MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent

Consultations continue on new UPA dues system

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Union des Producteurs Agricoles (UPA) is wrapping up a series of fall consultations on planned changes to its dues system that will start in 2027.

The aim is to make the system more equitable for all producers by introducing tiered assessments based on business income, and more equitable financing between farm types that pay contributions to the UPA through joint marketing plans and those that do not. This responds to longstanding demands by members for fairer financing.

All producers are currently charged a fixed amount based on the structure of their business. They also pay a variable contribution based on production volume for producers covered by joint plans. Farms operating in certain production sectors that are not subject to a joint plan (a system that lets producers collectively organize their production and marketing) are not required to pay a supplemental contribution to the UPA. The proposed changes would introduce fair adjustments for businesses where 25 per cent or more of gross revenues come from products not subject to a joint plan, such as vegetable and greenhouse producers.

A special information session was organized by the Fédération de l’UPA de la Montérégie’s English-speaking Producers Committee on September 2 to ensure all producers had access to information on the proposed changes. Federation president Jérémie Letellier presented the details of the plan and answered questions from over 15 participants, including several area producers.

The meeting took place in advance of the Haut-Saint-Laurent syndicate’s semi-annual fall consultation, which took place on September 11 in Ormstown, where members voted in favour of the UPA’s plans to implement the new dues system. The proposed changes were also adopted by members of the Beauharnois-Salaberry syndicate on September 5. Producers belonging to the Jardins-de-Napierville syndicate rejected the proposed changes during a meeting in Saint-Michel on September 10.

“Overall, we are not asking for more money than what was approved in the last financing plan that was adopted last year. It represents the same overall envelope, it is just distributed differently within our farms,” said Letellier, while noting some farms might pay less or more depending on their situation.

“There is not perfect solution,” he acknowledged. “But we believe we are taking a huge step this fall with this proposal.”

Once all the local syndicates have voted on the proposed changes, the results will be presented at the federations general council in November, with the objective of presenting a resolution on the new system at the general congress in December.

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Impacts of hot and dry summer are felt across all types of farms

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

It has not been an easy growing season.

“It was the first time in 14 years that we have planted corn in June, and we were borderlining it,” says Jackie Lamb of Lamont Farms in Godmanchester, referring to the cold and wet weather that kept farmers off their fields this spring. Then the temperature spiked up and the rain stopped, leaving thirsty crops to grow under a baking sun that lasted into late August.

Lamb points out that if corn doesn’t get what it needs at critical points during growth stages, the plants just don’t produce as many kernels. Soybeans are more resilient, she explains. “You need a great year to have a great yield of corn. We can have a medium year and still have a decent yield of soybeans.”

As organic producers, Lamb says they have adapted their practices to be more flexible. She and partner Shawn McNamee have incorporated a lot of hay into their rotations and have worked to build organic matter in their soil, which improves its ability to retain moisture and absorb heavy rains. This leads to better effective rainfall and reduced erosion.

The pair also raise sheep, and this summer’s extreme heat was a worry. Large fans installed in the barns has helped, and while electricity bills jumped, McNamee says they did not lose a single animal to heat stress.

Grazing sheep were also moved to specific shady paddocks that are reserved for heat waves. Their wool acts as an insulator, and Lamb says that ensuring higher vegetation in pastureland can reduce the soil temperature significantly. “If they are lying down on a piece of ground that is 10 degrees cooler than an exposed piece of ground, that also helps,” Lamb explains.

“We have to be conscious of the heat. We have to plan for it every year now,” adds McNamee.

Hard on morale

Market gardener Jess Elwell, who is an owner at the Jardins de la Résistance organic farm in Ormstown, says the hot and dry conditions this year caught them off guard after several years of managing wet weather. An employee was essentially dedicated to irrigation this summer, meaning their small team was down one person in the field. “We can only irrigate so much at one time because we only have so much pressure in our tank for the well,” she explains.

Relying on irrigation drip lines or sprinklers also meant losses in direct-seeded crops that did not germinate properly. “I don’t know what it is about rain that’s so much better than water, but vegetables like the rain a lot better,” Elwell explains, noting that a lot of plants just don’t like stress. All of this is exacerbated in a greenhouse, where temperatures can quickly reach sweltering levels.

“This is the first summer in my 16 years of farming where I was like, maybe I’m getting too old for this,” she says. “Now that the temperature has dropped, it’s not that bad. It’s hard for morale on the team,” she adds, while pointing out how everything seems like a big deal when its hot.

“It’s been rough,” she admits. “We have managed to pull through. We have a really good team, and we’ve pulled it off. But it hasn’t been easy this year for sure.”

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Electric buses are back on NFSB routes

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Six Lion Electric buses covering ten routes with the New Frontiers School Board were back on the roads this week, after they were abruptly pulled from circulation and sidelined on September 10. Electric buses covering nine routes with the Centre de Services Scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands were also temporarily grounded.

In a September 14 communication to NFSB families, the school board confirmed the buses had been inspected and transport companies were waiting on government approval before they could return to service. The companies were required to provide a certificate of compliance to school boards and service centres following the inspection, which dragged on over the week. In the meantime, parents were required to find alternative transport for their children while boards and service centres were able to do little more than provide regular updates to affected families.

According to the NFSB, the boards and service centres received instructions from the education ministry to review evacuation procedures with students by screening a provided safety video and by posting evacuation process posters in buses. Affected NFSB schools, including Hemmingford, Howick, Mary Gardner, St. Willibrord, and Centennial Park elementary schools as well as both Chateauguay Valley Regional and Howard S. Billings high schools, were advised to be more flexible with arrival times and to expect more car and foot traffic in drop-off areas.

The NFSB encouraged parents to speak with their children, as this situation like many other busing issues happened without advance notice, and to ensure that children know what to do in the event their school bus does not arrive.

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Murals on silos: MRC unveils signature rural art attraction

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Those out for a countryside drive along Franklin’s bucolic Rue de l’Artifice will no doubt have noticed a pair of towering murals painted on roadside silos at the Ferme Sylvain et Pascal Vincent Inc.

The MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent celebrated the completion of the giant murals during a brief inauguration ceremony on September 9 for the first sky-high works of art to be included in the Circuit de Fresques sur Silos Agricoles. Two more murals will be added to the unique series at Thornbrae Farms in Très-Saint-Sacrement and Framboise et Parapluies in Saint-Chrysostome before the end of the year.

“It is with immense pride and deep gratitude that I mark this milestone in the promotion of our collective agricultural heritage,” said MRC prefect Louise Lebrun. “Together, we have sown the first seeds of a unique cultural journey that will raise our region’s profile far beyond its borders,” she added, before thanking the Vincent family, the other participating farms, partners, and artists for their belief in this bold initiative.

Rooted in the rural landscape of the Haut-Saint-Laurent, each mural will tell a story about the culture, farms, and traditions that are integral to the region’s identity. “Silos are symbolic for farmers, but they tend to get lost in the background,” said Nancy Brunelle, the MRC’s cultural development coordinator. “We are used to seeing them, but now we’re using this emblem to create a giant mural that will become an open-air exhibition,” she explained.

“With 93 per cent of the MRC’s territory being agricultural land, the project pays tribute to agricultural producers, promotes the profession, and highlights the heritage built by farmers. It is truly a tribute,” added the MRC’s tourism development agent, Sébastien Guy.

The first silos were painted by the Montreal-based collective of muralists known as Arts du Commun. “Everyone was very satisfied and amazed by the result. The family is happy,” said Brunelle. “It’s a good start.”

The silo at Thornbrae Farms has been washed and primed and work is expected to begin right away on the mural. Owner Bill Anderson has been enthusiastic about the project since it was first introduced. “I think it is absolutely wonderful,” he says, noting the 70-foot-tall mural to be painted at his farm by Montreal muralist and graffiti artist Bosny will be very different from those gracing the silos in Franklin.

“We want to explore different graphic styles and techniques,” explained Brunelle. For example, Arts du Commun painted with a compressor and projected the image onto the silo while adjusting proportions to the curvature of the concrete structure. Bosny prefers to work with a grid system to scale but paints freehand using spray cans.

The silo at Framboise et Parapluie will be painted by a different graffiti art muralist known in Montreal as Peru143. A fourth mural is expected to start this year and will be completed next spring.

Both Brunelle and Guy hope the silos will create opportunities for tourists and locals to approach agriculture from a new perspective. “Agriculture often means milk, vegetables, grains, and livestock, but between the raw product and the consumer is the farmer,” Guy explained. “All of the agricultural producers together represent an extraordinary social capital, and when we talk about bringing city folk closer to agriculture, we mean finding ways for producers to talk with people from outside the region. Our farms will become a place of exchange, and that is very rare,” he added.

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Growing population is a challenge for the CSSVT

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Centre de Services Scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands (CSSVT) has seen its student population grow for an eighth straight year, with more than 470 additional students attending classes this September.

In the youth sector, at least 1,277 students started preschool, while 5,951 students were enrolled at the elementary level, and 3,961 at high school. The adult sector has also seen an increase in enrollment, with approximately 463 students at the Centre de Formation Professionnelle du Suroît and nearly 870 students at the Centre de Formation Générale des Adultes des Tisserands.

“This growth reflects the demographic vitality of our region and the confidence that families and adults have in our institutions,” said CSSVT director general Suzie Vranderick. She explained that as preschool registration levels are stable, she attributes the widespread growth to booming demographic trends and the increase in housing developments throughout the Haut-Saint-Laurent, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, and Beauharnois regions.

A total of 24 modular classrooms were added this year to accommodate growing numbers at already crowded schools, bringing the number installed over the past four years up to 82. Vranderick said they have allowed the CSSVT to respond quickly to population growth while waiting on the construction of new schools.

Students attending École Secondaire de la Baie-Saint-François are now able to partially access an expanded section at the Valleyfield-based high school which includes a new gymnasium and classrooms. Vranderick championed the school administration’s creative reorganization of available space within the school over the past several years while waiting on the expansion, which had originally been scheduled for completion in 2023.

Vranderick confirmed the CSSVT has requested the construction of a new 1,000-student high school in Valleyfield, as well as the expansion of Arthur-Pigeon high school in Huntingdon and the École Secondaire des Patriotes de Beauharnois.

Two additional elementary schools are being built in Valleyfield, including one in the Grande-Île sector that is expected to open next year. Construction will start this spring on the second new school, which will be located on the grounds of the existing Frédéric-Gérard elementary school in the La Baie sector.

Vranderick explained that the CSSVT’s infrastructure needs are planned over ten years in advance. She noted this involves working closely with the municipalities within the territory to ensure they keep up with demographic changes and can continue to accommodate new students each year.

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A good beginning for a booming CSSVT

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Nearly 12,500 young people and adults attending schools managed by the Centre de Services Scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands (CSSVT) were back in the classroom for the start of the new year on September 2.

As the fastest growing service centre or board in Quebec, the CSSVT has been tasked with balancing a rapidly growing student population with overall budget reductions of around $5 million. This has been complicated further by a new measure introduced by the provincial government which aims to optimize human resources by imposing a target number of full-time equivalents.

CSSVT director general Suzie Vranderick acknowledged that the budget has been more challenging this year, while noting that all service centres are having to navigate these targets while managing budget restrictions. The fact the CSSVT has grown by six per cent over last year simply adds to the headache.

“We’ll get there,” Vranderick said. “We want to contribute to the government’s efforts, but at the same time, we also want to ensure the success of our students,” she explained. “Thanks to rigorous planning and teamwork, the impact on schools has been limited.”

At least 34 new groups have been added across the service centre, which requires teachers, but other services as well, including classroom support. “It’s a puzzle. We must find the pieces and put them in the right place,” added François Robichaud, the CSSVT’s assistant director general.

As of September 2, the CSSVT had filled 99.6 per cent of its teaching positions, with only four remaining vacant. According to the government’s education dashboard, there are an additional nine support staff openings, and eight jobs available for educational professionals.

Vranderick noted that the human resources team began interviewing for positions in April, before confirming the CSSVT was in a very good position for the start of the year: “People will be in place, student services will be there, but it is a challenge every day,” she admitted.

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The NFSB will tackle bullying from day one

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The prevention of bullying and violence in New Frontiers School Board schools is among the top priorities identified by director general Mike Helm for the 2025-2026 school year.

The decision to prioritize the reduction of bullying and violence stems from a report submitted in June, by members of a task force established last year in response to mounting concerns over the increasing number of incidents within NFSB schools and centres. The document includes a series of 19 recommendations and concrete measures to reduce bullying and violence within the system.

“I was able to take some time over the summer to really read through the report, and to digest it,” said Helm, who presented the task force’s findings to the council of commissioners on August 26. “There was a tremendous amount of work done by this team in gathering all these different elements,” he added, noting the board will report on its progress regularly as administrators work to implement the recommended measures.

The task force included a cross-section of around 13 individuals including staff members, teachers, principals, special education consultants, and custodians. The committee met numerous times and held several public consultations, community nights, and town hall meetings to gather as much information as possible.

“The idea was to consult with our community to build a plan specific to New Frontiers, knowing that it is a priority for us, but also a priority for the Ministry,” said NFSB assistant director general Joyce Donohue, who led the task force. “Our summary of recommendations is over the short, medium, and long term so that it’s digestible for the board, should we have the capacity to implement all 19,” she explained. The measures span between a timeline of one to two years for easily managed cost-effective solutions, and up to four years or more for those that involve cultural shifts within the system.

Donohue acknowledged there is not anything especially new or groundbreaking included in the recommendations. “We are already doing a lot of great things. It’s a question of ensuring these are done across the board and choosing what it is that we want to continue to move forward with,” she said. For example, the first recommendation involves ensuring each school has an anonymous reporting system in place, where students can report incidences of bullying or violence without fear of retaliation.

Another short-term recommendation involves ensuring each school is implementing the protocols included in a new anti-bullying and violence template provided by the Education Ministry consistently and in the same manner.

The report also references the NFSB’s Commitment to Success Plan which sets an objective of increasing a sense of belonging among students. “Part of that is students feeling safe in their environment,” said Helm. “So, if we put these strategies in place and create a greater sense of belonging and citizenship with students, that is going to have an impact, and there will be less violence and less bullying taking place in our buildings.”

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Communication system for firefighters is up and running

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

A new radio communication system for area firefighters went live on August 11, following a decade-long effort by members of the Regroupement d’Entraide Mutuelle de Feu du Sud-Ouest du Québec (AEMSOQ) to improve the reliability of their network.

Since 2013, the 11 fire services that make up the South-Western Quebec Fire Mutual Aid Association, including the Franklin, Godmanchester, Hinchinbrooke, Howick, Huntingdon, Ormstown, Saint-Anicet, Sainte-Barbe, Saint-Etienne-de-Beauharnois, Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, and Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka departments, have reported “dead zones” within their radio communication network.

Until recently, a single antenna served the entire territory, leaving several patches without adequate coverage. In a statement, AEMSOQ president Joël Trudeau explained that communications between the emergency dispatch centre and teams in the field was impossible in some areas. “These dead zones posed a major challenge to the safety of responders and the population,” he said.

The board of directors launched a project in 2019 to resolve the issue, which included the installation of a new tower. This required the completion of radio wave propagation studies, a search for suitable land, the purchasing of new equipment, and much more.

The project was continued in 2022, when a new board took over and was faced with financing the initiative. Still in the planning stages, the board presented a budget to the member municipalities, which unanimously approved of the project. A public consultation process was launched the following year to address any concerns over the installation of a tower at a location on Ridge Road.

The partner municipalities contributed $120,000 to the project, which included the construction of a 30-metre tower in compliance with Health Canada and Transport Canada standards, fencing along the perimeter of the site, and the equipment needed to transition the old analog system to digital technology.

Finally, at noon on August 11, the new system was switched on, with four sites now in operation in Franklin, Covey Hill, Sainte-Barbe, and the new Ridge location in Godmanchester.

In his statement, Trudeau highlighted the significance of this collective achievement as essential to public safety, while recognizing the municipalities for their support, collaboration and trust in the project.

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It’s a colourful return for students at École Notre-Dame

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

A fun surprise is in store for students at École Notre-Dame elementary school in Huntingdon.

Members of the school’s parent participation organization (PPO), including artist Marie-eve Hurteau, have created a new mural in the main hallway on the first floor of the school. The artwork replaces an outdated mural that was painted over 20 years ago that was beginning to chip and deteriorate.

Hurteau said she wanted to create a bright and colourful space, incorporating abstract designs to encourage the students’ imaginations and self-expression. The school’s only instruction was to produce something “beautiful,” and to possibly include a unicorn. “There were a few tweaks and inspiration that came along,” she laughs, suggesting that as she proceeded, she began to see what was missing and what would tie the project together.

PPO President Nadya Kovacs explained that the mural is part of a larger initiative to bring more joy, inclusion, and a fresh perspective to the building. “We tried to look into different grants for art projects, but unfortunately there was nothing available for the school,” she said. Without direct funding, the community rallied behind the project. Half of the paint was provided by the Quincaillerie RONA home improvement store in Huntingdon, and Hurteau donated her time and equipment. The PPO covered the remaining costs with funds raised during the previous school year.

“I am looking forward to the kids seeing it,” said Kovacs. “There are a lot of different colours, and a lot of ‘moving parts,’ but there is a little bit of everything and something for everyone,” she added.

Students will also find their library has been completely renovated thanks to a grant from IKEA. The students helped to empty the room and to paint at the end of last year, while PPO members helped with decorating and reinstallation.

Along with the mural and the library, Kovacs said the school will also be unveiling a new logo as part of the big reveals awaiting students when they return to classes next week.

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Renovation projects are nearly complete at NFSB schools

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Delays to summer construction and renovation projects caused by unpredictable snags at some New Frontiers School Board schools will not interfere with the start of the school year on September 2.

NFSB director general Mike Helm confirmed that over five million dollars were invested in six projects across the board, including renovation work at Chateauguay Valley Regional High School (CVR), Ormstown Elementary School (OES), and Hemmingford Elementary School. While much of the work was completed on schedule, Helm said certain projects may continue into the first weeks of classes.

Exterior brickwork and landscaping at the front entrance at Hemmingford Elementary were progressing well, until workers discovered contaminated land while taking up pieces of the old entry and walkway. Specialists were called in to properly remove and load the soil before it was shipped to a special location. Helm said the work there will likely extend into the second weekend of September, when the landscaping is expected to be completed. “It will not necessarily look aesthetically pleasing for those first few days, but it will not impact the students or people coming and going into the building,” he maintained.

Work to repair one of the exits at Ormstown Elementary School was also delayed. Helm confirmed that following the discovery of some structural concerns, the NFSB worked with an engineer to ensure the exit would be sound and to code once completed. This involved some additional work that was not part of the original schedule. “We are going to use it just as an emergency exit for now,” he said, noting the renovation will continue for a few additional weekends mostly to ensure workers and construction noises are not a distraction for students during the day.

Humidity issues within the school over the summer also led to delays around the installation of new flooring in the gymnasium at OES. Physical education classes will take place outdoors during the first week of school, but students will be playing on the new surface before mid-September.

The renovations to the washrooms at CVR are expected to be completed on schedule, Helm confirmed, while acknowledging that the construction work slightly complicated the Jump Start orientation program for new Grade 7 students which took place on August 20 and 21. The work will see the removal of the somewhat-iconic “bird bath” water fountains from the ground-floor washrooms. These have been replaced by more modern sinks. “I think it is going to be quite impressive,” said Helm of the upgrade.

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School supplies can take a financial toll

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Callan Forrester – LJI reporter

School is almost back in session, and the back-to-school prep is in full swing. For many parents, this prep includes a long list of supplies that can come with a pretty hefty price tag. This can be a cause for stress for many members of the community, and Une Affaire de Famille is working to ease some of that end-of-summer worry.

Mélanie Tardif has been working with Une Affaire de Famille for about 15 years. When she first started, the organization was receiving funding to buy everything on school supplies lists to give to members of the community in need. A few years ago, this funding was cut. In response, they started an academic co-op. “We could have said that we lost financing so we’re not doing it anymore, but we kept going,” Tardif says.

To be a part of the co-op, a parent or family needs to join before April 1 and then participate in a fundraising activity during the year; in August they will receive the tools they need to start at school. For example, in June, the co-op bagged groceries at Super C, and later this year they will be doing a fundraiser with Genie in a Bottle. The members of the co-op get to choose what kinds of fundraisers they want to take part in during the year.

Marraine Étoilée, an organization that helps disadvantaged youth across Quebec, also reached out to UAF to offer support this year. They donated backpacks and lunchboxes for back-to-school and will be donating winter coats and accessories later this year.

So much stuff

One of the problems for parents is the sheer amount of stuff each student needs to bring to school. “It’s really expensive. And what I realized last year when I was doing my shopping is that the lists are more and more complicated. It’s really specific stuff,” says Tardif. Sometimes, schools will have the list broken up into English and French sections, and students basically need to double what they get. To Tardif, it feels like sometimes the schools “don’t know the population who live in the Haut-Saint-Laurent,” and that these lists are often financially inaccessible.

A recent Leger survey found that 60 per cent of parents across Canada found school supplies were more expensive this year. Close to two-thirds of respondents said the cost of going back to school is a financial strain, with younger parents seeing the most significant impact to their family budget. The survey also revealed that 58 per cent of parents find the back-to-school season stressful, with most parents preferring to buy all of the supplies on school lists at the start of the year.

This year, UAF didn’t have a lot of members sign up for the co-op, but part of that is because of the April 1 deadline. “Parents do their best, they do what they can and try to get the maximum out of supplies. In April they think they’ll have lots of stuff that can be reused … At the end of August, they realize that they don’t have enough.”

Having new school supplies helps children to start the school year off right. “It’s the base of everything. A kid who enters kindergarten or Grade 1 with new supplies and a backpack feels ready and confident and is excited to show his stuff to his friends. This is the beginning of having self confidence that can grow from there,” Tardif explains. She adds that as adults, people have a home or a car or a family that they are proud of. But as a kid, all you have is “your personality and your school supplies!”.

UAF accepts donations from the community, but Tardif asks that the supplies be new, and that donors basically follow the rule that “If it’s not good for you, it’s not good for someone without money.” She also reminds people that schools want the basics. They don’t want supplies that are covered in the fun characters from TV shows, because it can be a distraction. The best things to donate are neutral, like HB pencils and coloured duotangs.

The mindset around school supplies right now seems to be that kids always want and need the newest supplies that follow the latest trend. Tardif encourages parents to think a little more moderately about supplies so that they last longer than the current trends, and things like backpacks and lunchboxes can be used for a couple of years before needing to be replaced.

School supplies can take a financial toll Read More »

NFSB joins QESBA’s challenge to Education budget rules

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The New Frontiers School Board (NFSB) has formally joined the Quebec English School Boards Association’s (QESBA) legal challenge against budgetary measures imposed by the Quebec Ministry of Education that restrict funding for the 2025-2026 school year.

The NFSB council of commissioners unanimously adopted a motion during an extraordinary meeting on August 14, to join QESBA’s application to challenge the validity of the government’s budgetary rules and to seek a stay of their application. The necessary documents were filed with the Quebec Superior Court on August 15, on behalf of all nine English boards.

According to QESBA, the budgetary measures “infringe upon the management and control rights guaranteed to the English-speaking minority language community under Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.” The contested rules impose budget reductions, control how available funds are spent through different measures, and prohibit boards and service centres from using any accumulated surplus to offset government cuts.

QESBA asserts that these restrictions undermine the ability of school boards to make “locally accountable financial decisions in the best interest of their students,” while stripping their flexibility to “protect programs, services, and staffing levels across their communities.”

The chair of the NFSB council of commissioners, John Ryan, explained that the commissioners felt the restrictions were not appropriate based on recent court rulings that have upheld the Section 23 rights of school boards to manage and control their institutions. “The main reason we have come in is because of the constitutional issues involved,” he confirmed.

As of press time, the Quebec government had not issued a public reaction to the court challenge. The Education Ministry has imposed a September 26 deadline for school boards and service centres to adopt balanced budgets for the 2025-2026 school year.

NFSB joins QESBA’s challenge to Education budget rules Read More »

The NFSB stands poised and positive as new year begins

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

With just under a week remaining before students return to class, the New Frontiers School Board has filled all 400 of its available teaching positions, making it the only service centre or board not looking to hire in the Montérégie.

“We are doing great in terms of what our needs are for the startup of the school year, both on the adult and the youth side,” said the NFSB’s director general, Mike Helm. The board still has some vacant positions, and schools may be looking to fill additional resource or support roles, he explained, but hiring is being closely monitored due to budget reductions and restrictions.

“For our support staff starting out right now, we are in very good shape,” Helm confirmed. “But we have to take it case by case as we move forward,” he cautioned, noting the board must maintain a balanced budget and stay within its allocated quota for full-time equivalent positions (ETCs).

According to the provincial government’s education dashboard, the Centre de Services Scolaires de la Vallée-des-Tisserands was short around 15 teachers out of 883 positions when the system was last updated on August 18. The data on available posts for support staff and educational professionals was not available as of press time.

Overall, the NFSB is starting the year with budget compressions that amount to around $800,000, including the $511,000 carried over from last winter and $280,000 from reductions announced in the spring. As a result, the school board is aiming to reduce travel expenses, professional development costs, and overtime hours to recuperate these funds. This involves monitoring any activities and initiatives that take place throughout the year that require overtime to be paid. “We need to take that inventory and make the best decisions for each of our communities,” said Helm, before emphasizing the goal is to reduce but not eliminate overtime work.

According to Helm the budget is manageable at this time, but he acknowledged the situation could change rapidly if there are sudden needs to be met within any of the schools. “Right now, we are looking at a balanced budget, and we have put controls in place to monitor our ETCs,” he said.

Helm jokingly referred to the past few months as a working summer, while maintaining that many employees from schools and centres enjoyed the time away and are ready for the start of the year. “We have a lot of great initiatives that came out of last year that we are moving forward with,” he explained.

“We need to be focused on positive elements,” said Helm, noting that this came up during the first meeting with school administrators last week. “Yes, we have these restrictions that we are dealing with, and we need to take things one step at a time, but we can’t dwell in the negative,” he added. “We need to do what is best for our students and their success!” he exclaimed, saying he is feeling optimistic heading into 2025-2026.

The NFSB stands poised and positive as new year begins Read More »

La Bouffe Additionnelle faces fruit and vegetable shortage

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

For the past three weeks, the regular food deliveries to La Bouffe Additionelle from the Moisson Sud-Ouest have included very few fruits and vegetables. The food pantry relies heavily on the regional food bank for fresh produce, explains La Bouffe Additionnelle director Marine Mailloux. “Right now, it’s very sparse,” she says, noting their shelves are empty.

Mailloux says that she and her staff have resorted to buying fruit and vegetables at grocery stores to ensure their food baskets include a minimum of fresh produce. “We look in the flyers for the best discounts,” she explains, noting the organization sometimes receives gift cards as donations. Funds are also used to ensure baskets include milk and eggs as well.

“We prefer to save our cash donations and gift cards for the Christmas baskets, because we know so many count on us at that time,” Mailloux says, while acknowledging that the organization is already looking ahead to a difficult fall and Christmas season as demand for food aid continues to rise. “The gift cards and donations are my backup,” she explains.

In previous years, the food pantry has benefitted from donations of fruits and vegetables from locals, though the hot and dry temperatures have made this a difficult year for home gardens. Mailloux says La Bouffe can accept fruit and vegetables from backyard gardens. Donations do not have to be certified or come from an official farm. Rather than see surplus vegetables go to waste, Mailloux hopes gardeners will consider contributing any extras to be shared with those in need.

After returning from a recent family vacation, the owners of the Jardins Glenelm market garden in Elgin found themselves with an overstock of tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers that were donated to La Bouffe Additionnelle. Mailloux notes that because of the organization’s ability to freeze and process fresh produce with a limited shelf life, they can avoid waste from larger donations.

The food pantry also recently received a generous donation of 136 kilograms of baked goods and products from the new owners of Le Verger du Pirate in Franklin. “We are always especially grateful for donations from our local collaborators,” says Mailloux, who admits they are especially happy when they can offer products from the region.

Mailloux explains that building positive relationships with area producers is important and can lead to innovative projects. She points to the Huntingdon County Farmers’ Market, which launched a special cider in celebration of its 20th anniversary in collaboration with Ferme Black Creek. One dollar from the sale of each bottle will be contributed to La Bouffe Additionnelle.

The food pantry will also be holding a fundraiser at the farmers’ market in Huntingdon on August 20. “We are trying to find solutions as best we can,” Mailloux says, noting the food pantry is always encouraged by the community’s support.

La Bouffe Additionnelle faces fruit and vegetable shortage Read More »

New funds see the NFSB in the black for school year

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Administrators at the New Frontiers School Board are breathing easier, following a provincial government decision in mid-July to invest an additional $540 million into the education budget.

The NFSB is expecting to receive just under $2 million in additional funding through newly announced measures that directly impact student services, which will help tremendously to balance the budget. Finalized government budget rules still require the board to find savings, but the NFSB’s director general, Mike Helm, said these cuts will be much less dramatic.

“For us, it is now a small reduction overall in the system,” Helm explains, saying the board now expects to come up with a balanced budget. “We are in a position where we should be able to move forward and provide the services that we need to provide,” he confirmed.

Education Minister Bernard Drainville stated that the funds allocated as part of the new measures must be used to provide direct services to students, and that to be eligible, each service centre or board will have to demonstrate that efforts have been made to reduce administrative expenses.

The government continues to insist that school boards and service centres post a balanced budget without tapping into any accumulated surplus. The NFSB Council of Commissioners chair, John Ryan, acknowledges that while the administration is still crunching numbers, it looks encouraging.

In a message sent to all NFSB families, Ryan thanked all those who wrote letters, signed petitions, shared the school boards story, and contacted local MNAs when the news broke about potentially devastating budget reductions earlier this summer.

Ryan maintains that if the earlier budgetary rules and parameters had remained in place without this new injection of funds, the NFSB would have been in a very difficult position. Instead, he pointed out, the government listened to both the public outcry and local MNAs, who were aware of the realities on the ground after having met with NFSB representatives.

“We have made an impact,” he says.

New funds see the NFSB in the black for school year Read More »

Summer renovations still on at NFSB schools

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The New Frontiers School Board is investing approximately $5.2 million in four major construction and renovation projects over the summer.

NFSB director general Mike Helm says the projects are being carried out according to the approved 2024-2025 budget and are not affected by current government reductions.

Two of the projects are taking place in Ormstown, where the washrooms on the main floor at Chateauguay Valley Regional High School are being completely renovated and updated. The tiles on the gymnasium floor at Ormstown Elementary School are being replaced, and work is continuing to renovate the second-floor hallway and certain classrooms.

Exterior brickwork is being done at Hemmingford Elementary School, while renovations to the school’s front entrance and walkway are also taking place.

Finally, a second phase of work to replace windows at Howard S. Billings High School in Chateauguay is underway.

Helm notes that while they are pleased to be completing these projects over the summer, there is some concern about how budget restrictions may impact school renovations in the new year.

The government generally allocates a spending target for such renovations as part of the NFSB’s budget parameters. At the moment, Helm says the board is looking at a steep reduction for the 2025-2026 year to around $1.8 million.

“We are anticipating there will be fewer projects,” confirms Helm.

Summer renovations still on at NFSB schools Read More »

Quebec grants staffing exemption to CISSSMO

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Centre Intégré de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO) has been granted an exemption to the law governing the use of personnel placement agencies or independent labour to fill staffing shortages over the summer.

The Quebec government passed legislation to phase out the use of staffing agencies within the public healthcare system in 2023. Under section 669 of the Act respecting the governance of the health and social services system, service providers must apply to the Ministry of Health for an exemption on exceptional grounds to call on private agencies to fill staffing vacancies. 

A spokesperson for the CISSSMO’s communications and public affairs department has confirmed the regional health authority made this request earlier in the year.

“This exemption has been granted to the CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest for a maximum of 51.3 full-time equivalents (FTE), the majority of which are evening, night, and weekend shifts for the period between May 31 and September 30, 2025,” said the spokesperson in an email.

Historically, there is an increase in staffing pressure on health care providers across the province during the summer months due to staff vacations. The exemption provided to the CISSSMO pertains solely to the number of FTE positions and does not correspond to a budget increase. The CISSSMO is also not required to fill all the available positions.

“The exemption is reserved for exceptional situations. It is a last-resort solution to avoid service disruptions if internal measures, such as contingency plans or overtime, prove ineffective or insufficient,” explained the spokesperson.

According to the CISSSMO, only 0.07 per cent of the hours worked since April 1 have been performed by independent workers.

Quebec grants staffing exemption to CISSSMO Read More »

Facing cuts, the NFSB council will allow a deficit budget

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

New Frontiers School Board director general Mike Helm says thoughts of summer vacation are far from top of mind for school administrators, as boards and service centres continue to grapple with government-imposed budget reductions.

The NFSB is facing what could amount to a $4.9-million adjustment once the government’s final budgetary rules and parameters are received. The NFSB had been anticipating these figures in early July to begin seriously crunching numbers; however, as of press time, the parameters had not been delivered.

Helm says he is hopeful the government will have revised its position following feedback provided by school boards and service centres after plans to reduce education funding by at least $510 million dollars. “Reductions may be needed but maybe not to this magnitude,” says Helm. “Maybe we could spread it out over a couple of years instead of trying to take it all out in one year. That would certainly make it a little easier than what we are going through right now.”

As it stands, Helm says he is fairly confident the NFSB can meet its target for full-time equivalent positions, but he is less certain there will be enough funds to cover all the other expense categories. “That is where our bigger concern is now,” he admits.

Considering this uncertainty, the council of commissioners held an extraordinary meeting on July 8 where a motion was passed that calls on the government to withdraw its budgetary rules, withdraw the cuts, and reinstate the rule allowing boards to access any accumulated surplus. The resolution argues it is “neither feasible, nor responsible to fully implement the proposed cuts,” and mandates the NFSB administration to request authorization from the education ministry to run a deficit budget.

“This does not mean that we are not going to be prudent in the budget,” says the NFSB council of commissioners chair, John Ryan. “We are going to be as responsible as we can. Obviously, the government is short on funds, but we have an obligation to provide the services that we do,” he explained.

Helm says he is grateful for the council’s support as they wait for the final parameters. He has spoken with school administrators, and everything is on hold for the moment. “We are going to wait until we know where we stand,” he explains, noting that if reductions are necessary, the board will have to balance these with the potential impacts on students.

“We are dealing with some challenging times, but our intention is to provide to the maximum all of the services, programs and opportunities that we possibly can,” says Helm.

Public outcry continues

Both Ryan and Helm say they are encouraged by the public’s response. “It is not about English or French schools. This is impacting everybody equally. That’s why we are seeing so many different people speaking out in different ways on this,” says Helm, who suggests the cuts could lead to long-term impacts depending on how the boards and service centres manage the situation.

A petition sponsored by Parti Québécois MNA Pascal Bérubé on the National Assembly website has now been signed by over 157,000 concerned citizens. The “Ensemble, unis pour l’école” (Together, United for Schools) coalition representing teachers, support staff, education professionals, and administrators, including those at the NFSB, has also continued to grow.

At least seven new groups have joined the coalition, including École Ensemble, the Quebec English School Boards Association, the Association of Administrators of English Schools of Quebec (AAESQ), the Quebec Intellectual Disability Society, the Association Montréalaise des directions d’établissement scolaire (AMDES), the Coalition de parents d’enfants à besoins particuliers du Québec (CPEBPQ), and the Fédération québécoise de l’autisme (FQA).

The Centre de Services Scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands has not commented publicly on the budget restrictions potentially impacting their schools and centres; however, the Syndicat du Champlain, which represents CSSVT teachers and support staff, issued a statement to its members on June 26 denouncing the measures. The union has also joined the coalition and is demanding school service centres stand up to the government by refusing to implement the proposed budget restrictions.

Facing cuts, the NFSB council will allow a deficit budget Read More »

A change in direction for the CDC du Haut-Saint-Laurent

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

After eleven years at the helm of the CDC du Haut-Saint-Laurent, director Rémi Pelletier is moving on from the post he has held for over a decade.

“It has been such an enjoyable adventure. It wasn’t always easy … there were challenges, but also so much joy with our partners and the people I have met,” he says, while acknowledging he is moving on to new personal and professional challenges outside the region.

Having grown up nearby in Beauharnois, Pelletier was working for the CDC de Beauharnois-Salaberry when the job opened in the Haut-Saint-Laurent. “I was familiar with the rural environment, but I didn’t know the people very well. I was more on the outskirts, but I knew a little about the ecosystem and the organizations. I had my networks, and people had told me about the warmth and closeness of the community,” he said. “I had heard that there was a desire to collaborate. Knowing that resources were really limited, people wanted to work together. When I arrived, this was very evident. It is truly one of the great strengths of the Haut-Saint-Laurent,” he explained.

Pelletier set to work building on this foundation and further strengthening ties within the community sector. He says the dissolution of the Conférence Régionale des Élus de la Vallée-de-la-Châteauguay in 2015, and the transfer of several responsibilities to the MRC, significantly changed the organization at the level of its regional and municipal partners, as well as the culture of collaboration and transparency that previously existed.

Pelletier says that issues related to affordable housing, viable income, and lower average wages, as well as the resulting inequality, are among some of the challenges he has encountered. “I think we’ve worked to embrace difference and to see that people who are less fortunate have their place in the community. They have value, they have the potential to contribute something, but there is still work to be done,” he admits.

On the other hand, Pelletier says there are many examples of successful actions that have taken place during his tenure. He points to the creation of the Biennale du Financement des OBNL, which was a large-scale series of workshops, training sessions, and conferences for non-profit organizations that attracted people from across the country, as a pivotal moment in helping local organizations to think big.

Pelletier says the ability to collaborate with partners has been key within the community sector, with local businesses, and different levels of government. “We have adopted an advocacy approach to effectively get our messages across in a clear but innovative and creative manner.” He highlights the use of actual wrestlers to illustrate the Table Nationale des Corporations de Dévelopement Communautaire’s “KO to OK” campaign, or the most recent partnership with the organization Faire Danser un Village – which saw members of different community organizations come together to dance and celebrate the resilient spirit and solidarity within the community – as examples of the CDC’s unique approach to challenging issues.

“My greatest pride, despite all of the obstacles that won’t be solved overnight, is we are still working together to take positive action. It is a great achievement to be able to rally around this positivity!” he exclaims.

Pelletier says the decision to leave was not easy, and he admits the importance of finding a replacement who would continue to move things forward and push for change weighed heavily on his mind. His worries disappeared once he convinced Saint-Anicet resident Marie Rachel Charlebois to apply for the job.

The pair had previously worked together on the CDC’s award-winning AgiRH program, and Charlebois says that despite having some very large shoes to fill, they felt like the right fit. “I have a strong attachment to the region. It was clear that I wanted to put my skills, abilities, and qualities into something that would benefit citizens and the community,” she explains, noting that while she plans to continue the spate of important work being done at the CDC, she is looking forward to adding her own colour to the palette.

“I’m really proud and happy,” she says, noting that while Pelletier’s departure was greeted with sadness, she has been very warmly received by the CDC staff, members, and partners.

A change in direction for the CDC du Haut-Saint-Laurent Read More »

Municipalities looking to work together to end illegal dumping

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The municipality of Ormstown hosted a roundtable discussion with neighbouring municipalities, local organizations, and government officials on June 25 to address common concerns stemming from illegal construction-waste dumping and backfilling.

Headlines recently decried the Haut-Saint-Laurent as the “garbage dump of Quebec” after a series of investigative articles published in the Journal de Montreal. The articles reported on the results of a study by McGill University’s Leadership for the Ecozoic project that revealed the potential scale and impact of dumping within the Chateauguay River watershed.

The Ormstown meeting, which highlighted several disconnects between provincial legislation and municipalities’ ability to enforce it, followed the media reports as well as a press release issued by the municipality denouncing government inaction specifically on the part of the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs. According to Ormstown officials, the situation described in the articles is real and alarming, but it extends much beyond the Montérégie-Ouest region.

Ormstown mayor Christine McAleer referred to the gathering as an exploratory meeting aimed at determining whether area municipalities and stakeholders can work together to find solutions to this common problem.

Those in the room included representatives from the Fédération de l’UPA de la Montérégie and the Haut-Saint-Laurent syndicate, members of the Ormstown administration and council, both municipal inspectors, representatives from the municipalities of Saint-Urbain, Sainte-Clotilde, Sainte-Martine, Franklin, the OBV SCABRIC, and Huntingdon MNA Carole Mallette.

Possible dump sites

As a starting point for discussions, masters student Alex DePani and McGill cartographer and Franklin resident Dan Garand of the Leadership for the Ecozoic network presented the results of their research.

Garand noted that citizens and municipalities began to sound the alarm over the number of trucks in the region in 2023. He and DePani began analyzing archived satellite images last winter to study the evolution of the rural landscape within the watershed and look for evidence of dumping or backfilling activity. They identified 284 potential sites of concern, including 16 documented sites where loads of construction material are known to have been illegally dumped. Groundwater contamination has also been recorded at one site on Route 201 in Franklin.

The pair allege that many of the remaining undocumented sites, including more than 70 in the Haut-Saint-Laurent, are “preoccupying,” and could be illegal dump sites.

Ways forward

Following the presentation, McAleer opened the floor to all participants. Several spoke about the absence of official sites that can legally receive construction waste, while questioning whether any such were easily accessible. Another possibility discussed was the creation of a common bylaw across municipalities, after a representative from Franklin noted a reduction in the number of trucks after the municipality passed stricter anti-dumping regulations. Some municipal representatives pointed out, however, that bylaws can lead to additional expenses and complications for small farms.

Sylvain Cazes, the political attaché for Mallette, cautioned that it was important to distinguish between illegal dumping and agricultural backfilling. “The problem is contaminated fill, and the people who do not care about the environment who are doing this for money,” he said. “That is the challenge, and it is something that can’t be handled by provincial or municipal governments alone.”

Cazes noted that provincial legislation came into force in 2024 as well as the traceability program, Traces Québec, which tracks and manages the movement of contaminated soil within the province. He suggested this could be used as a tool for municipalities to quickly identify whether a truck is carrying registered materials.

Some in the room questioned whether there were enough inspectors to ensure the legislation was being properly implemented. Others suggested more responsibility be delegated to municipalities and local inspectors, who are currently powerless to enforce provincial law. McAleer quickly interjected, pointing out that giving municipalities a greater capacity to act is a good idea, so long as the necessary funds to accomplish this are also made available.

The Ormstown mayor suggested that raising awareness was also important, noting this was one of the main goals behind the sensational headlines and media coverage. “We have to make people understand there is an emergency, and that we are all involved in this,” she said. “We need to send an urgent message about this issue that is becoming increasingly dramatic for municipalities in terms of drinking water.”

McAleer ended the meeting noting that the group had identified a few leads to start working on to ensure the issue of illegal dumping remains in the spotlight.

Municipalities looking to work together to end illegal dumping Read More »

Government demands could force nearly $5 million in cuts to the NFSB

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

“This is a desperate time for education in Quebec,” said the New Frontiers School Board council of commissioners chair, John Ryan, in a statement denouncing the provincial government’s plans to reduce funding to school boards and service centres by at least $510 million dollars.

According to consultative budget parameters received by the NFSB on June 12, the board’s share of this “negative adjustment” could be as high as $4.9 million. Administrators were given little more than a day to react and provide feedback to the government.

“We are expecting to receive the actual parameters towards the beginning of July, so we are hopeful that some adjustments have been taken into consideration, but we are looking at a significant reduction,” confirms the NFSB’s director general, Mike Helm.

When added to reductions imposed earlier this year – amounting to more than $510,000 – as well as a hiring freeze that has been in place since last November, these compressions could place the NFSB in an untenable position. “This goes beyond looking at little pockets,” said Helm, before noting the targeted amount represents over five per cent of the board’s overall budget. “At this point, it is going to impact our schools and centres.”

Helm confirmed that the government has forbidden boards and service centres from adopting a deficit budget or using accumulated surplus funds to balance their books. He pointed out that approximately 80 percent of the budget is allocated to human resources, while another five per cent or more is dedicated to transportation. There is little left in terms of flexibility.

The timing of the government’s announcement further complicates the situation. “We have already made plans and commitments for the next year, and those are contractual obligations,” said Ryan. “Our budget wasn’t extravagant. It was already severe because we were anticipating more reductions,” he insists.

“Having to cut in areas that are going to affect students is very difficult to swallow,” Ryan said. “This is going to affect them for life,” he added, before declaring it will take a lot of pushing for the board to go that far. “It is not what we are here for.”

Reductions, not cuts

In a statement issued June 26, Education Minister Bernard Drainville responded to growing public concern over budget cuts, pointing out the budget has increased by $1.1 billion to $23.5 billion.

“While the needs are endless, we cannot solve all problems with money alone. Record amounts have been invested over the past seven years, and now we must use them more effectively,” Drainville said.

At the request of the NFSB, Huntingdon MNA Carole Mallette and Chateauguay MNA Marie-Belle Gendron met with Helm, Ryan, and assistant director general Joyce Donohue on June 27. Following the meeting, Mallette said she and her colleague are waiting on the NFSB to provide them with more information and data so they can better understand their concerns.

“We will be sure to check with the ministry to ensure that the budget increase, as announced, will be fairly distributed,” Mallette explained, noting her office maintains a positive relationship with the NFSB.

Ryan acknowledged the meeting with the MNAs was positive but suggested it’s unclear whether the ministry and government officials fully understand how the impacts and effects of what they are asking could play out on the ground.

Growing public concern

A petition posted on the National Assembly website, sponsored by Parti Québécois MNA Pascal Bérubé, argues that the reduced spending targets will directly affect services to students, particularly those with special needs or learning difficulties. Support staff, including special education technicians and attendants, could see their positions reduced or eliminated. As of press time, well over 118,000 individuals had signed the document, which demands the government call off its restrictions so direct student services are not affected.

All the major unions representing teachers, support staff, education professionals, and administrators have come together to form the “Ensemble, unis pour l’école” (Together, United for Schools) coalition. Statements issued by the different unions refer to the cutbacks as alarming, while noting that important elements such as extracurricular and cultural activities, books, and various support and training measures could be threatened.

“The rope is just not long enough,” concluded Ryan, who has appealed to the NFSB community for support. “If these budget reductions remain in place, your children – our students – will indeed suffer,” he said.

Government demands could force nearly $5 million in cuts to the NFSB Read More »

JAG strives for municipalities to become more queer-educated

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Callan Forrester – LJI reporter

JAG is an organization based in the Montégérie that offers resources to queer and trans people, as well as educational resources for people who want to be more informed about the 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, plus) community. For this Pride month, they have a few new developments to share and activities to celebrate.

To kick off Pride month, JAG hosted a gala to celebrate the accomplishments they’ve had this year. This is a tradition that has been going on for many years and is now in its third edition post-pandemic. “It’s an environment where we can get together with our members and talk about what we did throughout the year in a way that’s fun, with the anticipation of Pride,” says JAG’s general director, Dominique Thibert.

This year’s gala took place on May 30, and it had a full house, with about 100 attendees at Pointe-Valaine Cultural Centre. The event was pay-what-you-can, as a way to make it accessible to anyone who wanted to be there. Thibert stresses that this kind of accessibility is a big part of JAG’s mandate. They want their spaces to be as inclusive and accessible as possible. The AGM took place on June 17 and was open for anyone who registered to attend.

“With the rise in hate, there are a lot of people experiencing physiological distress … they need to be with their people and talk in our groups to break social isolation,” says Thibert. He himself grew up in the Montérégie, and shares that he went to great lengths to find his community while growing up. “I would walk on foot from Saint Hubert to Montreal to go to meet-ups with the community of LGBT people aged 25 years old and younger … If I had had that here, it would have been exceptional and would have hugely changed my life.”

JAG offers all kinds of resources for the community, such as courses and reading resources online, and posts on their social media that break down different queer issues in a digestible way. Their website, lejag.org, has a calendar for tracking available resources each month.

Organizations like JAG are important now more than ever. “All of the problems that were happening before this rise in hate are still there. People are still searching for their identities; they need answers to their questions about having a diverse sexuality,” Thibert explains. The problem is that now they are also doing damage control to fight some of the rhetoric surrounding queer issues. “We’re doing what we’ve always done, but now we’re also fighting the misinformation that’s in the community.” He also stresses that it would be great if the government admitted the need for more services for queer and trans people.

One of the projects that JAG is working on at the moment involves a service to encourage municipalities “to focus on the importance of having inclusive spaces.” The service will be a way for elected officials to better understand the needs of queer and trans people in their communities. “Municipalities are the closest thing to the population; it’s they that are able to put measures in place against the violence that queer people could experience,” Thibert explains. It’s a big project and will work collaboratively so that the municipalities have support from JAG and the tools to make safer spaces in the region at a governmental level.

For any young queer people who are currently struggling, Thibert reminds them to “Take care of yourself before anything. Know your limits.” Sometimes it can feel overwhelming, but if someone has the capacity, he encourages them to “Go look for resources. There are groups on Facebook that are exceptional for the discovery of self. Get in touch with JAG, join a group discussion, go find people like you to create a bubble that will help protect you from the hate that’s out there.” Finding a community of similar people is the key to protecting yourself.

JAG strives for municipalities to become more queer-educated Read More »

CVR recognizes International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia

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Callan Forrester – LJI reporter

May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. This is a day to recognize the violence and oppression that the queer and trans communities are still facing, to learn how to be a better ally, and to celebrate queer identities. This year, Chateauguay Valley Regional High School (CVR) made a point to highlight the day.

CVR has had a Pride group in the past; however, this year there were not enough students that signed up to have an active group all year. That being said, they were still able to organize a day of activities and education in honour of IDAHBT. Pamela Bussey, one of the club teachers, explains that they will try to get it going again next year “a little later in the fall, once kids have settled into friend groups.”

When it comes to having a queer pride club at CVR (which is for both LGBTQ+ students and allies), the response from students varies. For example, Bussey explains that “The energy during the trivia game was great! There were definitely kids there who are LGBTQ+ but also lots of kids who aren’t, and everyone enjoyed the game and took part. It was lovely to see very straight-identifying middle-schoolers taking part.” She sees a spectrum of responses when going classroom to classroom to advertise the club at the beginning of the year. This year, she did this with Fraser McClintock, who helped spread the word. She says that it makes a huge impact “to have a very well-liked and respected man there, who is not LGBTQ+, sending the signal that a Pride group is fine and normal and open to everyone – he made a point to stress that.”

For Bussey, now more than ever it is important for schools to have these kinds of clubs, “especially in light of all of the anti-trans rhetoric online, and movements both in the U.S. and Canada to restrict Trans people’s access to public spaces and sports,” she says. She explains that a lot of bigotry comes from a lack of understanding, adding, “Like so many other schools, CVR has some students who will use openly homophobic and transphobic language. This is almost always due to a lack of knowledge of LGBTQ+ people and a general discomfort with what we don’t know.” Having this club helps to normalize queer and trans identities and perspectives. It helps to open the discussion up so everyone can become more educated. “We are sending the message that all students, staff, and community members are important and welcome,” she says.

CVR recognizes International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia Read More »

UAF provides essential services despite funding difficulties

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Ormstown-based community organization Une Affaire de Famille has been a key player in keeping the Haut-Saint-Laurent’s social fabric tightly woven for over 30 years. The forward-looking organization, which runs several essential programs, is currently facing a difficult outlook as government grants and municipal support have run dry.

“Luckily, some municipalities have pulled out all the stops to support us as best they can,” says Une Affaire de Famille director Gabrielle Limoges, who suggests many within the region recognize the value of the organization’s work. 

 “Our mission is broad,” she admits. “The advantage is that it allows us to really meet the needs of every member of the family, but that requires a variety of programs and a large team,” she explains, noting the organization currently has 16 full-time employees on staff who travel throughout the Haut-Saint-Laurent to run various programs.

The organization runs several family-oriented workshops and support programs for parents of babies and young children, as well as parent-child initiatives, and two reservation-based daycare services in Ormstown and Saint-Anicet. A youth team coordinates events and activities targeted at young adults between the ages of 12 and 24 years old. Finally, a seniors team organizes activities for those above the age of 50. The programs are all aimed at specific age groups, but UAF activities always work across generations.

“Everyone is always welcome,” says Limoges. “Our goal is to create a social network around each individual in our community,” she explains, suggesting her teams work to break down commonly held perceptions that community organizations are only for people with big problems or financial difficulties. “That’s not the case here,” she says, while acknowledging that they ensure all programs are accessible to vulnerable clients. “It is open to everyone, and we sincerely believe this is what makes our organization so rich, because we bring people with many different backgrounds together.”

Challenging times

Most of the programs run by UAF are funded by external grants or programs. The core operational budget hovers around $176,000, which Limoges says is clearly not enough to pay her staff. Most of her employees have been with the organization for over ten years. “They are trained and qualified, so we try to offer competitive salaries,” she explains, insisting that while community work pays less than other fields, she strives to set an example.

“One of our strengths is really a sense of belonging,” Limoges says, noting team members are often offered jobs in schools and health care settings. “We stick together, we have fun, and we help each other. It is worth a lot in terms of quality of life, but it comes with a cost,” she laments.

Limoges estimates she has completed at least 38 funding applications for one-off projects this year alone to keep her programs running. Current economic uncertainty, paired with the recent federal election and upcoming municipal elections, has meant fewer grants were available this year. “We are dependent on all of these,” she says, noting the situation is beyond her control. “Right now, our reality is that we have a deficit of $65,000,” she states, saying the grants are not coming in, and they have lost significant financial support from the municipality in which they are located.

The shortfall has meant at least one position will not be renewed next year, and a vacant post will not be filled. “We are used to scraping the bottom of the barrel,” says Limoges, who shares that the organization is currently keeping programs alive by shifting funds from management budgets that would normally pay for insurance, professional fees, and utilities.

“There is a limit to what we can do,” she says. “It is not easy, and it makes everyone feel insecure.” She says she wants to be transparent about the situation but does not want employees or clients to worry that programs may be discontinued.

UAF traditionally pauses its operations over the summer, with activities scheduled to end this year around June 15. Limoges says she and the management team are working to ensure their staff can enjoy the break knowing their position is secure come September.

In the meantime, Une Affaire de Famille is hoping to raise $20,000 in the short term. Two fundraising events are scheduled for June 7, including a day of music at Gigzz Musique-Resto in Ormstown featuring local musicians Pierre Lachance and Guy David, Dave Hills and Bob Davis, Dan McKell, and Barkhouse. UAF will also be present during the community garage sales at the ecocentre in Sainte-Barbe, where they will be selling hotdogs, beverages, and snacks to help ensure their important work continues this fall.

Donations can also be made directly to the organization online at uneaffairedefamillehsl.com. 

UAF provides essential services despite funding difficulties Read More »

Queer realities in Canada in 2025

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Callan Forrester – LJI reporter

There are laws in place in Canada that protect the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual) people, including the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA), which was amended in 1996 to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation; Bill C-38, which legalizes gay marriage; and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees equality of rights for everyone.

That being said, there are still massive amounts of hate and discrimination that queer and trans people face in Canada. Statistics Canada reported a 69-per cent increase in hate crimes towards people based on their sexual orientation from 2022 to 2023. On top of this, eagle.ca (an organization that fights for equality for queer people) says that “from 2016-2023, police-reported hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation have increased a staggering 388 per cent.”

The numbers have risen so dramatically that even the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has made a statement about it. In February 2024, CSIS spokesperson Eric Balsam said in an email to CBC News that “CSIS assesses that the violent threat posed by the anti-gender movement is almost certain to continue over the coming year, and that violent actors may be inspired by the University of Waterloo attack to carry out their own extreme violence against the 2SLGBTQI+ community or against other targets they view as representing the gender ideology ‘agenda’.” This was in response to the June 2023 stabbing of multiple people in a University of Waterloo gender studies class by a former student. Balsam goes on to say, “CSIS assesses that exposure to groups and individuals espousing anti-gender extremist rhetoric could inspire and encourage serious violence against the 2SLGBTQI+ community, or against those who are viewed as supporters of pro-gender ideology policies and events.”

Very recently, there have also been book bans proposed in schools in Alberta for containing “inappropriate content.” Three out of four of the publications in question have queer themes and are being banned for being age-inappropriate, even though they were written as coming-of-age stories.

2025 election

During the 2025 federal election, topics regarding the queer and trans community were hardly mentioned, which was surprising considering how much of a talking point they were during the 2024 U.S. election. However, many queer voters were alarmed with Pierre Poilievre’s stance that minors should not have access to hormone blockers. Hormone blockers are gender-affirming medications that are widely regarded as safe for trans kids (and even some cis kids) to take, and are reversible in the event that someone decides to de-transition.

Poilievre also has a history of voting against queer rights, and specifically against gay marriage, even though his adoptive father is gay. That being said, he was on record this election saying he would not rescind gay marriage if he was prime minister.

In Quebec

Looking a little closer to home, there has been some controversy with the official Fierté Montreal this year. In response to the city’s mainstream programming, a new event – Wild Pride – will be its own, more inclusive festival. The reasoning behind this new festival is due to accusations that Fierté Montreal has a history of being racist and sexist.

Earlier this year, ten community groups signed a letter to Fierté Montreal cutting ties in response to its appearance of valuing of corporate sponsorships over community organizations. Yara Coussa, a board member for Helem (a Lebanese queer organization) expressed in a recent Montreal Gazette article that Fierté has become too corporate and they feel frustrated by its affiliation with companies that support Israel. Ray Traboulsi of Sapphix, a lesbian event-planning organization, also mentions frustration with Fierté’s willingness to allow pro-Israel groups in the parade.

In response, Fierté executive director Simon Gamache said that Pride is expensive, that they need corporate sponsorships, and added that they only work with organizations that support the queer community and avoid any companies blacklisted by the United Nations.

Gamache hosted a Zoom meeting on May 20 to speak with members of the community; however, Coussa and Traboulsi did not feel like their concerns were heard. Gamache said he felt as though certain attendees took up too much of the floor and wished for more unity between organizations. That being said, he did say, “We need more alternative queer scenes,” and said that Wild Pride is a good idea.

Coussa saw a huge outpouring of support for Wild Pride when the plans were announced and said, “We really want to do a ‘Fierté’ that’s for everyone. Not just a party.” The focus will be on diversity and inclusion, and will feature events like “workshops, tea times, drag story time, and parties.”

Queer realities in Canada in 2025 Read More »

Pesticides in Chateauguay River remain in drinking water: study

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Société de Conservation et d’Aménagement du Bassin de la Rivière Châteauguay (SCABRIC) held a conference prior to its annual general meeting, in order to unpack recent research that reveals pesticide levels persist in treated municipal drinking water drawn from the Chateauguay River.

Sébastien Sauvé, a Université de Montréal environmental chemistry professor and lead author on the study, presented his findings to a crowded room in Sainte-Martine on May 29. His work, which was published in the June edition of the scientific journal, Water Research, found that over 50 different kinds of pesticides and metabolites, which are transformation products that result from the breakdown of pesticides, remain in tap water even after it has been processed at a water treatment plant.

Sauvé has been focusing his research on the Montérégie Ouest for several years because of the intensive agricultural activity that takes place along waterways, including the Chateauguay River. His previous work established that pesticides such as glyphosate and neonic are present in the region’s surface waters. This new study aimed to determine the temporal trends of pesticide concentrations in the surface water, and the associated health risks of human exposure from drinking water.

Over 838 days between 2021 and 2023, Sauvé and his team collected water samples twice a week from the Chateauguay River near where its waters were being pumped into a treatment facility. The samples were then compared with ones taken from the water as it was leaving the plant to be consumed as drinking water.

Researchers found that peak concentration for pesticides occurred in June and July, and that some transformation products were found in higher concentrations than their parent compounds in the surface water. Sauvé noted that while most pesticides remained in the treated water, up to 11 pesticides and one transformation product showed higher levels in drinking water than the raw sample. He attributed this to some compounds transforming during the treatment process that allowed them to become measurable.

“Roughly speaking, there was no difference in terms of pesticides in the water before and after treatment,” said Sauvé, who explained this does not mean the water treatment facilities are not working properly; they are just designed to remove bacteria.

Sauvé pointed out that his was the first study to investigate the health risks of parent pesticides and their transformation products in drinking water by using long-term sampling. His research argues for the regulation of acceptable levels of metabolites in drinking water, and the need to integrate more advanced treatment technologies into water treatment plants.

“There are a number of parameters that are well measured and well controlled,” Sauvé said, noting that there are specific Quebec standards for pesticides. “When we compare ourselves with the toxicity thresholds that are recognized and used in Quebec, we are not in a risk zone,” he confirmed.

“However, these are all individual risk levels. In toxicology, we know there are multiplier effects when we are exposed to several toxic elements at the same time,” he cautioned, noting they are not presently able to calculate or estimate these effects.

Pesticides in Chateauguay River remain in drinking water: study Read More »

UPA federation demands Quebec drop carbon pricing for farmers

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Fédération de l’UPA de la Montérégie has launched a campaign against the province’s carbon trading system, saying the policy is hurting the agricultural sector. Dozens of producers gathered in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu on May 1 to denounce the government’s current cap-and-trade emissions pricing system, the Système de Plafonnement et d’Échange des Droits d’Émission, which is commonly referred to as SPEDE.

Quebec is now the only province to tax carbon following the federal government’s recent decision to remove the consumer carbon price. The system is designed to reduce the province’s carbon footprint by requiring that large emitters such as fossil fuel distributors pay to pollute; however, this cost is often transferred directly to consumers at the time of sale.

“If all provinces and economic sectors participated fairly in this effort, this system would have real potential to change our practices in a structured and sustainable way, but this is not the case,” said Jérémy Letellier, president of the Montérégie UPA. He argued that as no viable alternatives exist to replace fossil fuels within the agriculture sector, the SPEDE unfairly penalizes producers who are already facing a very difficult economic situation.

The UPA acknowledged the greenhouse gas cap and trade system is not exactly a tax, and as a result it may be more difficult for the government to dismantle. “It is time to recognize that despite its administrative and legal complexity, the damage it causes fully justifies a serious review – or even the complete withdrawal of the system as it is currently being applied,” said Letellier.

“We are not asking for a free pass. We are just asking that our realities be taken into account,” added Letellier, noting the farming community is aware of the climate emergency. “We are already seeing the effects of climate change on our crops, our working conditions, and our livelihoods,” he continued, insisting that farmers have been at the forefront for years in searching for solutions to reduce the sector’s carbon footprint.

Quebec farmers are technically exempt from the provincial cap-and-trade system; however, they contribute to the Fonds d’Électrification et de Changements Climatiques in the form of costs billed by fossil fuel distributors. Sylvain Pilon, the president of the Producteurs de Grains du Québec, pointed out that over the last decade producers have contributed over $480 million to the electrification and climate change fund, which is fed by the money collected through SPEDE.

“We are not opposed to the idea of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But for the system to work, it must be fair, consistent, effective, and equitable. It is not up to our farms to pay for a system that does not work,” said David Phaneuf, an administrator representing the Producteurs d’Oeufs d’Incubation with the Federation. He estimated he loses around $25,000 per year in direct costs for propane, natural gas, and fuel to run his farm. He suggested the the average chicken farm pays around $4,150 to the electrification and climate change fund.

Phaneuf argued that farmers are always being challenged to become more competitive. “I feel like the coach is telling me to go out and play, but to leave my stick in the locker room,” he explained, saying these transferred costs represent net losses that are not recoverable.

Haut-Saint-Laurent producer Alain Primeau, who was present for the campaign launch, said the situation has reached a point where it no longer makes any sense. “We are being charged for fuels that are essential in agriculture. It prevents us from being more competitive, more efficient, and we can’t invest,” he explained, noting the additional charges cost him around $5,000 per year. “Even though we respect the environment, it is a roadblock,” he stated.

The UPA’s general president, Martin Caron, pointed out that while Quebec farmers are leaders in terms of their environmental efforts, they are shouldering too much. “Now, this injustice, where we pay these additional costs while not being able to pass them on, must stop. And it can’t stop in six months or a year. It has to stop now!” he exclaimed.

UPA federation demands Quebec drop carbon pricing for farmers Read More »

CVR’s Breakfast Club receives the gift of a new fridge

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Breakfast Club at Chateauguay Valley Regional High School (CVR) regularly serves 140 students a day, and that number is expected to climb by next year.

Faced with the increasing demand, the group of students in the Work Oriented Training Program (WOTP) who manage the club realized that another fridge was necessary. Lorelei Muller, the school’s community development agent, reached out to the Breakfast Club of Canada (BCC), which agreed to provide a new fridge and to cover a significant portion of the associated costs.

Serendipitously, the Carrefour Jeunesse-Emploi Huntingdon reached out to the Ormstown-based high school soon after to offer support for the Breakfast Club. The organization agreed to donate $500, while Huntingdon MNA Carole Mallette chipped in an additional $500 to cover the remaining cost.

The new fridge was unveiled on April 28. Principal Lynn Harkness thanked all those involved in the initiative as well as the students who work to ensure the school community starts each day with a healthy breakfast.

Amanda Imbriglio, a program coordinator for BCC, was pleased to help. “We support schools with food deliveries or with financial support,” she explained, noting that her organization works with the Complices Alimentaires to provide breakfast foods at CVR.

“It’s full service,” Imbriglio added, noting that BCC not only provides food and equipment, but aprons and other sanitary and hygiene items along with all the necessary permits and training.

Volunteer WOTP students have been involved with the breakfast program for around 10 years. Student William Bryson said the new fridge will make things easier as the current fridges are often overfilled.

“There will be less stress,” added student Christopher Paulin, who enjoys being part of the program. “It is a good thing CVR is doing,” he added.

CVR’s Breakfast Club receives the gift of a new fridge Read More »

CVR is ahead of the curve with cellphone ban

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

As part of a series of measures to reinforce safe and respectful school environments, Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville announced a complete ban on cellphones on school grounds that will come into effect at the start of the new school year.

Starting in September, the use of cell phones, headphones, and personal mobile devices will be prohibited from the start to the end of the school day, including during breaks and lunch hour. This follows restrictions on cell phones in the classroom that were imposed in January 2024.

Drainville made the announcement during a May 1 press conference, saying the decision stemmed from recommendations included in an interim report by a special commission on the impact of screens and social media.

“We know that cell phones are too often used to mock, provoke, or intimidate others. By banning them from school during the entire school day, we are addressing the root cause of many conflicts and, ultimately, allowing students to socialize better with each other,” he said.

There will be some exceptions to the ban for educational purposes, health reasons, or special needs. Drainville explained that it will be up to each school to decide how best to implement this change, while noting about 400 institutions have already moved to restrict cell phone use on school property across the province.

Chateauguay Valley Regional High School (CVR) is among those schools to have already enacted a cellphone ban on campus. The CVR staff and administration went cellphone-free at the start of the current school year and never looked back.

“Our whole message was to disconnect to reconnect,” said principal Lynn Harkness, who referred to the decision as a “100-per cent-plus success.”

Harkness said the impact is clearly visible. “Kids are talking to each other. Kids are interacting; they are looking at each other,” she explained, noting there are more students enjoying the outdoors or participating in school activities during breaks.

Harkness acknowledged that while some of the challenges with social media and cyber-bullying remain, they are much less present within the school. “The pressure has been lifted,” she said, while admitting she is still pleasantly surprised by how well the students have complied.

“It’s not like we are hiding behind corners to catch people like vigilantes,” Harkness said with a laugh, before suggesting that out of a student population over 700, less than 50 students have had their phones confiscated.

Harkness credits her staff, saying the decision to go cellphone-free came from wanting kids to get back to learning. The province-wide ban just reinforces that CVR was already on the right track.

CVR is ahead of the curve with cellphone ban Read More »

Legault is resolute in support for supply management

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Quebec Premier François Legault met with representatives from the Union des Producteurs Agricoles (UPA), as well as representatives from Agropur, the Solio Cooperative Group, and the Conseil de la Transformation Alimentaire du Québec during a visit to the Huntingdon riding on April 10.

Legault spoke with the different agricultural organizations about the potential impacts of tariffs imposed by the U.S. administration, and about the eventual renegotiation of the Canada-United States-Mexico trade agreement.

Following this, the premier toured the family-run Ferme P.Cécyre dairy farm in Sainte-Martine, where he talked with owners Pierre and Philippe Cécyre and their families about the farm and its history, their production, and the use of robotic milking technologies. “They work hard. It is seven days a week,” said Legault, after visiting the dairy barn. “We need to thank our farmers,” he added.

In an exclusive interview with The Gleaner, the premier spoke candidly about the importance of supply management and of defending the interests of farmers in trade negotiations.

Legault acknowledges there were concessions made in 2017 that impacted dairy farmers. “I made a commitment that there would be no de facto concessions on supply management,” he insisted, noting he was pleased to see federal leaders doubling down on this commitment during the election campaign.

“If we want to be able to continue to have small farms across all the regions of Quebec, we must protect supply management,” Legault maintained.

In Quebec, the supply management system regulates production through the allocation of quotas to match market demand. This provides financial stability to farms while ensuring a steady supply of local products, by establishing prices based on production costs and other factors and by controlling imports. Supply management affects the production of milk and dairy products, chicken, turkey, and eggs.

According to the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation, there were more than 5,360 quota-holding producers operating in Quebec under the supply management system in 2023. These farms produced 3.48 billion litres of milk, 409,000 metric tons of chicken and turkey meat, and 178.7 million dozen of eggs.

The province was entirely self-sufficient for chicken meat, fluid milk, and dairy products apart from cream. Quebec farmers produced almost 100 per cent of our turkey consumption and met around 80 per cent of the demand for eggs and cream.

Legault is resolute in support for supply management Read More »

MRCs offer support and services amid trade war

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

Area MRCs are on high alert.

The tariffs imposed by the United States as part of a trade war with Canada are impacting the regional economy. The MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent, the MRC de Beauharnois-Salaberry, and the MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville have all announced concrete actions to support local businesses while minimizing the impact on the economic vitality of the region.

“The MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent is actively supporting local entrepreneurs,” says prefect Louise Lebrun, who is also the mayor of Sainte-Barbe, noting the MRC is concerned about the consequences of the tariffs and their impact on property owners and workers as well.

The MRC anticipates presenting an economic diversification plan for the Haut-Saint-Laurent region in the coming weeks. Lebrun says the plan will make it possible to identify sectors with optimal potential to revitalize the economy.

The document will also be used by the MRC’s economic development advisors to identify promising diversification activities and niches that could help certain businesses to better cope with the impacts of the tariffs.

“The MRC is the gateway to business services for all entrepreneurs in the Haut-Saint-Laurent,” says the MRC’s director general, Pierre Caza. “We have experts ready to advise businesses in the Haut-Saint-Laurent region. Whether they need representation before political authorities, help creating or strengthening ties with Investissement Québec or other national, regional, or local resources, or information on support programs available at the MRC, we can help them get through this challenging period,” he explains.

A regional monitoring committee

The MRC de Beauharnois-Salaberry has formed a strategic monitoring committee in response to the trade war. The initiative aims to support local businesses affected by American tariffs and Canadian counter-tariffs, while serving as a lever to strengthen the region’s economic resilience.

The committee, which currently includes at least 14 members, allows for a rapid response to present-day challenges as well as the ability to better anticipate future economic issues. “The committee is a catalyst. It was born out of an urgent need, but its relevance goes far beyond tariffs,” says Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague mayor Yves Daoust, who chairs the MRC de Beauharnois-Salaberry’s economic advisory committee.

The recently created monitoring committee met for the first time on April 3. The members will work together to analyze the impacts of tariffs on local businesses, direct entrepreneurs to appropriate assistance programs, encourage regional cooperation to catalyze innovation, and establish a replicable intervention model for addressing other economic issues.

The committee includes representatives from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Beauharnois, the MRC de Beauharnois-Salaberry, Commerce International Québec Montérégie-Ouest (CIQMO), the SADC Suroît-Sud, Services Québec, the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie Beauharnois-Valleyfield-Haut-Saint-Laurent, CÉGEP de Valleyfield, and the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie. Representatives for both Huntingdon MNA Carole Mallette and Beauharnois MNA Claude Reid are also part of this committee, as well as outgoing MP for Salaberry-Suroît, Claude DeBellefeuille.

By summer, the committee plans to develop a regional portrait of the economic impact caused by the tariffs. The members also aim to implement a monitoring and resource sharing system, and to develop regional recommendations to be forwarded to the different levels of government.

A source for support and solutions

Entrepreneurs in the Jardins-de-Napierville region can also turn to their MRC’s economic development team for help.

The MRC is also coordinating a strategic committee to support the regional economy with initiatives tailored to the volatile economic situation. Members include political and economic stakeholders from the region who have come together to help businesses face current and future challenges.

“In the current context, it is essential that businesses in our region feel supported and accompanied in their efforts,” says prefect Yves Boyer. “We are determined to facilitate access to available resources and programs in order to stimulate growth, innovation, and market diversification for businesses in the Jardins-de-Napierville. Together, we can build a strong, resilient and forward-looking regional economy.”

MRCs offer support and services amid trade war Read More »

Legault: No decision yet on Bill 40 ruling

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The provincial government is weighing its options when it comes to Bill 40.

In an exclusive interview with The Gleaner, Premier François Legault confirmed that his government has not yet decided whether to appeal the April 3 judgment by the Quebec Court of Appeal. The judgment upholds a Superior Court ruling that several provisions of the beleaguered bill are unconstitutional.

“No decision has been made,” he stated, while acknowledging the courts had not ruled in the government’s favour. “We believe that English speakers have the right to go to school and to have services in English, but it is not threatening to have service centres instead of school commissioners, especially when the participation rates [in school board elections] are below 20 per cent,” he insisted.

“We are working on analyzing the judgment to see if we would have a chance of winning if we go to an appeal,” Legault said.

The appeals court sided with the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) and the province’s nine school boards – including the New Frontiers School Board (NSFB) – who argued that the legislation strips the English community of its Charter right to manage and control education services.

Legault said that no matter the eventual outcome of the court battle, it will not impact the government’s ability to work constructively with school boards and the English-speaking community.

Huntingdon MNA Carole Mallette pointed out that she works with three school service centres in her riding as well as the NFSB. She said her interactions with all four organizations was the same, before noting that she works particularly well with the NFSB due to the board’s vision of the community. “It is something that speaks to me,” she said.

For John Ryan, the chair of the NFSB council of commissioners, this broad sense of community is precisely what they are trying to protect by challenging the legislation’s constitutionality.

“School boards are the voice of the community. There is no one person who can have the impact or the same level of knowledge as the community, and this is always important when it comes to making decision than affect our community,” he said. “It makes a big difference, and this would be lost,” he maintains, in the event elected school commissioners were replaced with a service centre board.

“We have to protect this now. It is stressful and a lot of work, but it is not for today. It is for the tomorrows coming,” said Ryan, suggesting that challenges to English language rights are likely to continue.

Legault: No decision yet on Bill 40 ruling Read More »

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 »

La Bouffe Additionnelle to benefit from a second cookie campaign

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

La Bouffe Additionnelle is partnering with the Huntingdon Tim Hortons once again for this spring’s Smile Cookie campaign running from April 28 to May 4. The Huntingdon-based food pantry has been selected as the beneficiary organization for a second time, following the successful cookie drive organized last fall.

Marine Mailloux, the new director at La Bouffe Additionnelle, says they hope to raise $10,000 through the partnership, where 100 per cent of cookie sales will go towards sustaining the organization’s delivery services as demand for food aid keeps rising.

“La Bouffe continues to see new families and individuals, with between two and four new files being opened each week,” Mailloux says, noting the increasing cost of living and groceries is making it more difficult for people to access enough food.

“We are committed to meeting this growing need, and to providing adequate food to those in need,” she adds, while suggesting the current situation emphasizes the significant role played by the organization within the Haut-Saint-Laurent and neighbouring communities.

Mailloux recognizes the efforts of former director Sylvie Racette and her dedication to broadening the food pantry’s reach. “We share the same vision for the future of La Bouffe,” she explains. “Sylvie and the team’s objective was to set up new food access points in other municipalities in the MRC, and I intend to continue in this direction,” she says, adding that she is hoping to develop a solidarity grocery store where people can select food items according to their needs and preferences.

In the meantime, the organization continues to rely on donations and fundraising such as the Time Horton’s Smile Cookie campaign, to ensure it continues to respond to the community’s growing needs on a regular and sustainable basis.

La Bouffe Additionnelle to benefit from a second cookie campaign 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 »

UPA requests more transparency from MRC over waterway management

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

As the annual spring flood waters receded from agricultural fields this past week, the subject of waterway management and the significance of well-maintained ditches and waterways was once again top of mind for some area producers.

Waterway management became a hot topic between the local syndicate of the Union des Producteurs Agricoles (UPA) and the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent last September, when the local union passed a resolution calling for better management of the region’s waterways.

The resolution demanded better collaboration with the MRC, the municipalities, and the provincial government to ensure requests to clear waterways are addressed and the corresponding work is done according to a reasonable schedule. The union also asked that the MRC provide a complete overview of pending watercourse maintenance files.

The MRC, which is responsible for managing all assessments, as well as any work to maintain, clean, and develop the waterways flowing through its territory, has acknowledged there can be long delays, but suggests the process is bogged down by the administrative and technical complexity of government procedures.

An initial meeting took place between the MRC and representatives from the Haut-Saint-Laurent syndicate in early November. Unsatisfied with the information that was shared, the UPA resorted to submitting a formal access to information request to the MRC.

Following a decision by local union directors, a complaint was also filed with the Ministère des Affaires Municipales et de l’Habitation; however, this was later withdrawn.

The situation led to some friction between the two bodies, but the Haut-Saint-Laurent UPA’s president, Éric Leboeuf, noted at the February meeting that the union is working to rebuild the relationship. MRC director general Pierre Caza said the MRC is also “keen to maintain good relations with all its partners and collaborators.”

Catherine Turgeon, the UPA advisor for the local syndicate, confirms that the MRC has since produced a portrait of its ongoing waterway management files. “Now, it is a question of seeing how the MRC works with the engineering firms and the environment ministry so that the requests are unblocked and carried out within a reasonable timeframe,” she explained.

Turgeon noted that the MRC’s list of open maintenance requests contained around twenty files, some dating back to as early as 2018.

Caza has confirmed that the list of ongoing files will be made public, and that the regional government is currently developing a tool that will allow producers to follow the progress of their maintenance requests.

Caza said that in the meantime, questions regarding existing files should be addressed to the MRC’s waterways manager, David Rousseau. The MRC is also now suggesting that producers address new requests directly to Rousseau, who will then collaborate with the municipalities involved.

UPA requests more transparency from MRC over waterway management 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 »

MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent wins Superior Court battle over Port-Lewis wharf

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

A Quebec Superior Court judge has rejected a request by the municipalities of Elgin, Saint-Anicet, and the town of Huntingdon to annul a set of resolutions adopted by the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent that transfer Port-Lewis wharf usufruct rights to a private business.

The March 11 ruling, which was issued by Judge Catherine Dagenais, confirms that the MRC was within its rights to transfer user rights for the wharf to the Marina Port-Lewis, and that the procedures employed to do this were completely legal.

The MRC has owned the wharf and the access ramp since 1990 when it was transferred to the regional municipal authority by the federal government. The wharf, which provides access to Lake Saint-François, has always been enjoyed for free by the public.

In December 2020, the MRC first announced it had reached an agreement in principle with Marina Port-Lewis regarding the use of the wharf for a period of 30 years. At the time, the MRC argued that the agreement served to maintain the MRC’s ownership of the property while protecting the financial capacity of the residents and taxpayers of all 13 municipalities in the MRC. The agreement also supported the region’s economic development.

Concerns over the agreement were brought up by residents during numerous council meetings prior to the signing of the agreement. The MRC prefect and mayor of Sainte-Barbe, Louise Lebrun, insisted the MRC had “heard and listened to the representations of citizens and elected officials of the Haut-Saint-Laurent in order to reach a decision that protects their interests.”

A set of resolutions was then adopted by the MRC in February 2021, authorizing the removal of the wharf from the public domain and the signing of a deed transferring the right of usufruct between the MRC and the marina for one dollar.

A usufruct generally refers to the right to enjoy the use and advantages of a given property with conditions; in this case, the marina was given the right to use the wharf for a period of 30 years. The agreement included an obligation to maintain the wharf and carry out any major repairs. It also guarantees that free public access to the wharf will be maintained.

At the end of the 30-year term, the MRC will regain ownership of the wharf, as well as any renovations carried out by the marina.

A motion was filed in Superior Court against the MRC in October 2021 by the municipalities of Saint-Anicet, where the wharf is located, as well as the municipality of Elgin and the town of Huntingdon. The municipalities requested that the resolutions be annulled as well as the deed of transfer between the MRC and the Marina Port-Lewis.

The municipalities argued that the usufruct contravened article 6.1 of the Municipal Code of Quebec as well as the Municipal Aid Prohibition Act. Questions were also raised about whether the wharf could have been withdrawn from the public domain, and whether the municipalities brought their case to court within a reasonable time frame.

The court disagreed, concluding instead that “The usufruct does not contravene article 6.1 of the Municipal Code, and there is no reason to declare the resolutions and usufruct null and void.”

The ruling was also quite unequivocal in rejecting the municipalities’ claim that the usufruct broke the law by subsidizing the marina’s business in allowing the wharf to be used for commercial activities over the next 30 years without charging rent.

The court pointed out the marina is subject to numerous charges and conditions as part of the agreement signed by the MRC, including all major repairs and renovations during the 30-year period.

The judge noted that as of April 2022, the marina had already spent just over $19,795 on renovations and improvements including parking spaces, streetlamps and lighting, the installation of a dock at the descent, and the construction of six terraces.

The marina must also continue to allow free public access to the property. Emergency services, including police, fire departments, ambulances, and first responders, must also be able to always access the wharf. The MRC has formed a monitoring committee to ensure the right of public access to the wharf is upheld.

The court determined that all procedures to remove the property from the public to the private domain were followed through the adoption of the resolutions in question.

The wharf remains the property of the MRC and is still accessible to all, free of charge, between 4 a.m. and 11 p.m.

MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent wins Superior Court battle over Port-Lewis wharf Read More »

Federal deputies call on U.S. officials over reduced border hours

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Salaberry-Suroît MP and public safety critic, Claude DeBellefeuille, and Saint-Jean MP Christine Normandin are stepping up their pressure on Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Minister David McGuinty over reduced hours of operation at area ports of entry.

The hours at the Herdman (Chateaugay), Trout River (Trout River), Lacolle Route 221 (Overton), and Lacolle Route 223 (Rouses Point) border crossings between Canada and New York State were reduced by half as of January 6. Faced with this continued reduction in hours, which see the crossing points close overnight, the MPs have reached out to their American counterparts for support.

An official letter was sent to U.S. elected officials who share a border with the two MPs’ constituencies. DeBellefeuille and Normandin emphasized the need for continuous operational border control, especially in the current geopolitical context.

The aim of the joint initiative is to ensure the American authorities are aware of the risks associated with the security and fluidity of cross-border trade. “Our American counterparts are well aware of the consequences of a less secure border,” said DeBellefeuille in a joint statement issued by the deputies.

She highlighted the importance of working together to press McGuinty to reverse the Canadian Border Services Agency’s (CBSA) decision.

“Reducing opening hours not only weakens border security; it also harms our regional economies, which are heavily dependent on cross-border trade,” added Normandin.

When asked, a representative from DeBellefeuille’s office noted that despite an initial response from the CBSA to the MPs requests for a revision, the deputy has not received anything further from the public safety minister.

U.S. elected officials spoke out in November, when the joint decision by the CBSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was first announced. New York State Senator Dan Stec blasted the decision, insisting “You can’t have a part-time border.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has also publicly stated her opposition to the reduction in hours, as has New York State Assemblyman Billy Jones.

DeBellefeuille and Normandin said they hope the letter will result in elected officials on both sides of the border speaking with one voice, with the end goal of prompting the federal governments to reconsider their decision.

Federal deputies call on U.S. officials over reduced border hours 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 »

New 4-H club opens in the Chateauguay Valley

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Chateauguay Valley 4-H club is now up and running and looking for new members from across the region who are interested in learning about 4-H and all it has to offer.

Organizers with the club include Vicky Tremblay, Mackenzie Peddie, Suzelle Barrington, and Billie Nussey-Rufh. They decided to launch a club that would be open to English- and French-speaking young people between the ages of 6 and 25 from across the Valley. The goal is to break down some of the perceived barriers to joining a 4-H club, especially the belief that members must come from a farming background.

“You don’t need to own a calf to be a 4-Her,” says Peddie, while highlighting the many other activities at the heart of the club, including social opportunities, gardening, outdoor activities, creative crafts, and much more. She notes there will be some focus on traditional 4-H activities, but an emphasis will also be placed on bringing in new ideas.

Tremblay says another important aspect of the new Chateauguay Valley Club will be a focus on giving back to the community.

Quebec 4-H provincial coordinator Gillian MacDougall says they are very excited about the new club. “One of our current goals for Quebec 4-H is growth, which includes increasing membership and the number of clubs,” she explains.

MacDougall says she is not concerned that there are already three active clubs in the area, including Howick, Huntingdon, and Ormstown. “One of the most wonderful things about multiple clubs in one area is the community. Just because a member belongs to one club does not stop them from connecting and bonding with other members in 4-H,” she says.

MacDougall points out that the Chateauguay Valley is the only area in Quebec with clubs so close together, with members going to the same schools. “I am excited to support the members taking on the venture of starting a new club and look forward to seeing what they accomplish over the next year.”

Monthly meetings of the Chateauguay Valley 4-H club will take place at the Georgetown Church in Très-Saint-Sacrément. They will run for about an hour and will be followed by a fun activity and snack.

More information on the new 4-H club and how to join is available on Facebook or by emailing chateauguayvalley4h@gmail.com.

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LBA Dairy Day aims to keep farms in production

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The first Chateauguay Valley Dairy Day conference will take place at the Agri-Culture Centre at the fairgrounds in Ormstown on March 18.

The idea of holding a public day event for producers was brought forward by members of the Livestock Breeders Association’s (LBA) cattle and forage committee, who were looking for ways to help area farmers.

The event will be the first bilingual conference of its kind available to all producers. “It is in our best interest to educate everybody to be the most profitable and to do the best job on their farm,” says veterinarian and dairy producer Jodi Wallace, who is organizing the activity with Simon-Pierre Loiselle of the Uniag Cooperative.

“The theme for all of the conferences this year is profitability and trying to help farmers stay in business for years to come,” Wallace explains, noting all of the expert speakers are focused on ensuring producers remain on the farm despite challenging times.

The speakers include Nicholas Marquis of Sollio Agriculture, who will discuss breeding rates and the profitability of cow purchases. Loiselle says Marquis is a numbers specialist. “His presentation will help a lot of farmers to make choices on their farms,” says Loiselle.

Heather Dann of the Miner Institute will focus on management outlooks for 2025, while Chris Gwyn of JEFO Nutrition will share ten common practices for farm profitability. Alex Venne-Balchem will also talk about reducing heat stress in dairy cows. 

“Everything is linked to cow health and cow welfare,” says Wallace. “Even if producers just pick one thing from each of the four speakers, they’ll go home and they’ll make improvements on their farms,” she adds.

Loiselle says the speakers will also focus on economics, as today’s farms are under extreme pressure to keep going. “We have to keep the farms here,” he says, noting the area is losing hundreds of kilograms of dairy quota per year as farms are sold or closed. “It is an underlying economic issue,” he explains, noting the quota being sold from local farms is leaving the area.

“We are really focusing on bringing positive news and to give little tricks that can help farmers to be more profitable,” says Loiselle.

This is the first time the LBA will host this type of event. “The LBA’s goal is to expand on conferences such as this one,” says LBA manager Sue Morison, while explaining that part of the role of the Agri-Culture Centre is to ensure local farmers can access informative conferences locally. The event is also being sponsored in part by the Réseau Agriconseils Montérégie network.

A silent auction will take place that day to raise funds for the LBA’s scholarship fund, which awards a $500 scholarship to a CVR graduate pursuing studies in agriculture.

Producers are asked to register for the event by March 14. More information is available on the LBA’s Facebook page.

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Centre de Services Scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands: New adult general education service point opens in Huntingdon

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Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Centre de Services Scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands (CSSVT) has opened a new adult general education service point in Huntingdon.

The Centre de Formation Générale des Adultes des Tisserands (CFGAT) added the new service point to offer educational services and programs to residents of the Haut-Saint-Laurent and surrounding areas who are over 16 years old. The new location responds to an objective set out by the CSSVT’s Commitment to Success Plan, which aimed to open a vocational training program in each of the sectors served by the service centre.

“As Beauharnois and Salaberry-de-Valleyfield already have their service points, it became a priority for the CFGAT to take steps to offer its services to the population of the Haut-Saint-Laurent,” said Stéphanie Leduc Joseph, a communications councillor with the CSSVT’s Services du Secretariat General et des Communications.

The expansion was made possible through a collaboration with the local Carrefour Jeunesse-Emploi (CJE)/PS Jeunesse, which offered a learning space for students at their Huntingdon location.

“Several sites were considered in recent years, but none met the needs of our organization. Our existing partnership with the Beauharnois-Salaberry CJE led us to consider the CJE in Huntingdon, which had available premises that met our criteria,” Leduc Joseph explained.

For the CJE/PS Jeunesse, the partnership made sense. “Our mission is to offer support and employability prospects to young adults,” said Gilles Tardif, who chairs the CJE/PS Jeunesse board of directors. The partnership opens new education opportunities in the region, he said, stating, “There is nothing more constructive for our community than to unite our efforts and our expertise to help young people move closer to their future.”

There are currently seven students registered at the Huntingdon service point. The CSSVT is expecting this to increase to around 50 registrations per year. The programs available in Huntingdon include French, mathematics, and English classes, as well as prior learning assessment and recognition testing.

“Our priority is to provide access to services for adults in the Haut-Saint-Laurent, making it easier for them to resume their studies without the challenge of travelling to our Beauharnois or Valleyfield service points,” said Leduc Joseph.

The CFGAT helps adults who wish to improve their career prospects, perfect their knowledge, or complete their high school diploma. For CSSVT director general Suzie Vranderick, the new service point represents “a significant step towards bringing education closer to the Haut-Saint-Laurent community.”

Along with the new service point, the CFGAT has also recently launched an improved website. The modernized information platform allows users to find more information about the CFGAT’s services and programs.

“This new tool was created with the needs of future students in mind, and to facilitate contact with the organization. Users are now able to apply online and access pertinent information for their individual journeys,” said CFGAT director Dominic Tremblay.

More information about the CFGAT’s new service point in Huntingdon is available online at cfgatisserands.ca.

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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.

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