Latest news with #Lauzon
CBC
29-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Lauzon carries on in Argenteuil-La Petite-Nation
CBC News projects Liberal Stéphane Lauzon will once again win in Argenteuil-La Petite-Nation, the Ottawa-Gatineau region's easternmost riding. A former paper company worker, teacher and Gatineau city councillor, Lauzon has now pulled off four straight wins here, recently holding off the Bloc Québécois in tight 2019 and 2021 races. The riding boundaries were significantly different before that. His constituency currently runs along the Ottawa River from Gatineau through Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, Montebello and Thurso to Lachute, going as far north as Val-des-Bois and Duhamel. The riding gained territory on its western flank, moving Val-des-Monts from Pontiac-Kitigan Zibi and bringing a couple of areas over from the riding of Gatineau. It also lost seven eastern communities to the new riding of Les Pays-d'en-Haut. Six candidates ran here this time.
CBC
29-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
'I lost my legal right to vote': Booths closed early — or didn't open at all — in some Nunavik villages
Elia Lauzon doesn't trust the government, or the electoral system. Still, she turned up Monday to the polling station in Puvirnituq, Que., to have her say. "I do know it's the smallest right that I have offered to me and fought for me by other Indigenous activists over the course of decades," Lauzon said. Lauzon, who's normally based in Kuujjuaq, was motivated to vote when she saw an Indigenous candidate, a Cree woman, running in her riding of Abitibi–Baie-James–Nunavik–Eeyou. The riding has been held by the Bloc Québécois for two terms now. But when Lauzon turned up to the polls, she was told it was closing around 2:30 p.m. — seven hours before it was supposed to, as listed under the Canada Elections Act for districts in the Eastern time zone. "I was looking forward to that ability, but now you know what, I'm just mad," she said. Aside from Puvirnituq, CBC has heard from residents in four other Nunavik villages who say voting booths closed early in their communities. In a statement, Elections Canada said weather issues were affecting flights for workers. "The returning officer attempted to implement several different strategies to provide voting services to communities," it said in a statement. "In several cases, it was not possible to recruit local teams. In other cases, harsh weather conditions have prevented access to communities." Elections Canada did not confirm how many villages were affected, or whether polling booths did close down. 'It's just a terrible mess' In Salluit, recreation co-ordinator Mary Papigatuk said residents only had an hour and 15 minutes to vote before workers packed up and left at 2:30 p.m. She was at the village office the whole time, and saw less than 70 people vote during that short window. (In the 2021 federal census, Salluit's population was around 1,600.) For her, this is another example of Inuit being used by politicians and government officials who claim they're engaging with Indigenous people. "We as Inuit, we've had non-Inuit using us for show, but then when it's actually time for us to be involved, we're not involved," she said. In Ivujivik, Mayor Adamie Kalingo said Elections Canada staff didn't even set up a station in his community before they left. He was expecting them over the weekend, but he started to worry when they still hadn't arrived by mid-morning. They eventually did around midday, but after a toilet stop, they took off again. "We don't have any official ballot papers or information on how to go about this particular election," he said. "I've been getting calls from teachers and social workers and local people wanting to vote but I have no choice but to tell them we don't know what's happening, and it's just a terrible mess." Leaving Inuit out — again Papigatuk is also frustrated that Elections Canada employed nobody local to help with the voting stations — which is something she says she witnessed in the past. The lack of information in Inuktitut from all political parties also pains her. "There's never really been anyone to translate these campaigns for our elders, or the children, who only know Inuktitut, or people who have a hard time understanding what's going on." Voter turnout in Indigenous communities has historically been an issue. In the 2021 federal election, out of over 38,000 registered electors in Indigenous communities in Quebec, less than 9,000 cast a vote, according to Elections Canada. That 23 per cent voter turnout rate lagged behind the average national rate for electors in Indigenous communities, which sat at 44 per cent. Kuujjuaq's Elia Lauzon recognizes the logistical challenges of voting in the North, but she said she doesn't believe that is acceptable in 2025. "If you're not going to send people to my region, make it possible for me to vote online," she said. Kayla Meeko, the president of the board of directors at Quaqtaq's daycare, was working out when they would let staff leave so they had their legally-entitled three hours to vote. When word spread that the voting station was closing at 2.30 p.m., she and others rushed to the polling booth, but she was too late. "I could hear their airplane starting in the background," she said. "Today, I lost my legal right to vote. "As an Inuk woman, having the right to vote is very, very important. Not that long ago, women were not allowed to vote, and as an Indigenous person of Canada, how our prime minister treats us depends very much on our votes."
CBC
28-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Western Quebec mayor resigns over 'intimate remarks'
A Western Quebec mayor and warden has resigned after Quebec's municipal commission sought to bar him from office over "intimate remarks" he allegedly made to municipal employees. Benoit Lauzon announced on Monday that he was vacating his roles as the mayor of Thurso and warden of the regional municipality of the MRC of Papineau. "I am officially retiring," he wrote on Facebook. His announcement follows Quebec's municipal commission (CMQ) applying to the Superior Court of Quebec on April 23 seeking to disqualify Lauzon from holding municipal office for five years. 'Intimate remarks' The CMQ alleged Lauzon had abused his position of authority over municipal staff by making "intimate remarks" over the Messenger app and in text messages to at least seven employees. Lauzon did not contest the application. "After discussing the alleged breach of the code of ethics for elected officials with the municipal commission, I told them there was no need to waste time debating the alleged misconduct or reducing the period of disqualification, given my decision to retire without plans to return," he posted on Facebook, writing in French. The CMQ application did not provide details on the remarks in question but found that Lauzon's conduct "seriously depart[ed] from the standard that should be expected of a person serving as warden of an MRC and mayor of a municipality." His conduct had undermined his municipal office and public trust in municipal institutions, the CMQ wrote. "Sometimes during discussions, we say things, we use words, we put emojis in messages without considering their impact but in ways which can affect people," Lauzon wrote in his Facebook post. "I am sorry for that." He continued: "This is why I am leaving before the end of my term, in order to ensure that this issue does not become a distraction and so that the work of elected officials and staff in the town and MRC continues to live up to their standards of professionalism and commitment to the well-being of the community." Lauzon did not respond to requests for comment from Radio-Canada. Lauzon had served as the mayor of Thurso since 2013 and warden of the MRC of Papineau since 2017. He also chairs the Outaouais warden's conference. Thurso is a town of about 3,000 residents located on the Ottawa River about 40 kilometres northeast of Ottawa. In January, Lauzon announced he would not seek re-election as mayor of Thurso, saying that the MRC of Papineau had introduced new rules preventing him from serving as mayor and warden concurrently. On Friday, the MRC of Papineau announced that Danie Tassé, mayor of Montpellier, Que., would assume the role of deputy warden following the departure of Lauzon.
Global News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Canada election 2025: Argenteuil-La Petite-Nation
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Argenteuil-La Petite-Nation is a federal riding located in Quebec. This riding is currently represented by Liberal MP Stéphane Lauzon who first took office in 2015. Lauzon collected 19,371 votes, winning 38.27 per cent of the vote in the 2021 federal election. Voters will decide who will represent Argenteuil-La Petite-Nation in Quebec during the upcoming Canadian election on April 28, 2025. Visit this page on election night for a complete breakdown of up to the minute results. Candidates Liberal: Stéphane Lauzon (Incumbent) Conservative: Martin Charron NDP: Michel Welt Bloc Québécois: Martin Héroux Green: Bertha Fuchsman-Small People's Party: Lindsey Therrien
CBC
11-04-2025
- CBC
Graphic bodycam footage of OPP officer's killing crucial for Crown and defence
A crucial video has been shown at the trial of Alain Bellefeuille — who shot and killed an Ontario Provincial Police officer and wounded two others outside Ottawa in 2023 — that takes the jury to the heart of the central question in play. Did Bellefeuille know he was shooting at police when he repeatedly opened fire? Footage from the body-worn camera of Sgt. Eric Mueller, who died at the scene, contains moments important to both the Crown and defence. And it provides a rare glimpse at what police sometimes face when responding to calls. Bellefeuille has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder, and the charges against him have not been proven. But it's not in dispute that he shot and killed Mueller. And there's no question that he shot and critically wounded Const. Marc Lauzon — who lived — and fired shots towards Const. François Gamache-Asselin that caused lacerations to his knee. With the judge's permission, CBC News obtained portions of Mueller's bodycam video. CBC is publishing part of the footage below, with the warning that it depicts graphic violence from the perspective of the mortally wounded officer. The video includes coarse language, gunshots, disturbing images and sound. This article also includes graphic descriptions of a violent event as it unfolds. Noise complaint by neighbours In the early morning hours on May 11, 2023, Mueller, Lauzon and Gamache-Asselin responded to a noise complaint and performed a wellness check on Bellefeuille at his home on Laval Street in Bourget, Ont., about an hour's drive east of downtown Ottawa. Mueller's bodycam was activated at 2:28 a.m. The video shows him turning his cruiser up a lane to Bellefeuille's house. Ahead of him, Lauzon is in his own cruiser with his lights flashing. The first officer on scene, Lauzon has already spoken with the neighbours and tried phoning Bellefeuille without success. The two officers park. Lauzon turns off his flashing lights, leaving his bright white takedown light illuminating the house and driveway. The house is dark, but a porch light is on. Perimeter check Lauzon's siren is blaring loudly as he and Mueller step out of their vehicles, and the two officers exchange words in French. Mueller tells Lauzon he didn't want Lauzon going inside, just in case, and asks if Bellefeuille has kids or is alone. Lauzon tells his sergeant that Bellefeuille is alone, and that the porch light had been off but came on at some point. He says Bellefeuille is reported to drink a lot and is sad about having to move out of his home. And he relays that a neighbour earlier reported hearing yelling and gunfire. They agree to split up for a perimeter check. Warning: this video depicts a violent event. It includes coarse language, gunfire, disturbing images and graphic sound. Footage shown in court at the Alain Bellefeuille murder trial 20 minutes ago Duration 4:48 Both officers shine flashlights on the front porch and through the windows, then Lauzon heads right toward the garage and back of the house. Mueller lingers at the porch, telling Gamache-Asselin — who has recently arrived — to "come up" in English over the radio, and then heads around the other side of the house. "Yeah just cover the front door. Just going to do a perimeter check first," Mueller says in English over the radio. Mueller and Lauzon meet in the backyard. A dog barks three times. The officers shine their flashlights at the back door and through the windows. Lauzon knocks repeatedly on the door and the window. The door is locked, he says in French. He relays that he sees a dog and that its barking should wake Bellefeuille. First verbal declaration they're police Mueller says in French that they'll check the front door again and enter the house that way. A few seconds later he adds, again in French, "We're f–king smashing it, man." Neither he nor Mueller have verbally announced themselves as police officers yet. This is a key issue the defence has raised during cross-examination of Crown witnesses. Gamache-Asselin is waiting out front, taking cover behind a van. Mueller approaches a window and shines his flashlight inside, while Lauzon opens the front door with his pistol drawn at his side. Gamache-Asselin has no chance to speak to his colleagues. He testified under cross-examination that he had no idea Mueller and Lauzon were going to enter until they walked up to the front door, and that he followed them but hung back slightly. "Allo Alain, police!" Lauzon yells calmly. Shots fired through bedroom wall At this point, the bodycam footage provided by the court cuts for 46 seconds. The jury, however, sees and hears it all, and later, Lauzon explains it. Opening the door, Lauzon also says, " Salut le chien [Hello dog]. Allo Alain, police! Alain!" Mueller yells, in English, "Hello!" It's 2:33 a.m., and both men are now inside. Suddenly, right after Mueller says hello, Bellefeuille fires nine shots with his semi-automatic rifle through his bedroom wall in the direction of the officers. "Gams! Help! Gams!" Mueller screams to Gamache-Asselin, using his nickname. Eight seconds later, two more shots are heard. 'I'm injured!' The footage provided by the court resumes just before 2:34 a.m. Mueller is on the floor of the darkened mudroom, bleeding, his camera obscured, then facing toward the ceiling. Gamache-Asselin shouts at Lauzon to come outside, and Lauzon replies in French, "I can't! I'm injured!" between heavy breaths. As Gamache-Asselin screams on the radio that Lauzon is injured and to send an ambulance immediately, Bellefeuille screams in English, "Break and enter, motherf--ker!" Lauzon — who has been shot multiple times — steps briefly into the frame from the door as Gamache-Asselin shouts at him to retreat. Lauzon, breathing hard and moaning, looks down at Mueller. Smoke from the shots that hit Lauzon's protective vest wafts up to his face, meeting with the fog of his breath. He looks around a corner, trying to see Bellefeuille, then moves back outside and out of view. 'Shoulda never broke into my house' Meanwhile, Mueller's bodycam footage shows Bellefeuille in his bedroom doorway. He raises his rifle and fires two more shots out a window. Wearing a black T-shirt, a baseball cap and combat pants, Bellefeuille walks toward Mueller. He fires another shot out the front door, then bends over to look directly into Mueller's face. "You f–ked with the wrong motherf–ker, man, but c'est ainque ça que j'ai à dire [That's all I've got to say]," he says, his voice sometimes dropping to a whisper. "You fucked with the wrong motherf–ker. Shoulda never broke into my house. Sorry about that." About 12 seconds later, Bellefeuille says, "Uh, f–k." Bellefeuille calls 911 He stands up, flips on the light, then grabs the bodycam. The view is obscured for a few seconds by Bellefeuille's hand, and then the lens is covered with something. Nothing can be seen for the remaining two minutes and 40 seconds of video. A dragging sound is heard, then four more shots ring out at 2:35 a.m. Bellefeuille was firing at the police cruisers outside, Gamache-Asselin testified. About 45 seconds later, Bellefeuille says in French, "Sorry bud, but you f–ked with the wrong guy. F–ked with the wrong guy." At 2:37 a.m., Bellefeuille calls police. He tells the dispatcher in English, "Hi, I shot, I had a break and enter but unfortunately I shot a police." Then he gives her his address. He's transferred to another dispatcher, and Bellefeuille tells him the same thing before the video ends. Mueller's body-worn camera video is one of several shown to the jury so far in the Crown's case. Three segments of video from Gamache-Asselin's bodyc am have been played, as well as audio from the bod-cam of Const. Ionut Mihuta, who arrested Bellefeuille. There are no visuals from Mihuta's bodycam as it was obscured by his armoured vest. These other exhibits have not yet been filed with the court and are therefore not available. The trial resumes Monday with the cross-examination of Mihuta.
