Opening Comments by Mayor Peter J. Malouf - Regular Meeting of Tuesday, October 17, 2023

" Good evening to all and thank you for spending your evening with us.

As usual, I'll give you a quick overview of the issues of interest to our community.

SPVM

A recent reorganization within the SPVM has brought us a new commander for PDQ 26. Stéphane Rodrigue has been appointed to this position. I would like to congratulate Stephane on his new position and wish him all the best. Stephane has been associated with our territory for about 20 years, so it is nice to have him now as the Commandant.

Sports Centre

As promised, I would like to give you a monthly update about the new sports centre. The government has opened up its grant program for sports and recreational facilities, offering financial assistance of 66% of eligible costs for selected projects, up to a maximum of $20 M. We will therefore be adopting tonight the resolution authorizing the administration to proceed with the grant request for the new sports and community centre. Once again, this is good news in moving ahead with our project.

Pickleball

A reminder to pickleball players, indoor court time is available on weekends at Pierre-Laporte high school.

Sewer Backup

The town has received the consultant's report on the hydraulic capacity of our sewers and a presentation was made to the elected representatives. There's a lot of information to digest and decisions to be made for future action. A public presentation is planned for early 2024 for residents so that you can better understand the situation and take the required actions to protect their homes. The report is not a public document.

Budget Process

Like all other municipalities, we're going through a budgetary process, spending long hours with the administration to adopt a realistic budget that meets the needs of our residents and corresponds to their capacity to pay.

It goes without saying that difficult decisions need to be made, keeping in mind Townies financial expectations.

The budget will be presented for adoption in December.

Various Infrastructure Work Around Town

Various infrastructure work is still ongoing throughout the Town despite the arrival of fall:

• Roadworks
• Sewerage / waterworks
• Work in the Town Centre
• Dalle Parc (Station Square)
• Bates Park (Royal Garden) 

Roadworks

Work on the various streets is nearing completion and will be finished this year, with the exception of Winton Road, where work has been postponed until 2024 due to instability of the pavement.

Aqueduc, Watermain and Sewer Work

All work is complete, except for some minor adjustments. On Decarie service road, work will be completed for November 11.

Work in the Town Centre

Watermain work in the Town centre is completed. Signage and lane reductions have been removed.

Dalle Park (Station Square)

Work was slowed by a problem with the REM project. Work has now resumed.

Bates Park (Royal Garden)

Work is progressing well; playground equipment is installed, and fence and pergola are being done now. We hope for Mother Nature to cooperate so that planting can be done this fall.

Conflict in Israel

We are saddened and dismayed at the worsening cycle of violence and death that is taking place in Israel and Gaza. We join many in opposing violence and oppression in all their manifestations. What's happening now is horrible and shocking; violence is unacceptable and condemned, because it has never led to the improvement of humanity.

We wish that a durable peace will soon be reached and be built on a foundation of empathy, justice, and equality, where all equally innocent Palestinian and Israeli civilians without exception, are allowed to live in dignity and safety.

ASM

The Association of Suburban Municipalities (ASM), of which the town is a member, has issued a statement on the conflict in Israel. You can view it here.

In closing, thank you for joining us, happy fall and happy trick or treating!"