Local Journalism Initiative

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Although voting on the agreements in principle negotiated with the provincial government last December by the various unions of the CSQ, CSN, APTS, and FTQ will continue until February 21, results are starting to come in.

A recent report by La Presse suggests that since voting began on January 15, the unions under the umbrella of the Front commun, which represents around 420,000 public sector workers, have been veering towards an overall acceptance of the proposed contracts.

Valley workers in the education sector have held true to this trend.

More than 230 members of the Chateauguay Valley Teachers Association (CVTA) participated in a special assembly on January 24. Members voted 56 per cent in favour of the sectoral agreement negotiated by the Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers (QPAT), which represents the CVTA. Members also voted 72 per cent in favour of the intersectoral agreement in principle, which was negotiated by the common front at the central table.

“I was very happy with the turnout,” says CVTA president Nick Ross, who notes there were more teachers in attendance at this meeting than the one held last year to ratify the strike mandate. Ross admits it is not easy to please everyone when it comes to collective negotiations. He insists, however, that “Negotiators were able to make many gains within the contract while conceding very little.”

To date, the CVTA results are very consistent with those reported by other QPAT unions. Ross confirms that with only one local union left to vote, “The QPAT as a whole has accepted both deals.”

Support staff employed by the New Frontiers School Board who are members of the Syndicat des employées et employés professionnels et de bureau (SEPB 576) local union voted 66 per cent in favour of the agreement in principle, during a special assembly held in Howick on January 31.

SEPB 576 local president Bonnie Gilmour, who served as a negotiator with the FTQ at the sectoral table, says the fact the results are low should send a message to the government.

“Members remain frustrated, and are looking for better working conditions to support our students and workloads continue to increase,” she explains. “Many felt there was no choice but to accept, and others felt that we should continue to fight during this historic time in Quebec.”

Gilmour admits to being frustrated by the negotiations. “Many of our important demands were not even discussed at the table. I feel we negotiated the best possible agreement in principle possible with a government who is not willing to invest in our public services,” she says, noting they managed to refuse some government demands that would have impacted members financially, or taken away rights that have been held for many years.

The New Frontiers Association of Professionals, which is a unit of the Syndicat des professionnelles et professionnels de l’Ouest de Québec anglophone, will hold a collective vote on February 6 to determine whether the proposed contracts will be accepted.

The Salaberry section of the Syndicat de Champlain, which is affiliated with the FSE and represents area teachers employed by the Centre de services scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands (CSSVT), voted 72.5 per cent in favour of the sectorial agreement and 83 per cent in favour of the Front commun-negotiated intersectoral agreement on January 22.

The Syndicat de Champlain reported a participation rate of 57 per cent for this vote, which set a record for the number of members participating in a general assembly.

Support staff represented by the Syndicat du Champlain who are members of the Vallée-du-Suroît soutien section voted 88 per cent in favour of the agreements, with a participation rate of 45 per cent.

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Expectant mothers across the Valley can now rely on the support of a midwife to carry them throughout their pregnancy, whether they decide to give birth at home or in a hospital environment.

The Centre intégré de santé et services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO) ceremoniously launched its Services de sage-femme de la Vallée midwifery program in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield on February 2.

CISSSMO president and CEO Philippe Gribeauval pointed out that the service meets a need within the area: a survey conducted in 2022 showed that 70 per cent of respondents were interested in improving the availability of midwives in the region. Prior to Friday’s announcement, Richelieu and Pointe Claire were the two closest cities offering these services.

A team of midwives is already supporting a dozen area women, with a first delivery expected early this spring. The service will expand gradually, taking on up to four new clients per month. The CISSSMO anticipates that within a year, midwives will be monitoring over 130 pregnancies and will assist with around 85 deliveries, either at home or in hospital.

Gribeauval explained that there was a certain coherence between the project and the Centre Mère-Enfant birthing centre at the Hôpital du Suroît in Valleyfield, before confirming the CISSSMO is hoping to open a separate birthing house that could support up to 400 pregnancies within the next few years. He acknowledged it could take between a year and 18 months for this type of infrastructure to be established, while admitting there were many elements beyond his control.

In the meantime, Gribeauval insisted on describing the current location on Victoria Street for the Services de sage-femme de la Vallée as temporary. He estimates the new program alone will cost just over a million dollars to fully implement.

Complete and accessible services

Services are offered in French and English and include complete pregnancy follow-up with all the associated tests and analyses, preparation for childbirth and parenting, clinical responsibility for deliveries, breastfeeding support, and post-natal follow-up for up to six weeks for both mother and baby.

Beauharnois MNA Claude Reid, who spoke during the inauguration on behalf of Health Minister Christian Dubé, highlighted the importance of improving access to such essential services. “It is excellent news for our community!” he exclaimed, while pointing out that women will be able to enjoy a more intimate and personalized approach within a reassuring framework of high-quality care.

Reid saluted the work of the CISSSMO and the team of midwives led by Cynthia Perreault, who have worked over the past four years on this initiative. A parent committee has also been involved with the project throughout its development.

Perreault was intrigued by the profession after becoming a mother herself at the age of 18. A year later, she enrolled at university, where she graduated as part of the first cohort of licensed midwives in Quebec in 2003. She has been working in the profession ever since.

She explained that midwifery offers a more holistic and compassionate approach that is focused on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of both mother and baby. “Most who come looking for this service are interested in the opportunity to deliver at home,” she said, while confirming the program is available to all women.

Perreault currently works with a team of two midwives and an administrative assistant at the Valleyfield location. Three additional midwives as well as four birth assistants are expected to join the Services de sage-femme de la Vallée this year.

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Hydro Quebec has approved the Kruger Energy-backed Les Jardins wind energy project, developed in partnership with the MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville and the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK). The project, which has a capacity to generate 147 megawatts, will see the construction of wind turbines in the municipalities of Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington, Saint-Édouard, Saint-Michel, and the Township of Hemmingford.

The project was one of eight bids accepted by the public utility following a call for tenders issued last March. It will include 21 seven MW wind turbines, of which at least two will be in Hemmingford township. The turbines will stand around 130 metres tall, with a 160- to 170-metre rotor diameter. They will eventually connect with the grid via an existing transmission corridor that bridges with the Hemmingford substation. The contract for the wind farm extends over 30 years.

In a statement, Jean Roy, the senior vice president and CEO of Kruger Energy, pointed out the wind farm will generate significant economic spinoffs for local communities. Representatives for the company have said the project will create around 250 jobs during the construction phase, which is scheduled to end in December 2028, when Kruger Energy anticipates the completed wind farm will be commissioned.

Before construction can begin, the project will undergo several more consultations with regional partners and host communities, as well as numerous studies and processes, including an environmental impact assessment with the Bureau d’audiences publique sur l’environnement (BAPE) planned for 2024-2025, as well as requests for approval from the Commission de protection du territoire agricole (CPTAQ).

“The current energy transition is a vast undertaking, and all players in society must be involved in its success,” says Roy, who describes the partnership with the MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville and the MCK as an excellent model of sustainable and socially responsible development. 

Kruger Energy previously partnered with the MCK on the Des Cultures Wind Farm, a 24 MW project including six turbines in the municipalities of Saint-Rémi and Saint-Michel that was completed in 2022.

“Throughout our previous projects, Kruger has demonstrated unwavering support and a deep understanding of our community’s needs, and this new partnership will allow us to foster a crucial partnership with the MRC that benefits not only our community but the broader region as well,” said Alex Beaupre, the MCK’s executive revenue officer.

Yves Boyer, the prefect of the MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville, added that the project will allow for the generation of collective wealth while contributing to sustainable development and environmental protection for the benefit of citizens and future generations.

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

“We are getting our plans in place,” says New Frontiers School Board general director Michael Helm, of a board-wide initiative to ensure students can catch up following teaching days lost to strike action late last year.

The board decided to rely heavily on the results of an interactive survey launched on the ThoughtExchange online platform to determine how best to provide support services and additional tutoring to students who need it. Over 500 people participated in the polling process, which revealed a preference for tutoring services to be offered immediately following the school day. “It was very powerful,” says Helm of the response to the survey. “It was clear what staff, parents, and the community preferred. Having those voices really helped us,” he revealed.

Helm says the response from teachers and support staff regarding after-school tutoring has been very positive. “Over 140 in the board said they would volunteer to put in this extra time to support these plans,” says Helm. “They want to see their students succeed and work through the time that was lost,” he explains, while noting that additional resources may be offered during the school day to students who need extra support.

“The goal is to put this into action for term three,” Helm confirms, pointing out that 60 per cent of final grades are determined during the final stretch. “This is really where the push needs to be,” he explained.

As the new support services will start in the third term, the board has decided to maintain the original schedule for term two report cards. The upcoming parent/teacher interviews will also not be affected by any of the plans being put in place.

There will also be no change to the schedules at the vocational level, where teachers have said they will be able to adjust within the remaining timeframe without affecting students’ ability to complete the various programs.

Helm says the board has also decided to make every effort to ensure March break is not impacted. There is some discussion around the possibility of offering online services at the secondary school level during this time. “We are looking at pros and cons,” he admits, saying there are no concrete plans in place yet.

The additional support being offered to students will be funded by the provincial education ministry, which announced a $300 million catch-up plan in early January. Ministerial exams that had been scheduled for early January were postponed to the end of the month and the beginning of February. End-of-year exams will also be delayed by a few days and will not be weighted as heavily.

Helm says the NFSB’s primary focus is setting up the tutoring services, so students will be supported through the third term and prepared for final exams come June.

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Parents who are planning to register their youngsters in a kindergarten class starting next fall have a lot on their minds as they contemplate the next stage in their child’s development, including everything from new lunchboxes and indoor shoes to pencil cases and eligibility certificates.

Some parents may not realize the registration period for both the bilingual K4 and K5 programs at New Frontiers School Board (NFSB) elementary institutions is already open. It’s a fairly common occurrence, says NFSB director general Michael Helm. “At some point before the end of the year, people realize they have to register their child,” he says, suggesting some families leave this important step to the very last minute.

Helm says the schools will do everything they can to accommodate late registrations, but he cautions that obtaining proof from the provincial government that a child is eligible to be educated in English can take time. “Kids can’t be in school unless we have this document,” he confirms, noting that even parents who are on the fence about registering their child in English public education might consider securing their eligibility certificate – just so they are not caught out.

Helm says it is important that parents start thinking now about decisions down the road and consider the possibility a child may want to attend an English institution at a later time. Currently, English-speaking students attending school in French must apply for their eligibility certificate before graduating from high school.

Under the French Language Charter, children living in Quebec qualify for English eligibility if they or a sibling completed the majority of their elementary or secondary school studies in English in Canada. The children of a Canadian parent who did most of their elementary education in English will also qualify, as will children of parents residing in Quebec on a temporary basis. And, while subject to government approval, children with serious learning disabilities may also attend an English institution. Families that are unsure of their status can contact the school board for more information.

Helm says once the question of eligibility is settled, the NFSB offers an especially welcoming bilingual environment for its youngest students with a curriculum based entirely on play. He says learning through play and exposure to social interactions are key components of the program, and they help prepare students mentally and emotionally for more academically challenging content through progressive grade levels.

Kindergarten is also beneficial for students who may have special needs, says Helm. “We can start to identify, support, and work with some of these difficulties or special needs right away,” he explains, suggesting this can be very helpful to the school, as well as the students and their families.

Children must turn four-years-old before September 30 to be enrolled for the 2024-2025 school year. More information is available on the NFSB website, including links to help parents find their school and the corresponding contact information. Helm encourages parents with questions to contact their school to set up a meeting.

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The municipal council in Havelock is regrouping after a public audience, requested by the municipality before the Commission de Protection du Territoire Agricole (CPTAQ), was cancelled.

The municipality had been preparing to plead its case against the operation of an asphalt factory already installed in the Carrières Ducharme quarry on Covey Hill before the commission on February 7. Over 20 other organizations, groups, and individuals were also planning on presenting, either in person or by submitting a memoire or brief in opposition to the plant owned by Groupe Chenail Inc.

As of press time, a new date was yet to be confirmed by the commission.

Testimonials were expected from the municipality and its ad-hoc committee that has been studying the potential impacts of the factory over the past several months, as well as local conservation group Ambioterra and the UPA, among others. It is anticipated that they will dispute the CPTAQ’s favourable assessment of the proposed project, issued last September, which concluded that an asphalt factory in its current location would not impact soil resources, the production of nearby maple operations and orchards, or the overall homogeneity of the area.

The CPTAQ assessment, which does not represent a final decision, suggested Groupe Chenail Inc. be allowed to operate the plant for five years while respecting certain conditions. After this period, the file would be reassessed.

Havelock, which has already waged a lengthy court battle against the factory, maintains such a project is inconsistent with the agricultural and forestry vocation of the community.

“The municipality is not letting this go,” says Mayor Gerald Beaudoin adamantly. “We want to make our case heard, and we are hoping that they will judge us favourably,” he adds.

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Last February, during a snowstorm, a group of 17 nursing students arrived in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield from various African countries. They were about to begin refresher courses as part of a pilot project between the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration, the Cégep de Valleyfield, and the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO).

In December, this first cohort completed their attestation d’études collégiales (AEC) in the nursing program at the Cégep. As of January 29, the students officially began working as candidates to the nursing profession with the CISSSMO, while they prepare to obtain their nursing licences by passing the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ) exam.

Two of the graduates were awarded bursaries for their academic performance and perseverance from the Cégep de Valleyfield and the Hôpital du Suroît Foundations.

Diane Songwa, who received one of the bursaries, says this past year has been one of adaptation. From her first introduction to winter weather to the stark differences between the expectations of nurses in Quebec compared to her home country of Cameroon, she has been learning how to manage the culture shock.

The 32-year-old admits that when she first came across an advertisement for the program, she didn’t think it was real. She was studying in Belgium at the time, and decided there was no harm in sending an application since there was no requirement to pay anything up front. She laughs, saying she only began to believe in the program when she started receiving communications about language proficiency tests and immigration documents.

Songwa lived in the dormitory at the Cégep for several months after her arrival and worked three days a week as an orderly at the Suroît hospital while attending classes to familiarize herself with the Quebec healthcare system and hospital environment. She says she received a warm reception from officials at the Cégep and the CISSSMO, who were eager to help with everything from grocery shopping to finding more permanent housing.

Now living within walking distance to the hospital where she works full time, Songwa says she appreciated the classes and felt well prepared while transitioning from classroom simulations to real-life hospital situations.

She says the importance of caring for patients doesn’t change between countries, but the technology and the materials available to Quebec practitioners “is a big plus we don’t have [in Cameroon]. “The nurses are more autonomous and have more responsibility than in my country,” she notes, suggesting nurses here are responsible for much more than administering medications. “The profession is a bit more restrained back home,” she adds, explaining that in Cameroon, the role of a nurse is to support the doctor.

Songwa says she is looking forward to remaining in Quebec and following this next step in her career, though she admits Quebec’s infamous nursing exam has her feeling more than a little stressed. “It is a new challenge, and I am excited!” she exclaims.

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent is talking trash, and it wants your help.

It will be holding a public consultation on its draft residual materials management plan (PGMR) for the region on March 12. The document, which is focused on managing and reducing all types of waste generated within the 13 municipalities of the Haut-Saint-Laurent, was adopted by the regional council of mayors on January 17 for a period extending to 2031.

Émilie Escafit, the MRC’s waste management coordinator, began revising the regional government’s plan last spring. The PGMR provides a regional portrait of waste management, determines the orientations and objectives pursued by the MRC, and establishes the means and actions to be implemented to achieve them. The plan is bound by the provincial Environment Quality Act, as well as by the objectives of the Quebec Residual Materials Management Policy, its 2019-2024 Action Plan, and the government’s plan to recover organic waste.

“Despite these government targets, the PGMR allows for the consideration of regional realities in achieving government objectives,” says Escafit, noting the deadlines for reaching certain targets have been adjusted to take elements particular to the MRC into account. These include budgetary restrictions, relatively low residual materials output, vast distances for collection, and limited human resources.

The document includes an inventory of residual materials generated within the MRC at the residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial levels, as well as construction, renovation, and demolition waste. It also features a territorial diagnosis based on the inventory and previous PGMR, clear objectives, and an action plan. Escafit confirms the action plan was drawn up in collaboration with the MRC’s waste management committee, following multiple consultations with the municipalities.

A series of regional objectives were established. Some highlights include measures to reduce the quantity of disposed materials to 525 kg per capita by 2031, by encouraging actions to reduce waste generation at the source. The MRC aims to provide access to organic waste management services in the residential and institutional, commercial, and industrial sector across 20 per cent of the territory by 2027, with the long-term goal of recycling 60 per cent of organic waste by 2031. The MRC also aims to recycle 70 per cent of waste generated through construction, renovation, and demolition. In all, the updated PGMR presents 34 measures within the action plan spread over the next seven years.

The document is accessible online on the MRC website, while paper versions can be read at the MRC office in Huntingdon and at any of the municipal town halls across the region.

The public is invited to comment on any section of the document during the public consultation evening on March 12. Citizens are welcome to present suggestions on improving composting services, access to ecocentres or drop-off sites, or curbing waste generation in all sectors. Citizens, groups, and organizations may also submit briefs to the MRC before March 4 by mail, or by email to emilie.escafit@mrchsl.com.

Escafit says all comments will be considered, and the document can be modified accordingly before it is finalized. The meeting will take place in the council room of the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent in Huntingdon, starting at 8 p.m.