One person was treated for shock after a fire started on the roof of the Manoir Cardinal seniors’ retirement residence on Chomedey Boulevard in Chomedey late last week.
Laval Fire Dept. crew members outside Le Cardinal on Chomedey Blvd. late last week, responding to a roof fire. (Photo: Courtesy Association des pompiers de Laval)
A piece of mechanical equipment on the roof is believed to have been the ignition source.
Working swiftly, firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading into the multi-storey building.
However, after residents were evacuated into a ground-floor common area while the firefighters worked, Urgences-Santé was summoned to treat a resident for shock.
Damages were estimated by fire department evaluators at $100,000.
The City of Laval’s courthouse on Saint-Martin Blvd.
Former UFC fighter Edouardo “Icho” Larenas who claimed self-defence throughout a murder trial at the Laval courthouse over the course of several weeks was found not guilty by a jury late last week.
During the trial, testimony and evidence were presented indicating that Larenas, 45, and his wife were the targets of two home invasions within a few hours in May 2022.
Larenas testified that during the second incident at his home in Sainte-Rose, he fought extensively with one of the suspects, a 17-year-old boy, who was wielding a knife.
At one point the suspect fell, injuring himself on the blade, Larenas testified.
Larenas said he only learned the boy had died when he was questioned by the Laval Police investigators.
The jury informed Superior Court Justice Steve Baribeau that they had reached a unanimous verdict of not guilty to the second-degree murder charge Larenas was facing.
Some of the fraudulent materials seized by the SQ. (Photo: Courtesy of SQ)
A man from Laval is one of three suspects who were arrested by the Sûreté du Québec earlier this week for allegedly running a print shop that produced hundreds of credit and ID cards while stealing the identities of thousands of people.
Ralph-Isai Labady, 34, from Laval, along with Evens Emile, 42, from Repentigny as well as a third but unidentified man from Montreal, age 27, were arrested by the SQ.
The provincial police say 2,400 identities were stolen to create the fake documents and letters have been sent to 1,900 people to alert them of the theft.
Nearly 1,000 forged documents and state-of-the-art equipment for making counterfeit driver’s licences, Canadian residency cards, Quebec health insurance cards, debit and credit cards and social insurance cards, were seized, according to the SQ.
A major milestone in senior housing was reached this week as construction officially kicked off on a new 100-unit social and affordable residence for independent older adults.
The project, located on Saint-Elzéar Ouest Boulevard, marks a key step in a provincewide effort to expand housing options for lowincome seniors and address mounting affordability pressures. The building is part of the second phase of a larger initiative led by Mission Unitaînés, a charitable organization dedicated to creating modern, accessible living environments for seniors across Quebec.
Over the next two years, the organization plans to deliver 600 additional affordable units in six municipalities, including Laval, Valleyfield, Québec, Victoriaville, TroisRivières and Saguenay.
The event was attended by Caroline Proulx, Quebec Minister Responsible for Housing and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women; Madeleine Chenette, Member of Parliament for Thérèse-De Blainville; Sandra El-Helou, City Councillor for the District of Souvenir-Labelle; Caroline Sauriol, President and CEO of Mission Unitaînés; and Danielle Lavoie, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Office municipal d’habitation de Laval.
A $32.5 million collaboration
The new Laval project is funded through a diverse and collaborative financial model totaling $32.5 million. Nearly $22.5 million comes from the federal and provincial governments through joint housing programs intended to accelerate construction and increase supply. The City of Laval is contributing close to $9.6 million, combining a grant, land donation and tax credit.
A philanthropic gift of $500,000 from Luc Maurice, Chair of Mission Unitaînés, completes the funding package. Construction is set to begin within days, with completion expected in winter 2027. Once built, the Office municipal d’habitation de Laval will assume responsibility for managing the residence and supporting tenants.
Expanding an innovative model
The Mission Unitaînés approach is being hailed as an innovative model for creating affordable housing at scale. Its first phase, launched in 2024, committed to 1,100 new units across 11 cities, backed by significant government investment. The second phase builds on that momentum with an additional government commitment of more than $135 million.
Under this model, Mission Unitaînés oversees the design and construction of each building and then transfers it to a municipality or designated non-profit for a symbolic fee—free of debt and without a mortgage. Each residence also receives a dedicated reserve fund of $500,000 from philanthropic donations, helping ensure longterm quality and financial stability.
Additional community partners contribute funding and services aimed at enhancing residents’ quality of life. Officials note that economies of scale and the organization’s streamlined processes make it possible to build significantly more units at a lower cost than traditional public-sector housing projects.
Designed for safety, comfort and community
The forthcoming building in Laval has been planned with accessibility and community living in mind. All 100 units will be adaptable for residents with reduced mobility. The design includes two elevators, sprinklers, an emergency generator, and dedicated scooter parking. Shared amenities will feature an airconditioned multipurpose common room, outdoor patio spaces and landscaped areas intended to encourage social interaction.
The first tenants are expected to move in during the winter of 2027. A broad coalition behind the project The groundbreaking event brought together leaders from all levels of government, municipal officials and representatives from Mission Unitaînés and the local housing office.
Speakers emphasized that the project responds to a growing need for safe, stable housing options for seniors—a demographic particularly affected by rising rents and limited availability of affordable units. Officials praised the collaboration as a model for future development, highlighting its ability to rapidly produce highquality homes while keeping longterm costs manageable for residents.
Several leaders underscored the importance of helping seniors age with dignity in their own communities, stressing that secure housing plays a crucial role in maintaining health, independence and social connections.
A new chapter for senior housing in Laval
With demand for affordable senior housing continuing to rise, Laval’s new development represents both a practical solution and a symbol of renewed commitment to vulnerable residents. By combining public investment, municipal support and philanthropic contributions, the project aims to deliver a modern, welcoming home for more than 100 seniors — and serve as a blueprint for communities across the province.
Around $1 million in damage was caused to the Casa Grecque restaurant at the corner of Daniel Johnson and Saint Martin boulevards during the early morning hours of February 14 following a fire, suspected as arson.
The fire was first reported at 2:17 a.m. after a motion detector alarm alerted the owner. Police and 21 firefighters were dispatched with first units arriving at 2:26 a.m. A broken window, sprinkler activation and light smoke were found – indicative of criminal activity.
The fire was declared under control by 2:36 a.m. thanks to the building’s suppression system. No arrests have been made, although an investigation has been transferred to the Laval Police (SPL).
The incident is seen as part of a broader rise in criminal acts targeting Laval restaurants in recent months. Based on a verified report, the exact cause of the Casa Grecque fire has not yet been determined, but authorities have confirmed that it was intentionally set.
The blaze is officially described as “suspicious” and of a criminal nature. Evidence found at the scene included: a broken window, suggesting forced entry; a motion detector alarm triggered by suspicious movement before the fire; and sprinklers which had already been activated upon the firefighters’ arrival.
Authorities have not released information as to whether there was a specific ignition method (e.g., accelerant, device, etc.). However, all indication is that it was deliberately set and is part of a pattern of recent criminal attacks on Laval restaurants.
Laval and Montreal health officials warn about toxic syrup
Following a Laval Public Health notice in 2023 about a suspected pharmaceutical overdose death, the Montreal Regional Public Health Department (DRSP) is warning about the circulation of a psychoactive syrup containing a mixture of depressants in the Greater Montreal area.
According to the DRSP, users who ingest the substance could be unknowingly exposed to risks of overdose and death.
In Montreal, a purple liquid containing protonitazene (a toxic opioid) and bromazolam (a benzodiazepine) was recently found in a pharmaceutical-grade bottle of syrup labeled “Promethazine with codeine oral solution.”
Over time, according the DRSP, different mixtures have been identified in containers of identical appearance. A person consuming this product could be exposed to an unpredictable and toxic mixture, the DRSP says.
“Our investigation revealed that a purple liquid containing a mixture of methonitazene, clonazolam and an antihistamine was consumed,” Laval Public Health said in November 2023 at the time of the overdose death.
Nitazene, similar to the drug singled out by officials in Montreal, is consumed in liquid form, often by young adults for recreational purposes. Containing codeine syrup, it is often mixed illicitly with a soft drink and may be sold in a cough syrup bottle.
“Some nitazenes are estimated to be several times more toxic than fentanyl,” Laval Public Health warned in 2023. The substance poses an increased risk of respiratory arrest and death. Nitazenes are not detected by fentanyl detection strips.
Recent fire calls
Following a house fire on 2nd Avenue in Fabreville last weekend, the Laval Fire Department is warning that candles should always be used with caution and on a stable surface away from materials likely to catch fire.
The Association des pompiers de Laval (the firemen’s brotherhood) posted on their X account: “FEBRUARY 14 | 11:31 PM // Building fire on 2nd Avenue in the Fabreville sector. Residential building. Dense smoke visible on the first floor and in the basement. Fire contained to the basement. Code was 10-07, intervention required.”
It was 11:23 PM when 911 was called. Upon arrival, the firefighters could see that thick black smoke was billowing from the basement and first floor of the home just east of Route 148.
The source of the fire was found to be a basement bedroom. The blaze was reported as being under control shortly after midnight. Damage to the house was estimated at $100,000 for the building and a further $40,000 for its furnishings and other contents.
Lévesque Blvd. auto service centre goes up in flames
A major fire at an auto service center at 3153 Lévesque Boulevard West in Chomedey on the evening of February 6 caused an estimated $400,000 in damages.
“FEBRUARY 6 | 6:17 PM // Building fire on Lévesque Boulevard West in the Chomedey sector. Commercial building. Visible flames. Code 10-07, intervention required,” the APL reported on their X feed.
Although closed at the time, the building was filled with smoke upon the arrival of firefighters, who faced a complex firefighting task because of the nature of the business. The blaze was finally brought under control 2 hours and 45 minutes after the start of the operation. Damage to the building was estimated at $300,000, with a further $100,000 in damages to equipment and other contents.
‘The person who did it is getting away,’ says Chomedey MNA, seeking a deeper investigation
On Friday afternoon last week as officials with the Quebec Liberal Party were taking the last steps to acclaim Charles Milliard as the PLQ’s new leader, Chomedey MNA Sona Lakhoyan Olivier was at her Samson Blvd. riding office contemplating the dramatic and cascading chain of events that briefly overturned her life and nearly overwhelmed the Liberals.
Following allegations of allegedly incriminating text messages exchanged during the leadership campaign of the Quebec Liberal Party, the PLQ launched an investigation whose conclusions were released by the party last week.
J de M published text messages
The PLQ mandated retired Quebec Superior Court judge Jacques Fournier to investigate after the Journal de Montréal published text messages last November suggesting that some PLQ members who had voted for Pablo Rodriguez in the party’s leadership race might have received cash payments.
Rodriguez resigned following the debacle over Saint-Laurent PLQ MNA Marwah Rizqy’s firing of her chief of staff. A report also in the Journal claimed that around 20 donors to Rodriguez’s leadership campaign received envelopes containing $500 in cash to reimburse their donations during a fundraising event in April.
Some of the media reports, discredited by the Fournier investigation’s findings, implicated Lakhoyan Olivier, as well as Fabre CAQ MNA Alice Abou-Khalil, as having been the source of the text messages. Some of the media reports speculated that Abou-Khalil was on the verge of crossing the National Assembly floor to the Liberals.
Texts fabricated, judge concluded
As a result of the doubts raised, Lakhoyan Olivier was expelled from the PLQ caucus last December, although the Fournier report’s conclusions could lead to her being reintegrated into the party. The report concluded the text messages at the heart of the controversy did not come from Lakhoyan Olivier, nor from anyone associated with her.
“I tell you, this is not fair, because it’s a dirty political game,” says Chomedey MNA Sona Lakhoyan Olivier. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
The investigation established that the text messages were fabricated and manipulated, and that the analysis and electronic evidence clearly show that they did not originate from Lakhoyan Olivier’s devices or those of her associates.
“The evidence confirms that there was no technical possibility of attributing these messages to the MNA or to individuals associated with her,” reads a statement issued last week by Lakhoyan Olivier’s office.
“The findings of the investigation also show that Ms. Lakhoyan Olivier, like other individuals who were associated with or targeted by the interpretation of the messages, were victims of malicious manipulation aimed at damaging their personal, professional and political reputations, as well as those of the institutions involved.”
‘They want us out,’ she speculates
In spite of the ensuing province-wide media attention, Lakhoyan Olivier believes (on a purely speculative level) that the fake text messages probably originated locally. “These are people who are involved in politics in Laval, Chomedey and Fabre, who have an eye on these seats – they want us out,” she said in an interview late last week with The Laval News.
She said she still feels as if she’s aboard the emotional roller coaster she was riding for months, until the release of Fournier’s report last week. Still, she learned a very hard lesson about the life of a politician.
“I tell you, this is not fair, because it’s a dirty political game,” Lakhoyan Olivier said, her characteristic cheerfulness giving way momentarily to tearfulness.
“I did not expect to see this in Canada or the province of Quebec – not at all,” added Lakhoyan Olivier who was born in Lebanon. However, what she wants to see now is a more thorough investigation leading to the individuals who created the fabricated text messages.
PLQ also dumped Ouellette
“They cleared my name and I was really relieved,” she said. “But the person who did it is getting away with it right now.”
Charles Milliard (second from left) now leads the Quebec Liberal Party. (File photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
The riding of Chomedey, which has been a Quebec Liberal bastion as long as anyone can remember, has seen its sitting Liberal MNA excluded from the PLQ caucus more than once in recent years.
Former Liberal MNA Guy Ouellette, was expelled from the Liberal caucus in 2018 after it was alleged he had leaked classified information to the Coalition Avenir Québec, who were then in opposition in the National Assembly.
Ouellette sat as in independent until the end of his last term in 2022. Lakhoyan Olivier said she fully understands that, for the good of the Quebec Liberal Party, it was necessary to suspend her from the caucus until her name had been cleared. “It was protocol, which was fine with me,” she said.
Wants to run again for Liberals
With the next provincial election tentatively scheduled for October 5, Lakhoyan Olivier, who was first elected in 2022, said she is interested in seeking a second term – preferably with the Quebec Liberals.
But in the meantime, UPAC (Unité permanente anticorruption) as well as the Quebec Director General of Elections (DGEQ) have opened investigations of their own and Lakhoyan Olivier is waiting before she announces her decision.
When asked whether she might consider running as an independent if she were unable to run for the Liberals, she replied without hesitation, “No, I don’t see that at all. I’d love to be with the Liberal Party of Quebec.”
‘Immigration decisions have a direct impact on our local economy,’ says Mayor Stéphane Boyer
Laval city council unanimously passed a resolution sponsored by Mayor Stéphane Boyer at the February 3 council meeting calling on the Quebec government to revise certain aspects of its immigration policy, which the mayor argues unfairly penalize Laval’s economy and its competitiveness.
With the resolution, the City of Laval was following the lead of elected officials in the City of Montreal as well as in Quebec City.
They are specifically requesting the implementation of a grandfather clause for immigrants already established in Quebec under the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), in order to avoid significant human and economic consequences.
Mayor Stéphane Boyer. (File photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Laval’s resolution also calls on the government to recognize the city’s distinct economic reality and its capacity to welcome immigrants as a major industrial and technological hub, while asking the government to refrain from taking measures that penalize Laval businesses when there are shortages of highly skilled labour.
“Immigration decisions have a direct impact on our local economy,” Mayor Boyer said in a statement. “In Laval, poorly adapted, uniform measures risk hindering the attraction of talent and investment, while also undermining the predictability our employers need.”
“Behind these decisions are real people who have chosen to build their lives here and who contribute daily to the social and economic vitality of our city,” said Laval city councillor for Saint-Martin Aline Dib, who is responsible for intercultural relations. “We must return to a more humane approach that better reflects our regional reality while strengthening our integration efforts,” she added.
Here is the full text (translated from French) of the resolution asking for a revision of Quebec’s immigration policy passed on February 3 by Laval city council:
Notice of proposal: Economic immigration and the reality of Laval
• WHEREAS the City of Laval is a strategic economic hub of Greater Montreal, characterized by major industrial zones, a strong manufacturing and technology presence and integrated value chains on a metropolitan scale;
• WHEREAS Laval businesses face persistent needs for skilled and specialized labour;
• WHEREAS the Government of Quebec, in its deliberations on multi-year immigration planning in Quebec, recently issued guidelines aimed at reducing the number of non-permanent residents for the period 2026-2029;
• WHEREAS the freeze on temporary immigration and the salary criteria applicable to Laval businesses do not take into account our distinct economic reality or our differentiated capacity to welcome immigrants;
• WHEREAS these policies are currently having negative impacts on businesses, economic development and workforce planning in Laval and the greater metropolitan area;
• WHEREAS this approach also undermines predictability for Laval employers and risks hindering the attraction of strategic investments and talent specifically to Laval;
• WHEREAS the abolition of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), without consideration for those already in the region who contribute to its social and economic life, has deplorable human consequences.
IT IS PROPOSED BY Stéphane Boyer:
• THAT the City of Laval request the Government of Quebec: 1. to explicitly recognize Laval’s distinct economic reality and capacity to welcome newcomers in the application of immigration policies; 2. to ensure equitable treatment within Greater Montreal, without penalizing Laval businesses with poorly adapted, uniform measures.
• THAT the City of Laval supports maintaining programs that allow businesses access to skilled temporary foreign workers, as well as mechanisms that facilitate their transition to permanent residency;
• THAT the City of Laval requests that the government grant grandfathering rights to immigrants already established under the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ); • THAT the City of Laval forward this resolution to the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration, the Montreal Metropolitan Community and relevant economic partners.
Parti Laval proposal supported by mayor’s party passes unanimously
Officials with the City of Laval are thinking of allowing new property owners to spread their payment of the welcome tax over several equal installments and without interest.
A proposal by the Parti Laval, the official opposition at Laval city hall, aimed at offering more flexibility to new homeowners, took a significant step forward during the city council meeting on February 3.
Parti Laval councillor Louise Lortie’s proposal, aimed at studying the possibility of offering more flexibility to new homeowners by allowing the payment of the welcome tax in several equal installments, was unanimously adopted by council with an amendment. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
Expected in 2027 budget
Submitted by Parti Laval city councillor Louise Lortie who represents the district of Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, the proposal requesting that the measure be studied by the city’s senior management was unanimously adopted.
However, Lortie accepted an amendment proposed by Mouvement lavallois L’Orée-des-Bois city councillor Yannick Langlois, who is in charge of public finances on the executive committee, to ensure that a due analysis will be carried out “with a view to the 2027 budget year” rather than “as soon as possible.”
“We have been saying this for a long time: when a family or couple buys a house, they already have to deal with the down payment, notary fees, moving costs and sometimes other unforeseen expenses, requiring, on top of that, a single payment of several thousand dollars, while other cities offer more flexibility, it adds unnecessary pressure at an already stressful time for many households,” said Lortie.
A Necessary Measure
Since the easing of a provincial legal framework in 2023, several municipalities have offered more flexible payment options for transfer taxes to reduce the financial burden associated with purchasing a property. Lortie cited the examples of Saint-Jérôme, which now allows payment in two installments, as well as Quebec City, Sainte-Thérèse, Brossard and Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.
In Laval, however, payment is still required in a single lump sum, and the welcome tax rate was recently increased by Mayor Stéphane Boyer’s party, reaching 3 per cent for transactions exceeding $500,000. The Parti Laval sees this rigidity as increasingly difficult to justify and felt it was necessary to introduce a new measure to better support buyers.
More payment flexibility
“In Laval, access to home ownership is becoming increasingly difficult for the middle class,” said Claude Larochelle, the Parti Laval’s leader. “Offering more flexibility in the payment of the welcome tax is a concrete step we have long advocated.
Parti Laval leader Claude Larochelle.
“This measure, included in our platform, is reasonable, effective and already implemented elsewhere,” he added. “It was time we agreed to study it seriously.”
“It’s a simple measure that can make a real difference for those settling in Laval,” said Lortie. “The important thing now is to complete the analysis and deliver concrete solutions to new homeowners.”
The ‘taxe de bienvenue’
While the municipal welcome tax, officially known as the property or real estate transfer tax, was a measure first introduced in Quebec in 1976, the name itself can be misleading.
Although it would seem to suggest municipalities are welcoming new property buyers with a somewhat hefty payment, it actually comes from a French nickname (taxe de bienvenue), which came from a motion in the National Assembly made by Quebec Liberal Party minister Jean Bienvenue.
According to information on real estate transfer rights on the City of Laval’s web site, anyone who buys a property must pay registration fees as stated by provincial law for municipalities. Transfer taxes are payable in a single payment within 30 days of the invoice date.
Transfer tax exemptions
However, in Laval a new property owner can be exempt from transfer tax in certain situations. Cases of exemption:
Purchase of the property from a direct ascendant or descendant family member. For example, from father to son, or from grandmother to granddaughter. But the exemption does not apply between siblings.
Purchase of the property from a spouse. The exemption applies to married or cohabiting partners, provided they have lived together for the 12 months preceding the sale.
Purchase of the property by a legal entity (e.g., a company), at least 90 per cent of whose shares are owned by the seller, who is an individual.
Animal-themed ‘activity’ proposed, but future of the farm building looks dim
In a partial reversal of an earlier decision to close the mini-farm at the Centre de la nature in Duvernay, Mayor Stéphane Boyer announced during the February city council meeting that his administration has decided to postpone the move and consider alternatives before going further.
Mayor Stéphane Boyer announced during the February city council meeting that his administration has decided to postpone the move and consider alternatives before proceeding further. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
‘Difficult decisions,’ says mayor
In his opening remarks during the meeting, Mayor Boyer alluded to the targeted spending cuts the city made in its latest annual budget.
“It was also in that context that we had to make decisions that are often difficult – such as the one for the mini-farm at the Centre de la nature,” said Boyer, noting that a large number of opponents to the closure turned out for the council meeting.
While upholding the rationale for the city’s decision – the mini-farm building needs from $15-$20 million in renovations to bring it up to current standards for sheltering animals – the mayor said there was also good news.
“We’ve heard the people,” he said. “We ran into many residents over the last few weeks and months, we received calls, we also saw people on social media talking about the petition.
‘Lemonade with lemons’
“We may be elected officials but we are also human who want to make good decisions, even if the choices aren’t always easy. And so what we’re going to try to do is to make lemonade with lemons.”
With that said, Mouvement lavallois city councillor for Saint-Vincent-de-Paul Annick Senghor tabled a motion later that evening calling on the city to provide support for an unspecified “activity” free of charge at the Centre de la nature where children and families would be able to interact with animals in a revised version of the current mini-farm.
Action Laval Saint-François city councillor Isabelle Piché’s motion for a public consultation on the future of the mini-farm was pushed aside during the February 3 city council meeting. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)
In choosing to take that course of action, the mayor, supported by the Mouvement lavallois council majority, dismissed a motion brought forward by Action Laval opposition councillor Isabelle Piché to hold a public consultation on the mini-farm issue.
In a statement issued by Action Laval the following day, they said Action Laval “strongly deplores the decision by the mayor and his councillors to reject, during the adjournment of the February 3 city council meeting, the proposal tabled by Saint-François councillor Isabelle Piché.”
‘Justification untenable,’ says Action Laval
Noting that the mayor seemed to be trying to justify his decision by claiming that rebuilding the mini-farm would be too costly, Action Laval said, “This justification is untenable: the public deserves to be heard before closing the book on such a meaningful place.
“Despite the presence of many citizens eager to save the farm and the numerous questions posed by the public to the council, the mayor and his team voted unanimously against holding a public consultation,” said Piché.
“This closure of democratic dialogue comes as a petition with 20,000 signatures, launched by Laval resident Dennis Fiévèt, has been officially filed. When more than 20,000 citizens mobilize, a mayor has a moral obligation to listen.”
Action to hold its own consultation
Action Laval said it would organize its own public consultation, where residents would be able to express their views on the future of the mini-farm, propose solutions and participate in a collective reflection.
The Parti Laval opposition, in a statement of their own, accused the mayor of taking steps to “muzzle” the opposition “in order to impose a decision that goes against the will of the citizens, as expressed in the petition with over 20,000 signatures.
“It is an attempt to avoid any real discussion on preserving the small farm, a preservation clearly demanded by the citizens,” they said. “When families, children and workers mobilize to defend a place they love, our responsibility as elected officials is to open the dialogue, not close it,” said Parti Laval city councillor for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin Louise Lortie.
Questions over democratic debate
The Parti Laval said the mayor’s decision to push forward his own party’s motion while ignoring Councillor Piché’s “raised serious concerns about respect for democratic debate at city council.
“What the opposition is denouncing is that the mayor and his majority allegedly forced the rushed adoption of their own proposal, even before the discussion on Ms. Piché’s opinion began, thus giving them a reason to avoid debating it,” they added.
Martin Vaillancourt, the Parti Laval city councillor for Fabreville-Sud, stated that he was left with the impression during the council meeting that a gag order was effectively being executed, albeit at the municipal level.
“Despite our objections, the mayor’s party forced the opposition parties to immediately debate its proposal, which was already destined to be adopted by Mayor Boyer and his elected officials, even though it doesn’t address the citizens’ main demand, namely the preservation of the farm,” he said.
Hellenic Community Heritage Month
During a period devoted to new business and statements from city councillors, Chomedey councillor Aglaia Revelakis tabled a proposal that Laval city council declare the month of March as Hellenic Community Heritage Month.
“This is about an opportunity to recognize and celebrate a community which for more than 120 years has been contributing to enrichment of our society through its customs, traditions and it commitment,” she said.
“I invite my colleagues sincerely to join me in supporting this meaningful recognition in honoring the legacy of the Hellenic community,” she said.
The current issue of the Laval News, volume 34-04, published on February 18th, 2026. Covering Laval local news, politics, and sports. (Click on the image to read the paper.)
