Disaster assistance for Fort McMurray victims

The mayor of Laval, Marc Demers, communicated with the President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Raymond Louie on May 5^th 2016, to encourage the mobilization of aid from Canadian municipalities for the victims of the Fort McMurray wild forest fires.

“I believe that as members of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, we must back up our talk with concrete gestures and provide financial support for these victims, residents of this immense disaster. I hope that our effort resonates with all of my elected colleagues of Canada,” wrote Mayor Demers to the FCM president in a gesture of solidarity on behalf of his Albertan counterparts.

The Mayor of Laval has responded to the call for the solidarity of the Union of Quebec Municipalities by asking the executive committee to donate $ 10,000 to the Canadian Red Cross.Mayor Demers believes that if this gift is matched by other Canadian cities it will grow to provide a significant contribution to the Canadian Red Cross relief efforts.

Fight against climate change

In 2013, the City of Laval and the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change (MDDELCC) signed an agreement to help achieve three objectives in the Municipalities Climate Change Program. The first intention of the program was to measure and update the volume of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on Laval’s territory which was approved by the MDDELCC in April 2015. The plan to address the reduction of GHGs received approval in July 2015. Finally Laval’s plan of action to transition to a low carbon emission world has received approval from the Ministry in March 2016.

Laval is one of five Quebec cities to have provided such a plan. The Executive Committee therefore authorized the Environmental Service to submit the third and final report to the MDDELCC in order to receive the subsidies that the government has earmarked for municipalities taking such initiatives.

According to the Government of Québec the fight against climate change is a fundamental and top priority issue for Québec’s future. With income derived mainly from the carbon market, the Government of Québec supports companies, Québec municipalities and private citizens in the transition to a low carbon world. By 2020, Québec will have invested more than 3.3 billion dollars to implement the measures set out in the 2013-2020 Climate Change Action Plans, measures that will enable the reduction of GHG emissions and allow a better adaption to the consequences of climate change.

It is believed that these measures call upon innovative solutions from scientists and entrepreneurs and open the door to developing Québec expertise in cutting-edge niche markets that will enable Québec to accelerate its shift to a sustainable economy. The fight against climate change is also a promising pathway towards developing an economy that is both robust and low carbon able to generate more energy from low-carbon sources like solar, wind and nuclear power.

Program courses and activities at the outdoor pools

The Executive Committee authorized the Department of Culture, Recreation and Sport and Social Development to retain the services of the organization Mouvement Aquatique Laval. This organization created in 1975 is dedicated to the promotion of aquatic activities throughout Laval. Swimming lessons and water sports activities are offered in collaboration with many partners including the City of Laval, aquatic sports clubs and recreational committees.

The services that have been contracted are for the coordination and implementation of municipal aquatic programs in the city’s outdoor swimming pools for the summer period of 2016. The administration has agreed to compensate the organization a sum of $73,500 which also covers the costs of advanced and specialized training.

Financial assistance to the project Rendezvous of elders

On March 19^th 2015 an agreement was signed between the Centre Communautaire Le Rendez-vous des ainés (Seniors Community Centre Le Rendezvous) and the Local Development Centre (CLD) of Laval which provided the association a grant of $ 50,000 for their services and activities. An initial payment of $ 30,000 was funded in March 2015. As the CLD activities are now transferred to the City of Laval, the Executive Committee agreed to provide the balance of funding of $ 20,000 to the Community Centre Le Rendez-vous des ainés. The monies will be disbursed from the Social Economy Fund operational budget of the city in 2016.

The goal of this association is to provide seniors a place of  belonging to combat solitude, develop mutual support and empower people aged 50 and over Laval.

Financial assistance to the Laval Meals on Wheels Association

Following the integration of UNCCD activities of Laval in the Economic Development Department, the Executive Committee members have provided funding of $ 1,000 to the Laval Meals on Wheels Association to extend strategic support for the coordination of the services. Laval is served by eight different Meals on Wheels providers with well-defined territories. They are all members of the “Laval Meals on Wheels Association” and conform to uniform guidelines and directions.

These organizations provide hot meals delivered at individual homes between 10h45 and 12h45, from Monday to Friday. The average cost for a meal stands between $5, 00 and $6, 00. It includes a soup, a main dish, prepared without excessive amounts of salt and fat, and a dessert.

Any Laval resident with autonomy loss, with no regards to his or her age or salary can benefit from this service. Examples of eligible users include: a person with cognitive troubles; a care giver; a person recovering from a recent surgery and any person with physical incapacities (tiredness, pain, and handicap).

Disposing of hazardous waste

A contract was awarded to Enviro PB Inc. for the transportation, packaging, recovery and or disposal of the material ‘collasse’ a key binding component used for the paving and asphalting of roads. This material is considered a hazardous material and must be disposed of professionally.

The administration is also holding its annual spring collection of household hazardous waste (HHW). The spring collection is held this Saturday May 28th from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm on the city hall grounds. The collection of household hazardous waste is for Laval residents only and requires proof of residency. Companies and entrepreneurs are not admitted.

The following examples are all materials accepted by Laval during the collection of hazardous household waste; acids, aerosol containers, compact fluorescent lamps, propane cylinders, ink cartridges and glue, paint thinners and solvents, engine oil and oil filters as well as computer hardware, small electronic appliances, batteries, tires and even cellular phones and televisions. The following waste materials are not accepted: ammunition, syringes and other biomedical waste.

Planting trees in Fabreville

The Laval Executive Committee has granted the nonprofit corporation PlantAction $ 12,500 for the purchase of 250 trees and the additional sum of $ 3 800 for the provision of planting materials, for a total of 16 300 $. Launched in 2012, PlantAction aims to educate residents about the importance of planting trees to beautify the landscape, encourage individual eco-citizenship and increase the natural urban canopy to counter heat islands on residential streets. The primary objective is to promote a healthy urban lifestyle respectful of the natural environment.

With these goals in mind PlantAction will plant 250 trees in Fabreville 125 of which will be planted in the spring of 2016 and the same number in autumn 2016. “Planting trees is one of the actions we value and encourage and integrate perfectly with our strategic vision of Laval. It is therefore natural for us to support PlantAction, which is dedicated to increasing the green cover of Laval and improving the ecology for the citizens, “argued the mayor, Marc Demers.

Planting of trees in other sectors will be tabled in the future as the administration considers this to be a priority in developing an ecologically friendly environment for its citizens.

Municipal Grants for local recreation committees

The Executive Committee has authorized the issuing of grants totaling $19,398 which are earmarked for seven local recreational organizations. These organizations provided diverse service and programs in the fall of 2015 which benefited Laval youth. Laval’s financial assistance program for leisure and community life services offered by recognized and accredited organizations provides municipal funding of about $ 6 per participant for 17 year olds and under youth per session and a maximum of two times per year.

The name of the organizations benefiting from these grants include; Recreation Duvernay Saint Vincent serving 485 members will receive $2,910, Laval West Recreation serving 587 youth receives $3,522, Loisibourg with 422 participants is given
$2,532, Sainte-Dorothée Recreation with 795 inscriptions will benefit to the tune of $4,770, Residents Association Champfleury serving 182 receives $1,092, Recreation Saint-Bruno Laval serving 324 members gets $1,944 and Saint-Elzéar Entertainment which signed up 438 members collects $2,628.

Repair of tennis and basketball court surfaces

The Executive Committee authorized the the publication of a tender for the repair of tennis and basketball court surfaces in various city parks. An assessment is underway to determine which areas will be the subject of work. Normally the bids for repair and resurfacing of playing surfaces depend on materials and the surface area involved and is charged a fee per square foot.

Hiking and cycle path Oka-Mont-Saint-Hilaire

The executive is preparing to issue a public tender for the development and construction of sections of the hiking and cycling trail joining the Oka-Mont-Saint-Hilaire region of the Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM) green path that passes through Laval. The project receives two thirds of its funding from the Montreal Metropolitan Community and the Quebec government. The initial estimate of $976,000 is part of Laval’s Three year Infrastructure program for active and sustainable mobility whose global budget for 2016 is approximately $28 million.

Gender equality

The Department of Culture, Recreation and Sport and Social Development has been mandated by the Executive Committee to develop conventions with the Secretariat for the condition of Women to help guide the training of municipal workers and staff of municipal partners addressing gender equality issues in the workplace. It is hoped that by better understanding the issues affecting the equality between women and men strategies and protocols can be developed that will promote a greater inclusion of women in the workplace. Also the administration would profit from a renewed perspective in guiding its choices and action to realize its objective of promoting a gender equal working environment.

Internship in Laval Fire Stations

On May 20^th twelve students from the Commission scolaire de Laval have been authorized to participate in an unpaid internship stage to observe the staff of Laval’s   Fire Department. Students benefit from first hand experiences and contacts when they are allowed to interact and observe professionals in their habitual work environments.

Public security services upgrade of radio communication systems

Laval’s executive committee has authorized its purchasing service to tender an offer for public bidding for the purchase of a new radio communication system P25 for its public security services, police and fire departments.

Project 25 (P25) radios are designed specifically for a suite of digital radio features that are used by federal, provincial, and local government public safety organizations. The main function of P25 radios is to allow various organizations and teams to communicate during emergency or mutual aid situations. The upgraded system will allow a quick integration into the communication networks already in use by Urgence Sante and North Shore public security organizations. Also the portable radios will help rapidly locate staff in situations of distress and high stress.

This new upgraded system will also create a safer working environment for first respondents in emergencies due to a greater battery life as well as a clearer and stronger transmission and reception of the radio signals. This is especially important in fire situations where personal is wearing their respiratory gear.

Motorola has taken a leadership role with P25 radios, offering innovative features such as IMPRES batteries, dual band radios, fully integrated touch screens, and industry-leading audio suppression that enable critical messages to be transmitted successfully.

In September of 2015 Industry Canada has given the city administration 18 months to upgrade their existing radio communication system EDACS P16 after which they could not guarantee the maintenance and quality control of this system.

Completing des Jacinthes street in St. Dorothee

The executive has tabled a first notice of intent to present a project to purchase or expropriate the lots needed to complete the passage of des Jacinthes street in St. Dorothee. An initial sum of $293,000 has been set aside for this purpose. The monies will come from the $25 million budget set aside in 2016 for the purposes of acquisitions for the development of infrastructures.