Another busy week draws to a close. Here's what's been in the news in Vaudreuil-Soulanges over the past few days.  

André Legros wins the confidence of voters in Coteau-du-Lac district 3

This Sunday, December 17, the citizens of Coteau-du-Lac's Elzéar-Deguire district were called upon to choose a new representative at the council table. A total of five candidates were in the running, and it was with a majority of some sixty votes over his closest rival that André Legrois was elected. 

Heavy rain: how to check your drainage pump to avoid flooding?

The precipitation currently falling in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region on Monday December 18 is likely to cause water levels to rise throughout the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC. Several riverside municipalities are urging their residents to check that their drainage pumps are working properly. 

There's hope for the Soulanges Sports Center

For the first time, the ten mayors of the municipalities involved in the Centre sportif Soulanges project have agreed on the future of the sports facility in Saint-Polycarpe. 

Body found under a wharf in Saint-Zotique: the SQ asks for the public's help

The Sûreté du Québec's Integrated Missing Persons and Abduction Coordination Team is reopening the case of a body found in the St. Lawrence River in Saint-Zotique on May 2.

Île-aux-Tourtes bridge to be closed this Friday evening, December 22

The Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable du Québec wishes to inform Vaudreuil-Soulanges residents of a new complete closure of the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge towards Vaudreuil-Dorion. The closure will take effect this Friday, December 22 at 11:30pm and will last until December 24 at 5am. 

Montérégie: seven out of 10 children ready for kindergarten

In Montérégie, seven out of ten children have the skills they need to start school. This is the finding of an extensive survey of children's development in kindergarten.

3.80% tax increase in Hudson in 2024

On Monday, December 11, Hudson's elected officials adopted the operating budget for 2024. The budget totals $16,947,000, representing an overall increase of $616,400 or 3.77% over 2023. The property tax rate will rise by 3.80%. 

Budget 2024: a 7.2% tax increase in Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot

At a special meeting of the municipal council, the Town of Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot unveiled its operating budget for 2024. It includes a 7.2% tax increase for owners of an average residence valued at $465,000, for a total increase of $257.

Galileo and Daniel Constantineau: musical gems from our region

What makes Daniel Constantineau run? Galileo's conductor is really proud to be taking on his first and most exciting challenge, that of leading his ensemble of some 30 musicians with the choristers of the Vaudreuil-soulanges classical choir in a joint concert of Haydn's Creation on December 23.

Pincourt adopts its 2024 budget

The Municipal Council of the Town of Pincourt has adopted its budget for fiscal year 2024, which amounts to $29,964,000. Rising costs for essential services to the population, combined with high inflation and rising interest rates, have made budgeting difficult. General property tax increased by 3.23%.

Île-aux-Tourtes bridge: one person arrested this Wednesday morning

A short police operation took place on the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge in Vaudreuil-Dorion at 4:20 am on Wednesday December 20. Few details were available at the time of writing. 

Common Front raises spectre of unlimited general strike in early 2024

The unions making up the Common Front (CSN, CSQ, FTQ and APTS) met with their respective delegations in Quebec City on Tuesday, December 19, to take stock of the state of negotiations and the way forward. If no agreement is reached by the end of 2023, an unlimited general strike will be called as early as the beginning of 2024. 

Saint-Lazare tax bill to increase by 4.45% in 2024

In a spirit of prudence and rigor, the Ville de Saint-Lazare Council adopted the 2024 budget at a special meeting held on December 19. Despite the repeated backlash from inflation and rising interest rates that marked 2023, Ville de Saint-Lazare has managed to limit the tax bill increase to 4.45% for an average-value single-family home.

CCIVS invites Montreal companies to encourage teleworking

On Wednesday, December 13, the Board of Directors of the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Vaudreuil-Soulanges adopted a resolution to encourage telecommuting by companies on the island of Montreal, in connection with the situation on the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge. 

Holiday season: the region's emergency rooms are overflowing

Yesterday, Health Minister Christian Dubé held a press briefing to discuss the situation in hospital emergency departments and the best ways to avoid bogging down the ERs. He invited the public to find help or information in other ways, to avoid overcrowding during the holiday season.

Budget 2024: 7.9% increase in municipal taxes in Saint-Zotique

On Tuesday, December 19, Ville de Saint-Zotique unveiled its budget for 2024, reaffirming its commitment to intergenerational equity and financial stability. To maintain a balanced budget, tax bills for municipal services will increase by 7.9% for an average residence valued at around $400,000.

Smuggler intercepted in Rivière-Beaudette in 2021 is found guilty

This Wednesday, December 20, Revenu Québec announced the conviction of seven offenders found guilty of tobacco smuggling offences. One of them, David Buchanan, 26, of Longueuil, was intercepted on November 18, 2021, on Rivière-Beaudette territory. 

An $18 million mega-investment in Saint-Télesphore for poultry barns

Néomédia has learned that an investment of $18 million will be made on Chemin du Grand-Saint-Patrice in Saint-Télesphore. Nearly 6 barns will be built to house 150,000 free-range hens.

Pincourt: municipal employees donate three times to local food banks

On Wednesday, December 20, Town of Pincourt employees made three donations to local food banks.  The recipient organizations are Paroisse St-Patrick ($1,000), the L'Île-Perrot Presbyterian Church ($1,000) and the Church of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette ($1,000). These non-profit organizations provide support to low-income individuals and families in Pincourt and on Île Perrot, including food assistance and Christmas hampers. 

Les Coteaux resident receives speeding ticket and license suspension

On December 20, around 9:30 a.m., police officers from the Beauharnois-Salaberry MRC intercepted a speeding vehicle on Chemin St-Louis in Saint-Étienne-de-Beauharnois. The driver, a 43-year-old man from Les Coteaux, was travelling at a speed of 97 km/h in a zone where the maximum speed limit is 50 km/h. He received a $679 statement of offence and 10 demerit points.

December 2023: Pincourt's Natalia Lanucha honoured by Tennis Canada

With Natalia Lanucha's countless efforts and immense progress in wheelchair tennis this year, it's no surprise that Tennis Canada crowned her the 2023 Most Improved Wheelchair Tennis Player of the Year, when it presented its Awards of Excellence to its various player categories on December 19.

Complete schedule of Christmas masses in Suroît

Here is the list of celebrations on December 24 and 25 for all sectors of the Diocese of Valleyfield in the Vaudreui-Soulanges and Beauharnois regions. Some churches, such as Très-Sainte-Trinité, Saint-Michel and Saint-Pierre-des-Cascades, do not appear on the diocese's list. If you are unsure, please check with the parishes concerned.

The vacation season, a great opportunity to admire Lumin'Art

On Thursday, December 7, the City of Vaudreuil-Dorion inaugurated the fourth edition of the Lumin'Art exhibition at Parc Le 405. Several dozen people gathered to discover the new artworks installed in the park.

Work continues on the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge

The Maintien et reconstruction du pont de l'Île-aux-Tourtes Facebook page has provided more information on the work underway on the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge. Work is taking place over the weekends to reinforce the concrete slab and open up a third lane of traffic on the bridge. 

A wave of so-so-so-solidarity for striking teachers this Saturday

It's not just on the picket lines that so-so-so-solidarity is being heard, but also behind the scenes of the strike currently affecting the Fédération autonome de l'enseignement. This Saturday, December 23, members of this union body affiliated to the CCS des Trois-Lacs will benefit from a great initiative, just in time for the holiday season.