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LPD dismantles illicit cannabis network

The Laval Police completed a major recently involving a large network for the cultivation and sale of cannabis that was operating in Laval, Montreal, as well as on the North Shore and the South Shore.

Projet Drago, as the initiative was code-named, led to the identification of four suspects, followed by four raids with arrests in Laval, Montreal, Saint-Adèle in the Laurentians and Saint-Adèle-de-Newton in the Montérégie.

The investigation led to the discovery by police that although production of cannabis had been authorized to some of the suspects by Health Canada which had issued permits, a substantial amount of the product was being distributed outside the agency’s rules and therefore illegally.

The police estimate the value of the cannabis seized at more than $2.5 million. The seized materials included:

  • 2,085 plants of cannabis;
  • 169.3 kgs of cannabis bud;
  • 9.26 kgs of bulk cannabis.

Also seized

  • $34,530 in Canadian currency;
  • 864 cuttings;
  • Two vehicles valued at $60,000;
  • 2 air conditioners.

Chhuong Ngo, age 44, Con Ngo, age 52, Van Linh Pho, age 48, as well as Steve St-Germain, age 52 ans, face charges of producing cannabis illegally. They were arraigned at the Palais de justice de Laval and were freed on bail with conditions to follow until their next court appearance.

Adèle Sorella acquitted of charge she murdered daughters

A Laval woman was acquitted on Monday in the 2009 deaths of her young daughters after a third trial on murder charges.

Adèle Sorella was convicted of murder in 2013 and 2019, but both of those decisions were overturned on appeal.

The girls were found dead in the family’s Laval home, but their bodies showed no signs of violence and a cause of death was never determined.

Justice Myriam Lachance said in her written decision that she remained unconvinced that Sorella had seized an opportunity to kill her daughters, Sabrina and Amanda, when they were eight and nine years old respectively.

Sorella was married to known Mafia figure Giuseppe De Vito, who died poisoned in prison in 2013.

Laval Police seize first 3-D printed gun

There’s a first time for everything, and the Laval Police announced recently they had seized a 3D printed firearm for the first time.

As these types of weapon have already become quite common in the U.S., it’s believed it will be only a matter of time before they also turn up more often in Laval and other areas of the province.

According to the LPD, officers pulled over a vehicle in late November for a routine infraction of the Highway Safety Code. While the officers were checking ID and documents, one of the occupants of the vehicle falsely identified himself.

The two occupants were placed under arrest, and while searching the suspects, police seized a 3D-printed revolver from one of them. A small quantity of drugs and false identification were also seized.

According to the LPD, the possession of a 3D-printed firearm is an emerging phenomenon in Quebec as police battle gun-related urban violence.

The 30-year-old alleged to be carrying the weapon was arraigned at the Palais de Justice de Laval on a charge of possession of a prohibited weapon. He remained in custody at last word and was scheduled to make another court appearance on Jan. 18.

Local police in raids over killings, including one in Laval

Laval was one of several communities across Quebec where police were recently conducting raids and seizures tied to a series of organized crime-related killings, including the deaths of three people who were mistakenly targeted.

The operation was connected with killings in Montreal and on the North Shore from the mid-1990s to more recently. Police said the raids — in Laval, Mirabel, Rosemère and Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot — were primarily in conjunction with the deaths of the three people mistakenly killed.

The victims were Lida Phon, 32, who was killed in a Laval home in August 2012; Domenico Facchini, 37, who was shot dead in a cafe in Montreal’s St-Léonard borough in December 2012; and Nicolas Lavoie-Cloutier, 18, killed in Terrebonne, Que., in June 2018.

Police said suspects targeted in the raids were linked to the Mafia, the Hells Angels and street gangs.

Fabre MNA Abou-Khalil helps make a constituent’s 102nd birthday special

Fabre CAQ MNA Alice Abou-Khalil played a key role recently in helping to arrange the vaccination of a constituent more than one hundred years old, in the comfort of her home, and just in time for her birthday.

According to a statement issued by Abou Khalil’s office, she and her team made
it possible to get one of her senior citizens, Mrs.
Lena Sweeney, vaccinated this fall by a registered
nurse without having to leave home.

Mrs. Sweeney’s daughter, Denise, was trying
to get her this vaccine, but was not able to get
hold of anyone who would agree to do it. So, she
called Abou-Khalil’s office, urging the staff to do
something – and they did.

While talking to Denise, staff at the Fabre riding
office learned how old her mother was and that
got things started. Upon finding out that Mrs.
Sweeney had recently turned 102 years old, Abou Khalil said she wanted to pay homage to her in
a special way.

She asked the Honorable Michel Doyon,
Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec, to prepare a
certificate honoring her seniority. Abou-Khalil
then reached out to the mayor of Laval, Stéphane
Boyer, who gave her a special certificate plus a
gift. And Abou-Khalil produced a certificate of
her own, as well.

On December 11, Mrs. Sweeney was surprised
to receive a special visit. It’s understandable that
at age 102, being the dean of the Fabre constituency is a huge deal.

Abou-Khalil visited her, delivering all the certificates, as well as some gifts and
a flower bouquet.

Mrs. Sweeney found this gesture touching when
she was told that all those people had gathered
to make her 102nd birthday a special one.

Her daughter, Denise, was emotional, too, and thanked
everyone who contributed to making her mother’s birthday a day to remember. It was an early
Christmas gift that will last a long time, she said.

Action Laval’s De Cotis and Piché delivered some Christmas cheer

In the picture from left to right: Aldo Geloso, President Groupe Geloso, Virginie Dufour, MNA for Mille-Îles, Isabelle Piché, councillor for Saint-François, David De Cotis, councillor for Saintt-Bruno, Jean Gagnon, director-general of Centre de bénévolat et moisson Laval, and Christopher Skeete, Quebec MNA for Sainte-Rose.

Action Laval city councillors David De Cotis (Saint-Bruno) and Isabelle Piché (Saint-François) spent most of a morning and an afternoon one day just before Christmas helping to deliver food baskets to needy families all over the Laval region.

The Laval city council colleagues (who are also a husband-and-wife team) volunteered their time and resources to the Centre de bénévolat/Moisson Laval to see that families in Laval that are less fortunate might have some Christmas joy in their lives during the upcoming holidays.

“We wanted to give of our time to see that citizens in need in Laval received what they needed,” said De Cotis, while adding both he and Piché do a fair amount of hands-on volunteering.

Agape says school strike impacted donations to Christmas drive

The Youth and Parents AGAPE Association says it struggled this year to gather enough non-perishable items for its annual Christmas food drive.

“We don’t have enough non-perishable items to help families that are in need,” the organization stated on Dec. 15 on its Facebook page. “Due to the school strike and many other reasons, we haven’t received a lot of donations as years past,” they added.

MP Vimy Annie Koutrakis (second from left) participated in Agape’s 2023 Christmas food drive.

At last word, Agape was looking for donations of mac and cheese, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce with and without meat, toilet paper and paper towels.

After joining local elected officials for the launch of Moisson Laval’s 39th Christmas basket campaign, Agape wrote on their social media feed, “Inspiring to see community spirit in action! “Fruitful discussions with provincial and municipal colleagues, highlighting the meaningful work of Moisson Laval,” they added.

“Together, let’s make this festive season brighter for all.”

Laval English-speaking Senior Wellness Centre Fundraises with Laughter

Agape executive-director Kevin McLeod (second from right) and the evening’s comedians.

On Friday, November 10th, nearly 200 guests gathered at the iconic Embassy Plaza in Laval for an evening of comedy with a cause.

The event was organized to help raise funds for the Agape English-speaking Senior Wellness Center located at 3860 #204 on Notre Dame Boulevard.

The Senior Wellness Center was created in 2019 in response to a growing need. “One of the issues we’re seeing with regards to Laval English-speaking senior citizens is that there is a need for increased access to health and social services or even activities for that matter – in the English language,” The centre’s executive director Kevin McLeod commented. “Englishspeaking seniors in the region are often left to their own devices with little help. Many local documents are offered solely in French, as are a lot of the activities and non-profit organizations.”

The non-profit offers drawing and exercise classes, technology workshops, health presentations, painting, bingo, clubs, games and much more for Laval English-speaking residents older than 55. The Senior Wellness Centre has since garnered approximately 500 active members.

Fundraising needed

“We’re going to need more funding to sustain our activities,” said McLeod. “We have to fundraise. We’re one funder leaving us away from putting us in danger.” Now, AGAPE is hoping to get more funding in order to keep its Senior Wellness Centre operations running.

That is why they launched their 1st Annual Christmas Comedy Night Gala. The Emcee for the evening was local legend and comedy soprano Franco Taddeo. The comics for the evening were the opener, Marianne Mandrusiak, upcoming comedian Viveth K and Montreal comedy Icon Joey Elias. Franco opened the show with his wonderful wit and comedy and all the comedians kept the audience laughing for more then 2 hours.

Among the guests for the evening were many municipal, federal and provincial politicians and their attachés who came out and donated to support the worthy cause.

“We don’t make money on our ticket sales, as we want to keep tickets affordable for our senior members,” said McLeod. “Profits come from our raffle ticket sales, silent auction and advertising in our evening booklet. Thanks to all our generous donors we raised just over $6000 for the evening. This is a great start, and we would like to double that next year,” said McLeod.

McLeod thanked all the donors for the wonderful gifts that were donated. “Without our sponsors and advertisers for the evening, we would not have had all the wonderful prizes that we had.” Sponsors included WestJet, Pharmaprix (El-Achkar, Jehtha and Merrouni), Pilaros, Agga Coffee, Lindt chocolate, The Montreal Alouettes, The Laval Rocket, DormezVous and many more.

Keep an eye out for next year’s event as it promises to be another great one!

Striking SWLSB teachers put disruptions on hold, at least until January

‘There’s definitely understaffing,’ says a union rep, outlining one of their grievances

For parents of children attending Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board schools where rotating teacher strikes have disrupted many families’ lives, there’s a promise of labour peace until January at least, although strike action could resume then if the provincial government and striking teachers fail to come to an agreement.

Picket line solidarity

Several hundred teachers from SWLSB schools and vocational centres from all over the board’s territory – including Laval but also the Lanaudière and Laurentian regions – gathered outside Laval Junior Academy on Daniel Johnson Blvd. earlier this month for a noisy picket line demonstration of solidarity.

Hundreds of striking teachers from all over the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board’s vast territory, gathered outside Laval Junior Academy on Daniel Johnson Blvd. earlier this month for a final show of solidarity before the Christmas holiday break. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)

Melanie Massarelli, a former LJA educator who is now director of membership welfare for the Laurier Teachers’ Union, said in an interview with The Laval News that the LTU members have many of the same grievances as their counterparts in other provincial teachers’ unions.

Support lacking: union

The complaints centre largely around classroom working conditions and the pedagogical integration of students. “Unfortunately, as a generality there is no support for the teachers,” she said, noting that teaching students with disabilities has become a key issue because classroom assistance is lacking.

“There’s definitely understaffing – there’s a lack of teachers,” she continued. “Even the qualified teachers that leave university, within their first five years 50 per cent of them drop out. For us this is a big issue.”

Regarding working conditions within the SWLSB itself, she said the board struggles to convince qualified teachers to accept positions at schools located in some of the SWLSB’s northernmost reaches in the Laurentians.

Says incentives needed

Unionized SWLSB teachers gathered together outside Laval Junior Academy for one last massive show of unity before the Christmas holidays. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Laval News)

She said the board would need to improve conditions and provide more incentives to fully certified teachers, many of whom completed their university studies in Montreal and other urban centres, so they agree to teach in rural areas like Joliette, St. Agathe and Rawdon.

While many of the teachers involved last week in the demonstration outside LJA previously walked picket lines outside their respective schools, they gathered together for one last massive show of unity before the Christmas holidays.

Massarelli said the teachers could walk out on strike again in January, prior to which the union leadership would have to serve seven days notice.

Quebec’s restauranteurs cautiously optimistic about their prospects in 2024

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Owners are fed up with clients who reserve tables but never show up, says the RAQ

While soaring inflation and labour shortages are just two of the issues currently afflicting restaurant operators in Laval, Montreal and the rest of Quebec, the province’s restauranteurs remain cautiously optimistic about their prospects in the new year, although there are still problems to be worked out.

Not all is good in the restaurant sector across Canada, according to reactions gathered by a nationwide restaurant industry group after the Trudeau government issued its 2023 Fall Economic Statement last month.

Inflation and labour

The government missed an opportunity to implement sector-specific support for the restaurant industry, which was the hardest hit by the pandemic, claimed Restaurants Canada.

Arthur Schiller, founder and CEO of “BY2048,” an upstart company that makes and markets a plant-based substitute for smoked salmon, was one of the many Quebec-based food industry players who took part in the RAQ’s annual gathering at the Marché Bonsecours in Old Montreal last month. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

“The industry does not want a handout, but rather they need more time for recovery and without more government support the foodservice industry is running out of runway,” they said in a statement.

The trade group said the update left little room for optimism for the more than 95,000 restaurant operators who employ over 1.1 million people across Canada to help deal with record-high inflation, the soaring cost of food, and increasing labour shortages.

CEBA and immigration

Among the measures Restaurants Canada is urging the government to adopt in order to promote bottom-line growth would be revisiting the Covid pandemic CEBA repayment plan by extending the interest-free period by 12 months. They are also calling on the government to implement a pilot project for a dedicated immigration stream for the hospitality sector.

While Restaurants Canada said the country’s food service sector achieved remarkable growth in the past year, projected to reach $110 billion by the end of 2023, they added that it didn’t translate into a fatter bottom line for most food service businesses, with 51 per cent operating at a loss or barely breaking even, compared to just 12 per cent before the pandemic.

Annual gathering of RAQ

Last month, Quebec’s largest trade group for restaurant operators, the Association Restauration Québec (ARQ), held its annual gathering for 5,600 RAQ members from all over the province at the Marché Bonsecours in Old Montreal.

In an interview with Newsfirst Multimedia, RAQ vice-president for public and government affairs Martin Vézina named off a few of the most pressing issues now facing Quebec’s restauranteurs. Among them are the question of a growing discrepancy between the earnings of table service employees (up to $40 per hour with tips) and kitchen workers ($22-$25 an hour without tips).

Wage discrepancies

“There’s a difference of around $15 an hour and this is creating friction,” Vézina said, noting that the province’s current regulations regarding tipping revenues don’t allow the employer to divide them up more equitably between different types of workers.

He said the RAQ is lobbying the provincial government to allow restauranteurs to do just that, while also asking Quebec to include some protections in the law to prevent unscrupulous employers from using it as a pretext to clandestinely exploit workers.

Labour shortages persist

Like Restaurants Canada, the RAQ has serious concerns about labour shortages. In addition to a chronic lack of workers, the province’s labour laws currently place some limits on when and for how long employees can be asked to work. RAQ wouldn’t mind if that requirement were loosened up a bit – at least until the province’s economy picks up.

Finally, an issue that has been rankling a growing number of the province’s restauranteurs for some time has nothing to do workers or tips, but rather the restaurant customers themselves. According to Vézina, restaurant owners and personnel are fed up with clients who make table reservations, but then never show up.

Selvananthini Shanmugarasa, owner of the Nanthu Kitchen in Montreal’s Côte des Neiges district, was intrigued by Keenon Robotics’ “Dinerbots,” but said she was unlikely to be able to use one at her relatively modest restaurant. (Photo: Martin C. Barry, Newsfirst Multimedia)

Missed reservation penalty

He said that over the coming Christmas holidays, some restaurants will be writing off tens of thousands of dollars in income which will be lost for this reason alone: people who simply decide not to respect their reservation. He said the RAQ is asking Quebec to pass legislation that would allow restaurants to impose a $20 penalty.

According to Vézina, as many as 3,500 restaurants (15-18 per cent of the province’s eating establishments) closed permanently as a result of the Covid pandemic. Tracking the numbers by following lists of restaurant permits issued by the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the association has determined that closings continue to exceed openings of new restaurants.

Served by a ‘Dinerbot’

Some of the innovations being promoted as labour-saving alternatives during the RAQ’s trade show last month were Shanghai-based Keenon Robotics’ table server “Dinerbots,” capable of performing rudimentary waitressing tasks, such as delivering food and beverages to seated patrons. The concept reportedly has started to catch on in some parts of Asia, although not yet in Canada or Quebec.

Among the ARQ members looking for new ideas at the exhibition’s many corporate booths was Selvananthini Shanmugarasa, owner of the Nanthu Kitchen bakery/restaurant in Montreal’s Côte des Neiges district. Although she was intrigued by the idea of a robot providing a helping hand in her establishment, she passed on it, saying her business was probably too small to justify the cost.

Heritage Restoration of Laval City Hall

Initiation of selective demolition work and changes in the management of the professional services contract

At the special meeting of December 12, 2023, the municipal council approved the award of the contract for the first phase of work, which will consist of selective interior demolition, i.e. the dismantling of electromechanical systems, stripping and decontamination.

With this first work contract, Laval is beginning the realization of its project to bring City Hall, one of the most important heritage buildings in the territory, up to standard. This preparatory work will begin in early 2024 and will form the foundation for construction work to come later, as part of an upcoming call for tenders.

Laval City Hall.

During this meeting, the municipal council also terminated the professional services contract of Affleck de la Riva (ADLR), architects S.E.N.C. (ADLR) responsible for the development and upgrading of Laval City Hall. This decision was made following the joint recommendation of the Procurement Service and the Project Planning and Delivery Service.

It should be noted that the City of Laval is responsible for managing the funds entrusted to it by Laval residents with rigour and transparency. The teams carried out several mitigation measures with the architectural firm in order to ensure compliance with the obligations related to the contract. ADLR’s continued conduct, including numerous unjustified claims for additional professional fees, resulted in an irreparable breach of the City’s relationship of trust with it and led to the termination of the professional services contract for cause. This decision will save the City additional issues and potential delays. This is in the best interest of ensuring the success of the project.

Next Steps for the City Hall Restoration Project

In early 2024, the City will also launch three new calls for tenders (architecture and landscape architecture; mechanical, electrical and telecommunications; structural and civil) from professional firms to complete the design of the next city hall, produce execution plans and supervise the work. This action is necessary to ensure the continuation of the project, which has been the subject of a rigorous analysis for several months. As evidenced by this process, the City is very vigilant and is closely monitoring the impacts of the inflationary context in the construction industry, particularly with regard to the increase in material costs. Since the beginning of the project’s planning, the City has demonstrated exemplary transparency and rigorous budget management. It will also ensure that the successful bidder meets all the criteria of its call for proposals, including budget compliance.

Historical

Laval City Hall was built between 1963 and 1964. This building is part of Laval’s urban heritage: it represents a unique ensemble whose modern architectural solution allowed the designers to win the 1st architectural competition in Quebec. The work is necessary because the building has retained several original elements that are now in deterioration or no longer meet current standards.

Since 2020, the activities of the town hall and some municipal services have been relocated to 3131 Saint-Martin Boulevard West. The project consists of several phases, including: design, preparation of plans and specifications, repair and upgrading work, reconstruction of the building’s annex and all of its components (the old barracks, the link, the garage and the boiler room) as well as the exterior fittings.

Polls, Politics and Power Dictate Policies

Newsfirst Multimedia editorialist and political columnist Robert Vairo.

I suppose we should not be surprised that our federal government tolerates, perhaps condones scandalous intrusions in the life of Canadian citizens in Québec.

After all, most would agree this is a lame and limp bunch
of leaders who feel quite comfortable with
the Québec government’s legal seizure of
computers and cell phones in our English
universities. And now imposing a French
language requirement on visiting English
university students.

Most in our community are convinced it’s an attempt to destroy the
English infrastructure in the province. The
Feds are busy calling for, well let’s see, first, the
Israeli right to defend itself, then a ceasefire
in the Middle East. All the while capping oil
and gas production, taxing burping cattle, and
bashing Conservative-led Alberta. These are
all desperate attempts at diverting Canadians’
attention away from the incompetence and
mismanagement of just about every thing the
government touches.

Québec though, is the sacred cow of the
Liberal party of Canada. The action of Premier
Legault’s CAQ, and inaction of the Trudeau
Liberals, is a nightmare, enough to make one
ill. All of Canada suffers when elected bigots in
Québec tell English international students not
to come here. Ironically, the reason Legault is
firing all his cannons at the English population
is because he is in a free fall in the polls.

And the reason the Trudeau Liberals are refusing to
intervene is because they are in a similar catastrophic slide to oblivion, for now. Canada’s
Federal Government is made to lead, and it is
not. Its mandate is to instill unity where there
is division, and it has not. It is mandated to
seek justice, and act when there is a flagrant
violation of rights of Canadian citizens living
in Québec. It has not.

We have a government that has mismanaged our economy, immigration, housing,
and failed miserably to intervene to right the
wrong in this country, including terrorism
within our borders. What a sad, frankly revolting state of affairs.

Yet here we are with puffed out chests
preaching to Italy that “Canada is concerned
about their LGBT rights,” evangelizing to
Israel, our environment minister telling China
to clean up and shut down its coal mines.
Why is Canada sermonizing other countries
on what they should or should not be doing?
Would we not be at least a bit credible if were
to get our own house in order before throwing
stones?
Help our Military
What deserves attention and should be
remedied is the fact that members of our
armed forces are having to ask for donations
so they can afford housing for their families.
This is so shameful. Budget cuts to our Armed
Forces are so severe (one billion dollars) that
the country’s Chief of Defence Staff Wayne
Eyre told a government committee that
Canada cannot help improve “the declining
security situation around the world.”

Limping Canadian Economy
Why is our economy limping along while
that of the US and Europe is flourishing? For
example, the US GDP (gross domestic product) is expected to grow almost 5% this year,
while Canada’s will grow by 0.9%. Economists
point to an overabundance of immigration,
putting stress not only on health care, and
housing, and employment, but Canada’s overall economic production. We now have a lower
standard of living. Even newly arrived immigrants, and permanent status individuals, are
leaving because they cannot afford to live in
this once great country.

Accept Canada’s values and
principles

It’s so nice to hear our leaders praise the
virtues of diversity as being our strength, but
these same leaders should be held accountable
for the results. And right now, the results of
diversity in Canada are ugly and brutal. No
one is in charge.

Critics of our federal government’s open door policy (allowing legal and illegal
newcomers into the country), say no one told
these same individuals that if they come to
Canada, they must respect and live by their
adopted country’s values and principles.
That’s exactly what a recent Leger poll says
Canadians are demanding from our federal
leaders. It perhaps explains why a war thousands of miles away is having such a terrifying
impact on our communities. Most Canadians
told Leger pollsters that government and
other institutions “should do more to encourage newcomers to Canada to embrace the
Canadian values of tolerance of people of
other faiths, races, and orientations.” Amen.

Homeless in Canada
Statistics are staggering. Financial challenges
are said to be the leading cause of homelessness. That may be so, but addiction to opioids
is the cause of more daily deaths in Canada
than Covid. Ontario, Québec and BC take
the lead, with 8 people dying in BC alone,
every day. There have been close to 13 thousand since 2016. It has prompted BC’s chief
coroner Lisa Lapointe to resign “frustrated
and disappointed.”

She began providing monthly updates,
(similar to Covid deaths) to bring awareness
to the situation but never got the response
or commitment from governments for help.

Ask organizers of Christmas dinners for the
underprivileged and homeless. Attendance
is reportedly down from several years ago
because of fentanyl deaths. The figures have
been propped up by a record wave of people
losing their homes and unable to afford living.

It’s not a vote-getter for politicians, so we are
just letting Canadians die on the streets or in
their beds, if they have one.

Merry Christmas Dear Nurse
One last item. Who do you remember most
when leaving a hospital? Your nurse. God bless
our nurses who are missing time with their
loved ones, so we can share Christmas with
ours. Merry Christmas

Action Laval claims city has a 66 per cent increase in debt to $1.3 billion

Val-des-Arbres city councillor and acting leader of Action Laval Achille Cifelli, along with Chomedey and Saint-François city councillors Aglaia Revelakis and Isabelle Piché, as well as Saint-Bruno and Saint-Vincent-de-Paul city councillors David De Cotis and Paolo Galati, are strongly criticizing Mayor Stéphane Boyer’s budget for 2024.

A call for restraint

Action Laval city councillors Paolo Galati (left) and David De Cotis.

They say that far from making responsible choices, “the mayor confirms his focus on big spending at a time when the economic situation calls for restraint.”

“By piling up on major mega projects in the downtown area, the mayor is negating the main role of a municipality: serving its citizens,” the opposition councillors said in a statement.

They say the administration should spend on the maintenance of existing infrastructure before it considers spending large sums on new super-projects.

“The mayor’s priorities are in the wrong place,” said De Cotis. “Real estate projects are stalled because our sewage systems are overflowing, literally. We need to spend $600 million to upgrade them. That’s a priority.”

The Action Laval councillors said it shouldn’t be forgotten that people in Laval are currently going through a housing crisis and that real estate projects are at a standstill because overflows are multiplying.

Can’t get construction permits

They said many real estate developers want to develop but can’t get their permits. Action Laval said it would have preferred the budget to also focus on local services such as sports and cultural infrastructure in the districts, pickleball fields, parks and community centres which are lacking all over the island.

“This year, we will be paying an additional $40 million just to pay down the debt from the mayor’s major projects,” insisted Piché. “The law requires us to replenish reserves, so we will have to pay $10 to $20 million to replenish the reserves depleted by these projects. This year alone, we have $50 to $60 million less to carry out the city’s basic tasks.”

In addition to criticism of what Action Laval referred to as “the uncontrolled growth of the administration,” the party said the administration must consider hiring additional staff for super-projects such as the central library and the aquatic centre. They said this addition results in recurring expenses to be paid for in years to come, straight from the taxpayers’ wallets.

Finance commission suggested

Chomedey city councillor Aglaia Revelakis.

“We are going to propose setting up an all-party commission on municipal finances, like the ones in Montreal and Sherbrooke,” said Cifelli. “We will not let the mayor raise taxes without looking seriously at how to control spending.”

The party maintained that a substantial 4.8 per cent increase in municipal taxes was “the direct result of the mayor’s choices. These choices eliminate a very large number of options for the future. At this rate, Ville de Laval’s debt will rise from $781 million to $1.3 billion, representing an increase of 66 per cent, a radical change for an administration that does not have the public’s mandate to put the city into such debt.”

The councillors also said Mayor Boyer “was not taking any steps to reduce administration expenses. Tax increases are the result of the mayor’s political choices, which make it impossible to freeze taxes for the next few years.”

Responsible choices needed

“He spends money and then asks his boss for a raise to be able to pay off his debts, that is not proper management,” said Revelakis, adding that “the mayor needs to understand that he has to make responsible choices.”

Action Laval maintains that expenses which have contributed to the debt include $180 million for the central library and arts centre for professionals downtown, $100 million for land purchases, an $8 million website overhaul, the construction of a new $60 million municipal courtyard, $28.5 million for an office tower for civil servants at a time when many of them are increasingly working from home, $47 million for another building in the industrial district, and the cost of moving the multicultural library.

Weather

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