay girls, you need this dive. Do it like you do it normally. Do it the best you can.’ And that’s what we did.
It’s a good thing we didn’t know we were fifth going into the last round.
Why not look at the scoreboard?
Roseline Filion: I was just trying to stay as focused as I could. I never look at the scoreboard so it’s a habit for me to not know where we’re standing going into the last dive. Our coach told us we need this one. It’s just about doing what we do.
What about the water? Did you notice the change in the colour?
In this combination of file photos, Rio 2016 Olympic divers are shown competing in diving pools that appeared blue Monday and green Tuesday. (Matt Dunham/Associated Press)
MB: We noticed it at the beginning of practice. We saw it when the British divers went up and I thought, ‘Is it just me or is the water changing colour?’ The more we would dive the greener it would get. I don’t think they would let us dive if it were really dangerous.
What advice would you give young female athletes?
MB: Always believe in yourself. Believe in your dreams. Work hard. Never give up. Never.
Offshore tax cheats info to be handed to Ottawa by banks
Offshore tax cheats have something more to worry about. Two banks have agreed to give the federal revenue minister information from the accounts of a Caribbean financial institution to help the government crackdown on Canadian tax evaders.
The Federal Court of Canada has approved federal requests for seven years’ worth of transaction information from the Royal Bank of Canada and Citibank, N.A., related to accounts in the name of Cayman National Bank Ltd.
The Royal Bank and Citibank—neither of which opposed the federal demands—have 120 days to hand over records from Jan. 1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2015, including account statements, deposit slips, cheques, bank drafts and wire transfer orders.
The Canada Revenue Agency plans to comb through the data to see if Canadian residents are using the Canadian dollar accounts, opened by Cayman National Bank, to transfer funds to Canada and avoid reporting taxable income from their foreign holdings.
The move is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to fight offshore tax evasion, said revenue agency spokesman David Walters. “The CRA is committed to combating the abusive use of offshore jurisdictions and protecting the integrity of the Canadian tax system.”
In an affidavit filed with the Federal Court, David Letkeman, an auditor with the agency’s offshore compliance section, says past investigations have confirmed that Canadian residents use accounts with foreign financial institutions to hide taxable income.
“In my experience, the expectation of such persons is that the CRA would not discover the entities, accounts and omitted income.”
In this case, the revenue agency has not yet identified Canadians suspected of an offshore tax dodge.
However, Letkeman says the agency was alerted to the possible Cayman ruse by a Canadian woman who voluntarily disclosed her dealings through a special program that allows those who come forward to avoid prosecution.
Documents showed the woman’s funds flowed from the Cayman Islands—through Cayman National Bank’s correspondent account with the Canadian branch of Citibank, N.A.—to a Canadian bank account in her name.
As a result of the revenue agency’s review, she was ordered to pay a total of more than $1.2 million plus interest for unreported capital gains related to offshore property.
The revenue agency acknowledges that some of the information it seeks from the two banks may already be in its possession as a result of federal measures that in 2015 introduced mandatory reporting of international electronic funds transfers of $10,000 or more.
However, the agency says, audits have revealed cases where Canadian residents attempting to conceal income and assets had periodically paid themselves “allowances” of less than $10,000 from offshore accounts.
Walters said the latest court actions are unrelated to the so-called Panama Papers trove of leaked data, which exposed the offshore dealings of many high-profile people around the globe.
ALERTS IN EFFECT
ALERTS IN EFFECT
Rainfall Warning
Rain, at times heavy, is expected.
A low pressure system from Texas will move across areas of Southern Quebec tonight. Rain will begin over the Outaouais late this morning and will then move eastward. This moisture-laden system will bring a significant amount of rain to Quebec, especially as of this evening. A total of 50 millimetres is expected in these regions, with up to 70 mm locally, before the precipitation ends late tonight or early Wednesday morning.Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible.
Rainfall warnings are issued when significant rainfall is expected.
(SOURCE: Environment Canada)
