Bryan Laprise

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

With autumn officially started, it’s time to get out that hiking gear and get ready for some crisp fall days ahead. Putting those humid and rainy days in the past, forecasts call for weather favourable to outdoor activities. Whether you’re an avid sports enthusiast or a casual afternoon walker, the coming weeks should bring their slate of good times. 

According to Kevin Mackay, a meteorologist at the Weather Network, the general driver for Canada’s fall weather is a “large-scale global pattern.” This correlates to above-average temperatures. “Certainly, in the eastern half of the country, that’s a stronger signature.” In almost all of Canada, these temperatures will be this way. Only British Columbia is set to have cooler-than-normal temperatures.

“For the Eastern Townships, it should settle to a drier fall, as a whole,” said Mackay. This comes from a lower number of fall storms than what is usually expected. 

One of the reasons for this is the “Bermuda high,” also referred to as the “Azores high.” This is a high-pressure system located over the Atlantic Ocean which pushes weather systems in a clockwise manner. While it can push heat and humidity northbound, during hurricane season, these highs can contribute to directing precipitation towards south-eastern Quebec and the Eastern Townships. The extent to which the Bermuda high moves towards the Atlantic coast is a major contributor to predicting the degree to which New England and Canada will get the tail-end of tropical storms.

“Right now, it’s looking like that storm track will be north of the St. Lawrence, for the most part. So, for the Eastern Townships, it should settle to a drier fall as a whole,” explained the meteorologist.

According to data published by Environment and Natural Resources Canada, Sherbrooke typically gets 96.6mm of rainfall in the month of October and 79.3mm in November. In terms of temperatures, October usually has maximum highs of 12.6 degrees and minimum temperatures of 1.3 degrees (with an average daily temperature of 6.9). For November, the daily maximum is 5.8, the minimum is -3.7 with a daily average temperature of 1.1 degrees.

While the above-normal temperatures are expected until the end of October, Mackay suggests making the most of the early weeks of the month for which there is a higher likelihood of nicer weather.

He explained that the temperature predictions take into account the mean temperature for the entire day and not simply daytime highs and overnight lows. So, while the mean temperature may only indicate one degree above normal, this might actually represent daytime temperatures of five to seven degrees higher than the fall average. 

However, the meteorologist classified fall weather as a “one step forward, two steps back situation,” saying, “You might still have a day or two below normal, but then we’ll get back into those above-normal days. We should have more stresses of above normal temperatures than stresses of below normal for the next couple of [weeks].”

As an avid outdoors person, he urged people to spend time outside enjoying the weather, reassuring people that they can be more willing to book trips and outings in advance as there’s a slimmer chance of running into a forecast that would alter plans.

On the flip side, people looking forward to early snow will have to contain their excitement as the first snowfalls are only expected for later in the month of November. With the second half of hurricane season in full swing, active periods of rain are more likely. However, because of the atmospheric conditions surrounding the Bermuda high, the storm track is set to be pushed towards inland United States rather than towards Maine and Quebec. 

The Weather Network’s forecast outlines that mild temperatures are expected to continue into November, but during those weeks, a more active period of storms may occur. It also argues for an “abrupt transition into early winter” towards the end of November. This would make ski stations able to open sooner rather than later. 

It will be interesting to keep these predictions in mind as the season unfolds. For the start of October, forecasts seem to be following a trend of high temperatures with little to no precipitation. People who love the outdoors should be content with this swift change in weather following this summer’s high levels of humidity and spouts of heavy rainfall. 

The psychology of music consumption

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

Following previous articles written about various aspects of music, from the creative process to the evolution of release practices, another question arose: How much music is too much? As in- with Bluetooth headphones being so common, and it being so easy to listen to music on-the-go, is there a point at which it’s possible to listen to music too often to the point of it becoming detrimental to a person’s mental health?

One study from British researchers Katie Rose Sanfilippo, Neta Spiro, Miguel Molina-Solana and Alexandra Lamont revealed the average adult listens to music for 18 hours during the week. In fact, some 44 to 68 per cent of a person’s “waking hours” are soundtracked by music. 

To understand the benefits and pitfalls of these habits, this reporter spoke to Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise, a professor of psychology at Bishop’s University. She broke down the effects it may have into a few categories, including the aspect of creating art and consuming it. The professor also specified that in terms of consequences on mental health, listening to music isn’t different from consuming other forms of art.

She mentioned that being creative has its share of positives for mental health. “It provides an alternative for emotional expression, essentially,” the professor shared during an interview. Unless you are singing, Malboeuf-Hurtubise explained, “if you’re playing a musical instrument, it provides an alternative means to communicate how you’re feeling without verbal expression.”

Being creative can even become therapeutic, she mentioned. It ends up being a way for a person to process how they’re feeling. As for the act of listening to music, actively listening to lyrics can resonate with people and lead to them feeling connected to the artists, in a way. Lyrical content can be beneficial for listeners, especially when a songwriter is capable of putting a certain feeling into words, which may help the person find a way to categorize or assess their own feelings or given situation. 

“Sometimes, we struggle to put words on how we’re feeling, so that could be a way where we communicate how we’re feeling while using someone else’s creation,” said Malboeuf-Hurtubise.

On the flip side, songs that feature derogatory terms runs the risk of “normalizing or popularizing a discourse that would be frowned upon.” Despite these risks, the professor doesn’t believe this to be a generalized phenomenon. 

She added that if music naturally lowers a person’s stress levels and bolsters their mental wellbeing, it will probably put them in a better state to decompress and enjoy the moment they are living through.

This decompressed state can place someone in a better position to study, work or focus on a given task, she explained. She gave the real-world example of elementary school teachers playing soft or classical music for students when they’re in a quiet moment or when they’re reading. “It’s really through the pathway of increasing wellbeing, releasing tension, and that puts you in a better state to focus more.”

To answer this article’s guiding question, the professor answered that in general, no, a person can’t really listen to too much music to the point of it becoming detrimental, though there may be a few exceptions.

“If your mood is very permeable to the music you’re listening to, listening to very aggressive music, if you are very permeable, could make you more aggressive, but that doesn’t happen for everyone,” she pointed out.

As for people who are used to listening to music all the time, this could lead to a difficulty with accepting silence, though this would be the same for people that prefer having white noise, such as having the TV on in the background. However, despite this potential challenge, she doesn’t qualify it as a necessarily negative impact of listening to music. 

One negative consequence she outlined was for musicians and artists in highly competitive environments who undergo a great deal of stress. This concept applies to other high-performance fields for which people pursuing those paths undergo great deals of pressure, which may result in stress and other negative effects on wellbeing.

When asked what the healthiest practices would be regarding art consumption, Malboeuf-Hurtubise said that, “the healthiest practice would be: consume art. It’s easy in our fast-going, fast-paced lives to forget to consume art, because we’re occupied with work, our kids, routines and studies.”

This can come in many different forms such as going to a museum, watching a movie or other performances, listening or playing an instrument. 

“All of these have documented benefits for mental health, youth and adults alike, similar to practicing sports, essentially. Sometimes, we need to force it in our routine to consume or be in contact with art, but it actually has a lot of positive impacts on one’s wellbeing.”

She mentioned that in recent years, some doctors have been giving less traditional forms of prescriptions to their patents. For some, this may be a nature prescription to try and get the person outside, but others may give cultural prescriptions which include consuming art. 

“The key is to find one artistic medium that can speak to you and be in contact with that one. Same thing with music: there are many different types of music, but anyone can find something that fits their needs,” she concluded.

Townships’ businesses report strong tourism season

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

While there was a steep decline in Canadian tourists visiting the United States, the number of American visitors visiting Canada remained stable throughout the summer declining by only eight per cent for the month of July. The number of American visitors to Quebec for the month dropped by 24,439, compared to July of 2024.

The local tourism board conducted a mid-summer review for the period of May 1 to July 31, surveying 111 tourist businesses and organizations about the outcome of the tourist season.

“The summer season is going very well in the Eastern Townships,” reassured Hallé during an interview.

According to the survey, 88 per cent of respondents were either satisfied or very satisfied with the outcome of the start of the season. In the accommodation sector, it rises to 93 per cent of respondents being satisfied. Last year, the overall number was closer to 60 per cent, said Hallé.

Hallé highlighted how this success is quite remarkable considering the current period of political tension, inflation, and the cold and rainy weather that plagued May and June.

“It’s the month of July that reversed the trend with warm weather and sunshine,” she said. “As a result, we have nearly 60 per cent of businesses reporting high or very high traffic, so that’s very good.”

Hallé noted that both Quebec and American tourists seem to be on the rise in the region, despite border entry data being more pessimistic. The boycott of American goods (and the country itself) which started as a result of the trade war and the United States administration’s policy created a movement which encouraged a greater number of Quebecers to visit the Eastern Townships. Nearly one- fifth of businesses surveyed reported a “major increase” in visitors from the province. Overall, tourist spending remained stable this summer.

Hallé pointed to a CAA survey whose findings were published on June 4, which ranked the Townships as the fourth most desirable vacation destination in the province. It is ranked below Quebec City (and the surrounding area), Gaspésie and Charlevoix.

“We can say that, yes, the boycott had an effect on our visitors from Quebec, and for the American visitors, 33 per cent of businesses report an increase in Americans,” the spokesperson said.

This year, there has been a trend of last-minute bookings, according to Hallé. This may be due to weather, budgets or “last-minute opportunities.” This trend puts pressure on businesses, which can be uncertain about the number of visitors they may have at a given moment.

While many businesses report more visitors, room occupancy in the accommodation sector has slightly decreased since 2024. In hotels with between four and 39 rooms, the occupancy rate is 38.8 per cent, down 3.8 per cent compared to last year. For establishments with more than 40 rooms, occupancy is 55.5 per cent, an increase of 1.8 per cent.

While it is difficult to measure the full impact of the viral ad campaign launched by Tourism Estrie (“Come Hug It Out in the Eastern Townships”), the communications director admitted that it is possible it had the desired effect. The goal of the campaign was to rebuild bridges between the Townships and tourists from the north-eastern United States over the long term by “consolidating the image” of the region as warm and welcoming.

The tourism board is pondering a second ad campaign, specifically for the fall, but Hallé revealed that there were no concrete plans at this time. Meanwhile,“Come Hug it Out” is still being aired in New England, which will focus on the state of New York in the coming months.

Another boost to the region’s visibility came via an episode of The Amazing Race Canada (Season 11, Episode 6, “I Am A Goat”), which aired on CTV and Crave Aug. 19. Filmed in May, teams visited Sherbrooke, Valcourt, Bromont and Sutton to showcase Townships culture, heritage, active outdoors and wineries,” explained Hallé. “It gave us exceptional national visibility, reaching more than 1.3 million viewers every season across the country.”

Tourism Eastern Townships published an itinerary based on the episode, which is available online at https://www.easterntownships.org/article/2099/the-townships-the-amazing-race-canada-style.

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

Innovation in listening technology, has made it possible to be surrounded by the sound  of your favourite music wherever you are and whatever you are doing. Cell phones have become an all-in-one device, taking over the role once associated with MP3 players or Walkman. Paired with überpopular Bluetooth headphones or ear buds, it’s become convenient to listen to music anywhere you go—at the office, during a bus ride, or even while out for a jog.

Spotify, one of the top music streaming platforms, reports having 678 million users which includes 268 million paying subscribers spread throughout 180 markets. This doesn’t account for users of other equivalent platforms from tech giants Apple, Amazon and YouTube.

Streaming has allowed music lovers to individualize their musical preferences more than ever before. With the click of a button, music lovers can listen to whatever’s been playing on repeat in their mind, create customized playlists, or sing along to their favourite artist’s new album, in the comfort of their home, or anywhere else on the planet.

While the world’s dominating artists; Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, Drake and Billie Eilish (Spotify’s 2024 top five artists) fare quite well with this system, it also provides an outlet for aspiring “indie” musicians to share their work in a way that wasn’t possible before. Anyone can release music on the biggest platforms with a subscription to a distribution service.

Evolution of music creation practices

According to Bishop’s University music professor Mathieu Désy, the digital age has revolutionized the way music is created and released. He explained that many people now have home studios and only visit professional ones when they need larger spaces for drums, piano or strings. The availability of “digital workstations” for actual track building and producing can be done remotely, too.

“Now, if you buy a new MacBook you have GarageBand, which allows you to start recording at home. My children can record their own songs, which was not possible if we go back fifteen years,” he pointed out.

While a lot of recording is now done digitally, migrating from analog equipment, which nonetheless sounds better, said Désy, it’s easier, more affordable and accessible to record and release music.

Release format

“There’s no physical medium anymore, unless you really like vinyl or CDs, but they’re not as popular as they used to be, even if they sound great,” added the professor.

Artists can get online distributors to release their music on platforms without ever being associated with a label. Désy pointed out that to have a better chance at being successful and to get proper marketing and publicity, the best route is still to work with a music label.

The professor explained that the concept of “albums” was developed by Frank Sinatra in the 1950s. Following that, many artists released albums which featured songs that formed a coherent unit. Typically, they would then go on tour to promote that new album.

Now, many artists are moving away from the typical album format, which ranges between 40 minutes to one hour in length, and are instead releasing music in the form of EPs, usually between four and six songs—which are first released as singles, one after the other.

“There are still major artists that release albums, but they will go for a couple singles to promote the upcoming album. So, they might release up to three different singles before they release the album.”

Désy explained that tours are a bit more detached from album releases, making it easier for artists to be create more music. An example of this is Taylor Swift’s massively popular Eras Tour, which served as a nostalgic and cumulative take on Swift’s entire discography.

The length of songs has also changed. Online videos on platforms like TikTok or Instagram are often 15 to 20 seconds, with audiences consuming content rapidly. More than a decade ago, most radio hits were around three minutes and a half. Now, many songs are shorter as it’s easier to keep people’s attention, the digital space makes it easier to skip songs, as previously, a vinyl would often be played entirely before changing the side. Now, most songs are three minutes or less, and long introductions aren’t as common to hook listeners with lyrics as quickly as possible.

Staying relevant

The presence of social media has also significantly altered the music industry. With nearly everyone now having an account on one of these platforms, music artists must make themselves relevant in that digital space.

Désy noted that music is getting to a point where artists must be online influencers. By releasing songs more frequently, mostly one at a time, allows artists to stay relevant and keep their audience hooked.

The most important thing the professor believes artists must do to be popular is a strong social media presence. “Promoting yourself has little to do with your artistic creation, but right now, if you want to be interesting for a label, the first thing they will do is go to your social network to see how many followers you have.”

This is also the case for concert hall programmers, meaning that social media has a big impact on the viability of artists.

Diminishing quality of music?

This practice of pumping out music doesn’t necessarily lead to a reduction of quality, according to the professor. It depends on the type of artistic level that musicians strive to achieve.

Originality depends on how much effort artists put in to developing their craft. However, many of the most popular songs rely on similar elements. “I’ve been listening to the top 40 songs, and many of them are using the same chord progression, and there are a dozen chord progressions that are really popular,” said Désy.

“I still think that there are people that are interested in music in a more niche market, or even something that’s more artistically developed, so you still have to do that,” he said. “You still have to find some originality to get followers

Screenshots from Meta
Fraudsters claim Carney created and endorsed a new big-returns investment platform for Canadians in Facebook sponsored posts

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

What started as an investigation into an investment fraud scam promoted through sponsored posts on Meta’s Facebook became a month-long battle for information with numerous Canadian government agencies.

The fraud consisted of Prime Minister Mark Carney deepfakes “talking” about a new investment platform that “brings Canadians” big returns. Canadians were encouraged to make a $355 payment to be part of this “investment program.” It was shared through sponsored Facebook posts from random individuals, such as Brian Lee, who was listed as an entertainment website from Norristown, Georgia.

“Deepfakes use AI to fabricate video or audio of a person saying or doing something they never actually did. Fraudsters use deepfake tools to impersonate celebrities and public figures to trick victims into believing they’re dealing with legitimate sources,” explained Jeff Horncastle of the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Multiple instances of this type of fraud were witnessed by Record staff members, all pretending to be news reports from the CBC. Upon clicking on the post, it brought users to a near-copy of the CBC News website, with an article video from another network—CBS News—and their anchor Shanelle Kaul. The whole website was identical to the real one, but though no other links were valid, except for the article.

Any attempt to report the content on the Facebook platform only results in seeing more of it, as the user is interacting with it. Deepfakes are also visible on other platforms such as YouTube, where public figures are shown (with AI manipulation) to be doing or caught doing something scandalous.

Fight for information

The Record reached out to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre on June 17, which collects and provides information on fraud. A deadline was included and was set as the end of the following day. Multiple weeks go by without any response.

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security whose description is stated as being “the single unified source of expert advice, guidance, services and support on cyber security for government” was then contacted. The email cited the Carney deepfakes requested an interview with a cyber security specialist at their earliest convenience. They responded the same day asking if a written response would be accepted.

The Record reiterated the original request, for which Janny Bender Asselin from Media Relations and Public Affairs answered that they would get back shortly. Five days later, on July 22, she responded with one line: “Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate an interview at this time.”

On the same day, Jeff Horncastle, Client and Communications Outreach Officer from the Anti-Fraud Centre replied to the June 17 email apologizing, saying that the email ended up in their spam folder. He offered an interview for two days later, specifying that the CAFC didn’t have data specific to Mark Carney deepfakes or deepfakes in general, but that he could share crypto investment fraud statistics. An interview was conducted.

The Record broadened its scope and emailed the CRTC on July 22 asking if there is anyone that could speak to the issue, or if they could direct us to the right agency. Media relations officer Mirabella Salem wrote back saying that it falls to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

ISED and their Competition Bureau were contacted for interviews on July 22. ISED launched an AI safety institute in November to understand its risks and how to mitigate them. Media relations officer Hans Parmar asked for a deadline. They were given three days. On July 25, ISED responded with a written statement, bypassing the original request for an interview with a specialist, directing fraud victims to contact their local police and report the situation with the CAFC.

The Competition Bureau declined an interview request on July 28, sending a written statement which stated that the Bureau investigates contraventions to the Competition Act, including with AI. 

“It would be inappropriate for us to speculate on specific situations or to comment on the activities of specific companies, including those mentioned in your request. The Bureau must conduct a thorough and complete examination of the facts of any matter before reaching a conclusion as to whether the Competition Act has been contravened,” wrote Anna Maiorino, the bureau’s communication advisor.

Despite these lengthy email exchanges with five agencies, none assumed responsibility for the file and none knew who is in charge of the oversight of this issue, which directly impersonates the country’s prime minister.

Investment fraud

Deepfakes have led the fraud landscape to significantly evolve from suspicious phone calls and emails. Most instances in which they are used for fraud is linked to cryptocurrency (digital money not reliant on government or bank maintenance) schemes.

Of the $313.8M in losses reported to the CAFC for investment fraud in 2024, $224.2 was linked to crypto, more than 70 per cent. “We estimate that only five to ten per cent of victims actually report to the [Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre], so it’s only a very small sample of what’s actually out there,” Horncastle told The Record.

In the past, there were signs to identify deepfakes, such as choppy video, but they have “evolved substantially.” It’s now come down to assuming the videos or fake until it’s possible to prove that they’re legitimate, Horncastle said. “Right from the beginning, celebrities or public figures endorsing investment platforms should raise a red flag. It’s not impossible, but in most cases, there’s a good chance that it’s fraud.”

Additionally, schemes that promise zero risk or guaranteed return should also be suspicious as “no legitimate investment can promise this,” he explained. There is often pressure to act quickly, so it’s impossible to consult friends or family.

Horncastle defined “victims” as being someone that has lost money or had personal information compromised, such as a driver’s license or social insurance number stolen. Even if they haven’t lost money, when giving these details, an individual becomes at risk of identity theft and fraud.

He encouraged anyone that comes across deepfake videos promoting fraudulent schemes online to report them on their host platform. However, he acknowledged that whenever one is taken down, there’s a good chance another one goes up.

“Fraud is evolving fast and deepfakes are blurring the lines between what’s real and what’s fake like never before, but by staying informed, skeptical and spreading the word, we can reduce victimization and stop fraudsters in their tracks,” he concluded.

Horncastle was unable to tell The Record who is in charge of overseeing circulating fraud schemes on social media.

How small artists strive to hit the right note

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

Music is an essential part of modern culture and it has become easier than ever to soundtrack one’s life through the plethora of streaming services that have made their appearance in the past two decades. However, even though people can access music with the touch of a button, local and indie artists have to fend for themselves in an industry dominated by big names

The Eastern Townships is, and has been, home to many talented musicians, yet their art is often lost in the flood of products that dominate the airwaves, presenting significant challenges and barriers to a music career.

Fannie Gaudette teaches music at both Champlain College and Bishop’s University. With a passion for music—often accompanying other artists as a musician or writing accompaniment to songs—she decided to step into the spotlight as a singer-songwriter with the release of her debut album, “L’invention humaine” at the start 2022.

The singer was quickly forced to confront the harsh realities of the music industry. Her biggest challenge, she said,  was trying to understand the “complicated” industry.

As a French singer, Gaudette pointed out particular struggles faced by those entering the Quebec music scene, which has slowly become overshadowed by foreign artists with the globalization of music. Artists can no longer rely on labels to become known through radio or TV as streaming has become more common.

“There’s no longer anyone who knows the recipe for success,” the songwriter said. “Even big music companies are struggling and take poorer care of their artists. Everything is working at a slower speed.”

Frankie Kobelt, who studied at both Champlain and Bishop’s and now resides in Montreal is also pursuing a music career as a sideline. Her first single came out in 2022 and her EP, “Characters from a small town,” was released earlier this year.

Kobelt currently has written many songs that she would like to record, but has to save up as each song costs around $1,000 to produce, excluding an annual subscription to DistroKid for streaming distribution. “Recording a song, if you want it really properly done, is expensive, so you have to save up,” she said.

A challenge for Gaudette is balancing her music career and her family life within the spare time she has outside of her teaching hours at the college and university.

Gaudette has produced a new show titled “Une vie” which she believes would interest many, but the struggle becomes building a platform and a following so people will go to see it. Becoming known entails TV appearances or performing with established artists, which can be impossible with the biggest companies having a monopoly, leaving little room for indie artists to grow.

Her strategy has thus been to collaborate with other musicians to become known within their fanbase. She mentioned a song recorded with Albin de la Simone, a French artist, set to release within the coming year.

“It’s not enough. My promo team told me that when I release the song in France, I need to have shows in France. If people like you, they’re going to see you in concert and if you come back a year later, it’s too late and they’ll have forgotten the song,” said the singer. It’s like “putting together 1000 pieces.”

Kobelt said one of her strategies has been “busking,” performing in metro stations, which can be done by getting a permit from the STM. “It’s awesome. There’s a lot of freedom in it, people stop and talk to you, you meet a lot of people, and I get a lot of followers through that,” she said. Word of mouth has also been a way to get listeners.

Gaudette noted that with all the songs she’s released and her participation on other artists’ songs, she makes approximately $26 per month. On Spotify alone, over nearly four years, Gaudette believes she has only made around $20 in total for her album.

“I make more money from people buying CDs at my shows. That’s what has given me the most money, a lot more than the [streaming] platforms,” she explained. She also gets money through side contracts like advertising campaigns and others wanting original music created for them.

It’s become normal for music to be free, which can de-incentivize people from paying for music and concerts. “There are so many free concerts during the summer, people see everything they want to see and spend the winter in front of Netflix and don’t pay to go to a concert,” said the Bishop’s teacher.

Another form of support for Gaudette has been grants from the Canadian and Quebec governments. “I’ve been really lucky because more than 75 per cent of my requests have been accepted,” she acknowledged, explaining that to get the grants, the process of creating the project must be started so there are two or three demos to send with the application. “You already need to invest before even applying, so that’s a cost for the artists.”

It can take up to five months to get an answer, with the majority of applicants not receiving money to support their endeavors. Awaiting an answer that receives a negative response is the most challenging aspect of the process for Gaudette, as she would have musicians waiting for her to start the project but there’s no revenue to get started.

Money has also been Kobelt’s biggest challenge as her musical projects are entirely self-financed. She hasn’t made any revenue from Spotify, pointing out that it’s preferrable to purchase music when possible (a feature on Apple Music). “That’s why so many artists have merch—it’s so that they can make money. You must have high numbers to make money from streaming.”

However, she doesn’t have time to manage merch or apply for grants while pursuing her main career of being a singing teacher. Instead, she saves up to move on to the next project.

“I’m a bit worried for my students who want a music career, because you can’t survive from it,” the Bishop’s teacher said, adding that students performing in bars and concert halls are making less money now than she did when she was their age.  

What exactly would that entail?

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

The next municipal elections are set to take place on Nov. 2, with some 8,000 councillor roles to be filled, according to the Quebec website.

Roles and responsibilities

In essence, the duties of elected municipal officials are to ensure the proper function of the city or town and the proper functioning of services. Among the jurisdictions of municipalities are waterworks, housing and social housing, culture and leisure, community activities and parks, emergency services (police, firefighting, emergency measures), environment, roads, transportation and local economic, community and cultural development.

The responsibility of elected officials is to represent the interests of citizens while serving the best interests of the municipality. A councillor must attend council meetings, participate in decision-making, vote on all bylaws and, for some, sit on committees.

Many committees are on an MRC or inter-municipal level, especially in small towns. These include police, garbage pickup, etc. Locally, there may be committees for communications and culture. There is also the mandatory Urban Planning Advisory Committee (CCU).

“[A councillor’s] role is limited to the council. Outside of the council, there is no power on the municipality and no power to make decisions. Often, they are also involved in many committees. During the rest of the time, they are a citizen,” explained Jacques Demers, Mayor of Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley and president of the Fédération québécoise des municipalités (FQM).

Mayors must preside over meetings to maintain order and decorum, participate in decision making, signing decisions into law, supervising the application of these bylaws and oversee the work of the municipality. They are also given the right to take emergency measures in situations that put citizens at risk, and they have the power to veto a decision made by the council (though it may be reversed if a majority of councilors re-adopt the measure).

Mayors can intervene at all times, but they are not the “real” boss of employees, said Demers. That is the role of the municipality’s general director. In emergency situations, such as black ice on roads, they can make a quick decision with the director. Bigger projects that are done over time and require investments must pass through the town council for councilors to vote on.

Salaries

The salaries of elected officials depend on what titles they hold and vary by municipality. In Sherbrooke, for example, since 2023, the mayor earns $174,278 annually while councilors are paid $44,961.

Presidents of boroughs, committees, offices and the deputy mayor get additional renumeration. Borough councilors in Lennoxville’s Uplands and Fairview districts are paid $16,734.

In smaller towns, even the mayoral position may be part-time. According to the FQM president, some 80 per cent of people in municipal government have side jobs. “In more than 75 per cent of municipalities, the mayor earns less than $25,000 per year,” he said.

Becoming involved

“I’ve always been involved since I was very young,” Demers shared. “It’s a level of government that I like a lot. When we make a decision, whether it be roads, infrastructure, firefighting, police, it’s concrete, we see the results next day or the next week. We can see what’s happening.”

He urges anyone interested in running for town council to attend a council meeting to better understand the process, decorum and roles they have.

“Sometimes, people are disappointed. They realize that to solve a problem, power is limited around the table,” the FQM president expressed. “Sometimes councillors come in thinking they’re the boss of employees, but no, that’s the job of the general director.”

It is possible to find training and explanatory videos and documents on the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation’s website.

“The strongest councils are those which are the most diverse. Not only men and women, but among age groups, as well. We should also have youth from 18 to 30 years old,” opined the mayor.

Running as a candidate

A last virtual information session will take place for anyone wishing to understand how to run, learn about the responsibilities of councillors, the administration and jurisdictions of a municipality and get additional resources Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. Sign up is required and can be done on the government of Quebec’s website, on the municipal elections 2025 page.

To run in a municipal election, a person must be on the electoral list of their municipality, be 18 years old or older, be a Canadian citizen, be able to vote, reside on the territory of the municipality upon sending their candidature and not have engaged in election fraud.

In addition, a candidate must reside in the municipality for at least six months before the election (May 2, 2025) or be the owner or occupant of a business building for at least 45 days (Sept. 18, 2025).

If eligible, the person must get a declaration of candidature from the chief returning office of the municipality. The document will specify the post desired, represented party (if applicable), signatures of support.

Candidates must collect a given number of signatures based on the number of people who reside in the municipality. A prospective mayor must get between five and 200 signatures. A councillor must get between 5 and 25 signatures.

Applicants have until Oct. 3 at 4:30 p.m. to submit their candidatures. After this point, if a candidate runs unopposed, they will automatically be declared elected.

Following the elections, a person’s mandate begins as soon as they have been sworn (maximum 30 days after being elected). They must also declare their financial interests (which may cause conflicts of interest) and undergo mandatory training on ethics and professional conduct. All election signs must be taken down by Nov. 17.

Tense environment

Some 10 per cent of municipal elected officials quit their post within the last four years, resulting in 24 municipalities having to be administered temporarily by the Commission municipal Québec.

Data received from Élection Québec reveals that since the past elections, 1,082 councillor and mayor seats have become vacant, including 99 in the Townships, which resulted in 79 byelections (up to Dec. 31, 2024). Bas-Saint-Laurent took the lead with 176 vacancies, followed by Chaudière-Appalaches with 162.

A CMQ report following a request for mediation on behalf of the Sherbrooke council in Feb. 2024 found that disrespectful behaviour and personal attacks led to a toxic environment. Two councillors resigned from important roles as the Société de transport de Sherbrooke president and executive committee chair. Councillors had reported inefficency, micromanagement and a lack of transparency within the city governance.

In response, a committee was established to propose solutions to the problems including the prioritization of the CMQ recommendations to favour an environment more prone to progress and respect.

Society and the chambers of echo

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

According to data published by the International Telecommunication Union of the United Nations, there are 5.5 billion internet users in the world, which corresponds to some 68 per cent of the global population, as of 2024. According to Statistica, this year, there are an estimated 5.42 billion social media users.

These platforms are powered by algorithms that classify posts based on type, content, and style, often using artificial intelligence. Users are then presented with posts and videos based on what they have previously interacted with, which the algorithm believes the user would enjoy.

What are echo chambers?

This leads to a phenomenon known as “echo chambers.” Sylvana Al Baba Douaihy, a researcher at the Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en cybersécurité (CRICUS) at the University of Sherbrooke defines them as “a system or environment in which people will be exposed principally to information and opinions that confirm their beliefs or pre-existing points of view.”

There are a few signs that can be noticed to become aware of the presence of an echo chamber in one’s social media feeds. The specialist pointed out that if a person does a lot of research on a certain topic on a regular basis and the topic of interest starts appearing in the content they see on social media, this is one of the signs. She characterized it as being content oriented around expressed interests.

“When we always see the main information and the discourse doesn’t differ, that’s when you can notice you’re targeted by algorithms and in an echo chamber,” shared the university professor. “We are in a homogenous informational space.”

Anyone can be exposed to this phenomenon as it stems from web searches, though people that repeatedly look for the same information online may be more prone to being trapped in a such chamber.

Consequences of echo chambers

The specialist outlined many of the consequences of the phenomenon, political, societal and individual. One is the separation and polarization of society. “There will be a marked separation between the groups within the same society,” she explained. “They will nourish political, linguistic, ideological and religious divergence.” This may even lead to the radicalization and dehumanization of groups.

Another important impact is the spread of disinformation. This is the voluntary spread of false, biased or manipulated information with the goal of influencing people’s perspectives. “It is manipulation of public opinion,” Douaihy summarized.

In recent years, this has led to the propagation of misogyny and hate against certain groups and politics, according to Douaihy. “We see this loss of critical thinking that leads to a negative impact on society and democracy,” she shared, adding that a loss of diverging opinions and ideas that can be shared freely stretches the limits of democracy. When a person is trapped in an environment without being confronted with perspectives other than theirs, they lose they capacity to think rationally and autonomously while questioning and validating the reliability of sources and data. “We are no longer able to doubt ourselves or recognize the opinions of others or our capacity to deeply analyze,” Douaihy said.

The escape

The good news is that there are certain escape plans that users and society can perform to reduce their vulnerability to and the presence of echo chambers. The main ones are prevention and awareness.

“We need to reinforce debate in society to be able to discuss all subjects in an autonomous and free way.free way to be able to express oneself and guarantee freedom of expression,” Douaihy stated.

It’s also important to develop critical thinking by reading and exposure to pluralism. Citizen participation to encourage debate and openness to other ideas could also be a method. The professor added that “digital hygiene,” understanding how the platforms and their algorithms work as being oblivious to their functioning leads to fully being trapped.

People must, when being exposed to information, look to verify it through reliable sources. “Not through content that is structured or developed by artificial intelligence,” she shared.

Some social media platforms, like Instagram, have a settings option to reset suggested content, which may break the cycle of the echo chamber.

Online hate and anonymity

Online anonymity, the state of hiding a person’s real-life personality, can also lead to the spread of online hate. On a technical scale, anonymity can be achieved by using a VPN to mask the user’s IP address and deactivating “cookies” that collect and share information for advertising purposes, said Marc Frappier, the scientific director of the Pôle d’expertises en cybersécurité at the University of Sherbrooke.

“A VPN is an intermediate server through which you pass to access internet,” he explained. “So, the websites that you visit see the IP address of the intermediate server rather than your personal IP address.”

However, some VPN services that are offered as “free” may use a user’s device as a proxy—the device used becomes a VPN itself for other users. Access to the IP address can then be sold online, allowing criminals to have Canadian IP addresses for fraud, etc.

“The opacity of the cyberspace can drive internet users to adopt behaviours that can be anti-social,” said Douaihy. “Sometimes, internet users can destabilize a certain balance in the community—those are trolls. They can pass themselves off as someone else in the goal of manipulating and sharing offending or even violent rhetoric on social media.”

This can lead to online hate and cyber-intimidation—using online communication as a way to harass, threaten or bully someone, which can lead to serious mental health consequences for the individuals affected.

Keeping personal data secure

Frappier outlined some of the best ways to stay safe and keep personal data secure while using the internet. One of the main things to do is to always ensure the legitimacy of websites and apps that are consulted or downloaded.

There are many phishing (fraudulent) emails sent claiming to be a service that a person may use such as a bank, which can utilize website names that resemble the official ones. A good practice is to bookmark important sites using the correct links, that way there is no need to pass through a potentially fraudulent link received by email.

An anti-virus should also be used. “It protects you from the installation of certain malicious programs, including when you receive attachments by emails,” said Frappier. He also reiterated the importance of doing security updates on the device.

It’s important to have passwords that are hard to guess. “We need to have a different password for every site, that’s very important. If you have the same one for many sites, if it gets stolen, the attacker will see if it’s the same on many sites,” the professor shared.

Using a password manager can be an interesting solution, as they store and can generate long and intricate passwords for every website consulted. While it isn’t impossible for hackers to access the manager, the risk is very low, he explained. “When you look at the risk management, it’s better to have different solid passwords for every site than not using the manager and get passwords stolen.”

Courtesy
A team of specialists at the CHUS complete the second Canadian instance of a new heart surgery called BATMAN

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

After multiple hours of preparation and arduous teamwork, a team led by cardiologist Étienne Couture at the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS) successfully completed a new and complex procedure called BATMAN.

This technique (“Balloon-assisted translocation of a mitral anterior leaflet”) allows specialists to implant a mitral valve prosthesis through a catheter passing by the groin for patients that have a special anatomy which previous techniques didn’t allow for.

It was invited by Italian cardiologists in 2024 and was only completed once in Canada before the CHUS’ recent success, in Toronto. The Sherbrooke hospital thus became the second in the country and the first in Quebec to complete this new procedure.

Prior to the establishment of the BATMAN surgery, patients requiring the implant of a mitral valve prosthesis either had to undergo open heart surgery, which is much riskier, or have no treatment at all. So far, around 50 patients have undergone this operation, usually those that have already had an open heart surgery for which the risk of doing another is much greater, according to the specialist.

“The heart is a pump and blood travels in the heart through valves,” he explained during an interview. “The valves are composed of leaflets, which are like little doors that open to let the blood pass through and close to stop it from going back.”

According to Couture, previous techniques by catheter positioned the prosthesis between the leaflets of the old valve, making them stay in an “open” position.

“In certain patients which have very long leaflets, there’s a risk that being maintained in an open position would harm the flow of blood out of the heart,” he added.

Since they are not operating via open heart surgery, they can’t simply cut the leaflets to prevent the obstruction. The BATMAN technique instead positions the prosthesis inside one of the leaflets by making a hole.

“When we deploy the prosthesis, the leaflet that could’ve caused an obstruction to blood flow will automatically be moved away from the dangerous zone and the prosthesis will work properly,” Couture explained.

This new technique will allow more patients to be treated via catheter rather than open heart surgery. Compared to other catheter valve replacements, BATMAN is a complicated procedure, which took four hours to complete. Couture told The Record that the patient must be under anesthesia.

With the aging population Couture expects to have to do this operation more often. For now, he’s saying between two to four times a year at the CHUS but could go up to ten times in a few years.

The cardiologist pointed out that other catheter procedures, such as TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation) takes between one hour to an hour and a half including setting up the patient to them leaving the operating room.

“However, there’s always the benefit of catheter interventions compared to open heart surgery. The patient will arrive on the eve or the morning of the procedure, and the following day, if all goes well, the patient can already go home,” explained Couture.

A team of ten specialists was involved in the carrying out of the procedure, which required some 60 hours of preparation, meetings with anesthesiologists, nurses, perfusionists, medical imaging specialists and respiratory specialists. BATMAN was guided by specialists doing continuous x-rays and ultrasounds.

“This would’ve been impossible without all of the trust that patients gave us,” expressed Couture. Even knowing that it would be the first time we were doing that intervention, the patient always gave us his full trust, so it gave us the energy and the audacity to do it for the first time.”

Bryan Laprise
Consignaction deposit location at 1900, Belvédère Sud accepts unit or bag return

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

In a world with an increasing number of products and types of containers and wrappers, it can be hard to identify what should be disposed in what bin. Or should it be put in a bin at all?

The Record spoke to Hélène Dauphinais, president of Récup Estrie’s governing board and Jean-François Lefort, vice-president of corporate affairs at Consignaction to get a better understanding of how the recycling system works in Quebec.

Recycling: how it works

Récup Estrie is the organization responsible for the sorting of recyclable matter for Sherbrooke, the MRC of Memphrémagog, Coaticook, Haut-Saint-François,Val-Saint-François and des Source’s—some 200,000 people.

Since the start of 2025, Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ) has been responsible for the recycling system throughout Quebec but  because Récup Estrie already had the infrastructure to collect and sort what citizens put in their green (or blue) bins, ÉEQ subcontracted it for the region it covers.

The basis of the system is that citizens put recyclable materials in their recycling bins at home, which is then collected and brought to a sorting facility. It then passes on conveyor belts and optical sorting systems sort out different materials. In addition to the machines used in the process, employees also sort items and operate the mechanized systems.

Common materials are brought together in bales which are collected by ÉEQ for them to sell. Prior, Récup Estrie has been in charge of selling the bales it created.

What’s accepted?

To quote the Bin Impact campaign from ÉEQ, the general rule for what goes in the recycling bin is “Containers, packaging, printed paper.”

This includes paper and cardboard as well as containers and packaging made out of glass or metal.

It is best to rinse or wash containers before throwing them out, according to Dauphinais. “There are parts of the sorting chain in which people have to remove things from the chain. If it’s dirty or starting to rot because it spent a week in the bin, remember that there are people working on those chains. Also, when it’s hot at the factory, imagine the odours caused by unrinsed containers.”

Materials like Styrofoam, while recyclable must be brought to ecocentres. At the sorting facility, Styrofoam is not sorted. It tends to crumble and can even damage the machinery.

All plastic containers can be put in the recycling bin, no matter the type. However, assembled plastic, such as toys, cannot be put in the bin as it is not a container. It must be brought to the ecocentre.

Other materials such as cloth and textiles are not accepted in the recycling bin. There are other places to recycle them, such as Récupex boxes around Sherbrooke, which collect and reuse the material.

“If someone hesitates about whether something goes in the recycling bin, most times, it doesn’t go in the bin,” said.

There are websites and apps that can help people know what goes in which bin. For example, Ça va où? from Recyc-Québec, is available online and via an app. It offers services in French and in English.

Contamination

If a person puts items that are not accepted at the sorting facility in their recycling bin, the truck won’t be turned away, since most people it services follow the sorting rules correctly.

“On a road, there might be a person or two that will have put things that shouldn’t be put in the bin,” said the Récup Estrie president.

Upon arrival, the truck unloads everything it collected, and it is put onto the conveyor belts. The most frequent consequence of having unaccepted materials collected is machine blockages. This might lead to breaks or lost time.

According to Dauphinais, upon reception, there can be piles of material to sort up to five or six people high twice a day.

For the Estrie sorting facility, approximately 15 per cent of the material that passes through the factory is rejected and sent to the dump.

It is important to properly sort residual matters, as an item might be recyclable, but won’t be accepted in the recycling bin. If something that should’ve been sent to the ecocentre makes its way to Récup Estrie’s sorting facility, it will ultimately be sent to the dump.

Collection

Everything is weighed during the process. Récup Estrie goes through 30,000 to 32,000 tons of recyclable matter every year.

Dauphinais shared that in recent years, the volume of matter treated is gradually decreasing, despite a growing population.

“This means that probably, the companies that produce packaging, greatly reduce the amount of cardboard they use, for example. Producers compact the packaging at the maximum,” she said.

Another example is reducing the thickness of plastic bottles and other containers. She doesn’t believe that this shift is attributable to a decrease in recycling habits among the population. In places like Sherbrooke, garbage pickup isn’t very frequent in certain parts of the year, which forces people to put waste in the correct bin to have enough room.

Refund system

Quebec’s deposit-refund system for drink cans and bottles has been undergoing modernization since 2023. When buying beverages with a deposit, the cost is automatically added at check-out and is returned to the consumer upon bringing them back to stores to recycle at the counter or machines.

Since March of this year, all plastic ready-t0-drink beverage containers have a 10-cent deposit. Previously, only soft drinks had a five-cent deposit, but now, water, sparkling water, juice and milk bottles are among those included in the system.

“The system is undergoing a transformation. One of the biggest obstacles are the habits developed over the last 40 years. Those are going to be transformed in the coming months and years,” Lefort stated.

Before modernization, 2.5B containers were collecting. The new goal is 5B by the end of modernization. The system allows for a closed system with very little contamination, allowing for 100 per cent recycling of all containers, unlike at the sorting center.

Compacted aluminum, plastic and carton containers are sent to Sorel-Tracy for sorting. Bales of each material are made and sent out to recyclers. Plastic is sent to Joliette, where pellets are created to make new bottles, while aluminum is sent to the United States as volume to have a similar factory in Canada isn’t profitable. Glass is treated in Saint-Jean and then sold to partners.

Consignaction has been opening up locations for container return (including express bag return by using the app) across the province, including two in Sherbrooke (1900 Belvédère S, 4857 Bd Bourque #27). As before, returns are also possible at convenience and grocery stores.

Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

According to Mélissa Généreux, a professor in the Université de Sherbrooke’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Services, recently announced budget cuts to the education sector could bear many consequences for students.

School is one of the primary factors that contribute to the development of youth, shared the professor. It is a place that also enables physical activity and the creation of friendships and healthy lifestyles.

“It’s quite evident that the school environment, where we spend 12 years of our life, becomes not only a place where we learn, but an environment where we develop, flourish and grow. We learn, develop interests and hobbies, we create connections. It’s really a place that has a big influence on the health, development and wellbeing of kids,” Généreux stated.

Every aspect of a school’s services can directly influence its students, from the school menu to activities offered. The professor provided the example of school grounds. If there is space and equipment for the kids to play sports, such as soccer or basketball, it can influence their level of physical activity (and thus, their health), the friendships they make and their ability to socialize. “The more inviting spaces there are to socialize and play, the more infrastructure and materials there are, counts a lot.”

Not only does this include outdoor space for play and sports, but indoor spaces as well, for activities like arts and crafts and theatre.

“What scares me about the cuts, is that these are among the first things that will be cut,” Généreux said.

She mentioned the school grounds near to where she lives. Previously, the basketball court was run down, the nets were falling apart, and the pavement was uneven. Two years ago, it was redone with a fresh—even—coat of pavement, new nets and lines on the ground. Généreux said that this fundamentally changed how students used the facilities.

Not only do the kids play basketball during school hours, but they also play after school ends. The professor explained that it also revived neighborhood life. Now, there are impromptu tournaments between people living in the area while others sit by the court to watch.

“There was really a unifying effect. It makes kids physically active, brings them off of screens and makes them socialize. Just with two basketball nets, there was an incredible impact on a whole community, so it shows that every time there’s a decision to improve—or not improve—school grounds, there can be a domino effect on the wellbeing of youth,” explained Généreux.

A crucial aspect of the extracurricular programs offered in schools is the personnel that take time to organize activities for the benefit of students. If their workload increases with personnel cuts, they may no longer have the time nor energy to make these clubs or activities happen, even if there may not be direct costs associated to them.

This may especially impact more reserved students who are more at ease in small-group activities such as a chess club. Nonetheless, these require staff and space, which may not be possible amid cuts.

With fewer support staff in classrooms, teachers will have to deal with more disruptions whichi will be detrimental to the rest of the class.

For some students, school can act as a security net, where kids from families and neighborhoods all have the same opportunities, creating social equality.

A general expectation is for students to arrive at school ready to sit down, listen and learn. However, some students need extra support to make it to the same place as their peers, from difficulties in reading, comprehension, maintaining attention or expressing themselves.

School services allow for those students to acquire necessary life skills, such as dealing with emotions and maintaining a social network. These include homework help, speech therapy, special education, psychology and psychoeducation. According to Généreux, these are “completely essential”  for students with learning challenges.

“If these services are cut, it can increase the inequalities between the youth that upon arrival have more challenges than others. […] In my opinion, with Quebec values, everyone should have the same chances and support to go through challenges,” she said.

Long-term deprivation of these services may, for some students, lead to more failures in school, decreased motivation and self-esteem. In turn, some students may drop out of school and not reach their full professional potential.

Dropping out of school can affect an individual’s critical thinking skills and leave them without some of the civic literacy skills acquired in school on how to be a good citizen.

“If cohorts of students are more at risk of dropping out, not learning as well and not developing their critical thinking, slowly, it can lead to a society that is less educated, less literate with a smaller capacity to have a critical view of what happens in everyday life,” predicted Généreux, mentioning the current polarization of views on issues like healthcare and the environment.

The professor pointed to cultural trips to places like a museum. While some schools may be able to ask parents for financial contribution to make outings possible, more disadvantaged sectors may not be able to do the same without government support.

A poorly maintained building would also bring its share of consequences for students. From water leaks that could cause mold to outdated windows, insulation and ventilation that could lead to lower levels of air quality.

Generally, the professor views cuts to education as cuts to health. There are many prevention and awareness campaigns in schools that lower the demand and strain on the healthcare system. If these initiatives are reduced, it could lead to bigger consequences.

“I hope that the government realizes that by doing this, ultimately, this will lead to bigger psychosocial and health problems. Someone will pay the price, but with graver consequences, and, probably, higher costs,” finished Généreux.

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey for May 2025 revealed that while general employment rates held steady, unemployment among returning students aged 15 to 24 was on the rise, reaching 20.1 per cent, 3.2 per cent higher than the same month last year. This is compared to May 2022’s record low of 11.4 per cent. The survey is based on a sample size of 100,000 people each month.

Fabian Lange, chair of the Department of Economics at McGill University, who has done a lot of work relating to unemployment and the labour market, explained that this is primarily due to a strong labour market during the pandemic.

“In the years up to Covid and the period between 2021 and 2022, the labour market was very strong. We had a lot of job vacancies, so, essentially, this was a period of a lot of hiring across the board,” Lange told The Record.

One of the reasons behind such a strong labour market, demonstrated by the record youth unemployment of 11.4 per cent in 2022 is that there had been a long period without a “major recession.”

During times like these, young people benefit the most from this phenomenon as they are usually leaving school unemployed. On the flip side, they also are among the first affected in slowed hiring rates.

This is a demonstrated pattern that youth is more sensitive to changes in the labour market and job availability, according to the professor.

“I don’t think we can speak of a weak labour market quite yet,” he pronounced. “It’s just falling back to historically appropriate rates. Overall, employment rates are still pretty good.”

This is in part because productivity growth is not as strong as before and increased economic instability.

One of the biggest changes mentioned in the report is a 22 per cent reduction in the number of returning students finding work in accommodation and food services. Lange pointed out that this data may be based on a very small age sample.

However, he hypothesized that this industry would be the first affected by a slowed spending rate. “Going to a restaurant, going to hotels, going on vacations, that’s one of the first things to cut back on,” Lange said.

He also noted that young people may strive to work in high-wage professions. “I think that’s a good thing, but they’re going to be drawn away from food and accomodation,” said Lange. Since the pandemic, people have been shifting away from working in this industry due to typical low wages.

According to Lange, it’s likely we will face a recession given the current trade uncertainty. This will affect unemployment rates, at first among youth. Historically, when students graduate from school during recession years, they enter the workforce with lower wages and lower employment rates.

“The first job you find after school, it will determine where you get placed on the job ladder, and that has a consequence on the jobs you find consequently,” Lange added. This would affect young people for a long time. He expects that if a recession were to happen, youth would return to school for more training amid an uncertain labour market.

Patricia Dionne, a Université de Sherbrooke professor who studies professional integration also points to the tariffs as a possible cause for higher unemployment.

“The tariff policy makes it that businesses are more reluctant to hire new people. It particularly impacts young people as they are more vulnerable to an unpredictable labour market,” Dionne said.

She said that research shows young people want to work and it’s an important value for them.

Dionne noted that it’s important for employers to actively recruit. She recommends youth facing difficulties finding a job to visit organizations that can help them, such as Carrefour jeunesse-emploi de Sherbrooke.

Quebec reauthorizes purchase of conventional buses

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

The Bus Carriers Federation handed the Quebec government a bill totalling $12,024,000 June 11 for 137 bus carriers in the province with electric buses which run at a loss.

The Bus Carriers Federation represents three-quarters of private carriers, mainly for school buses. Its president, Luc Lafrance, said that “[they] are not against the electrification of school buses, but to force all carriers to solely purchase electric buses was perhaps done too quickly.”

In 2021, the government ruled that bus carriers could only purchase electric vehicles when renewing their fleet.

Lafrance maintains that for the government’s electrification goal to be achieved, carriers need financial support for the purchase and maintenance of these vehicles.

According to the Federation (FTA), governmental support for electric buses decreased from $12,900 to $5,000 per route. A press release states that an electric bus costs $14,000 more to operate than one that runs on fuel such as diesel. The FTA is asking the government to pay the $9,000 difference for some 1,336 electric buses owned by member carriers.

In the Eastern Townships region alone, 96 buses from member carriers, represent a $864,000 loss.

Pierre Tourville is the president of Autobus B. Dion, which operates five schoolbus carriers. It has around 100 buses in its fleet including six electric, running routes for the Centre de services scolaire des Sommets, Centre de services scolaire de Sherbrooke. It also has a small contract with the Eastern Townships School Board for three minivans in remote sectors.

“[We] require more spare vehicles than in the past. Last fall, I had six electric buses, but I didn’t stop using any conventional buses. So I need more vehicles to do the same amount of work,” said Tourville during an interview.

Additional costs for running electric buses include longer delays for maintenance and repairs, delays for electric equipment such as charging stations and more expensive parts.

He told The Record that one of his electric buses got into a minor accident in early February and repairs are yet to be completed due to missing parts, while a diesel counterpart would have been fixed the same week.

In most cases, when an electric bus needs to get repairs, it is necessary to call the manufacturer, Lion Electric for technological support, which can entail longer delays as well.

When it comes to the equipment and infrastructure needed to charge the buses, the government covers an initial 75 per cent, according to Tourville, and the other 25 per cent is passed on to the carrier.

“That electric equipment, there’s maintenance that comes with it. I have colleagues that have charging stations similar to mine, and after 12, 16 or 24 months, they needed to be changed, so it’s not guaranteed. It’s not a ten-year investment,” he said.

Without adequate governmental support, electric vehicles aren’t worth it. The president claimed that they cost more than they bring in.

“In light of the information I have today, I won’t buy any more electric buses. With the subsidies we have, it’s not profitable. I’m not going to make more purchases knowing that there are shortfalls,” Tourville added.

Lafrance added that some carriers, who were unable to make the investment or didn’t have sufficient knowledge on the technology preferred to tough it out with their fuel buses.

Transitioning to electric vehicles also requires a different way of thinking, such as planning routes with lower autonomy, planning ahead for the building of charging stations. Some bus drivers, whose rural routes are far from the carrier’s centres may keep their bus at home, which is likely impossible with electric counterparts that require powerful charging equipment.

According to Tourville, diesel buses have a capacity of around 900 kilometres, while electric versions range between 150 and 200 kilometres. Their vehicles cover between 100 and 200 kilometres per day.

“It’s decent, but in some situations, it’s not enough. If we want to avoid charging between the morning and the afternoon, it’s something we have to think about.” he said.

In general, while they have few problems during the winter, there are still more than during the summer. Tourville also revealed that to maintain decent autonomy during colder months, the electric buses’ heating systems run on diesel.

Changes to legislation

Previously, buses were changed every eight to 10 years. But now, the government will allow carriers to use buses for 14 years, and will reauthorize the purchase of fuel vehicles amid an expected shortfall of buses for the coming fall, which would leave many students without transportation after the announcement on June 11.

“This rule change takes into account the current challenges related to the autonomy and availability of electric buses and minibuses, and to prevent service breaks for school transport,” the Ministère des Transports et de la mobilité durable said in a statement sent by e-mail.

While carriers will be able to renew their fleets after the instability in the electric market with Lion Electric’s financial problems, conventional buses have increased in price.

“We’re talking about a 60 per cent increase in recent years, so the carrier’s revenues will not be able to pay these prices,” Lafrance said.

He added that without extending the lifetime of buses to 14 years, there would have been 1,300 buses that could not be used at the start of the 2025-26 school year in Quebec.

The FTA is asking the government to renew its incentives and support for the purchase of electric vehicles to make it attainable for carriers to add them to their fleets.

Lafrance mentioned that many of the school bus carriers in Quebec are family-owned and now in “the second or third generation.”

They request that the government not only reimburse the $9,000 shortfall on buses for this year, but amp up the funding for the next years, as well.

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

Canadians are on notice. Cars will cost more, groceries will cost more, the cost of building or buying just about anything will cost more as a result of tariffs and counter-tariffs in the economic standoff with the United States.

The Record spoke to Vivek Astvansh, an associate professor at McGill’s Desautels Faculty of Management to get a better understanding of how the tariff wars have affected the Canadian economy itself.

Astvansh explained that the reasoning behind implementing these tariffs is to “force Canada into action” to stop the entry of fentanyl and illegal immigrants into the United States, decrease Canada’s tariffs on the U.S. to equalize their trade deficit and force Canada to spend its committed 2.5 per cent of the GDP on defence, therefore meeting the NATO defence spending target.

Astvansh laid out the potential consequences of the tariff wars for businesses. With retaliatory tariffs in place in Canada, importers in the country must pay a higher price for goods, making profits drop. So, they increase the price for their consumers (either individuals or other businesses). If consumers have alternative products to choose from, the demands for products with higher prices goes down, which would lead to lay-offs and higher unemployment.

Some companies have decided to shift production to the United States to avoid tariffs. “Instead of having a packing plant in Quebec, they’ll go somewhere else,” he gave as an example.

Because the message coming from the White House about tariffs regularly changes, it creates a lot of confusion. This makes businesses and individuals unsure about how to react and plan accordingly, he added.

The professor claimed that there is no specific data to show the clear ramifications of the impact of tariffs, such as the ones put in place during the first Trump presidency because they are in place for a relatively short time. In 2018-2019, it was 11 months, he said.

This situation is representative of the broader geopolitical conflicts of the modern era. “It’s a new reality of the world, I guess,” commented Astvansh.

It takes a few months to a year for consumers to notice changes in prices, according to the McGill professor, as businesses take time to understand the new situation and make the appropriate decisions for the future.

“I doubt that businesses have clarity on what they should be doing,” he added.

However, one of the most influenceable products is cars, perhaps because of the interconnectedness of the manufacturing industry.

The price of new automobiles goes up because of the “randomness of the tariffs.” Some people may delay their purchase or go to the used market. A large shift like this would increase the demand of used cars, which would consequently increase prices.

As for some Canadians’ boycott of American goods and services, it’s “meaningless,” said the professor, though he “appreciate[s] the sentiment.” Since it’s nearly impossible to cut all ties with American business, which include Amazon, Netflix and Meta, the move is more symbolic as it creates buzz and national pride. 

According to Astvansh, the real solution would be for Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump to sit down and clearly talk to work things out. In his opinion, Canada should give in to some of Trump’s demands, as “so many of its goods go to the U.S.,” though it’s also important for the country to diversity its trading partners, such as going to Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom.

If that doesn’t work, rather than boycotts, it would be better for businesses and the Canadian government to directly penalize their American counterparts, such as when Ontario threatened to cut off power, the professor told The Record. This way, the people impacted will go to the White House, which could calm down its actions and rhetoric for the benefit of its businesses.

Astvansh clearly indicated that the problem shouldn’t be between Canadians and Americans themselves, though. “Governments come and go, but the people stay the same. The love and affection should not change,” he said.

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

The Commission spéciale sur les impacts des écrans et des réseaux sociaux sur la santé et le développement des jeunes (CSESJ) published its official report on May 29, including 56 recommendations relating to the use of screens including social media and video games, and in an educational context, among youth.

The commission was created by the National Assembly last year and has been inquiring into the topic in order to create recommendations for government legislation. At the end of April, an abridged version of the report was released which included the recommendation to ban the use of personal mobile devices (cell phones) in elementary and high schools. The government moved quickly on the recommendation, announcing a cell phone ban in schools to take effect for the coming school year.

The CSESJ held two public inquiries, surveyed 7000 respondents in three months and visited 17 schools spread across 13 cities in six regions. MNAs involved came from four parties: seven from the CAQ, three from the Liberal Party and one from both Québec Solidaire and the Parti québécois.

“In the face of these numerous challenges, we quickly realized that it was imperative to propose concrete and realistic solutions to favor the well-being of the youth to let them flourish and develop a healthy relationship with the digital world,” Amélie Dionne, president of the CSESJ, said during a press conference on May 29. 

Screens at school

On May 1, the Minister of Education announced that starting during the next school year, students would be prohibited from using their cell phones on the school grounds during the school day, including during breaks and during lunch.

In the survey conducted by the CSESJ, school personnel were asked questions. Some 67 per cent responded that they totally agree that banning cell phones is a good way to increase student attention, backed by almost a quarter saying they somewhat agree. Nearly two-thirds ‘somewhat agreed’ that teachers should limit the use of screens, even when used for pedagogical purposes.  

At school, the commission recommends the use of digital devices to be more strictly regulated and used purely for pedagogical purposes and should not be used as a reward for positive student behaviour.

The CSESJ believes that rules governing digital citizenship—how students should use digital media and conduct themselves online—should be included in schools’ codes of conduct, citing that it would be a good way to make students and parents aware of good habits to adopt.

The study also found that school personnel believe they are inadequately trained in how to efficiently use technology for pedagogical purposes. Some 60 per cent answered that they were at least somewhat insufficiently trained in this regard.

The Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) has not adopted a specific policy on cell phones since the adoption of the ban, citing a lack of government guidance. According to ETSB Chairman Mike Murray, the ministry has not provided specific guidelines and none are expected.

School boards and schools are therefore left on their own to figure out how to effectively ban cell phones in their establishments. “We have held off trying to make rules in the absence of guidance, because we run out of options,” he said.

Since the beginning of the 21^st century, the ETSB has welcomed technology into its schools. It now provides a laptop to students to do work on, which can serve some of the same functionalities as cell phones.

“We think that, in general, wall-to-wall bans are bad. The idea of a ban ignores a whole lot of realities,” said Murray during an interview.

He pointed out that the ETSB covers a large area and a “widely dispersed population.” Cell phones can be used for better communication with parents, especially in cases where they need to know when to pick up their children.

The chairman also expressed concerns about who is supposed to reinforce the ban: “The whole downloading of responsibility, onto who in the school? Teacher? School secretary? Classroom aid? Everybody in the school?”

By banning cell phones, Murray thinks that it will simply move things to a new technology, such as using the school-issued laptops, or passing notes instead of texting. There will still be distractions, but just in a different way.

The ETSB is not looking at reducing its reliance on screens and technology, according to the chairman. “Whatever they are doing to overuse screen time is far more an issue of parenting and guiding and so forth,” he said, adding that parents are the ones that provide cell phones to their kids. “It’s the parents who decide whether there are restrictions to screen time.”

Data and advertising

The members involved in the commission are also concerned with the protection of young users’ data on online platforms, and the minimum age required to have accounts on social media and the hidden commercial advertisements that reach teenagers and kids through influencers.

CSESJ member Alexandre Leduc of Québec solidaire spoke about the need to make a “nuanced” analysis of the consequences related to the use of social media, good and bad. He highlighted it makes communication among youth more convenient, provides opportunities for creativity and self-expression.

However, it is recommended for the minimum age required to hold a social media account to be 14-years-old, in line with some of the province’s other laws granting those of this age the right to more responsibility, including medically. Many platforms already require similar age requirements, which are often not followed.

The commission also recommends making it illegal to sell the personal data collected of online users below 14-years-old and to target advertisements towards them. They would also like to see micro-transactions within video games (such as items that can be purchased in the gaming world) banned for minors.

There needs to be more transparency about what an advertisement is to help youth easier distinguish between what is or what is not trying to tell them things, including by influencers. The CSESJ recommends the government more strictly regulate the work of online influencers in this respect.

Alternative activities

Among the recommendations were many regarding the implementation and promotion of screen-free activities at low costs for families.

The report’s first recommendation is to optimize the accessibility of existing infrastructure such as parks and school sports facilities, in the goal of encouraging youth to participate in physical, social and cultural activities.

Raising awareness

A part of the report rests on the importance of raising awareness of the negative effects of screens on youth, among the younger generation themselves, but also among parents and teachers.

“Raising awareness in the population among youth and parents is an important first step in being more aware as to the risks of the digital world and to encourage a change towards healthy lifestyle habits,” Dionne stated.

During the press conference, the commission also noted that while most kids spend too much time on their devices, parents are also frequently on them. Members said that during their visit to schools, students often pointed out being asked to spend less time on screens even if their parents spend as much time on them as they do.

In the report, they cite an elementary school student saying: “My mom asks me to put away my tablet while she’s on her phone. She repeats it without even noticing that I wasn’t on my tablet anymore.”

They therefore claim that an awareness campaign is important to improving public health. 

Health services

The CSESJ points out that addiction to screens presents many of the same symptoms as other addictions, such as to drugs.

To combat this, they make many recommendations relating to the healthcare system, such as implementing psychological services for youth presenting signs of addiction.

Their report also recommends providing training personnel, including those working in the healthcare and education systems about the use of screens and the risks associated with it.

Explicit content

Since the dawn of the internet, sexually explicit content has been made more accessible.

Data shows that nearly one-third of youth in Canada have encountered this type of content, most between the ages 9 and 13.

The report recommends Quebec work with the federal government and others to impose restrictions on platforms that distribute sexually explicit content and to put in place “reliable, unavoidable age verification mechanisms that are respectful of private life.”

Sending a message

While it may be difficult, or people may break the rules to set up an account if even they don’t meet the age requirement, the recommendations made by the commission send a message to the population of Quebec.

“It sends a signal of public health that this is what the norm should be,” Leduc said during the press conference. Comparing it to people drinking alcohol before turning 18 or driving above 100 km/h on the highway, he thinks that these recommendations, which may become law, show how people are expected to behave, even if they don’t always follow the rules.

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

With the summer peeking out of its springtime hiding spot and forecasts calling for a warm summer, it may be tempting to go out for walks or bike rides throughout the city or on some of the region’s many trails. However, there are a few rules and tips to follow to make sure that every leisurely stroll doesn’t occasion safety risks.

Biking rules

According to the Highway Safety Code, cyclists and pedestrians have rules to follow.

In general, cyclists must ride on the right side of the road, while being cautious of car doors that might open. They can only ride elsewhere to turn left, if it is permitted to ride against traffic or if it is absolutely necessary.

Just like cars, bikes must yield the right of way to pedestrians as they are more vulnerable.

While bikes don’t have turn signals, it is necessary to signal intentions when turning. To turn left, the signal consists of raising the left arm outwards. To turn right, either raise your left arm upwards so your elbow forms a 90-degree angle or extend your right arm outwards.

Cyclists must ride in a single file line when in groups and only 15 cyclists can be part of a group before a new one must be created.

At the sight of a school bus with its flashing lights activated, cyclists must, like cars, wait at least five metres from the bus.

It is prohibited for cyclists to ride on highways or exit ramps, against the flow of traffic unless a sign explicitly indicates that it is permitted, on sidewalks, unless authorized by signs (in this case, it is important to ride slowly and give way to pedestrians). Cyclists cannot ride between two lanes of moving vehicles, apart from when the right lane is reserved for turns in that direction. They cannot wear earphones or headphones, use a portable electronic device, view a display screen unless it is relevant to riding, integrated into the bicycle and positioned so it can easily be seen. It is also prohibited to drink alcohol or use drugs while riding a bike, to carry a passenger unless there is a specific seat for them.

There are fines in place for cyclists that do not follow the law. Failure to obey to safety lights and their signs can result in an $80 to $100 penalty, Not yielding the right of way to pedestrians, wearing ear- or headphones, using a portable electronic device, not signaling intentions and riding two people without an additional fixed seat can result in a fine of equal amounts.

Pedestrian rules

Like other users of the road network, pedestrians also have rules to follow. They must use sidewalks or walk against traffic.  They must cross at intersections and pedestrian crosswalks by properly checking both sides of the road. It is against the law to cross an intersection diagonally. Penalties for not obeying the Safety Code can result in a fine from $15 to $30.

Mechanical requirements

To ride safely there are mechanical requirements in place, such as having reflectors on the front and back of the bike to be visible when it’s dark.

“Having a bike in good condition is essential for both comfort and safety,” said Magali Bebronne, program director at Vélo Quebec, an organization which has, since 1967, promoted the use of bikes.

It’s also a good habit to check that both tires are well pumped before hitting the road or trails, to avoid having a flat tire.

According to the Safety Code, it’s mandatory to have a properly functioning brake on the back wheel.

There are bike repair shops throughout the Townships which can inspect all bike parts to ensure they’re in good working order and fix any issues. In Sherbrooke, this includes Sports 4 Saisons, Tech-Sport, and Nouveau Cycle.

The City of Sherbrooke also has bike repair stations throughout its territory where cyclists can fix their bike themselves. The stations are equipped with tools to loosen or tighten the bike’s components as well as remove the tires. A map of all of these stations is available on the city’s website.

Habits to adopt

“Another good habit for cyclists to adopt, is staying visible,” said Bebronne, citing the importance of having reflectors on bikes.

To be more visible, riding in a straight line and avoid zigzagging between open parking spots is important.

 “Unfortunately, in Quebec, we have a culture that ignores pedestrians’ right of way. So, at crosswalks, it’s up to drivers and cyclists to yield the right of way to pedestrians as soon as they indicate the intention to cross the road,” explained Bebronne.

By following the laws set by the Highway Safety Code, it becomes easier to anticipate what other users of the road will do, she added.

Bebronne noted that cyclists must also be careful near bus stops, as the drivers cannot always see them coming as it’s hard to hear them approach the vehicle.

“I think that pedestrians and cyclists should be the closest allies because they use the ‘softer’ methods of transport, so we need to take care of each other,” concluded Bebronne.

Quebec has many trail networks including La Route verte, which is made up of 5300 km of biking trails throughout all of the province’s regions. The Trans Canada Trail also passes through the Eastern Townships in Magog, North Hatley and Sherbrooke.

Eastern Townships Tourism’s latest guide includes pages about bike touring throughout the region. It also published a special cycling guide with a map of the area’s 24 biking routes. They can be consulted online at easterntownships.org.

Record Archives
Zebra mussels in Lake Magog

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

For decades, local non-profit organizations have been monitoring water quality in the region’s key bodies of water. For decades, poor water quality has been a major concern which has repercussions on public health.

Memphremagog Conservation (MCI) is a non-profit organization founded by three residents at a time the water quality of Lake Memphremagog was poor due to agricultural practices, logging and a lack of wastewater regulations. Today, it looks at the complete watershed to find solutions to protect the lake and its quality.

Some of its key projects include the conservation of land to protect the area around the lake and its watershed, working with municipalities, the provincial government and industries around the lake to make a complete portrait of the Memphremagog watershed.

“Not only do we have to look at the watershed, but we have to explain the importance of the riparian buffers,” explained Johanne Lavoie, volunteer present at MCI, who has been involved in the organization since 2008.

Riparian buffers are strips of land beside waterways that contain various trees, plants and shrubs. They act as a barrier between the land and water, partially filtering pesticides, waste and nutrients, strengthening the land to avoid erosion while also providing a habitat for marine and terrestrial life.

Zebra mussels

According to the Invasive Species Centre, zebra mussels can be found in freshwater throughout Canada, including Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba. They originated from the Black Sea but were brought to Quebec from the big transport vessels on the St-Lawrence.

“Zebra mussels are an invasive species that take the place of native species by taking over the space where plants, rocks and where fish lay their eggs. Then they [filter] huge amounts of water leaving no food for the fish and other species around them,” explained Laurence Renaud-Langevin, the general director of Bleu Massawippi, during a phone interview.

The organization has been around since 1968 with the goal of protecting the water quality of Lake Massawippi. One of the organization’s main projects relates to the containment of zebra mussels, which first appeared in Lake Massawippi in 2021. In November, diving operations were conducted to retrieve them from the lake. Since then, there have been hundreds of days of diving to contain the issue.

The species also makes water more clear, making the sun go deeper down into the bodies of water. This increases the growth of underwater vegetation, such as algae. According to the Government of Canada, they cause millions of dollars in damage annually by clogging water treatment plants and damaging watercrafts.

“Zebra mussels are the perfect example of the loss of biodiversity,” said Lavoie.

They were discovered in Lake Memphremagog in 2017 and since then, the problem has only gotten worse. According to the MCI president, the presence of zebra mussels in the lake was caused by a lack of control of the equipment that was brought into the lake without being washed.

“An adult mussel lays between 30,000 to 1,000,000 eggs per year,” she explained. “The numbers are growing, we cannot do much about it, but we can make sure that other invasive species do not come into the lake.”

It is important for any equipment used on a lake to be washed before being used on another body of water to avoid the spread of species such as zebra mussels which were not previously present in that area.

Other big issues facing Lake Massawippi in particular include repeated rain. “It washes the surrounding land. Everything will come into the lake,” added Renaud-Langevin. Some of their other projects include protecting the watershed and fighting blue algae.

Bleu Massawippi is also on the hunt for alternative funding to continue their zebra mussel collection process. They’ve previously received grants from the government which aren’t renewable. Currently most of the organization’s funding comes from private donors which include the lake’s residents and different businesses.  “We don’t have any recurrent funds, every year we have to start at zero,” said Renaud-Langevin.

Forever chemicals

Forever chemicals are a class of thousands of man-made substances used in different products which have been found to affect human health including the development of cancer. Technically known as per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), there have been growing concerns about regulating these toxic chemicals.

“The Coventry dump site is the only dump site in Vermont,” said Lavoie, referring to the waste treatment plant close to the southern part of Lake Memphremagog near Newport. “We know that this is a pollution source that we have to look at.”

The lake provides drinking water to 185,000 people in the Eastern Townships, according to the MCI president, throughout Sherbrooke as well as parts of Magog, Potton and Saint-Benoit-du-Lac.

The dump site produces leachate (contaminated water from a dump site). It is not supposed to leak into the lake, as it is now trucked to different locations or treated on site. However, there is data that indicates that there are PFAS in the water near the dump.

“If we wait until the numbers and the concentration of PFAS are too high into Lake Memphremagog to act, it’s going to be too late,” Lavoie shared. “That’s why we are looking closely at the dump site to ensure the leachate does not ever come back into our watershed and that the treatment over there is secure.”

According to Lavoie, there are also PFAS flowing into the lake from the use of wastewater to irrigate fields. There are many different places from which these substances can enter. It’s important to make sure there are regulations in place to protect the water from these toxic chemicals.

The MCI president noted that many years ago, there was also a dump site near the lake on the Quebec side, but it was closed down around 15 years ago out of concerns for the water quality. “We’re asking the U.S. not to pollute us also,” she expressed.

According to Lavoie, there are reports showing there are cancerous fish and other species in the lake, for which the cause is currently unknown. However, she said that it is a testament to Memphremagog’s water quality.

Support

On May 22, Liberal MNA Virginie Dufour tabled Bill 995 which aims to regulate PFAS in Quebec. It does not propose regulations to PFAS but would mandate the government to study the situation and then create appropriate regulation. According to her, there is currently no regulation in place to regulate these forever chemicals in water nor in sewage sludge. It would force municipalities and landfill operators to test for these chemicals to ensure the environment is not getting contaminated.

“The standards [in regulations] in Quebec are not good enough,” Lavoie stated. In 2024, Health Canada published its objectives for the maximum presence of PFAS in drinking water, setting it at a total of 30 nanograms per litre for 25 substances. “If at least Health Canada guidelines would be applied, that would be great. Let’s start from there and then we’ll see.”

She clarified that PFAS groups together thousands of substances, so the regulations could always be better.

Lavoie also expressed that the collaboration of both Canada and the United States to make sure that similar guidelines which protect the water quality of the lake would be very beneficial.

It’s possible to support organizations such as Bleu Massawippi and Memphremagog Conservation in their mission to protect local bodies of water by becoming a member.. This way, they get some funding and new voices to share a new vision of the organization. Some also organize activities open to the public.

According to the director general of Bleu Massawippi, having a good water quality is “directly linked to public health.” By having high quality, people can enjoy their life and be healthier longer. She also added that when a lake’s water quality worsens, the real estate value of surrounding property also goes down. 

By Bryan Laprise

Local Journalism Initiative

A survey conducted by Léger on behalf of the Comité consultative des Québécoises et Québécois d’expression anglaise (CCQEA) revealed that around 32 per cent of employers in the province have changed their hiring practices as a result of Law 14.

Law 14, also known as Bill 96, reinforced the province’s position that French is the only official language of Québec. In addition to provisions that make French the predominant language on all signs and posters visible from outside of businesses and limiting the number of students that can attend English-language schools, it extended francization efforts to businesses of 25 employees or more.

Avoiding anglophones

The survey gathered responses from 500 employers. One in five expressed concerns about hiring English speakers and one-tenth pulled back from their retention of English-speakers or even terminated their employment. They cited concerns with complying with the latest regulations and the risk of penalties.

“Employers need clarity and support in navigating these requirements. Right now, they’re pulling back out of caution. That’s a missed opportunity,” CCQEA President John Buck stated in a press release.

Government-funded francization programs are available to meet the requirements set out by Law 14, but less than one-fifth of employers are aware of them, with fewer participating. The cost of training employees poses a challenge for some businesses. Many employers are left without the tools they would need in order to take advantage of qualified potential workers.

According to the full report published by the CCQEA, 45 per cent of companies that participated in the Leger survey had never hired English-speaking employees. This is particularly the case in Francophone businesses.

A third of employers reported changing their hiring practices due to Law 14. Fourteen per cent by being more cautious, 10 per cent by reducing hiring and eight per cent by not hiring English-speaking candidates.

“I can’t say that we are surprised,” said Sylvia Martin-Laforge, director general of TALQ, formerly the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN. TALQ is an advocacy organization for English speakers and other organizations. She explained that there has been “anecdotal evidence” on the effects of the legislation.

“It’s terrific that finally, a credible survey validates what we have been saying to this government for six years,” said Martin-Laforge. For the past six years, the TALQ and other organizations have spoken to ministers from the government about how English speakers face barriers in the Quebec labour market, according to Martin-Laforge.

Hiring English speakers

English-speakers are much more likely to be hired by English-language companies, finds the survey. Eighty-eight per cent of such companies had hired English speakers. Around three- quarters of bilingual companies surveyed had hired Anglophones. Companies in the Greater Montreal area averaged 70 per cent.

Some 41 per cent of companies responded to the survey their main reason for hiring English speakers was qualifications. This is above 29 per cent saying that the reason is to serve customers in English and 26 per cent for the need to use English in certain positions.

Companies that say that they’ve never hired English-speakers cite the need for French to complete the work (38 per cent). Not many English-speakers in the company’s regions and a lack of applications from that language group are equal at 26 per cent of companies.

“Often, it’s through family or connections that you find out about jobs. If you are not in a network, you won’t know about the jobs or be referred for [them],” said Martin-Laforge about the major challenged faced by English speakers. “The structure of the labour market is not easy for an English-speaker to get into. It is exacerbated by the laws that many employers don’t understand.”

According to her, there is a lot of linguistic insecurity for English-speakers who have lost confidence in their ability to speak Quebec’s predominant language even though they are perfectly capable of doing so, saying: “Most English-speaking Quebecers just need to bone up on their French. That’s it, that’s all.”

“These laws [such as Bill 84 and 96] that talk about identity, the need to speak French, the need to be French, the need to be a part of the French culture create an environment where English speakers looking for jobs in Quebec feel disenfranchised or feel that they might lose their jobs. It creates instability,” she explained.

Positive impacts of English speakers

A strong majority of employers who have hired English-speaking employees say it was a positive experience. Only two per cent of employers said the experience was negative. Three-quarters of the businesses that have hired English-speakers say that they’ve seen benefits, such as improved bilingual service, access to more talent, increased cultural diversity and access to new markets.

“In a time where there is a labour shortage in all sorts of sectors, this is not the time to start imposing coercive measures that are not tested,” opined the TALQ director. According to her, the francization programs which could help English-speakers join the labour market amidst more restrictive regulations are not understood nor available enough.

Employers who participated in the survey were asked to provide what they felt was the best strategy to better integrate English-speakers in into the provincial labour market. Nearly one- third thought it would be helpful to have more accessible language training programs, one- quarter said it would be for governments to incentivize hiring English-speakers and one-fifth said it would be to change the laws altogether.

In fact, according to Martin-Laforge, the push to better integrate English-speakers into the provincial labour market will eventually come from employers themselves. “There will come a time where people will say: ‘We just want the skills, we don’t care what language they speak,’” hypothesized the director general. She thinks this will come out of a necessity to have enough—and competent—staff to keep businesses open and be able to serve all potential customers.

“We have to speak to the Chambers of Commerce and provincial bodies to demonstrate what they’re missing out on with all of these able-bodied, smart people who maybe don’t master French. Anybody who doesn’t speak French might have the skills, we’ll just help them speak French. But in this climate of fear, it’s not a good look for the next 5, 10, 15 years for the economy of Quebec,” concluded Martin-Laforge.