The Government of Canada has announced that it will soon introduce a bill to decriminalize advance requests for medical assistance in dying (MAID).

However, the bill would maintain indefinitely the exclusion of individuals whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental disorder.

The Quebec Association for the Right to Die with Dignity (AQDMD) welcomed the first part of the announcement. The organization said it was pleased with the announced amendment to the Criminal Code, a change it has been calling for over several years.

“This amendment will provide much-needed legal certainty for healthcare professionals,” said Dr. Laurent Boisvert, president of the AQDMD and an emergency physician, in a press release. “They will be able to act with greater peace of mind while respecting the wishes expressed by their patients.”

Indeed, the current prohibition under the Criminal Code has created uncertainty for healthcare professionals. Some have remained reluctant to proceed for fear of prosecution, despite directives from the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions and the fact that MAID requests have been permitted in Quebec since October 2024.

Changes Still Needed

Conversely, the AQDMD deplores the part of the decision concerning mental disorders.

The organization states that “this decision reflects the recommendations of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying, whose bias the AQDMD had previously criticized.” It also maintains that “this blanket exclusion based on the nature of the diagnosis is discriminatory.”

Justice Minister Sean Fraser acknowledged that difficulties accessing healthcare across Canada are among the reasons justifying the exclusion.

“If access to care is inadequate, then access to care must be improved,” said Dr. Boisvert. “If the way care is organized is problematic, then the organization of care must be improved. But the answer cannot be to deprive an entire category of patients of a healthcare service because of deficiencies in the system.” (N.P.)

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L’article Medical Assistance in Dying | AQDMD Responds to Federal Decision est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

The Integrated Health and Social Services Centre (CISSS) of Laval has eliminated more than 250 full-time beneficiary attendant positions in the region’s long-term care homes (CHSLDs) since the beginning of 2026.

As of April 2, a total of 252 full-time positions had been replaced by 170.8 part-time positions in Laval’s public CHSLDs.

Sainte-Dorothée is the facility most affected by the cuts, with 100.6 full-time positions converted into 63 part-time roles. Idola-Saint-Jean follows, with 72 full-time positions turned into 43.4 part-time jobs. At Val-des-Brises, 54 full-time equivalent positions were reduced to 51.1 part-time roles.

The Sainte-Rose and La Pinière CHSLDs are losing 13 and 10 full-time positions respectively, replaced by 9.1 and 4.2 part-time jobs. Finally, the Fernand-Larocque team is losing 2.4 full-time positions without any replacements.

Despite this reduction in working hours, the Laval health authority maintains that “the level of care and services offered to users remains the same,” while allowing for “rigorous and responsible management of public funds.”

“This transformation makes it possible […] to achieve savings estimated between $6 and $7 million,” added the CISSS de Laval communications department. “Nearly half of these amounts is being reinvested to support the opening of additional long-term care beds, including those opened in 2025, as well as others that will become available in the coming weeks.”

Confusion and concern

Unsurprisingly, the Syndicat des travailleuses et des travailleurs du CISSS de Laval (STTCISSS-Laval) is opposing these significant cuts to full-time positions.

“I was stunned when they told us,” said its president, Nathalie Bourque. “We promise two baths per week and respect for residents’ biological schedules because it’s a living environment—but you still need the time and staff to do that. […] This is yet another step backward for Laval.”

She cited several examples of people whose lives will be disrupted by these cuts: a couple losing two full-time positions, a single mother who will have to travel much farther to keep her job, and workers who moved to Lanaudière to maintain full-time status.

In response, the CISSS de Laval stated that “individual meetings were held to ensure the smoothest possible transition and to provide personalized support to affected individuals, in addition to continued access to the Employee Assistance Program.”

“That’s nonsense,” replied Nathalie Bourque. “Sometimes we showed up to meetings and they were cancelled because someone couldn’t make it, and we hadn’t even been notified by email. […] There were many situations like that.”

She emphasized that “labour relations staff were not very familiar with the process” and that her group had to correct certain information. “Sometimes people were in tears and devastated, and they just walked away,” she added. “Who picks those people up? We do!”

The STTCISSS-Laval has also issued a statement proposing cuts to management positions in response to the CISSS decision. It estimates that savings of $2,519,932 could be achieved by converting certain management roles to part-time. Managers could even be more present on the ground.

“These figures are estimates, but we know we’re not far off,” said Nathalie Bourque. “We’re not saying they do nothing, but […] it’s always frontline staff who get cut first. There are no major cuts at the top.”

“In fall 2024, the CISSS de Laval already eliminated positions as part of its balanced budget plan,” responded the communications department. “Each manager at CISSS de Laval supervises more employees than the Quebec average.”

Next steps

The STTCISSS-Laval confirms that all beneficiary attendants affected by the cuts have now been informed.

The process has now reached the bumping stage. Workers can choose to take a vacant part-time position or displace a less senior employee in another department.

“Many are choosing bumping, so there’s still a lot to be done. Even when taking someone else’s position in another facility, it’s often only evenings or nights if you want full-time hours. It creates a ripple effect everywhere and impacts all workplaces,” concluded Nathalie Bourque.

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L’article Over 250 full-time positions cut in Laval long-term care homes est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

At the request of Agropur, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is recalling various Farmers, Natrel, and Québon milk products due to the possible presence of glass fragments.

Chocolate milk products are particularly affected, although other types of milk are also being recalled from the market.

It should be noted that this recall is being carried out nationwide, particularly in Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. These products should not be consumed, used, sold, served, or distributed.

More specifically, the presence of glass fragments is suspected in 2L cartons of Farmers 1% partially skimmed chocolate milk, 1% partially skimmed milk, 2% partially skimmed milk, and 3.25% homogenized milk; 2L cartons of Natrel 1% lactose-free partially skimmed chocolate milk; and 2L cartons of Québon 2% partially skimmed chocolate milk.

This recall follows test results conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

However, it is important to note that no illnesses associated with the consumption of these products have been reported to date.

What to do

First, check whether you have any of the affected products at home. Do not consume, use, sell, serve, or distribute any recalled products.

Anyone who believes they may have become ill after consuming a recalled product should contact their healthcare provider.

Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the place where they were purchased.

Investigation ongoing

The Public Health Agency of Canada is currently conducting a food safety investigation that could lead to the recall of additional products.

The agency is also ensuring that industry removes recalled products from the marketplace.

Information

For more information, the public can call toll-free at 1-613-773-2342 (local or international) or email information@inspection.gc.ca. (B.L.)

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L’article Recall of Several Milk Brands Due to Possible Glass Contamination est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is recalling No Name brand beef burgers because of a potential risk of E. coli contamination.
The product was sold in a box containing 12 burgers, with a total weight of 1.36 kg. The UPC is 0 60383 37333 7, and the “Best Before” date listed is March 5, 2026.

At this time, no illnesses linked to the consumption of this product have been reported. The recall is the result of test findings conducted by the CFIA.

What to do?
People who have this product in their possession should not consume it. Instead, they should discard it or return it to the place of purchase.
Consumers who believe they may have become ill after consuming this product should contact their health care provider.

Risks and symptoms
Food contaminated with E. coli bacteria may not show visible signs of spoilage or have an unusual odour, yet can still cause illness.
Possible symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps of varying severity, and watery or bloody diarrhea.

In severe cases, some individuals may suffer seizures or a stroke, while others may require blood transfusions and dialysis. In some cases, kidney damage may be permanent. The illness can even be fatal. (N.P.)

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L’article E. coli | Recall of No Name Brand Burgers est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Several other products containing pistachios have been recalled in recent days by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) due to possible Salmonella contamination. Products from the companies Iconoglace, Allo Simonne, as well as baklavas sold in various stores are affected.

The Griottes et pistaches au chocolat, pétales de rose, 130-gram package, from Allo Simonne, as well as the Petit œufs au chocolat, pistaches et framboise, 150-gram package, from the same company, are included.

Unbranded baklava flowers and baklava diamond pieces sold at Maison Si Bon Inc. retailers, located at 2123 Boulevard Le Carrefour and 3509 Boulevard Concorde East, in Laval, are also affected.

The Pistaches-tu? and Pistaches-tu vraiment? products from Iconoglace, located at 3120 Bélanger Street, Montreal, sold frozen until August 25, are also being recalled and should not be consumed.

Products subject to recall must not be consumed, used, sold, served, or distributed and should be returned to the point of purchase, as they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.

What you should do

• If you believe you became ill after consuming a recalled product, contact your healthcare provider.

• Check if you have recalled products.

• Do not consume, use, sell, serve, or distribute recalled products.

• Recalled products should be discarded or returned to the place where they were purchased.

Foods contaminated with Salmonella bacteria do not necessarily show visible signs of spoilage or suspicious odor, but they can still make you sick.

Young children, pregnant women, elderly individuals, and people with weakened immune systems may develop serious and sometimes fatal infections.

In healthy people, salmonellosis can cause short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Salmonellosis can also lead to long-term complications, including a severe form of arthritis.

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L’article New Recall of Contaminated Pistachio Products Not to Be Consumed est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

L’article Excessive Lead Found in Dining Room Furniture est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

From Sunday, June 29, to Saturday, July 26, no patient had been waiting for surgery for more than a year at the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) de Laval.
Since the beginning of 2025, that figure has fluctuated between 1 and 0, positioning Laval as one of the top-performing regions in Quebec when it comes to surgery.
During the above-mentioned period—the most recent data released by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS)—only Laval, Côte-Nord, and Nord-du-Québec had no patients waiting longer than a year.

By comparison, 1,752 patients had been waiting more than a year in the Montreal region, the highest number in the province, followed by 569 in Lanaudière and 352 in the Laurentians.
“[Having no] wait times of more than a year—here in Laval, unions are pleased about that,” said Déreck Cyr, president of the Syndicat des infirmières, inhalothérapeutes et infirmières auxiliaires de Laval (SIIIAL-CSQ). “But should we be satisfied with a one-year wait? Is that timeframe reasonable? We know that’s the ministerial target, but shouldn’t we aim lower? […] In general, the lower the targets, the better. Some people are still waiting a long time.”

Satisfied with its performance, the CISSS de Laval partly attributes its success to an innovative tool designed to improve access to surgeries.

Equality versus Equity

The CISSS de Laval has been using a custom-built Excel tool for about 10 years to improve fairness in the distribution of surgical priorities.

“[Before,] we would take our operating rooms and divide them equally, according to the number of surgeries, among all specialties. Then, the head of medical services would distribute them equally among each of their members,” explained Frédéric Pageot, senior advisor for access and clinical performance at the CISSS de Laval and creator of the tool.

Equality and equity are not the same thing. In other words, even though the traditional way of allocating surgical time ensured equal numbers for all doctors, patient access to care was not distributed fairly.

“When you distribute equally, you inevitably end up with inequitable waiting lists,” said the Excel tool’s administrator. “[For example], we might have two patients with the same medical condition, the same age, and the same surgery: if one fell under Dr. X, they could be operated on within three months; if under Dr. Y, they could wait a year and a half!”

The Tool

The Excel tool analyzes the waiting lists of all Laval surgeons in order to prioritize time slot allocation based on multiple parameters, including waiting list fluctuations, procedure urgency, required operating time, and the distribution of technical resources.

Recently, two new elements were introduced: a minimum threshold and flexibility granted to heads of medical services, who are best placed to consider the specific needs of their teams.

The first ensures that a physician always has a minimum number of operations within a given period in order to maintain their skills and be able to handle urgent cases when needed.
Three times a year, a working committee updates the waiting lists and analyzes the “robust and reliable” data provided by the Excel tool to plan the upcoming period more objectively.

In addition to improving access to services for patients, the tool also benefits surgeons, who can now better balance their time between the operating room and the clinic—a very useful practice for managing their patient lists.

“They don’t lose anything, and we end up with more balanced lists,” said Frédéric Pageot, proud of this practice, which is quite unique in Quebec, and of the convincing results it has brought to the CISSS de Laval.

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L’article No Patient Waiting More Than a Year for Surgery in Laval est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Health Canada has issued a notice regarding a batch of NRA-Amlodipine 5 mg tablets from Nora Pharma that may contain the wrong medication.

The affected bottles are from lot EM240229, with an expiry date of August 2027.

Typically, NRA-Amlodipine 5 mg tablets are white or off-white and octagonal in shape. If the bottle contains round tablets that do not match this description, they may actually be 12.5 mg extended-release metoprolol succinate tablets.

In such cases, the tablets should not be taken, and a healthcare professional should be contacted to replace the bottle. If the prescribed individual has taken the wrong medication and experiences dizziness, abnormally low blood pressure, or a slowed heart rate, they should call 911.

NRA-Amlodipine is used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain in adults and children aged 6 to 17 years.

Extended-release 12.5 mg metoprolol succinate tablets are also used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain, but substituting amlodipine (5 mg) with metoprolol (12.5 mg) can lead to serious side effects.

These may include dangerous fluctuations in blood pressure—especially dangerously low drops—breathing difficulties, or an abnormally slow heart rate.

Patients with other conditions, particularly heart failure, asthma, severe peripheral arterial disease, pheochromocytoma, or diabetes, and those taking other medications may experience different and potentially more severe side effects.

Children who take the wrong medication may also face a higher risk of serious adverse effects and potential harm.

Health Canada notes that it is monitoring the recall and the company’s investigation, including the implementation of corrective and preventive measures to avoid recurrence. (N.P.)

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L’article Health Canada Recalls Medication for High Blood Pressure est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Health Canada is warning consumers not to use Virility for Men (Yi Li Xiao capsule), as it may pose serious health risks.

Health Canada stated in a media release that Virility for Men (Yi Li Xiao Capsule) contains an undeclared prescription drug and poses serious health risks.

The product had been authorized as a natural health product intended to enhance physical capacity and performance (in cases of physical stress), but recent testing by Health Canada’s laboratory revealed that it contains tadalafil, a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction, which was not listed on the product label.

Tadalafil is a prescription medication that should only be taken under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

People taking nitrate-based medications (e.g., nitroglycerin) should not take tadalafil, as it may cause life-threatening low blood pressure.

Individuals with heart conditions may face cardiovascular side effects such as heart attack, stroke, chest pain, high blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythms.

Other potential side effects include headaches, flushing, indigestion, dizziness, vision disturbances, and hearing loss.

Natural health products must not contain prescription drugs. Prescription medications should only be taken under the guidance and supervision of a healthcare professional, as they are intended to treat specific conditions and may cause serious side effects.

Health Canada has suspended the product license for Virility for Men (Yi Li Xiao capsule, NPN 80083930), and the license holder, Yexin Likang International Health Inc., is recalling the product.

Health Canada is monitoring the impact of the company’s recall and will take appropriate action in a timely manner if new health risks are identified.

What You Should Do

• Stop using Virility for Men (Yi Li Xiao capsule).

• Consult your healthcare provider if you have used this product and have health concerns.

• Report any adverse reactions or complaints related to this health product to Health Canada.

• Contact Yexin Likang International Health Inc. at frankzhangsap@yahoo.ca if you have questions about the recall. (B.L.)

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L’article Male Virility Product Deemed Dangerous to Health est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

A new study by Lightspeed Commerce Inc., a commerce and point-of-sale platform, revealed that 85% of Canadians already prioritize buying local.
Indeed, these same respondents say they shop Canadian or plan to do so. Additionally, 62% consider it essential to support the local tourism economy.

In Quebec, 90% of local consumers say they would continue buying Canadian even without U.S. customs tariffs. Moreover, 75% believe that retailers should remove American products from their shelves.
Also in the province, 45% of respondents say they are willing to pay more to buy local. However, 77% mention that the price difference should not exceed 10%.
The study also notes that 53% of Quebecers read labels to check the origin of products, and 69% of those surveyed plan to avoid travel to the U.S. this summer.

American Boycott

Across the country, 87% of respondents prefer or plan to prefer Canadian-made products this year. This movement is especially strong among Generation Z, with 89% sharing this view.
Conversely, 78% of Canadians are currently avoiding or plan to avoid major American retailers in the country—such as Walmart, McDonald’s, or Amazon—in favor of Canadian alternatives this summer.
Nationwide, 78% of respondents support Canadian retailers removing American products from their shelves. Even if customs duties were removed, 88% say they would still choose Canadian products.

Respondents remain cautious, however, about brands that capitalize on the local trend without genuine grounding. In fact, 50% suspect some brands of being misleading, even though most are seen as honest.
31% believe that some companies engage in “Canadian-washing” to boost sales.

It’s also worth noting that 69% believe that food and grocery products are the easiest to buy locally in Canada, while 40% find that Canadian-made electronics are the hardest to find.

Traveling Locally

Travel habits also reflect this shift in Canadian priorities. Already, 67% say they would readily recommend Canadian destinations to others.
Also, 63% of respondents plan to travel within Canada, and 58% believe it is important to support the local tourism economy.
51% say tax incentives would encourage them to travel domestically.
Finally, the Lightspeed survey reveals that real or even threatened tariffs deter 70% of Canadians from traveling to the U.S.; 48% are completely avoiding such trips and 18% will try to avoid them. (N.P.)

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L’article 85% of Canadians Already Prioritize Buying Local est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.