Martin C. Barry

Conservative leadership

On a stop in Laval last week while campaigning in Quebec for the leadership of the Conservative Party, longtime Conservative stalwart Tony Clement appeared to back away from rival leadership candidate Kellie Leitch’s recent statements that Canada should start screening newly-arriving immigrants for “Canadian values.”

Would focus on security

“I think quite frankly that focusing government’s time and attention and resources on having some bureaucrats somewhere deciding whether someone might be a good Canadian or a bad Canadian in the future is probably unworkable and undesirable,” said Clement, while adding that he would be elaborating his position in a national security policy to be released in a few days time.

“I’m going to define my campaign by my policies,” he said. “The Conservative Party of Canada has to be pro-Canadian values, of course, but we also have to be pro-immigration, pro-national security and pro-jobs. So these are my focus as someone who wants to be leader.”

An immigrant himself

Clement, who was born in England and immigrated to Canada with his parents when he was four years old, said the experience left him with the impression that almost all immigrants come here with peaceful intentions while seeking to become part of Canadian society.

“What I wanted to do was to be part of the fabric of Canadian society and I think that’s what most immigrants want,” he said. “They want to be successful here for themselves, for their kids, for their grandkids. I think that approach is what every immigrant aspires to, and that’s what I can represent as the leader of the Conservative Party and as a future prime minister.”

Walls figure prominently these days in political rhetoric, be it in Europe where a barrier is now being erected along the cliffs of Calais in France to prevent immigrants from crossing the channel to Britain, or in the U.S. where Donald Trump has long promised a wall along the country’s southern border to stem the flow of illegal immigrants from Mexico.

‘We’re pro-national security’

Asked where he stands with regard to such extreme responses, Clement cited the Conservative Party’s longstanding pro-immigration record. “But at the same time we’re pro-national security,” he pointed out. “So to the extent that there are people who want to tear down our values, tear down our civilization, want to wreak violence in our society, that’s where our focus should be – to prevent them from doing so.”

On another issue, the country’s economy, Clement is critical of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government for failing badly – especially with regards to rising national jobless rates. “We’re in the midst right now of what I call the Trudeau jobs recession,” said Clement, a former Minister of Industry and Treasury Board President in several Conservative governments.

Trudeau’s lost jobs record

“The last two months of job numbers indicate that we’ve lost 100,000 full-time jobs in this country, despite Mr. Trudeau’s policies: his tax and spend policies, driving us into deficit, misspending on critical infrastructure priorities. These indicate that his plans are not working. So over the next weeks and months I will be outlining a better economic strategy for Canada which involves lower taxes, innovation, more startups and more creative activity. I believe that’s our path forward.”

Commenting on Prime Minister Trudeau’s recent completion of a mission to China, Clement said he didn’t see any major problems with it, but took exception to Trudeau’s handling of the overlapping issues of economic interests and human rights. “When it comes to China, we have values we want to express to them on human rights issues, for instance, and Mr. Trudeau did do that,” he said. “I want to give him the acknowledgement that he did raise human rights.

Safeguarding Canadian interests

“But when it comes to the interests of the country, I do worry that in his headlong dash to make nice to the Chinese leadership, our economic interests will not be protected,” he added. “That’s something I’m going to be watching very closely. If the Chinese want to make investments in this country that’s fine. But they have to be on our terms, on the terms of our national interest. China has to protect Canadian investments on their soil through the rule of law, and these are the kinds of issues that have to be nailed down before we can have a very good commercial relationship with China.”

As a former provincial and federal health minister, Clement said he is not pledging any radical changes in the federal government’s constitutionally guaranteed role in defining public health care in Canada. “One of the things the federal government can do is to promote innovation in our health care system,” he said, adding that this might consist of helping the provinces develop new models of health care management and delivery “that puts the patient first. Those are the kinds of things that I want to have a dialogue with the provinces on.”

Supported by Housakos

During the interview at the Mirage New York restaurant on Saint-Martin Blvd., Clement, whose father was a Greek Cypriot, was accompanied by Conservative Senator Leo Housakos who is supporting his candidacy.  “Experience has value,” Housakos said, explaining his support.

“I thought it was imperative that we have a leader of the official opposition in Canada who is experienced, responsible and with a proven track record making in government. Mr. Clement has done that at the federal and provincial levels.”

Torrential style rain fell at 4am early Wednesday morning while residents slept. About 7 communities have been affected due to the floods. Cars have been washed out to sea, several farm animals have drowned, it is complete chaos. The death toll as far in the southwest Peloponnese has risen to four.  Among the victims was a 62-year-old woman who was unable to leave her home in time in the village of Pidima, which is near Kalamata, an 80-year-old man who died in the village of Thouria, and a body of an unidentified man was discovered by firefighters in the area of Vlachioti in Laconia, but the death toll is expected to rise.

Dozens of vehicles, homes and farms have been severely damaged.  There is even a report stating that about 80 students are trapped in the building of the local technical college, while many more residents are trapped in their homes. The mayor is asking that the area be declared a state of emergency.

Martin C. Barry

Inter-Dec College

An exhibition of works created by students of Montreal- and Laval-based Inter-Dec College was held at a trendy St. Laurent Boulevard venue on Aug. 17 to mark their graduation.

Inter-Dec held the event, called Creativity Exposed, in conjunction with the Festival Mode & Design. The show of multidisciplinary and experimental works was a showcase for graduates and advanced students enrolled in Inter-Dec’s schools of beauty, digital arts, VFX, video games and interior design programs.

Talent exposed

“We have different kiosks throughout the venue where students’ work is being exposed,” said Alex Boucher, Inter-Dec’s marketing advisor who was on hand to greet media. Also on the agenda during the evening were an interior design performance, a hair dressing show by a Paris hairstylist, a body painting performance, followed by an all-night party.

Inter-Dec College operates from campuses in Montreal (2000 Sainte-Catherine St. West) and in Laval (1595 Daniel-Johnson Blvd.). The college is part of the LCI Education Network, which includes Montreal’s LaSalle College and the Montreal International Language Centre, as well as learning institutions in Toronto, Vancouver and major cities all over the world.

(TLN)

Laval Info-Santé

During the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada’s annual congress and gala held in Saskatchewan in August, a paramedical help project developed by Urgences-Santé and CISSS de Laval’s Info-Santé service won the Award of Excellence for a Client Centre Initiative award.

The goal of the project was to develop a system that would help avoid unnecessary ambulance trips by directing non-urgent 9-1-1 calls to the Info-Santé (8-1-1) team which provides medical information over the telephone.

Fewer ambulance trips

According to a press release issued by the CISSS describing the new system, nurses working for Info-Santé are able to assist callers in most cases. In some cases, a nurse on the home services support team at the Laval CISSS can go directly to the client’s home in order to provide services there.

In other cases, an ambulance is sent to the home and paramedical technicians make an evaluation and transmit it to Info-Santé. This allows certain criteria to be determined more precisely so that a decision for providing the proper health care can be made.

“The results of the project clearly demonstrate that Urgences-Santé has a role to play in the solution to unblock emergency services and orientation of the clientele,” said Diane Verreault, director of the quality of pre-hospital care and teaching at Urgences-Santé.

Careful evaluations

The Info-Santé team prides itself on the thoroughness of its evaluation process. More than 60 per cent of calls end with nursing advice being given out, while 7 to 8 per cent of calls are redirected to an emergency room. Around 30 per cent of calls are referred to a medical doctor or other health care or social services professional (poison control, pharmacist, etc.) or alternative resources such as community help lines.

CISSS de Laval says the project is now being pursued on a regional basis and the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services is also considering its expansion elsewhere in the province. “This experience has demonstrated the strength of a good partnership between the various players and sectors in the health care system,” said Lise Bertrand, head of the Laval Info-Santé service.

Martin C. Barry

The weather was perfect for a day of fun and games at Parc Pie-X in Chomedey during the eighth annual Fête de Quartier on Saturday Aug. 20. Among the many sponsors of the popular event was the Laval News.

As a community event that’s been growing in popularity annually, the Fête attracted more than 1,200 people, including a lot of families with children. They enjoyed an endless supply of corn on the cob, stage entertainment, organized events for the kids, and information booths sponsored by a dozen or so local community groups.

Team work pays off

“This has been a great team effort,” said Patrice Angeli of the Comité de Développement Local de Chomedey who was a member of the Fête’s organizing committee. “We’re having a great year and we’re happy so many people have come out. More and more people are coming out each year. The weather is perfect. Everything has come together perfectly.”

In keeping with tradition, the 2016 Fête de Quartier was a showcase for community groups from all over the area to promote their activities and work. Among the many things to see and do were inflatable games for the kids and workout sessions with physical education experts. It was also an opportunity to meet local elected representatives.

‘Important event’

Chomedey Liberal MNA Guy Ouellette, who usually spends part of the afternoon at the Fête each year, was present at the very beginning of the event in the early afternoon, although a busy schedule obliged him to depart by the time the Laval News arrived. “Mr. Ouellette extends his best wishes to all the families who are benefiting from this important event,” said Mouher Terjanian, one of Ouellette’s attachés.

Jacinthe Roque, a longtime Chomedey resident, said it was her first time attending the Fête. She also said she was impressed with the growing availability of activities and special events in Laval’s parks in recent years.

Scouts and Guides participated

This year, the Scouts and Guides of Chomedey became fully involved in the Fête. They boiled up and served hundreds of ears of corn on the cob. “We have a very tasty crop this year,” said Jean Ajmo, a group leader in the Centre St. Joseph Guides and Scouts.

They hold meetings every Saturday from 5:30 to 8 pm. According to Ajmo, the Fête de Quartier proved to be the perfect venue for recruiting new Guides and Scouts. “In just two hours we signed up sixteen more new members,” he said.

City councillor impressed

Jean Coupal, the independent city councillor for Laval’s Souvenir-Labelle district, was pleased to see so many people from Laval’s west end together in one place at one time. He also pointed out that since not everybody in Laval is able to get out of the city to enjoy themselves, an event like the Fête de Quartier de Chomedey has an important role to play.

First held in 2009, the first Fête de Quartier de Chomedey was attended that year by just 400 people, although the number has grown exponentially each year since then. Major sponsors this year included IGA Extra Gagnon et Filles, the Caisse Desjardins de Chomedey, the City of Laval, Chomedey MNA Guy Ouellette, Vimy MP Eva Nassif and local city councillors Vasilios Karidogiannis and Aline Dib.

(TLN)

Fun Family Day

On Sept. 4 for the 17^th year, the City of Laval’s Fête de la Famille will be taking place at the Centre de la Nature. From 10 am to 6 pm, young and old alike will be able to take part in a wide range of free activities, including shows, strolling actors and musicians, inflatable games, giant slides, a skyride, face painting, balloon sculpting, washable skin tattoos, interactive workshops and more.

Stage entertainment

All during the day, there will be shows to please one and all. Caillou, the popular and now internationally-famous little boy cartoon character with roots in Quebec, will be putting in an appearance on the Bell stage from 10:30 to 11:15 am. Other shows, including Géant and Atchoum, will be playing from 2:30 to 4:30 pm.

The Laval Cosmodôme will be well represented with a scientific display in which the Musée Armand-Frappier and the Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles and the Centre d’interprétation de l’eau will also be participating. Pre-teens and teens 12 to 16 years of age will be able to take part in the activities at a Teen Zone overseen by the 4-H Club and RBD Board.

The pirate show

A year-after-year favourite among the kids, the Oyez Oyez! pirate show, is back this year. Young and told will be able to test their seafaring and pirate-like abilities with a cast of rough-cut shipmates who’ll conduct drills and training in all the basics of swashbuckling on a simulated pirate ship set up on an outdoor stage.

The Laval Public Library service’s bookmobile will also be at the Centre de la Nature. Those interested in subscribing to the free service will be able to borrow books from a facility that travels all over Laval. Other fun activities at the Centre de la Nature on Sept. 4 will be row boat and canoe rentals on the lake, a petting farm, a mini-village area, pony rides and a water park.

Pre-teen contest

Also on Sept. 4, pre-teens are invited to take part in a contest linked to the City of Laval’s online Instagram account. From 11 am to 4 pm, they will be asked to take a “selfie” in the teen zone and to publish it on their Instagram account, while also tagging the picture with key word #zoneadosLVL. A lucky teen will be receiving a surprise gift. The winner will be randomly drawn in the week that follows.

The city is setting up a free parking area at the intersection of Saint-Martin Blvd. East and Autoroute 125 (Pie-IX) for individuals and families coming by car. Shuttle buses will be provided by the STL to take passengers to the Centre de la Nature.

Parking and transport

For those arriving by bus, the STL is also offering a special weekend family rate by which adults pay the regular adult fare and up to five children 11 years old and younger get on for free. Complete program information about the Fête de la Famille is available at this web site: www.fetedelafamille.laval.ca.

In addition to the Fête de la Famille, the city will also soon be holding another important event: the second annual Laval à vélo, which is taking place on Sunday Sept. 18 starting at 9 am. The event, also taking place at the Centre de la Nature, will take bicyclists on routes 20 and 40 kilometres in length. Registration can be done on line at www.lavalavelo.laval.ca.