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Green Light for 1,000 new affordable housing units at Carré Laval

Laval News Contributor
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Green Light for 1,000 new affordable housing units at Carré Laval

The Government of Quebec and the City of Laval have confirmed their financial support to the Angus Group for the largest affordable housing project currently under development in Quebec.

Located downtown in the future Carré Laval eco-district, the rental complex will add 1,013 affordable housing units. The first of three phases of construction is scheduled to begin in winter 2027.

To carry out this exceptionally large project, the Government of Quebec is providing the Angus Group with a grant of over $28.3 million and a patient capital loan of $60 million.

The City of Laval plans to contribute $23.3 million and is making municipal land available, according to terms to be specified at a later date. It also includes concrete support measures, notably the waiver of certain park and permit fees, to facilitate the project’s implementation.

The funding allocated was made possible by optimizing the financing of an initial agreement dating from July 2024 between the Quebec government and the Angus Group, totaling $193.4 million for three other projects — two in Montreal and one in Rimouski.

By adding the Laval project, instead of the initially planned 1,001 affordable housing units, four projects totaling 2,014 affordable housing units will now be built, without any additional subsidies.

The Laval project will include 411 affordable housing units respecting the maximum rents stipulated under the Quebec Affordable Housing Program (PHAQ) of the Société d’habitation du Québec (SHQ), and 602 intermediate affordable housing units, for which the rent can be increased up to a maximum of 150 per cent of the PHAQ ceilings.

It will also contribute to increasing the proportion of off-market housing in Laval, in line with the objectives of the Housing Action Plan and the revised Land Use and Development Plan of the Montreal Metropolitan Community.

“The Carré Laval project has reached a decisive milestone today, moving from vision to reality,” Laval mayor Stéphane Boyer said during a recent press conference.

“Hosting the largest affordable housing project currently underway in Quebec is excellent news, given the immense needs in Laval and Greater Montreal,” he added.

“This demonstrates our city’s capacity to innovate and deliver transformative projects that concretely address the concerns of our residents and contribute to the development of sustainable living environments, such as the future Carré Laval eco-district.”

“I am proud of the financial support our government is able to provide to the Laval region, enabling it to significantly increase the supply of affordable housing for our citizens,” said Sainte-Rose MNA Christopher Skeete, Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie and Minister responsible for the Laval region in the CAQ cabinet.

“This project demonstrates an ambitious vision,” he continued. “It maximizes available resources and addresses a need for low-income households for whom housing in our region is a challenge.”

Gilles Vaillancourt suing City of Laval for more than $3 million

Martin C. Barry
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Gilles Vaillancourt suing City of Laval for more than $3 million

Former mayor’s lawsuit is “the last thing” city’s taxpayers need, says Boyer

Following news in recent weeks that the City of Laval is being compelled to give $1 million to the Canada Revenue Agency to pay off an income tax debt owed by former mayor Gilles Vaillancourt, there was word last week that Vaillancourt has now decided to sue Laval.

Former Laval mayor Gilles Vaillancourt is suing the city. (File photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

“An additional layer of outrage has been added to this deeply shocking case for Laval residents,” Mayor Stéphane Boyer said in a statement last week to the Montreal daily La Presse.

“The last thing they need is to be sued by Gilles Vaillancourt and forced by the court to pay taxes on money he stole from them,” he added.

In recent media interviews, Mayor Boyer pointed out that in 2016, the Quebec government reimbursed to the city money Vaillancourt owed to Revenu Québec without demanding further payment. The mayor believes the federal government has the option to do the same thing using discretionary powers at its disposal.

Heavily redacted legal claim

According to La Presse, which obtained a heavily-redacted copy of a notice of legal action filed by lawyers for Vaillancourt, only 13 of nearly 40 paragraphs in the document were legible, making it difficult to understand the grievances of Laval’s former mayor.

Even the amount of the damages being claimed in the document was redacted beyond legibility. However, a handwritten note on the back of the mentioned a claim for $3,517,000, although the reasons for this massive redaction, unusual in civil matters, were also not clear.

During the March 10 city council meeting, Mayor Stéphane Boyer tabled a resolution asking federal Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne to intervene in the City of Laval’s favor by reversing the CRA decision to bill the City of Laval for the remainder of Vaillancourt’s tax debt.

Ex-mayor’s admissions in court

Vaillancourt, who served as Laval’s mayor from 1989 to 2012, pleaded guilty in 2016 to engaging in corrupt administration practices. This included his admission that millions of dollars of proceeds from the scheme went into a Swiss bank account.

Although Vaillancourt returned more than $7 million to the City of Laval, Radio-Canada reported that the CRA wants Laval to transfer $1 million back to Vaillancourt so that the CRA can close Vaillancourt’s file when the former mayor pays off the tax and interest.

Vaillancourt’s lawyers have argued that the City of Laval should be held responsible for the unpaid taxes since the municipality ultimately received the reimbursed sum. Boyer asked the Carney government to use its discretionary power to prevent Laval from having to pay this amount, as Quebec did in 2018.

Vaillancourt seeks reimbursement

Radio-Canada reported last week that federal Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne will appear before the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Public Accounts, where he may give an update.

In sections of his lawsuit that weren’t redacted, Vaillancourt’s lawyers explain that he reached agreements in 2016 with Revenu Québec, the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions and the City of Laval.

Vaillancourt’s lawyers say he is asking the court to order the City of Laval to pay four separate amounts – which were all redacted in the legal document – including reimbursement of his extrajudicial fees.

Laval News Volume 34-07

Laval News Staff
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Laval News Volume 34-07

The current issue of the Laval News, volume 34-07, published on April 1st, 2026.
Covering Laval local news, politics, and sports.
(Click on the image to read the paper.)

Laval-based SAIL acquired by members of its leadership team

Martin C. Barry
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Laval-based SAIL acquired by members of its leadership team

Laval-based outdoor retailer SAIL, which filed for bankruptcy protection six years ago, has announced the transfer of its ownership to three members of its current leadership team.

The transaction marks the acquisition of the company by executives Isabelle Lemay, CPA, President and Chief Executive Officer, Stefania Cella, CPA, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Catherine Venne, MBA, Vice President of Marketing.

In a statement issued on March 31, the company said the management-led buyout “represents a concrete example of female business succession in Canada and ensures the continuity of the company’s vision and growth within the country.”

According to the company, the three executives have in-depth knowledge of both the organization and the retail sector, which led the group’s two principal founding shareholders to invite them to take over SAIL as part of this transaction.

“As women entrepreneurs, we are very proud to continue SAIL’s story here in Canada,” said Lemay.

“We share a common vision: to keep evolving the company while staying true to its mission of supporting outdoor, hunting and fishing enthusiasts in all their activities. We aim to position SAIL as the go-to partner for outdoor activities in Canada — an even stronger, more relevant and more inspiring destination for the years ahead.”

During the summer of 2020 towards the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, SAIL management at the time said store closures and other fallout from the pandemic seriously compromised the company’s cash flow and finances.

The Fonds de solidarité FTQ, which has partnered with SAIL since 2005, said in a statement accompanying the new management’s announcement that they are “proud to support this succession led by three seasoned executives, which ensures that a flagship retail company rooted in several regions of Quebec remains in local hands.

“This transfer clearly demonstrates the role that business succession — particularly female-led — plays in Quebec’s economic vitality,” said Louis-Joseph Cliche, vice president for private equity and impact investing in agri-food, consumer goods and health at Fonds de solidarité.

SAIL said it sees the transaction coming at an opportune time for the outdoor industry, with consumer trends showing a growing interest in outdoor activities, as more Canadians choose to travel domestically and enjoy natural spaces, contributing to the sector’s continued growth.

SAIL said its vision for the coming years includes continued commercial expansion and the potential opening of five new stores within five years, strengthening its presence in Quebec and Ontario.

Faulty door at new Laval Police building becomes an issue

Martin C. Barry
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Faulty door at new Laval Police building becomes an issue

A problem at Laval’s new western sector police services building on Curé-Labelle Blvd. has forced the city to hire a 24-hour security guard to monitor a malfunctioning employee entrance so that intruders can’t get into the building.

The Laval Police Dept.’s western sector building on Curé-Labelle Blvd. (Photo: Courtesy of City of Laval)

Since opening last summer after being built at a cost of $61 million, the building has suffered from a few snafus.

These have included an underground garage entrance door which was reported to be stuck open or shut at times, causing some scheduling problems for officers heading out on duty.

The architecturally-modern building, whose exterior is clad in a lightweight stainless metal and glass curtain wall, has reportedly also suffered from weather-related water infiltration and leakage.

The City of Laval has reportedly already paid $21,000 over the past two months for a private security guard to watch the door until it is repaired or replaced.

In the meantime, there are also reports that some civilians have mistakenly been entering the building through the employees’ door, rather than through the front entrance, adding to the overall consternation.

STL resumes regular bus service after maintenance issues

Martin C. Barry
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STL resumes regular bus service after maintenance issues
Bus in Laval Qc.

The Société de transport de Laval says it is resuming regular service now that it has enough buses in good working order.

The regional transit agency was forced to suspend around 60 routes beginning on March 10 because of delays in routine bus maintenance caused by supply chain issues involving supply of spare parts and equipment management.

The STL said in a statement Monday that the situation resolved itself more quickly than had been anticipated, after previously stating that disruptions might last for up to eight weeks or longer.

LFD firefighter injured in blaze on Kugler St. in Duvernay

Martin C. Barry
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LFD firefighter injured in blaze on Kugler St. in Duvernay
(Photo: Courtesy of Association des pompiers de Laval)

A firefighter with the Laval Fire Department suffered a serious but non-life threatening injury on March 21 while helping put out a blaze at a home on Kugler St. in the eastern reaches of Duvernay.

It is initially believed to have started when a BBQ set fire to a rear balcony.

Around 2:36 pm, according to information posted on the Association des pompiers de Laval’s X social media feed, firefighters arriving observed that the rear balcony of the detached house was almost entirely engulfed in flames.

“Flames visible with propagation up to the level of the attic,” they wrote, adding that the situation required a second alarm to be called in.

Given the intensity of the flames, which were spreading to the outer siding of the building and were heading towards the roof, significant efforts were made to control their spread as quickly as possible and contain the fire before it reached the interior.

Three people were rescued during the operation, and the blaze was reported to be under control before 3:45 pm.

Urgences-Santé was summoned after one member of the LFD personnel was injured after falling from a height of around five feet.

Damage to the building and to its furnishings and other contents was estimated at $375,000.

Lorenzo Lagatta wins SWLSB electoral division 9 by-election

Martin C. Barry
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Lorenzo Lagatta wins SWLSB electoral division 9 by-election

The Sir Wilfrid Laurier Schoool Board announced on Tuesday that Lorenzo Lagatta is the winner of a by-election held on Sunday March 22 for the vacant electoral division 9 seat.

Lorenzo Lagatta has won the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board by-election in electoral division 9. (Photo: Action Laval Facebook)

While there were 6,260 registered electors, 36 votes were cast for Lagatta.

Polizoi Christodoulakis received 32 votes, Stephanie Brandone 21 votes, and Marie-Thérèse Désormeaux 3 votes.

Lagatta, according to his Facebook page, is a real estate agent, a father of three children and a resident of Laval since 2010.

He was also a candidate for the municipal Action Laval party in the district of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul last November.

District 9, which includes parts of the City of Laval’s Pont-Viau and Duvernay districts, services Genesis, Jules Verne, Saint Paul and Saint Vincent Elementary Schools.

“I am a proud and involved father of three boys, and like many parents, I know how much our school’s matter—not only for learning, but for children’s well-being, family support, and the strength of our community,” Lagatta stated in a candidacy profile published by the SWLSB prior to the by-election.

“I am actively engaged in my community and believe in cooperation, respectful dialogue, and clear communication,” he added.

“I am comfortable working in multiple languages, which I see as an important strength in serving a diverse and inclusive school community. A strong public school system must ensure that every student—regardless of ability, learning profile, or background—has the support they need to succeed.”

He said that one of his priorities would be strengthening services for students with special needs by supporting evidence-based interventions, improving access to specialists, and ensuring teachers receive the training and classroom support they need.


“Good school governance requires listening carefully, making informed decisions, and acting transparently in the best interest of students,” said Lagatta.

Fire inflicts serious damage on house in Duvernay

Martin C. Barry
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Fire inflicts serious damage on house in Duvernay
(Photo: Courtesy of Association des pompiers de Laval)

A family who were living in a residential part of Laval’s Duvernay district will be away from home for at least a while after a fire that caused more than $190,000 in damage to their dwelling

A few minutes before 2 am on March 11, the Laval Fire Dept. received a call from the 9-1-1 emergency service that a house on des Perron Ave. was ablaze.

The occupants, an adult and two children, were awakened by smoke, according to an account furnished by the fire department.

Flames were visible at the roofline when firefighters arrived on the scene.

It was considered to be under control by 3 am.

Fire causes $2.5 million in damage to snow removal contractor in Duvernay

Martin C. Barry
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Fire causes $2.5 million in damage to snow removal contractor in Duvernay

Carelessness is believed to have been the underlying cause of a fire that decimated garages and other installations at a snow removal contractor’s base of operations on des Perron Avenue near Montée Saint-François in Duvernay earlier this month.

(Photo: Courtesy of Association des pompiers de Laval)

The Laval region’s 9-1-1 service received a call around 5:45 pm on March 10 and Laval Fire Dept. personnel were on the scene at Déneigement SM within minutes.

As is frequently the case with industrial fires, a tall pall of dark smoke rose and hung over the site, visible from a considerable distance.

It wasn’t until nearly 9:20 pm that the firefighters were able to finally declare the blaze under control.

The LFD speculated that the cause may have been a carelessly discarded cigarette butt and estimated overall damage at $2.5 million.

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