MRC des Jardins de Napierville

The Greens, NDP, and PPC all field local candidates

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Among the other major political parties, the New Democratic Party, the Green Party, and the People’s Party of Canada have all named their candidates in the Beauharnois-Salaberry-Soulanges-Huntingdon (BSSH) and the Châteauguay-Les Jardins-de-Napierville ridings.

The NDP nominated first-time candidate Tyler Jones to run in the BSSH riding on January 24. A passionate advocate for workers’ rights and environmental protection, the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield resident is campaigning during evenings and weekends while continuing his work as a courier. He has been busy on the ground, going door-to-door and working the phones, saying he wants to get a feel for every part of the riding.

“My number one priority for my campaign is agriculture,” says Jones, noting he has spoken with many farm families about the current realities facing area producers. Climate change is also high on his list of priorities, as is lowering the cost of living and building affordable homes. While the trade war with the United States is a concern, he prefers to focus on the riding’s constituents and less on what Donald Trump has to say.

Jones says he has a special affinity for the Chateauguay Valley, having lived briefly with his family in Ormstown. He and his wife are big supporters of the buy local movement, and can often be found at local restaurants, markets, and activities.

Hannah Wolker will run for the NDP for a second time in the Châteauguay-Les Jardins-de-Napierville riding. The party has only very recently confirmed her nomination. She is a grassroots organizer with deep roots in the riding.

Green Party of Canada

The Green Party has named Kristian Solarik as the candidate for the BSSH riding. He last ran for office in the 2022 provincial election as a candidate with the Green Party of Quebec. He currently serves on the executive committee and the shadow cabinet for the party at the provincial level as the transportation critic. He advocates for forward-thinking policies that prioritize environmental sustainability, accessibility, and innovation.

Originally from Montreal, Solarik has lived in the riding for 15 years with his partner and nine-year-old son. He works as a sales representative for a Quebec-based company that provides rolling stock and safety equipment to businesses throughout the Suroît region. He says his background in transportation and safety have afforded him a practical perspective and solution driven approach to the challenges facing his community.

Solarik maintains his campaign is “rooted in the belief that bold, green leadership can drive meaningful progress for families, businesses, and the environment.”

Martine Desrochers has been confirmed as the Green Party of Canada’s candidate in the Châteauguay-Les Jardins-de-Napierville riding.

People’s Party of Canada

The People’s Party of Canada has nominated Martin Lévesque in the BSSH riding. He says he is driven by a deep commitment to defending his community and the fundamental values of freedom, personal responsibility, respect and fairness.

Lévesque says he believes that “Canada can regain its prosperity and give power back to the people, if we have the courage of our convictions.”

Nicolas Guérin will run in the neighbouring Châteauguay-Les Jardins-de-Napierville riding for the PPC. An electrical engineer and family man, he says he champions reforms rooted in freedom, responsibility, fairness, and respect. “Citizens need to take charge of their country to stop the plundering of our wealth and secure our children’s future,” he says, while arguing that all citizens must unite against globalism.

Raised in Quebec with Scottish, French, and Indigenous (Pekuakamiulnu) roots, Guérin served three years in the Canadian Armed Forces. While working full-time as an engineer, he also runs a farm where he produces pasture-raised eggs with his family, including his three children.

Guerin says he prioritizes policies that would “pause immigration, deport illegals and criminals, and prioritize jobs and housing for Canadians.” He also believes the Canadian Multiculturalism Act should be repealed, and rejects equity, diversity, and inclusion as well as gender-based ideology. He believes Canada should work with Donald Trump to “free the economy,” and aims to protect national sovereignty by leaving the United Nations and strengthening national security.

The Greens, NDP, and PPC all field local candidates Read More »

The Conservative Party unveils its local candidates

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Conservative Party of Canada has declared that Priska St-Pierre and David De Repentigny will represent the party as candidates for the Beauharnois-Salaberry-Soulanges-Huntingdon riding and the Châteauguay-Les Jardins-de-Napierville riding in the upcoming federal election on April 28.

St-Pierre is a businesswoman, and a national trainer in a patient support program in the field of coverage for specialized medications. She has lived with her partner and two chocolate Labrador dogs in Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka for the past twelve years. She is a mother of three children, and grandmother of eight grandchildren.

“I am honoured to have been chosen as the party’s official candidate,” says St-Pierre, who is vying to represent the constituents of Beauharnois-Salaberry-Soulanges-Huntingdon. “I am convinced that Canada must be governed differently, and with a serious and thoughtful approach,” she adds, noting it is time to put the government in order.

Napierville resident David De Repentigny is running to represent the neighbouring riding of Châteauguay-Les Jardins-de-Napierville for the Conservative Party.

De Repentigny has worked with the Canada Border Services Agency for nearly twenty years, where he notes his work in various departments, including management, health and safety, union management, and employee assistance led to the installation of defibrillators at border crossing points. He is also a member of the Napierville Fire Department.

“Whether through blood drives, food bank collections, or other community events, I have always made sure to involve my children in these volunteer efforts, instilling in them the essential values of solidarity and civic engagement,” says De Repentigny, who intends to prioritize responsible budget management, economic stability, and security.

Recently, De Repentigny stepped away from the campaign for a day to walk in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Chateauguay, which was presided over by his daughter Olivia who was named queen by the Chateauguay and Valley Irish Heritage Association.

“I want to make politics more accessible, but more importantly, I want to take real action for our families, our seniors, and our children, ensuring we leave them a land and a country in better shape than it is today,” says De Repentigny of his decision to run in this election.

The Conservative Party unveils its local candidates Read More »

Experienced candidates to stump for the Bloc Québécois

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Claude DeBellefeuille launched her seventh election campaign on April 3 in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield with her eyes set on a fifth term in Ottawa – this time representing the Beauharnois-Salaberry-Soulanges-Huntingdon (BSSH) riding. 

DeBellefeuille said she was motivated by the positive energy in the crowd of over 150 supporters as she took to the stage at the Microbrasserie du Vieux Canal, referring to this election as one of the most significant in her 19-year career as a politician. She thanked her team, her family, including her father, René, who looked on proudly, her supporters, and the 150 volunteers working on her campaign. 

A social worker by training, DeBellefeuille has worked as the director general for the Centre d’Action Bénévole de Valleyfield, and with the Centre Intégré de Santé et Services Sociaux de la Montérégie Ouest (CISSSMO). She was first elected to parliament as an MP between 2006 and 2011, where she held various responsibilities within the Bloc Québécois as deputy critic for agriculture and agri-food, as critic for natural resources, and culture and heritage critic. She was appointed as the party’s deputy whip in 2008, and chief whip in 2010.

DeBellefeuille reprised her role as whip after she was re-elected in 2019 and in 2021. After stepping down from the position in December 2024, she most recently took on the role of public security and civil protection critic within her party.

Since announcing her candidacy, DeBellefeuille has spoken out in support of protecting supply management and agriculture in trade agreements, promising this would be the subject of the first bill proposed by the Bloc Québécois as soon as parliament reconvenes following the election in June. “During international negotiations, all countries can protect a certain number of products, and we must ensure that our dairy, eggs, and poultry are not affected,” she insists, noting there are more than 1,000 farms and over 2,000 agricultural producers in the BSSH riding. “It is a pillar of the Quebec agricultural model, and we must not give anything up,” she says, referring to anticipated trade negotiations with the U.S. administration.

DeBellefeuille has also promised to defend and protect the economic interests of small and medium-sized businesses in the riding in the context of the trade war with the United States. “In the coming weeks, I will be criss-crossing the constituency to remind people that it is inconceivable to abandon Quebec’s specific economic interests in the context of negotiations with our American neighbors,” she says, noting entrepreneurs are already feeling the impact of tariffs.

The experienced candidate has been meeting with entrepreneurs, most recently during the annual general assembly for the Association des Gens d’Affaires d’Ormstown et des Environs on April 1, to gain a better understanding of the impacts being experienced on the ground. She is also working with the different economic development departments at local MRCs and is part of a monitoring committee initiated by Développement Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

“Since the election of Donald Trump, the world we live in has changed. In the face of the tariff threats and the difficult negotiations to come, the danger is that Canada’s economic interests will be prioritized over Quebec economic sectors,” she explains, noting “It is the Bloc Québécois that defends our workers, our businesses, our farmers, and our seniors.”

Châteauguay-Les Jardins-de-Napierville

Patrick O’Hara opened his campaign headquarters on March 29 in Chateauguay, where he is running for the second time representing the Bloc Québécois.

O’Hara was born in British Columbia and was adopted by a family of farmers who eventually settled on Montreal’s North Shore. It was a passion for hockey that first led O’Hara to discover Chateauguay. It was here that he opened his first business before joining the La Cage aux Sports group, where he worked as a shareholder-operator in Saint-Constant for several years. Eventually he joined the Chateauguay-based distributor Entreprises Robert Thibert as vice-president of business development, marketing, and public relations for North America.

O’Hara has also played an important role in the community, serving on the board of directors for the Fondation Gisèle Faubert in Mercier, the Centre Horizon in Léry, and the Fondation Anna-Laberge in Chateauguay.

In 2021, O’Hara lost the election to Liberal incumbent Brenda Shanahan by 12 votes following a judicial recount. He says he is returning with the same determination to become an MP “who is close to the people of this constituency that I love so much.”

Experienced candidates to stump for the Bloc Québécois Read More »

Two engineers run for the Liberals 

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Liberal candidate Nathalie Provost launched her campaign to represent the Châteauguay-Les Jardins-de-Napierville riding on March 29, while inaugurating her campaign offices in Chateauguay in the presence of volunteers and supporters.

An engineer and gun control advocate, Provost was among the survivors of the 1989 École Polytechnique shootings who founded the PolySeSouvient advocacy group. Her work as an activist for gun control and the prevention of violence against women and children led her to serve as vice-chair of the Canadian Firearms Registry from 2017 to 2019. She now holds senior management positions in the civil service of the Quebec government, where she is currently on leave from her position with the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte Contre les Changements Climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs.

The mother of four young adults, Provost has maintained close ties with the Châteauguay-Les Jardins-de-Napierville riding both professionally and through family connections. She says the riding is similar to her hometown in the Berthier-Maskinongé region, which is also very agricultural. “It is the same environment in which I was born,” she says, noting she is very comfortable in both the rural and urban worlds.

Provost is also very aware that her riding runs along the border and that security and trade issues are very important. “I worked with my counterparts in my past job with New York State representatives and I know we can work together and that the quality of our relationship with our neighbors. Even if it’s very, very strange at the higher levels right now, we have to work on the ground,” she says.

She adds that she is pushing the Liberal Party to talk about the issues facing the farming community. “We are talking about industrialization, we are talking about productivity, but we are not really talking about agriculture,” she points out.

Provost insists that if elected, she will make sure the voices of those from the southern part of the region, including the municipalities that until very recently were counted as part of the former Salaberry-Suroît riding, will be heard in Ottawa. She says it will be important despite the vast territory covered by the riding. “With the pandemic, we learned to work with distance,” she explains, noting that accessibility is a priority for her campaign.

Beauharnois-Salaberry-Soulanges-Huntingdon

A soon-to-be engineer has thrown his hat in the ring for the Liberal party in the Beauharnois-Salaberry-Soulanges-Huntingdon riding. Miguel Perras is a third-year mechanical engineering student at the École Polytechnique in Montreal, where he is involved in the university debate club and parliamentary simulations.

The 21-year-old says that while his candidacy may be somewhat unconventional, he is driven by a “strong desire to represent my region and defend the issues that affect our daily lives.”

Perras grew up on a small family farm where he says he learned the value of hard work, resilience, and commitment. He says that having worked on both the factory floor and in engineering offices within the metallurgy industry, he has seen the impacts of the economic conditions created by current trade relations.

He joined the Liberal party, but suggests he believes many of the issues facing the region transcend party lines. Perras admits that while he had always planned on becoming more directly involved with politics, he did not think the day would come so soon.

Two engineers run for the Liberals  Read More »

Ministry gives over $172,000 for cultural development in the Huntingdon riding

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Ministère de la Culture et des Communications is investing $172,499 in the cultural development of the Huntingdon riding.

Huntingdon MNA Carole Mallette made the announcement on behalf of Quebec Culture Minister Mathieu Lacombe on March 24, noting the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent will receive $78,354 while the MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville will see $94,145 in cultural investments.

The funds have been granted through the Ententes de Développement Culturel Municipales et Régionales, which will provide funding over a three-year period ending in March 2027.

“I am particularly pleased with our government’s support for the cultural initiatives led by our MRCs,” said Mallette, while pointing out that the development of cultural initiatives contributes to the region’s vitality.

The funds granted through the cultural development agreements are generally 50 per cent co-financed by the municipalities and MRCs, but this can reach as high as 60 per cent in devitalized regions.

In the Haut-Saint-Laurent, $18,000 will be used to create participative musical workshops for seniors living in long-term care residences. At least $42,549 will be used for cultural development initiatives including an update to the MRC’s cultural policy, as well as the creation of video capsules and workshops to promote the work of area artists. A cultural heritage project highlighting four cemeteries in Havelock with informative panels will receive $17,805 in funding as well through this agreement.

Nancy Brunelle, the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent’s cultural coordinator, said she is pleased with the amounts accorded in the agreement. She confirms the MRC will contribute $58,000 towards the completion of these initiatives.

The MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville will dedicate $30,000 of this funding toward the development of cultural activities for seniors, while $42,549 will be used to for cultural development projects. At least $6,677 will be spent on cultural heritage initiatives, while $14,919 will be used to develop youth-oriented projects within the MRC.

Ministry gives over $172,000 for cultural development in the Huntingdon riding Read More »

Bill 40: Vindication for NFSB after appeals court sides with school boards

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

John Ryan, the chair of the New Frontiers School Board Council of Commissioners, says a recent decision by the Quebec Court of Appeal on Bill 40 is reason to celebrate.

In a ruling issued on April 3, the appeals court upheld a previous Superior Court judgement that found many provisions of Bill 40, which aimed to amend the Education Act regarding school organization and governance, are unconstitutional.

The Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA), along with the nine school boards including the NFSB, challenged the legislation after it was introduced in 2020. The bill brought profound changes to the way primary and secondary schools are governed in the province, largely by transforming school boards into service centres. QESBA argued that the bill infringed on Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which gives linguistic minority communities the right to manage and control education services.

QESBA president Joe Ortona says the association is thrilled that the rights of the English-speaking community have once again been recognized. “We truly hope that the government will decide not to take this crystal-clear decision of the Quebec Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa,” he adds.

The ruling, which was issued by judges Robert M. Mainville, Christine Baudouin, and Judith Harvie, essentially upholds the findings of constitutional invalidity included in the 2023 ruling issued by Superior Court judge Sylvain Lussier.

The case focused on the scope of the rights guaranteed by Section 23 of the charter, and who can exercise these rights. The Court of Appeal agreed that Bill 40 severely limits the abilities of the English-speaking community to choose representatives and to determine how government funding is used. The ruling also broadens the definition of rights holders to include “all individuals comprising the linguistic minority,” after the government argued that only parents of students enrolled in English-language institutions held these rights.

“It is as big, if not bigger than the Lussier judgement we received,” says Ryan, who refers to the ruling as a vindication. “It is a very strong judgement,” he adds, noting that both sides are now reviewing the 86-page document. “We have to dissect it, understand it, internalize it, and then look at our relationship with the government as school boards and how we can work together,” he explains.

“We were told one of the reasons that it worked well was the tremendous amount of work put into the original case,” Ryan says. “The work was very strong, and it was a well-argued case,” he adds, before noting that while they were confident in their arguments, the outcome could have gone the other way.

“It shows the value of citizenship, the value of participating in a democracy, and standing up for things when they are not going right,” says Ryan. “It reinforces the value of truth,” he continues, “and we need that today for obvious reasons.”

Bill 40: Vindication for NFSB after appeals court sides with school boards Read More »

Renovation projects to go ahead at NFSB schools

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

A government directive to cut over $510,000 from its operational budget will not keep the New Frontiers School Board (NFSB) from completing some much-needed renovations at area schools over the summer.

Four summer projects under the Building Maintenance Measure were approved during the February 4 meeting of the NFSB council of commissioners. The investments total over $3.88 million at the two regional high schools as well as two elementary schools.

These include plans for washroom renovations at Chateauguay Valley Regional High School in Ormstown that are expected to cost $646,300 before taxes, as well as a fourth phase of interior renovations at Ormstown Elementary School estimated at $664,985.

The third phase of a project to replace windows and doors at Howard S. Billings High School in Chateauguay was approved at a cost of $1,243,324, while a second phase of renovations at Hemmingford Elementary School expected to cost around $1,327,494 will take place over the summer.

The chair of the NFSB council of commissioners, John Ryan, says the projects were chosen because they were highest on the priority list. “It is a considerable investment,” he acknowledges, while admitting the envelope is smaller than in previous years.

“We still have a budget in terms of upgrading our buildings. We are trying to get them up to that satisfactory level across the system,” says NFSB director general Mike Helm. “We are doing the most that we can with the money that we have,” he maintains.

Other areas of spending on buildings have, however, been affected by government cuts to education. Proposals for expansion projects at Gault Institute in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield and at one of the four Chateauguay elementary schools, as well as the Chateauguay Valley Career Education Centre, are all on hold. “I don’t anticipate that we will hear anything on these until the fall,” Helm concedes. “2025-2026 will be status quo for us in terms of those projects that are required.”

Renovation projects to go ahead at NFSB schools Read More »

Summer job funding increases slightly but still falls short

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Salaberry-Suroît MP Claude DeBellefeuille says the Canada Summer Jobs envelope allocated to the riding once again falls short of the demand.

In a letter to applicants within the current Salaberry-Suroît riding, DeBellefeuille announced that the available funds for this season have been pegged at $812,000. She points out this represents only a slight increase over the $806,791 that was allocated in 2024.

DeBellefeuille expressed her disappointment, noting that the federal government’s allotment for the program does not meet the funding requests made for 2025, which total $1,179,179.

“It is the region’s young people who will suffer, as they will be deprived of many job opportunities,” DeBellefeuille lamented, while pointing out she disagrees with the decision. “We are currently making representations to inform the minister responsible of the needs within our communities,” she concluded.

Local businesses and organizations who responded to the program can expect to receive a notification soon regarding the status of their application.

According to Employment and Social Development Canada, last year’s funding helped to create 161 summer positions with 88 different businesses and organizations in Salaberry-Suroît.

In the neighbouring riding of Chateauguay-Lacolle, 68 businesses and organizations received a share of $752,091, which led to the creation of 204 jobs.

Across Quebec, at least 14,620 jobs were created through the Canada Summer Jobs program last year at a cost of $61,612,035. The program covers between 50 to 100 per cent of wages for full time employees for up to 16 weeks.

Summer job funding increases slightly but still falls short Read More »

Federal election: New riding boundaries and name changes are in place

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Election signs are already going up throughout the Valley as area candidates launched their campaigns over the weekend.

Across Canada, voters will head to the polls on April 28 after a 37-day campaign. At five weeks, this is the shortest allowable campaign period under Canadian law. Advance voting in both ridings will take place over the Easter weekend from April 18-21.

Area voters will now select representatives in the Beauharnois-Salaberry-Soulanges-Huntingdon (BSSH) riding and in Chateauguay-Les-Jardins-de-Napierville following the most recent electoral district redistribution. The boundaries for the ridings were enlarged to account for population growth and demographic changes across the region.

The candidates vying to represent the BSSH riding include frontrunner Claude DeBellefeuille, who is looking for her fifth term in office for the Bloc Québécois. She is running against Miguel Perras of the Liberal Party, as well as Tyler Jones for the New Democratic Party (NDP). Kristian Solarik will represent the Green Party, while Martin Lévesque stumps for the People’s Party of Canada (PPC). As of press time, the Conservative Party had not confirmed its nominee.

Change will be coming for the Chateauguay—Les-Jardins-de-Napierville riding as current MP Brenda Shanahan has stepped away. The candidates looking to take over this seat include Bloc Québécois nominee Patrick O’Hara, David De Repentigny for the Conservative Party, newcomer Nathalie Provost for the Liberal Party, and Nicholas Guerin, who represents the PPC. The NDP and the Green Party had not confirmed their candidates as of press time.

Federal election: New riding boundaries and name changes are in place Read More »

NFSB reduces budget by $510,000 after province makes cuts to education

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The New Frontiers School Board (NFSB) has cut over $510,000 from its operating budget for the remainder of the year following a directive issued by the provincial government.

NFSB director general Mike Helm was called to a meeting on December 13 where administrators from across the province were informed that the Ministry of Education was clawing back $200 million from school boards and service centres by March 31.

This translated into a budget cut of just over $510,552 at the NFSB, with less than three months to recover the funds.

The Ministry of Education indicated that budget surpluses could not be used, and that cuts could not directly impact services. As a result, the NFSB council of commissioners adopted a revised budget providing for revenues of $93,655,481 and expenses totaling $93,579,463. The same surplus amount of $76,018 was maintained from the initial budget passed in September.

“It was extremely difficult, because the majority of our budget is human resources,” says Helm. “So being told halfway through the school year that you have to make these reductions, you’re actually working with a very small amount of money,” he explains, noting that some of the flexibility within the budget had already been spent.

“In order for us to not hit the classroom, we really had to look at it from several different pockets as opposed to just trying to take it from one area,” he says.

With only three months to react, the NFSB moved to reduce or restrict travel, professional development, and overtime. Funds will be strategically managed moving forward, and purchasing will be limited to the essentials.

“One of the biggest areas in terms of us finding the monies was, in essence, not replacing people who went on a leave of absence,” says Helm. He acknowledges that keeping some vacancies open will save some money, but “It comes at a cost, as those duties and responsibilities now have fallen onto the shoulders of a number of people.”

The NFSB Council of Commissioners chair, John Ryan, admits the government directive came as a surprise and quite a shock. “The professionals took the time to look at it and run the numbers. They came up with a series of steps that added up to the right amount,” he says.

“We were able to do it, and I have to give a tremendous amount of credit to the people that worked on it and made those decisions with the lens of protecting our students and our clientele as much as possible,” Ryan says, while suggesting it has amounted to extra stress on everyone.

Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard has been holding pre-budget consultations in preparation for the 2025-2026 provincial budget. Helm says that all indications are pointing toward uncertainties regarding the 2025-2026 school year. “I believe we are going to see a reduction, and then that will be proportioned out through all of the school boards and school service centres,” he says.

In the meantime, the rest of the school year will play out within very slim margins.

NFSB reduces budget by $510,000 after province makes cuts to education Read More »

Government anti-bullying activities will take over area classes for a week

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Quebec government is working to address the problem of bullying in schools. Education Minister Bernard Drainville has announced the first week of a plan to prevent violence and intimidation in schools will take place from March 17 to 21, in schools throughout the province.

As part of the Plan de Prévention de la Violence et de l’Intimidation à l’École (Plan to Prevent Violence and Intimidation in Schools), the week will include a series of activities aimed at students, staff, and parents. The theme for the week will focus on “Strengthening Respect and Good Citizenship in our Schools.”

“In all classes in Quebec, pupils will simultaneously put down their pencils and start a discussion with their teachers on how to prevent episodes of violence and intimidation that they have experienced (or are still experiencing) and to reinforce good citizenship and respect at school,” said Drainville, in a statement issued by the Ministère de l’Education.

The week will start with a province-wide moment of reflection and guided discussion following the broadcast of a video featuring Drainville, who will address students and staff in elementary cycle two and three classrooms as well as all secondary classes. Preschoolers and elementary cycle one students will also be expected to take part in the discussion, using a simplified activity adapted to their level.

Adult general education centres, vocational centres, and private educational institutions are also invited to participate in the initiative.

The government is providing a variety of activities for the remainder of the week as well, including classroom workshops, educational podcasts, and information sessions tailored to students in all grade levels, as well as parents and school staff.

“We have been assured that as many materials as possible will be available in English,” confirms the New Frontiers School Board’s assistant director general, Joyce Donohue. She says the NFSB reminded the education ministry that pedagogical materials needed to be provided in English for students and for parents as well.

Donohue says the board is expecting to receive the necessary information for the various activities at some point this week.

The Quebec government has also introduced a model plan for combatting violence and intimidation in schools. Use of the plan is expected to be mandatory in all schools for the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

“School is there for our children,” says Drainville, who notes that as a father and as minister of education, he is deeply concerned about the violence and intimidation suffered by Quebec students.

“Respect and good citizenship should not only be taught; they should also be experienced on a daily basis. This responsibility begins at home with the parents and continues at school,” he says, noting all those in the school community are invited to participate in this national week to root out bullying.

Government anti-bullying activities will take over area classes for a week Read More »

NFSB consultations focus on solutions to school violence and intimidation

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The New Frontiers School Board (NFSB) has been listening and learning more about the extent of bullying and violence within its schools and centres.

Nine members of the NFSB’s Task Force on the Prevention of Bullying and Violence were present at Chateauguay Valley Regional High School on February 27 for the second of two public consultations. A previous meeting took place at Howard S. Billings High School in Chateauguay earlier in the month.

The representatives for the task force, including school principals, school board administrators, special education technicians, teachers, caretakers, and the NFSB’s assistant director general, Joyce Donohue, gave a brief presentation before giving the floor to a small group of parents in attendance.

Questions about security and supervision were raised, with one parent suggesting that some children do not feel safe at school. “They should have a right to come to school and to feel safe and to graduate!” she exclaimed. “That is not where we are at,” she lamented.

“One thing that we want to do as a focus group is to protect everyone,” said one task force member. “As a school board and as a school, we have to find solutions,” they added.

Screens, exposure to social media, and peer pressure were also raised by those present as important topics to be addressed.

“At both consultations, we were able to have rich exchanges with members of our community, who generously provided their insights and feedback that we will be able to consider for our recommendations,” says Donohue, who is heading up the task force. She credits the expertise and passion exhibited by task force members for providing these opportunities to exchange with parents and the school community.

Following the public consultations, which have also included an interactive ThoughtExchange survey, the task force will prepare a report summarizing the various strategies, tools, measures, and resources brought forward to address the issue. The report is expected to be delivered by the end of this school year.

Along with those who attended the in-person consultations, there have been 122 participants in the ThoughtExchange survey. At least 114 thoughts were contributed, and these were rated at least 1,261 times. Key words have emerged from the process, including “communication,” “parents,” “resources,” and “safe.”

The public consultation in Ormstown was also attended by the chair of the NFSB council of commissioners, John Ryan, who says the fact this forum is in place represents a good step. “We wanted to get out there and do as much research and brainstorming for our own community, with our own realities, to see what we can come up with,” he explains. “It is extremely rich and rare to sit and talk about any one topic for that length of time. You never lose by doing that,” he adds.

Ryan also notes how rare it is for the public to hear what those being bullied are going through. “It’s a very personal thing, and people on the front lines hear a lot about it, because they are meeting people who come in and who talk with them; but we normally don’t get to hear this,” he says. “When you are exposed to these stories, your basic instinct or response is to say that we have to do something. We have to help.”

NFSB consultations focus on solutions to school violence and intimidation Read More »

Upcoming election call will usher in new riding boundaries

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

An election call in Canada is expected to be announced in the coming days, once Mark Carney is sworn in as the new leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and as prime minister.

The election will usher in many changes for the country. At the local level, candidates in the current Salaberry-Suroît riding will find themselves running to represent the constituents of Beauharnois-Salaberry-Soulanges-Huntingdon (BSSH). The Chateauguay-Lacolle riding will also change names, becoming Chateauguay-Les-Jardins-de-Napierville.

The new riding boundaries, which were announced following the 2022 redistribution of federal electoral districts, will see the Haut-Saint-Laurent split in two – where the Town of Huntingdon, as well as the municipalities of Elgin, Hinchinbrooke, Ormstown, Saint-Anicet, Sainte-Barbe, and the township municipalities of Dundee and Godmanchester, as well as Akwesasne, will be part of the BSSH riding.

The Chateauguay-Les Jardins-de-Napierville riding will include all the municipalities in the MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville, including Hemmingford Village and Hemmingford Township, as well as the municipalities of Franklin, Howick, and Saint-Chrysostome, and the parish municipality of Très-Saint-Sacrement.

Salaberry-Suroît MP and Bloc Québécois candidate Claude DeBellefeuille has already announced she will seek a fifth term in the next election. She says that while it is not ideal for an MRC to be divided between two federal ridings, the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent was one of only a handful of MRCs that had not been split in some way prior to this election. “When there is a redistribution every ten years, and the demographic growth is happening outside of the Haut-Saint-Laurent, at a certain point the electoral commission has to create a boundary somewhere,” she explains.

DeBellefeuille says she would not be surprised, given the demographic growth predicted in Vaudreuil, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Beauharnois and Soulanges, if the Haut-Saint-Laurent were to be reunited in ten years following the next redistribution process, but towards the Chateauguay-Les-Jardins-de-Napierville riding.

The new BSSH riding will be the second most populous in Quebec after the new Vaudreuil riding. DeBellefeuille says she is more concerned about the upcoming election than the change in boundaries. “A quick election call is in everyone’s interest,” she insists, suggesting the government is not being taken seriously by the United States because parliament is not sitting.

“If we want to do our job properly, it is absolutely essential that the election be called quickly so a legitimate and democratically elected government is in place,” DeBellefeuille says, while pointing out that the U.S. administration is seeding uncertainty, which is not good for Quebecers. She says the next few weeks will be very interesting.

Tyler Jones, the newly acclaimed candidate in the BSSH riding for the federal New Democratic Party, agrees. “Everything is up in the air right now,” says the first-time candidate, who is growing his team of volunteers while introducing himself to the many communities in the riding.

Jones knows the Chateauguay Valley well, and says he is disappointed that the Haut-Saint-Laurent was separated between the two ridings. He says he would work to ensure common ground is found between the two ridings and that the area is properly represented as a whole, despite the boundary line.

He says he is also concerned about the upcoming election with so little time to prepare. “It is just a question of connecting with voters, and getting out and hearing their concerns and frustrations,” he adds, while acknowledging there is a lot of territory to cover and a lot of different issues at hand.

The official candidates for the federal Liberal and Conservative parties in the BSSH riding were not named as of press time. Kristian Solarik will run once again for the Green Party of Canada, while Martin Lévesque will run for the People’s Party of Canada.

None of the main federal parties have announced the names of their candidates in the Chateauguay-Jardins-de-Napierville riding.

Upcoming election call will usher in new riding boundaries Read More »

Cedar Rooms at regional schools share awareness of Indigenous culture

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Callan Forrester – LJI reporter

Recently, the New Frontiers School Board (NFSB) launched an initiative as part of its commitment to reconciliation towards the Indigenous students at its schools. Both Howard S. Billings and Chateauguay Valley Regional (CVR) high schools have opened a Cedar Room as a part of this: a space where students can learn about and celebrate Indigenous culture.

Isabelle Arsenault is an Indigenous (Inuk from Iqaluit) teacher at CVR and is the leader of its Cedar Room. She explains that the goal of the space is “to provide academic and social emotional support to our Indigenous community and to educate and to provide cultural information to the whole school community.” Arsenault also asked fellow CVR teacher Brittany Marlin to help with the Cedar Room, since it does require quite a bit of time, energy, and paperwork.

Though the Cedar Room is a place where Indigenous students can feel represented, it welcomes all CVR students. “It’s just a small step for our school that is working towards reconciliation, and I think it’s important that it’s open to both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous students so that everyone is getting the same information … working together is very important,” Marlin says.

The Cedar Room hosts a variety of activities, but it is also a cultural centre where students can go to relax and have tea. Arsenault explains that they have done activities like beading (including making beaded ornaments), making monthly bannock (a traditional Indigenous bread), having tea gatherings, and collaborating with Billings to organize an outing for Indigenous students to participate in an event organized by Native Montreal. Last May, they also had a ceremony for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). Marlin shares that this year they hope to continue these activities and potentially invite a guest speaker to the school.

Arsenault says that it is important to have a space like this at CVR because it “brings awareness to Indigenous culture and to have a safe space for everyone to learn together.” Marlin emphasizes that education is often the cure for prejudice, saying that “People are more comfortable and open-minded to things that they understand, and if they can gain some kind of understanding, appreciation, or feel some kind of connection from coming to the room, then people feel more protective and open-minded.”

Though this initiative is fairly new, they have already done a lot of great work and have plans to keep growing and sharing Indigenous culture with the CVR community.

Cedar Rooms at regional schools share awareness of Indigenous culture Read More »

Three snow days in two weeks at New Frontiers School Board

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The New Frontiers School Board director general, Mike Helm, says he can’t remember a time when schools were closed two days in a row because of a snowstorm.

Few will forget the ice storm of 1998 and the resulting school closures, but that was different. What fell between February 13 and 16 was just snow, but there was a lot of it, and when mixed with high winds, it quickly became dangerous.

The NFSB called three snow days in the aftermath of the back-to-back storms, which means three conditional pedagogical days scheduled for March 21, April 11, and May 20 will now become regular school days.

Students at Chateauguay Valley Regional High School missed an additional day on January 27 due to plumbing equipment failure, which, Helm admits, has made for a challenging start to the term.

“There will be some juggling with teachers, but for the most part things are OK within the system for having missed this many days,” Helm says. “Our staff are working with their curriculum throughout the course of the year, and built into that curriculum is opportunity for remediation and enrichment time. They may end up having to change some of those things right now.”

There were only three conditional ped days in the school calendar, which have now been used. Helm admits that if the schools are forced to close again for weather or other circumstances, “then every day becomes more challenging from this point on.”

Helm says interruptions caused by snow or freezing rain are sometimes called in advance, as was the case on February 16 when parents were informed the night before that schools would be closed. This happens when the NFSB has reliable information guaranteeing difficult conditions in the morning.

In cases such as February 17, the NFSB waited until the morning before cancelling classes, and this was done in communication with the transport companies.

“Severe winds and blowing snow had created white ice. There were road closures on our main highways, and in some of our rural areas we would not have been able to get to the student to bring them in,” he says, noting the transporters were uncomfortable with the conditions.

Helm says that in the aftermath of the storms, maintenance workers were asked to verify the rooftops of the different buildings and to check for drifting snow against structures to ensure there were no emergency situations. The greenhouse at Howard S. Billings High School in Chateauguay collapsed, but no other damage was reported.

Three snow days in two weeks at New Frontiers School Board Read More »

DeBellefeuille sets her sights on a fifth term

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

With all signs pointing toward an election being called once parliament returns from prorogation in late March, the parties are already gearing up for a spring vote.

Salaberry-Suroît MP Claude DeBellefeuille has already thrown her hat into the ring, announcing on January 7 that she will seek a fifth term representing the region as a member of the Bloc Québécois in Ottawa.

DeBellefeuille’s first term in office stretched from 2006 to 2011. She ran in both the 2011 and 2015 elections, before regaining her seat in the House of Commons from 2019 to the present.

During this last year, DeBellefeuille said she continued to bring people together to find solutions to challenging issues. She specifically mentioned convening the Comité d’Action de Suivi pour la Voie Maritime, which she initiated in 2019, to mitigate the planned closure of the Larocque Bridge at the start of last year.

DeBellefeuille also highlighted efforts to bring the RCMP and border municipalities together over border control issues. The deputy was instrumental in the creation of a single telephone number that citizens could call to reach the RCMP, the circulation of an informative leaflet to border residents, and new aluminium panels to be installed with the phone number to reach the RCMP.

She also noted the Bloc Québécois’ support for seniors, and the party’s hard push to withdraw supply-managed products from trade negotiations with Bill C-282, which passed all stages in the House of Commons before stalling in the Senate.

Salaberry-Suroit MP Claude DeBellefeuille has announced she will run again in the next federal election, which is expected to be called sometime this spring. (PHOTO Facebook MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent)

DeBellefeuille said she is determined to continue this work in her riding. “I’m extremely happy in my role as MP; it’s a position that fills me with happiness,” she stated, noting it is an honour to serve the citizens of Salaberry-Suroît.

“My work in Ottawa isn’t over yet, and I’m determined to keep on making things happen,” she added.

Regarding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation on January 6, DeBellefeuille acknowledged his commitment to the public, before adding she believes he made the right decision to step down.

“Regardless of the leader, regardless of the circumstances, there must be an election in the spring of 2025!” she exclaimed.

Once called, this election will mark DeBellefeuille’s seventh campaign. If re-elected, she will take office for her third consecutive, and fifth term in 18 years.

DeBellefeuille sets her sights on a fifth term Read More »

New Frontiers to reinstate francization courses

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The New Frontiers School Board (NFSB) is among the school service centres and school boards to receive additional funding to restart francization courses that were shuttered in November after government funds ran dry.

The Quebec government announced in early December that $10 million would be allocated to school service centres and boards across the province based on the needs in different regions.

According to Louisa Benvenuti, the manager of administrative and communication services with the NFSB, the board has been given an allotment for 13 full-time equivalent student places for French-language courses expected to run between January and March. This will allow the NFSB to register approximately 50 part-time students at the NOVA Career Centre in Chateauguay.

Benvenuti says there is a possibility the NFSB will be able to offer another round of courses accommodating around the same number of students from April to June.

The students will be referred to the NFSB by Francisation Quebec, a government-mandated agency established through the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation, et de l’Integration to oversee French language courses offered for free to newcomers to the province.

Francisation Quebec will prioritize students who are currently on waiting lists; however, Benvenuti suggests that past students attending courses through the NFSB may not be referred back to the board.

The Centre de Services Scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands was not included on the list of service centres and school boards to receive additional government funding to restart courses. As a result, the suspended francization courses being run through the Centre de Formation Générale des Adultes des Tisserands will remain closed for now.

New Frontiers to reinstate francization courses Read More »

Santé Québec is now at the helm of local health services

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

As of December 1, the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO) ceased to exist. Local health services will now be provided by Santé Québec Montérégie-Ouest (SQMO), which is part of a provincial network of health-care agencies organized under the newly created crown corporation.

Claude Jolin, who chairs the CISSSMO’s board of directors, referred to the change in governance as an important milestone and major transformation, during the organization’s annual general meeting and public information session on November 27. “We have begun to prepare ourselves to ensure a smooth transition and to continue to offer excellent care,” he confirmed.

Representatives from the CISSSMO talked about the transition to Santé Québec on November 27 during the organization’s annual general meeting and public information session. (PHOTO Sarah Rennie)

CISSSMO’s deputy president and CEO, Dominique Pilon, explained that while there will be a significant adjustment period, he considers the changes to be positive. “This is not the end. It is the beginning of a great adventure for the entire network,” he said.

Johanne Fleurant, the assistant director of social programs, rehabilitation, and public health at the CISSSMO, then presented the details relating to this change and what it will mean for the local health network.

She pointed out that sweeping healthcare reforms tend to happen in Quebec around every nine or ten years. The last major upheaval was in 2015, when the integrated health and social services centres (CISSS) were first introduced.

The main change this time around is that Santé Québec is a crown corporation that will become the single employer for healthcare workers in the Quebec’s public sector. “We don’t yet know the full extent of the changes this will bring,” admitted Fleurant. Santé Québec will be responsible for coordinating all health and social service resources, as well as strategic planning. It will then be up to health-care establishments to put these plans into operation based on the resources and healthcare needs of the population.

The current board of directors for the CISSSMO will remain in place until June 2025 to ensure the transition to the new governance structure goes smoothly. The board will then become an institutional board of directors with an advisory role, made up of users, representatives from the research community, healthcare facilities, human resources management, the business community, and the various hospital and support foundations.

There will also be certain criteria for the composition of boards, including a requirement that two-thirds of all members be independent, and 40 per cent of seats must be filled by women. Boards will also be required to reflect Quebec’s diversity while taking the socio-cultural, ethno-cultural, and linguistic composition of the territory into account.

Fleurant explained that the transition will allow the SQMO to access best practices from across the network and export them to the Montérégie-Ouest. She noted the change will also allow for resources to be pooled across the province, while allowing for greater staff mobility across different sites at the more local level.

Beyond returning to a balanced budget, Fleurant said that over the next several months the SQMO will be rolling out a new integrated plan to improve access by March 2025, coordinate services, and support the major transformations currently underway.

Santé Québec is now at the helm of local health services Read More »

Striking postal workers demonstrate in Valleyfield

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The 85 members of Valleyfield local 460 of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have been waving flags and handmade signs during daily demonstrations outside the Canada Post depot on Victoria Street in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

The local represents Valley postal workers from Hemmingford to Dundee as well as the city of Valleyfield. Its members, along with the 55,000 other postal workers across Canada, walked off the job as part of a nationwide general strike on November 15.

Negotiations with a government-imposed mediator have been taking place since November 19 with both the urban and the rural and suburban mail carriers (RSMC) bargaining units. The CUPW has rejected a proposed 11.5 per cent wage increase over four years, asking instead for 22 per cent over the same period.

Talks between the RSMC union representative and management have focused on issues such as pay stability, validation, hourly rates, and maintaining hours. The urban units have focused on issues such as salary, minimum hours for part-time workers, and weekend delivery demands aimed at competing with “gig-economy” platforms that deliver parcels as cheaply as possible. The union is concerned this could impact full-time carrier routes on weekdays.

Postal workers with Local 460 in Valleyfield have been demonstrating in front of the Canada Post depot on Victoria Street in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield since the general strike was called on November 15. (PHOTO Sarah Rennie)

According to daily negotiations updates posted by the CUPW there has been some progress, with sides exchanging proposals; however, a lot of ground remains.

The federal government ended past work stoppages in 2011 and 2018 by legislating postal workers back to their routes. Jonathan Theoret, the president of Local 460, said he hopes the government will let the employees fight this one out. “We had a 98.5 [per cent] strike vote. That’s really strong,” he said, noting this is the first general strike since 2011.

“We have had special legislation every four years for 20 years,” he explained, noting that the workers signed a contract extension without negotiation two years ago during the pandemic. “Now is the time to ask for what we want,” he continued, noting that salary-wise, employees want to return to the same purchasing power they had in 2020.

Theoret said that so far, support from the public seems strong. “I understand that the market has changed in the past six years. I think the public likes Canada Post, and it is here to stay. It is a service we offer to everyone, even in the North,” he commented. “I understand there are financial challenges, but we all have to face this together,” he added, suggesting Canada Post needs to change as well.

No pickup or delivery

The work stoppage has shut down Canada Post operations entirely. The Crown corporation has said that mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered during the strike, and some post offices will be closed. No mail will be accepted, and service guarantees for items already in the network will be affected.

According to Canada Post, items will be delivered as quickly as possible once operations resume on a first-in, first-out basis, though it cautions that processing and delivery may take some time to return to normal.

The uncertainty around Canada Post’s ability to deliver the sizeable backlog of mail in a timely matter once the strike ends has some consumers holding off on purchases. Christina Fasoula, the owner of the Tricot Laines Studio yarn store and gift shop in Huntingdon, relies on Canada Post to receive and ship her products and has already lost sales due to the strike.

“It is not like we are in Montreal where there are other options. There are multiple companies that you can use to ship without Canada Post, but they are in larger towns. For us, it is not an option,” she explained, noting those options can also be expensive.

Fasoula says that while the strike is causing some complications for small businesses, she is hopeful that locals will consider doing their holiday shopping closer to home, where they can skip the stress of waiting for delivery.

Striking postal workers demonstrate in Valleyfield Read More »

Canada/U.S. border hours to be halved at local crossings

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Travellers who frequently use the Trout River or Herdman border crossings to enter the United States are in for a shock.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced on Monday that it would be adjusting the service hours at 35 land ports of entry across the country as of January 6, 2025. This is being done in collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which is adjusting its service hours at 38 ports of entry.

In the Haut-Saint-Laurent, the hours of service at the Trout River crossing, which connects the municipality of Elgin to Constable, New York, will permanently be reduced by half – from the current 24 hours to 12, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The Herdman crossing, which links the municipality of Hinchinbrooke with Chateauguay, New York, will also be limited to between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The Lacolle Route 223 border crossing at Rouses Point in New York will similarly see its hours reduced, from 24 hours to 12: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Trout River border crossing in Elgin is one of three area crossings that will see its operating hours reduced by half, following a collaborative agreement between the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The reduced hours at the Trout River, Herdman, and Lacolle Route 223 (Rouses Point) ports of entry will start on January 6, 2025. (PHOTO Sarah Rennie)

In a statement, the CBSA said the changes will enhance overall security for both countries. “It will allow the CBSA to use its resources more efficiently by deploying officers at busier ports of entry. This will support the CBSA’s ability to process travellers and goods as well as to manage enforcement activities.”

The service hours at the three connecting U.S. ports of entry will now align with the Canadian hours of operation. The CBSA said this “will allow both countries to return inadmissible travellers and goods to the other country, which is more difficult when one side of the border is closed while the other remains open.”

The CBSA maintains the change is based on an “analysis of operational pressures, peak periods, and services required at the ports of entry, to minimize the impacts on border communities.”

According to the CBSA, the ports of entry process an average of two or less vehicles or commercial trucks per hour during the period they will no longer be in operation. The CBSA notes that alternative border crossing options exist within a 100-kilometre radius, notably at the Dundee-Fort Covington and the Hemmingford-Mooers ports of entry.

‘A misguided decision’

The Customs and Immigration Union (CIU), which represents CBSA officers and personnel, is demanding the agency reverse its decision. Union president Mark Weber referred to the move as an “incredibly misguided decision.” In a statement, the CIU said the decision was made without consulting frontline officers working at the affected ports, or the border communities in which the crossings are located.

A CBSA employee, who spoke with The Gleaner on condition of anonymity, confirmed that employees at the affected border crossings were given no advance warning of the reduction in hours. They said that officers were told they would not lose their jobs, but that some would be relocated to larger ports. “Our personal and family lives will be sacrificed because of this,” they added, noting the long commute that may be imposed on border service agency officers.

“Most locals think this is temporary, but it’s not. It’s permanent,” they pointed out, noting that while the custom offices will be closed at 6 p.m., travellers should not expect to cross up to the last minute. “It will be more like 5:30 or 5:45 p.m.”

The officer is concerned that security along the border will be impacted as well. “We are actually stopping people from coming in, criminals, drugs, and guns,” they said, while questioning how leaving a nearly 80-kilometre stretch of the border less secure overnight improves security.

Impact on families and the economy

Elgin director general Guylaine Carrière said the CBSA contacted her about the reduced hours. She says members of the council expressed their disappointment with the decision when she relayed the news, noting it will be a discussed during the regular meeting in December.

“I find it very, very early,” said Carrière of the 6 p.m. closing. “It will have a major impact on a lot of the families here in Elgin,” she added, while suggesting there will no doubt be consequences for the local economy as well. She was also taken aback by how soon the changes will come into force, noting the timeframe does not give people and businesses much time to adapt.

Carrière said she spoke with the CBSA about the fire-rescue mutual aid agreements that exist on both sides of the border, and was told a procedure would be put in place to allow first responders to cross at all hours in the event of an emergency. She admitted that while this is positive news, there were delays in response times when the border was closed during the pandemic.

The reduced hours are problematic for those who live on one side of the border but who work on the other, or who cross regularly for work. For Rick and Kenny Van Winden, who own land and farm in Chateauguay and Burke, New York, the new hours will be particularly challenging.

“They have been combining there for the last couple of weeks, and they are not home until 11 or 12 at night,” said Natalie Wattie, who is married to Kenny. “It is going to cause some problems, because while some springs and falls are ok, some are not. If you are planting and missing that window because you can’t cross, then you can’t get your crops in on time,” she explained.

“There is never a time when they are done at 5:30 p.m.,” Wattie added, noting the detour to Hemmingford or Dundee on a tractor would be “insane.”

Politicians express concern

New York State senator Dan Stec issued a statement on November 21 blasting the decision. “You can’t have a part-time border!” he exclaimed; while highlighting the disruption this will cause to the unique relationship that exists between communities, referring specifically to the mutual-aid pacts in place. The senator also pointed to the “turmoil” created in the region by irregular immigration, to suggest the move will impact the safety of those living along the border.

New York governor Kathy Hochul has publicly stated her opposition to reducing operating hours at the border, calling on the CBP to reverse its decision.

 On the Canadian side, Salaberry-Suroît MP Claude DeBellefeuille has also come out against the CBSA’s decision. “I cannot support a reduction in service that will have an impact not only on citizens, but also on businesses in our region,” she said, while decrying the lengthy detours this will entail. “I am already getting calls from businesses expressing their dissatisfaction,” she added.

“We know that there are major issues at the border,” said DeBellefeuille. “It strikes me as an odd time for the Border Services Agency to cut their services.”

The MP is now asking citizens and businesses who are affected by this announcement to contact her team so they can document the impact of the CBSA’s decision in the region.

Those interested in sharing their story can contact DeBellefeuille’s office by email at: claude.debellefeuille@parl.gc.ca.

Canada/U.S. border hours to be halved at local crossings Read More »

New CT scanner is coming to Barrie Memorial Hospital

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Barrie Memorial Hospital was at the forefront of medical imagery in 2010, when a new CT scanner was installed at the Ormstown-based facility. Though still useful, that CT scanner is becoming obsolete.

“The replacement of the CT scanner is scheduled for the near future,” confirms a representative for the Communications and Public Affairs Department at the Center intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO). She says that while the decision has been made to provide a new scanner, the regional health authority is not yet able to provide a precise timeline for its arrival.

The current CT scanner and the associated expenses to renovate the medical imaging department in 2010 cost $1.94 million. At least $350,000 was contributed by the Agence de la Santé et des services sociaux de la Montérégie, which eventually became the CISSSMO, as well as $150,000 from the Québec Foundation for the Barrie Memorial Hospital. As was previously reported, the bulk of the funds necessary to secure the purchase of the scan came from the Barrie Memorial Hospital Foundation (BMHF), which contributed $1.44 million to the project.

The CISSSMO considers the foundation to be an essential partner when it comes to developing the hospital. “Its ongoing commitment and interest in supporting projects enables us to enhance the quality of care and services offered at the hospital for the benefit of patients and employees alike,” says the representative.

“The foundation’s work, as well as that of the Women’s Auxiliary, with whom we also work very closely, is of great value to the community, as they actively and dynamically contribute to improving our care environment,” she added.

Philippe Besombes, the vice-president of the BMHF, says the organization will soon begin fundraising to cover the costs associated with accommodating the new technology. He estimates the costs for this part of the project will be around $250,000.

New CT scanner is coming to Barrie Memorial Hospital Read More »

One councillor is elected at NFSB

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The New Frontiers School Board was among the five English-language school boards to hold elections across the province on November 3.

Anne-Marie Yelle was elected as the commissioner of ward number 6, which includes the territories of Beauharnois, Saint-Étienne-de-Beauharnois, and Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. The ten other positions, including nine commissioners and the chair, were all elected by acclamation.

All members of the council of commissioners will be sworn in during a special meeting on Tuesday, November 19, at Howard S. Billings Regional High School in Chateauguay. The council now includes John Ryan, who will serve a second term as chair, as well as Raymond Ledoux, Karin Van Droffelaar, Lina Chouinard, Kenneth Crockett, Cristian Espinosa-Fuentes, Dianne Eastwood, Peter Stuckey, Barbara Ednie, and Connor Stacey.

One councillor is elected at NFSB Read More »

More families turn to food banks in 2024

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Following the release of the annual Bilan Faim report by the Banques Alimentaires du Québec on October 28, the Moisson Sud-Ouest food bank says it continues to see a considerable increase in demand for food aid.

In the last three years, the number of requests for food aid in the Haut-Saint-Laurent, Beauharnois-Salaberry, Vaudreuil-Soulanges, and Roussillon regions has grown by 30,206.

The statistics suggest the number of individuals and families in need is similarly growing across the country. Food Banks Canada says that a six-per cent increase in visits to food banks was registered nationally compared with last year – representing a 90-per cent increase since 2019. Organizations partnering with the network of food banks across Quebec are now responding to 2.9 million food aid requests per month – an increase of 13 per cent over last year’s numbers.

Over 35 per cent of those benefiting from food aid through one of the 80 food pantries and organizations served by Moisson Sud-Ouest are children. In addition to the food aid being distributed to homes with children, over 35,000 snacks are distributed each month. The organization reports that over 1,000 food baskets per month are distributed to employed individuals, and over 10 per cent of those relying on food baskets own their home.

In a press release, Moisson Sud-Ouest points out that the $30 million granted by the government in the last budget allowed the network of food banks to purchase more food to meet the demand. It notes that while the government’s recently released action plan to fight poverty and social exclusion is a step in the right direction, even stronger public policy is needed to fight poverty and hunger before the most vulnerable in society will see any concrete impacts.

“For the first time, the issue of food security has been recognized in the government’s action plan to combat poverty. However, we need to do more to reduce the enormous pressure exerted by the growing need for food aid,” says Yan Ouellette, the director of communications and philanthropy at Moisson Sud-Ouest. He suggests the government must act now to help those facing food insecurity by attacking the root causes of poverty. “We have recognized the state of emergency; now we must act to help the most vulnerable and reverse the trend we are facing,” he notes.

According to the Bilan Faim, 72 per cent of the organizations served by Quebec food banks faced shortages, and 54 per cent were forced to purchase food to meet the demand.

“Our organization is doing all it can to meet the demand, notably by setting up initiatives in collaboration with several partners in the region to increase the volume of foodstuffs we distribute, or by holding recurring fund-raising campaigns, but that’s not enough,” says Moisson Sud-Ouest director Stéphane Spisak. “We will continue to do all we can to support those in need, but alone, we cannot solve the problem at the source.”

The annual Guignolée des medias du Suroît fundraiser for Moisson Sud-Ouest will run from November 22 to December 31.

More families turn to food banks in 2024 Read More »

Internet access now available at Barrie Memorial Hospital

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Barrie Memorial Hospital Foundation (BMHF) has been covering the costs of providing free internet access to emergency room patients for the past several years. Now, hospitalized patients and their families can also benefit from reliable wireless internet access, thanks to the foundation.

“More and more people bring their computer or tablet when they are hospitalized,” says BMHF vice-president Philippe Besombes. The foundation reached out to the Centre intégré de santé et services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO), which agreed to allow the foundation to install a router on the third floor.

According to Besombes, the Barrie Memorial is not the first of the three hospitals in the Montérégie-Ouest to offer free WiFi services to all its patients. “For us it is a big plus, and it was one of the things we really wanted to do for the well-being of patients at the hospital,” he explained, noting that while many now have data plans included with their phones, many do not have unlimited access to the internet through their devices.

Besombes says the next big project for the foundation revolves around the hospital’s current CT scanner, which was installed in 2010 and is due to be replaced. The CT scanner and necessary renovations to the medical imaging department at that time cost $1,94 million, to which the BMHF contributed $1,44 million.

“When we bought this scanner for the hospital, it was the most powerful scanner in the region,” Besombes says, “but now it is at the end of its life.” This time around, the foundation will not finance the equipment but will finance the necessary renovations to the department. “We are planning to spend around $250,000,” he reveals, suggesting the foundation will soon begin fundraising for the project.

The Gleaner reached out to the CISSSMO to confirm the regional health authority was planning to replace the CT scanner, but did not receive a response by press time.

“We think it is at least two years away,” says Besombes, noting the authorization and procurement process with the CISSSMO will no doubt take some time.

PHOTO Sarah Rennie The president of the Barrie Memorial Hospital Foundation, Robert Greig, and vice-president Philippe Besombes tested the Wi-Fi signal on the third floor of the hospital last week. Hospitalized patients and their families can now benefit from free wireless internet access throughout the hospital.

Internet access now available at Barrie Memorial Hospital Read More »

Farmers and politicians rally over stalled supply management bill

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Over 200 representatives from the agricultural and agrifood industry demonstrated on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on October 10, to demand that the senate immediately adopt Bill C-282 which protects supply management.

Protesters were joined by elected representatives from all five major political parties, including Salaberry-Suroît MP Claude DeBellefeuille and several senators, as they rallied in support of the private members’ bill that has now been stalled for over a year.

Martin Caron, the general president of the Union des Producteurs Agricoles (UPA), called on the members of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade to support the bill, which was adopted by a majority of MPs in the House of Commons in June 2023.

Canada has conceded nearly 8.4 per cent of its dairy production and processing during the last three international free-trade agreements it has signed, including the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union, the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, and the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement.

Caron argues that supply management is just as important for dairy and poultry producers as the government’s risk-management programs are for other production sectors.

“Supply management in Salaberry-Suroît represents over 350 family farms that generate more than 3,100 jobs,” said DeBellefeuille. Across Quebec, around 6,500 supply-managed farms create 116,000 jobs and are responsible for $8.7 billion in GDP and $2.1 billion in tax revenues.

“Supply management brings vitality to our villages,” added DeBellefeuille, who noted the quality products and expertise of the agrifood industry as well as the high environmental standards that ensure the quality of agricultural products. “The fact that two unelected senators are preventing C-282 from being adopted is not only unacceptable, but contrary to democracy!” she exclaimed.

Caron pointed out that Canada will no doubt continue to negotiate trade agreements, suggesting it was important to send a clear signal to trading partners who are similarly protecting their own sensitive sectors, such as sugar and cotton in the United States or rice in Japan.

Farmers and politicians rally over stalled supply management bill Read More »

Election set for New Frontiers School Board

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Registered voters in the Valleyfield, Beauharnois, and Saint-Étienne-de-Beauharnois electoral division will be called to the polls on November 3 to elect a representative to join the New Frontiers School Board council of commissioners.

Ten of the eleven available positions, including that of chair, were declared filled by acclamation when the period for submitting nomination papers closed on September 29.

The two candidates running for election in district number 6 are Corrine Kane and Anne-Marie Yelle. Those whose candidacy went uncontested include Raymond Ledoux, Karin Van Droffelaar, Lina Chouinard, Kenneth Crockett, Cristian Espinosa-Fuentes, Dianne Eastwood, Peter Stuckey, Barbara Ednie, Connor Stacey, and John Ryan, who will sit for a second term as chair.

Now that an election has been declared, NFSB director general Mike Helm says it is very important that those on the electoral list take the time to vote. “We really need people to come out,” says Helm, noting that a high voter turnout would benefit the English population.

“The concept of elections is probably more important now than ever, because we are under threat of losing that right to represent our community in the same way we have over many, many years,” says Ryan.

The provincial government attempted to abolish English school boards when it passed Bill 40 in 2020 which converted all French boards to school service centres. A 2023 ruling by the Quebec Superior Court determined that several of the provisions in Bill 40 relating to English school boards are unconstitutional. The government is appealing this decision.

“It is extremely important to vote, because if we don’t stand up and defend what we have, we are going to lose it,” says Ryan. “We have to protect it now, and keep it,” he says of the English-speaking community’s right to maintain elected councils. “Otherwise, there is no going back.”

Election set for New Frontiers School Board Read More »

Mosquitos are thriving,and so are mosquito-borne viruses

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

A wet August followed by a warmer-than-usual September has become a perfect combination for an extended mosquito season.

Besides being a nuisance, mosquitos can transmit dangerous diseases such as West Nile Virus (WNV) and the California serogroup virus, as well as eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), which has surfaced locally this summer in horses despite generally being considered quite rare.

Chantal Vallée, a senior advisor with the communications and public affairs department at the Centre intégré de santé et services sociaux de la Montérégie-Centre, confirms there have been no human cases of EEE reported in the Montérégie to date. She notes, however, that an increase in WNV infections has been detected in the region.

WNV has been endemic or regularly occurring in Quebec since 2002. It is a mandatory reportable disease in Quebec, and the number of cases identified each year are recorded by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux. The number of WNV infections tends to increase cyclically every four to five years, and the province is anticipating cases may continue to rise this fall.

As of September 26, there have been 61 cases confirmed across the province, and of those, 26 were diagnosed in the Montérégie. Only 20 cases of WNV were reported in Quebec in 2023, including six in the Montérégie.

Vallée says the Direction de Santé Publique de la Montérégie (DSPM) issued a call for vigilance in August to alert health-care professionals throughout the region to the potential risks posed by these infections.

“In the presence of symptoms affecting the nervous system, health-care professionals are being encouraged to look for these infections by performing the appropriate tests,” says Vallée.

The DSPM also encourages the adoption of preventive measures, especially for people at greater risk of serious illness, including individuals over 50-years-old, and those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer.

Vallée confirms it is important people protect themselves against mosquito bites as long as mosquitos are active this fall.

Mosquitos are thriving,and so are mosquito-borne viruses Read More »

Job market a challenge for region’s English speakers

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Montérégie-West Community Network (MWCN) hosted the region’s first employment roundtable focused exclusively on the five MRCs that make up the Montérégie on September 26 at the wellness centre in Huntingdon.

Around 25 representatives from local employment-oriented organizations as well as regional development groups participated in the meeting, which included a presentation by the Provincial Employment Roundtable (PERT) on employment statistics in the region.

“We want to talk about the issues and try to find solutions to employability issues within the region,” said Joanne Basilières, the MWCN’s employability and mental health coordinator. She invited PERT to present the findings of its recently released employment profile of English speakers in the Montérégie, and to start a dialogue amongst the group on meeting the challenges facing this community.

Chad Walcott, the director of engagement and communications for PERT, opened his presentation by acknowledging English speakers are facing growing challenges in the labour market, with higher unemployment rates, lower incomes, and persistent barriers to accessing essential French language training. These are the main findings of the report, which also notes a widening gap in the unemployment rate between English and French speakers in Montérégie.

Since the 2016 Census, the unemployment rate for English speakers has increased from 7.5 per cent to 9.1 per cent, while the rate for French speakers has remained steady at 5.8 per cent. The stats are showing a consistent trend, says Walcott. “The gaps are there, and they are persisting,” he said, noting that while some of the data from the 2021 census may have been influenced by the pandemic, the gaps have been present since 2011 and even earlier.

In the Montérégie region, the English-speaking population accounts for 13.3 per cent of the total population, while in the Haut-Saint-Laurent, English speakers make up 30.4 per cent of the population. This is the second highest percentage after Vaudreuil-Soulanges, where 34 per cent of the population identify as English-speaking.

The unemployment rate among French speakers in the Haut-Saint-Laurent sits at 6.8 per cent, while 8.2 per cent of English speakers are unemployed. In Beauharnois-Salaberry, 5.9 per cent of French speakers are unemployed, while 9.1 per cent of those who speak English do not have jobs.

In the Haut-Saint-Laurent, English-speaking visible minorities are at the greatest disadvantage, where 25.8 per cent are unemployed. This figure is twice as high as in every other MRC in the Montérégie. Across the region, the unemployment rate for visible minorities is 10.9 per cent.

Walcott noted that along with a higher unemployment rate, English speakers were also earning less. In the Haut-Saint-Laurent, for example, English speakers earn roughly $3,800 less per year than their French-speaking neighbours, while visible minorities who speak English earn $9,000 less per year.

Walcott explained that even though English speakers are participating in the job market, there is a blockage. “The fit is not there for the job market,” he said, noting that this holds true despite the fact English speakers are generally more educated and are more likely to identify as bilingual.

For example, 80 per cent of English speakers in the Haut-Saint-Laurent have at least a secondary school diploma or equivalency certificate, while 72 per cent of French speakers have attained this level of education. The bilingualism rate for English speakers is 66.7 percent, while 50.9 per cent of French speakers identify as bilingual.

During the discussion that followed Walcott’s presentation, one participant noted that many want to work with the English-speaking population, but the resources are simply not there. “It is easier to hire someone who is handicapped than it is to hire someone who is unilingually English,” she pointed out.

Many suggested more funding for work-integrated learning programs would help English speakers gain professional skills while improving their French-Language skills on the job. Others pointed to a lack of funding for industry-specific language training as an issue, as well as the integration challenges facing English speakers working in French environments.

Job market a challenge for region’s English speakers Read More »

Nomination period for school board elections is now open

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Elections are set to take place this November at the nine English school boards across Quebec.

Notice was officially given on August 22 by the New Frontiers School Board that all eleven positions, including the chairperson and ten commissioners, will be up for election. Nomination papers for those interested in representing an electoral ward must be filed in person at the board office in Chateauguay by 5 p.m. on September 29. Should two or more candidates present themselves for one position, an election will take place on November 3.

“This is about making sure that the voices from the community are being heard, and this comes through the electoral process,” says NFSB director general Mike Helm. He says this public representation is especially important because it allows the board “to respond to the different needs in terms of ensuring the teaching and learning that is going on within our buildings.”

John Ryan, the current chair of the NFSB council of commissioners, says these elections are “probably more important now than ever, because we are under threat to lose this right to represent our community in the way we have over many, many years.”

Ryan has already announced his candidacy for re-election. He says it will be extremely important for eligible residents to vote if an election takes place. “We are the only elected voice for the English community at the provincial level,” he adds. “If we don’t stand up and defend what we have, we are going to lose it.”

All parents of students who were or are currently enrolled in an NFSB school should automatically be eligible to vote. Returning officer Louisa Benvenuti says it is important for recent graduates to check their status. She says several 18-year-olds recently noted that although they graduated from an English school, they had been automatically excluded from the list.

Those who do not have children or whose children do not attend an NFSB school are by default not included on the electoral list. Those in this situation who would like to vote in school board elections must complete a notice of change form, which is available on the NFSB’s elections page on their website (nfsb.qc.ca/elections)

Nomination period for school board elections is now open Read More »

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