Martin C. Barry

In a conference call from Ottawa with journalists from media all over Canada last week, federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau told Newsfirst Multimedia that the Liberal government’s 2016 budget proposes to reduce immigration processing times to prioritize family reunification, while increasing funding for settlement programs to better welcome newcomers.

Reducing poverty

Morneau also said the federal government is “committed to strengthening Canada’s place in the world by ensuring that Canada’s international assistance priorities are focused on poverty reduction and by promoting peace and security.”

This year, according to Morneau, the government intends to admit 300,000 new permanent residents — the highest number since more than a hundred years ago when people were fleeing hardships and conflicts leading up to the First World War. Morneau said budget 2016 proposes to reduce processing times and make family reunification a priority in Canada’s immigration system.

Resettling Syrian refugees

He said the government intends to resettle an additional 10,000 government-assisted Syrian refugees in 2016, and reduce immigration processing times to help reunite families faster. In a statement issued by Morneau’s ministry, they say “Canadians have been deeply affected by the refugee crisis in Syria and the surrounding region and have expressed the desire to help.”

In November 2015, the Government committed $678 million over six years, starting in 2015–2016, to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by February 29, 2016, and by committing to resettle an additional 10,000 government-assisted Syrian refugees over the course of 2016. Budget 2016 provides $245 million more over five years for the identification, overseas processing, transportation and resettlement of the additional 10,000 Syrian refugees.

“We are committed to getting permanent housing for the Syrian refugees who’ve come to Canada,”  Morneau told Newsfirst Multimedia regarding some of the ways that the above sums will be spent, while adding that Immigration Minister John McCallum had previously stated that he believes permanent housing can be found by June for the 25,000 Syrian refugees who arrived in Canada by the end of February.

Resettlement procedures

“That is certainly our target in that regard,” Morneau continued. “I think you can imagine that the processing initiatives for the next group of immigrants coming is similar in the sense that we need to interview people, do health reviews and we need to ensure that we resettle people in a way that allows them to start their lives in Canada.”

According to Morneau, the 2016 budget offers immediate help to those who need it most and lays the groundwork for long-term economic growth. As of Jan. 1, he added, the Liberal government’s new middle-class tax cut will affect roughly 9 million Canadians who can expect to receive a bigger paycheque as a result.

Another measure in budget 2016, the government’s new Canada Child Benefit, is being promoted by the Liberals as “a simpler, tax-free, more generous, targeted benefit that helps those who need it most: the middle class.” They say that starting in July, nine out of ten families will receive more money than they did under the previous government.

Infrastructure spending

Morneau said budget 2016 signals a new approach that will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Canadians “today and in the future.” This includes new investments in infrastructure that total more than $120 billion over the next decade. As an immediate first step, the government will invest $11.9 billion in modern and reliable public transit, water and wastewater systems, affordable housing, and in retrofits and repairs to protect existing projects from the effects of climate change.

“Our plan will recapture the hope and optimism for the future that existed in previous generations, and put it to work for the next,” the Finance Minister added. “Real change is not just about today or tomorrow. It is about revitalizing the economy in the years and decades to come, so that it works for the middle class and helps those working hard to join it.”

Martin C. Barry

Chomedey’s Agape Association held a special recognition evening at the Château Royal on March 22 during which caregivers who took part in knowledge-building workshops over the past year were honored. Seniors who completed a computer training workshop were also rewarded with certificates of recognition.

Learning to be a caregiver

“Because of the great success of our project with the caregivers of seniors, we are rewarding them for the excellent work that they’ve done with their families,” said Agape’s Betty McLeod. “We’re also honouring the seniors who got involved in our computer classes, which are offered free of charge every year.”

The caregivers followed Agape’s series of workshops, sponsored by ‘l’Appui pour les Proches Aidants d’Ainés de Laval,’ and given by knowledgeable guest speakers over the past year. Topics ranged from nutrition, community resources in Laval and available to them, warning signs of caregiver stress and burnout, prescription medication, technical aids in the home as well as legal planning concerning caregivers most.

Participation rewarded

Certificates were handed out to all participants who were present, as well as to the guest speakers in recognition of their participation informing and guiding the caregivers during the workshops. According to statistics based on 2006 census data, 298,645 caregivers (15 years and older) are believed to reside in Laval who provide a varying number of hours of support to their aging loved ones. Of these caregivers, some 50,495 are 65 years of age and older and 60 per cent of these are women.

The other seniors honoured were participants in the ‘Seniors Leading the Way’ project. Agape provided computer courses to seniors 55 years and older. Participants learned the basic use of computers with the Windows operating system as well as the basics of navigating the internet and using e-mail.

Expanding seniors’ horizons

The purpose of the project, according to Agape, was to teach seniors how to tap into resources useful to seniors on the Internet, with particular emphasis on elder abuse prevention. Those who excelled the most in their learning are now expected to share their knowledge by teaching other seniors what they learned through Agape’s course. A parallel benefit of the course was that it provided the seniors with stimulation in the form of learning, which may be beneficial in curbing cognitive loss which can occur with advancing age.

April 14
HOUSE of JAZZ LAVAL
A Night with Colin Hunter
Crooner and “Chairman of the Board”
Accompanied by the legendary pianist Joe Sealy

3 Sessions:
7:00 pm to 7:45 pm
8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
9:15 pm to 10:00 pm

House of Jazz Laval
1639, boul. de l’Avenir, Laval
(450) 669-3000

Yesterday, Jean Lapierre (59) a political commentator and former Liberal federal cabinet minister, along with 5 members of his immediate family, & 2 crew members died in a plane crash while the family was travelling to the funeral of Jean’s father (who passed away last Friday at the age of 83) in Îles-de-la-Madeleine in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The plane took off from St. Hubert Airport, on Montreal’s South Shore, at 9:30 a.m. The tragedy happened when The plane crashed as it approached an airfield near Havre-aux-Maisons around 11:40 a.m. It went down a few kilometres from the airport.

The victims’ names have been released as being:
– Jean Lapierre.
– Lapierre’s wife – Nicole Beaulieu,
– Lapierre’s brothers Marc, Louis and sister Martine.
– Crew Members Pascal Gosselin and Fabrice Labourel.

Jean Lapierre is survived by Raymond Lapierre’s wife, his mother and a sister who still lived on the island.

The earthquake which measured 5.2 on the Richter scale jolted 86 kilometers west-southwest of the Zakinthos island in Greece at 4:05 am on Tuesday morning.

So far, there have been no reports of casualties or property damage.

This morning, ABC News confirmed that the Oscar winner actress Patty Duke has died.  She was 69. According to her spokesperson, the cause of death was from a ruptured intestine.

She is survived by her husband, three children, and grandchildren.

She will be greatly Missed.

The AMT said that around 8:40am this morning they were ordered to evacuate the train station at Sunnybrooke and halt all services on the Deux-Montagnes line.  After the train service was halted Police evacuated surrounding homes in the area as a precaution.  Police report that this was due to a Bomb threat received.

** UPDATE **

Correction: the Dry-cleaners was the business that caught on fire and NOT the Deppaneur this morning in the strip mall on the corners of de Souvenir & Laval streets in Laval.

There is another “Boil Water Advisory” in effect for the following regions: Ile Bigras, Ile Parizeau and Ile Verte in Laval.  This is due to a water main break late yesterday afternoon.