Taking part in the CRC Robotics Competition, a team from Laval Senior Academy won third place in the robot game category of the three-day event held in Laval last weekend.
Collège Montmorency first
The Overall Champion Trophy awarded by Hydro Quebec for best combined score in all categories was won by Collège Montmorency, with Macdonald High School and Marionopolis College placing second and third respectively.
The 15th annual CRC Robotics Competition, which included 24 schools from the Montreal region, took place from Feb. 25 to Feb. 27 in the gymnasium at Collège Montmorency in Laval. The event’s top teams were graded on their overall performance and not just on the robots they build and operated.
More than 500 students
Lake of Two Mountains High and Laval Senior Academy were two Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board schools among the participants which included secondary and post-secondary institutions. More than 500 high school and CEGEP students took part in the 2016 competition.
The CRC Robotics Competition is believed to be the only educational robotics contest where all the work is done exclusively by students. Teachers, engineers and outside specialists are welcome, but for advice only.
Work done by students
Apart from a motor and a control box that each team receives, everything about the robot, the kiosk, the video and the website is conceived and built by the students. Where language is necessary, both French and English must be used. The event was open to all. You can also find out more about the competition by visiting www.robo-crc.ca/en.
Photo: Members of the Laval Senior Academy robotics team use their skills to control their robot during the 15th annual CRC Robotics Competition held at Collège Montmorency.
Political leaders from three levels of government joined members of Laval’s Syriac Catholic community at St. Ephrem Church on Cartier Blvd. on Feb. 27 for a religious service marking the enthronement of Monsignor Paulos Antoine Nassif as the new Apostolic Exarch for Canada with his official seat in Laval.
A papal appointment
On Jan. 7, it was announced in Rome that His Holiness Pope Francis had created an Apostolic Exarchate for Syro-Catholics in Canada and that the Pope had appointed Reverend Father Nassif (who was previously Rector of the Patriarchal Seminary of Charfet in Lebanon)as Apostolic Exarch.
The ceremony was presided by His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East in the Syriac Catholic Church. The event, which was attended by Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion, several local Liberal MPs and members of Laval city council, was followed by a banquet that evening at the Centre communautaire syriaque on Edouard-Montpetit St. in Laval.
Will work with refugees
Referring to Mgr. Nassif during a gathering recently, Vimy Liberal MP Eva Nassif called him “a member of the family and we are proud to have him here.” (A member of Nassif’s riding office staff later confirmed that the two are distantly related.) She said “he will be responsible for dossiers involving refugees in Laval” with the assistance of St. Ephrem Church.
Born in Biakout, Metn, Lebanon in 1969, the son of the late Geryes Nehmatalla Nassif and Antoinette Youssef Beylouni, Mgr. Nassif was ordained into full priesthood by Patriarch Mar Ignace Antoun II Hayek in 1992. According to a brochure distributed during the ceremony, a “strong tendency towards the monastic life” led Mgr. Nassif to Naples, Italy to gain religious experience with the Franciscans.
Promoted a Bishop
At a Holy Synod of the Syriac Catholic Church held in Rome in 2014, a request for a new Exarchate in Canada, separate from the United States eparchy, was made to Pope Francis, and a suggestion was offered that it should be Fr. Antoine Nassif. Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan promoted Mgr. Nassif to a Bishop on Jan. 23 in the Annunciation Cathedral in Beirut. The new Bishop has chosen as his motto the words of the apostle Saint Paul: “Charity endures all things,” and he has taken the name of Paul as patron.
Prayers for Middle-East peace
During the service in the church, prayers were said and wishes expressed in readings “for peace and security in the wounded Middle-East. May God put a term to wars and conflicts that still bleed hearts and destroy the humanity. May love and brotherhood reign over hatred. May all people live in reciprocal respect rejecting violence and murder and abide by justice and right behavior.”
During a key moment of the ceremony, senior members of the Syriac Catholic clergy raised Mgr. Nassif several feet off the ground in an upholstered chair, symbolizing his elevation and enthronement as a new Apostolic Exarch.
Among the dignitaries attending were Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion, local Liberal MPs and members of Laval city council.
Only 15 to 20 per cent of middle-income Canadians retiring without an employer pension plan have saved anywhere near enough for retirement, according to a new study from the Broadbent Institute.
These people, now aged 55 to 64, face a dramatic drop in their standard of living in retirement, and many will spend their senior years in poverty, the think-tank says, basing its findings on Statistics Canada figures.
About 47 per cent of Canadians currently have no employer pension, and even fewer younger workers have employer pensions.
That means the number of seniors who slip into poverty will worsen in the decades ahead, according to report author Richard Shillington.
Canadians within 10 years of retirement are supposed to be at their peak savings years, socking away money for retirement.
But Shillington found the median value of retirement assets of Canadians age 55 to 64 is just over $3,000.
They’ll get the CPP/QPP and OAS/GIS in most cases, which brings them to an average of $15,970 annually for singles and $25,746 for couples.
Half have less than year of savings
But they are meant to supplement that income from their own savings or other resources.
As things stand now, half have savings that represent less than one year’s worth of the resources they need to supplement OAS/GIS and CPP/QPP, the study found.
Fewer than 20 per cent have enough savings to supplement their income for at least five years.
Shillington argues senior poverty has been rising since 1995. When taken against the low-income measure, the number living in poverty has risen from 3.9 per cent to 11.1 per cent. And 30 per cent of women living alone in their senior years are poor.
That means 719,000 poor seniors, including 469,000 single men and women.
Rick Smith, executive director of the Broadbent Institute, said he believes Canadians will be shocked to learn how many are facing retirement in poverty.
Bad for the economy
“Even if you assume a decreased need or if you liquidate your home equity, the news is still very grim,” he said “We’re looking at a situation in our country — 10 years down the line, 15 years down the line — where millions of Canadians have very little disposable income and that’s not good for the economy.”
He urged the federal government to move quickly on CPP reform and to think about enhancing the GIS benefit for both singles and couples.
“We’ve been sold this bill of goods over the last few decades that RRSPs and TFSAs can be a sort of replacement for workplace pensions — and that turns out to be untrue,” Smith said.
“These findings raise serious questions about the policy needs for future pensionless cohorts, such as the adequacy of benefits from Old Age Security, the Guaranteed Income Supplement, and the Quebec and Canada pension plans,” Shillington wrote in his analysis.
The Broadbent Institute created by former NDP MP Ed Broadbent, studies Canadian public policy issues with a view to make Canada a more equitable society.
(TLN) The maison des enfants le Dauphin (MED) launched its 5th annual wine and cheese financing campaign on Feb. 10. Robert Hayes of the Deveau legal firm is the chairman of this year’s campaign for the benefit of the family and children’s shelter.
Le Dauphin’s fundraising method is simple and original. For a $200 donation, patrons get a choice between four boxed gifts: one containing wine and cheese with gift cards, or three other gift boxes containing gift cards for various services including spa treatments, restaurants and hotel lodging. As well, each gift box comes with a receipt good for a $100 tax deduction.
Hayes and the Dauphin fundraising team have set a goal of raising $20,000 in this year’s campaign through the sale of at least 100 gift boxes. The campaign draws to a close on April 29. Those wishing to donate to the campaign can purchase gift boxes online at www.maisondesenfants.qc.ca/financement.php or by calling 450 978-2664.
With the hiring of six forensic financial analysts, the City of Laval has decided to step up its efforts to recover millions of dollars that may have found their way through corrupt practices over a period of around 20 years into the pockets of some of the city’s public works sub-contractors.
Forensic experts hired
Although the Quebec government’s Bill 26 allows the province’s towns and cities to declare a prosecution amnesty for sub-contractors who voluntarily admit they profited from corruption, Laval has decided to step up its efforts through the hiring of the experts who will be expected to furnish specific evidence of wrongdoing among industry sub-contractors.
“The reimbursement program was adopted by the Quebec government last November,” Mayor Marc Demers said during a press conference held on the issue at city hall last Wednesday. “The deadline for expressing an interest in participating is set for Oct. 31, 2016. Since we are determined to have all the legislative and legal tools placed at our disposal to get back to Laval residents what is their due, we will be taking advantage of this time to encourage the participation of the largest number possible in the program.”
Former police on team
Hired for a period of six months at a cost of $390,000, the analysts will be working under the supervision of the City of Laval’s legal affairs department and will be collaborating as well with the city’s Bureau of Integrity and Ethics (BIEL). The city pointed out in a statement that two of the experts are retired former Laval policemen, while the other four are members of the Charbonneau Commission team appointed by the province to conduct an inquiry on the awarding of public contracts in the construction industry.
“The auditors we hired will be working on a plan with established priorities,” added Demers. “That being said, all calls for tenders, contracts and conditions for their awarding since 1996 can become the subject of verifications. I am certain that this work will prove to be profitable for Laval’s taxpayers. I also point out that whoever may wish to get into contact with the BIEL can do it confidentially by phoning 450-575-BIEL (2435) or by e-mail at biel@laval.ca.”
Lawsuits possible
“Our obligation as a municipality is to perform this analysis before Oct. 31, to investigate and be sure as to whether there are or aren’t cases,” said city manager Serge Lamontagne. “This is what we will be doing in the course of our investigation of all the past contracts.” In addition, the city is not ruling out the possibility lawsuits could be launched against former contractors to recover sums if that course of action is deemed necessary.
“All calls for tenders, contracts and conditions for their awarding since 1996 can become the subject of verifications,” the mayor said.
According to Demers, former Charbonneau Commission assistant director Martin Comeau will be leading Laval’s investigation team. The unit will also include Barbara Bernier, François Boisclair, Steve Lynch, Serge Bouliane and Richard Brousseau. He said Laval is the first or one of the first municipalities in Quebec to use the option provided by the province to increase its chances of getting back diverted money.
(TLN) Three Liberal MNAs from Laval were recently appointed parliamentary assistants in the National Assembly by Premier Philippe Couillard.
Laval-des-Rapides Liberal MNA Saul Polo was named parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation.
“I am proud to see that Premier Couillard has shown his confidence in me with regards to dossiers touching on the economy,” Polo said of his appointment. “It’s thus with great enthusiasm that I accept this new mandate and the numerous challenges that go with it, including economic development in the region of Laval.”
Vimont Liberal MNA Jean Rousselle was named parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Public Security. “I am very proud of the new responsibilities that the Premier is confiding in me,” said Rousselle. “Public security is an all-important issue and a new challenge that I can’t wait to meet.”
Fabre Liberal MNA Monique Sauvé was named parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity. “I am pleased to have been able to win the trust of the Premier for this new challenge,” she said. “I will work with ardor in order to push forward the dossiers.”
A team consisting of Laval city councillors beat teams from the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board and the Commission scolaire de Laval in the Classique des élus de Laval tournament which was held at the Place de la Nature in eastern Laval on Saturday Feb. 13.
2nd annual tournament
The Laval councillors’ team won the first match against the CSDL 3-2 in shoot-outs. The final score for the game against the SWLSB was 4-3 for the city councillors’ team.
It was the second year the municipal representatives and the school commission officials faced off against each other. Donated proceeds from the games are going towards a fund to encourage academic perseverance by students that both school boards can draw on.
The Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board’s Susan O’Keefe poses with two members from the rival team – councillors David De Cotis and Paolo Galati
City excels at hockey
It’s worth noting that the city’s team, which also faces off against the school boards during the summer in softball benefit games, has consistently fared much better at hockey, winning all their matches year on year so far.
On the other hand, the school board teams have consistently managed to humiliate the city at softball each summer and they’re probably looking forward to exacting their revenge a few months from now.
The SWLSB team scores, but it wasn’t enough to win the match against the City of Laval team.
Last Saturday’s games were played under the most challenging conditions for the tournament: it was as frigid as it often gets in Nunavut and the wind blowing across the rink made it even colder.
Bundled up against the fierce cold last weekend, referees and linesmen prepare for the match between the City of Laval and the SWLSB.
A worthy cause
Action was virtually guaranteed during this year’s Classique des élus, because slowing down meant freezing.
It’s a testimonial to the determination of all who played or helped organize the event that they followed through on a day like this and didn’t postpone or cancel in the face of adversity – which might have been tempting.
Its faceoff time at the start of game two between Laval’s elected officials and representatives from the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board.
“As elected officials, we just want to make sure that we’re giving back to society and to the students,” said Laval executive-committee vice-president David De Cotis who dropped the puck onto the ice for the official faceoffs. “Even if it’s the coldest day of the year, we’re happy to be here. It’s fun and for us it’s a great cause.”
The Laval squad’s coach, Councillor Jacques St-Jean (right), with team captain David De Cotis and fellow team members.
Former federal Conservative cabinet minister Tony Clement aimed some sharp barbs at the new Liberal government and its leader, Justin Trudeau, during a five-to-seven event held at The Palace on Le Corbusier Blvd. last week by Laval-area Tories holding one of their first gatherings since the election last October.
‘A wrong decision’
Clement, who retained his seat in the Ontario riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka despite the Conservatives’ massive electoral losses, is now the Conservative opposition’s official critic for foreign affairs. Regarding one of the Trudeau government’s most recent and controversial decisions – to withdraw Canadian fighter jets from active combat duty against ISIS – Clement said:
The Conservatives’ Tony Clement, centre, was highly critical of the new Liberal government’s decision to withdraw Canadian fighter jets from active duty combating ISIS in the Middle East.The Conservatives’ Tony Clement is highly critical of the new Liberal government’s decision to withdraw Canadian fighter jets from active duty combating ISIS in the Middle East.
“This is such a wrong decision. It’s wrong on so many different levels because we have a great military tradition of working with our allies on common causes to defend our security – to defend, quite frankly our civilization – against those who would seek to destroy it.”
Canada ‘backing away,’ he said
Noting that, after attacks by terrorists in Paris over the past year, France, the U.S. and the U.K. “are stepping up” to the challenge of combating ISIS, Clement said Canada under the new Liberal government “is stepping away.”
Clement put an ironic spin on Justin Trudeau’s claim – following the Liberal victory – that “Canada is back.” Clement said the Liberal government’s response to international terrorism is actually an example that “Canada is backing away. Not a very good sign. And this is being repeated, of course, in many other foreign policy files including cozying up to (Russian president) Mr. Putin. And this is of great concern to those Canadians of Ukrainian origin.”
Clement said the Conservatives also have concerns about the Liberal government’s decision to remove sanctions against Iran, as well as the fact the Liberals want to normalize Canada’s relationship with that country, “which is a state sponsor of terror even today,” he said.
On the election results
Looking back on the October 2015 election, Clement said “the results, of course, were disappointing. Any result where you don’t gain government is disappointing.” He continued, “people just wanted change. It had been a long time – 10 years is a long time in modern politics. I did not get the sense of a complete rejection of everything that Conservatives stood for.
“Do we have to change some things in our party, in our message, in our communications? Absolutely. But we start with a good base: 99 members of Parliament, 33 of those are brand new, with 12 MPs from Quebec. But it’s a great mixture of experience, but also some new points of view in our caucus.
Preparing for next election
“So I want to report to you that we are feeling good,” he said, “that we feel that we can ask the difficult questions, demand the answers on behalf of Canadians, on behalf of taxpayers, on behalf of Canadians who want to feel safe and secure within our borders and outside our borders. And we feel we have a mission, and of course the ultimate mission as a political party is always not only to stand by these principles and these values, but also to be there come election time with a message that we can govern.”
Among the guests for the evening were Conservative Senator Leo Housakos, as well as a number of Montreal-area Conservatives who ran in the last election, including Anthony Mavros who was a candidate in the Laval riding of Vimy. In an interview with the Laval News, Housakos expressed cynicism regarding the Liberal government’s stated intention of reforming the Senate.
Right, former Vimy Conservative candidate Anthony Mavros greets Tony Clement during the meet-and-greet event held at The Palace last week.
Housakos on Senate reform
“So far they have a process in place that’s a sham,” he said. “They have appointed a committee to vet Senate nominations, a committee which is going to provide a list to the Prime Minister that is not binding – a list that is confidential. So in what way is this system any different than what previous Prime Ministers have done in the past?”
While Housakos acknowledged that even former Prime Minister Stephen Harper talked about reforming the Senate, while continuing to make appointments to the chamber, Housakos insisted that “any Prime Minister who’s genuine about Senate reform should recognize the only way to do it is through a constitutional discussion with the shareholders of the country.
