Latest news with #Quebecers
Montreal Gazette
21 hours ago
- Health
- Montreal Gazette
Montreal researchers link protein to chronic fatigue
By A Université de Montréal professor and his team believe they have made a breakthrough discovery about a poorly understood illness that affects thousands of Quebecers and has significant ties to long COVID. In a recently published study, Dr. Alain Moreau identifies a potential new biomarker and therapeutic target for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), once known as chronic fatigue syndrome. It's an advancement he says could revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of the illness. 'It is very, very encouraging,' Moreau said in an interview, explaining the findings were 10 years in the making. 'We believe it can bring a lot of hope to patients.' ME/CFS is a complex disorder often triggered by viral infection. It can strike a person's muscular, nervous and immune systems and can become disabling, with many patients unable to work or confined to bed as a result. Though it can attack the body in different ways, its cardinal symptom is what's known as 'post-exertional malaise' — a worsening of symptoms, or appearance of new ones, after minimal physical or mental exertion. Moreau's study focused on a protein known as SMPDL3B. Though usually found attached to cell membranes, where it plays a role in controlling the immune system's response, it can also become detached and found in blood plasma. The study identified that people with ME/CFS have elevated levels of the soluble form of the protein in their plasma. The higher the levels, the more severe their symptoms. Those elevated levels could be caused by a specific enzyme, PI-PLC, that detaches the protein from the cell membrane and disrupts immune regulation. Critically, Moreau said, there are known diabetes drugs that can inhibit PI-PLC's activity. 'In other words,' Moreau said, 'this discovery shows that two medications currently in use — two molecules that are now even produced in generic formats — may be of interest for the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis.' The study also identified that the levels of SMPDL3B found in people's plasma is influenced by estrogen, which could explain why women are so disproportionately affected by ME/CFS and why some experience an improvement in symptoms with age. The study included a cohort of 249 ME/CFS patients from Quebec, all recruited before the COVID-19 pandemic, and was tested against a cohort of 141 Norwegian patients. 'We reached exactly the same conclusion in both: that elevated levels of soluble form was associated with symptom severity and also that women had much higher levels,' Moreau said. The study was first published in the Journal of Translational Medicine earlier this month. Moreau stressed that randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm and apply the findings moving forward. Potential for long COVID patients While promising for ME/CFS patients, Moreau believes the findings could also have important implications for long COVID patients, who often experience similar symptoms. The link between the two illnesses first started emerging after the early waves of the pandemic. As people shared stories of persistent COVID symptoms that worsened after exertion, ME/CFS patients recognized what they were going through. Today, it's believed that nearly half of the people suffering from long COVID meet the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS. In both cases, women are disproportionately affected. While the number of ME/CFS patients in Quebec used to be estimated at 70,000, Moreau believes that post-pandemic, it is now likely more than 100,000 people. He hopes the findings can be encouraging to people suffering from both conditions. 'We are trying to contribute to the research and make a difference,' he said.
Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Your letters: Churchill's words should guide future leaders
Article content In August 1929, while Winston Churchill was touring Canada with his son, Randolph, he wrote to his wife, Clementine, 'The United States are stretching their tentacles out in all directions, but the Canadian national spirit and personality is becoming so powerful and self-contained that I do not think that we need to fear the future.' Article content He further wrote 12 days later, 'Darling, I am greatly attracted to this country, immense developments are going forward. There are fortunes to be made in many directions.' Article content Article content Article content Back in the 20th century, Churchill saw our strength and determination and we, in the 21st, must see that as well and strive to fulfil his predictions and his faith in our abilities. Article content Article content Canadians need to bear this in mind as we vote for the leaders of the future who must lead us on the path to being as great as they suggest we are. Article content Article content Our premier seems to want to separate from Canada, but can't separate government from family interference. Article content Ian Wishart, Calgary Article content Article content We're not special Article content To answer letter writer Chris Robertson's question, Quebec separatism is based on emotions and Alberta separatism is based on greed. Article content Article content Does he expect children to put up posters asking, 'Please, Alberta, stay with us, how many dollars do you want?' Article content Alberta, by the way, is already the richest province. As for being an energy powerhouse, what nonsense. Article content For how long, when the world is actively in the process of phasing out fossil fuel consumption? Article content Murray Gibbs, Calgary Article content Article content Sign of the times in Marda Loop Article content I see there is a new sign for the entrance to my neighbourhood from Crowchild Trail on to 33rd Avenue S.W. that declares itself the Marda Loop. Article content However, it is missing two vital pieces of information: 'Abandon hope all ye who enter here' and 'No parking, anywhere.' Article content Dennis J Gordica, Calgary Article content Article content Alberta separation a fantasy Article content This relates to the letter of July 17 comparing the issue of Quebec separation to that of Alberta. Article content When Quebec separation was a possibility years ago, people were rightly concerned and did promote Canadian unity to convince Quebecers to stay in Canada. However, it's nonsense to compare that situation to the noise being made by the small number of Albertans who want to leave Canada. Article content The world is a very different place than it was all those years ago, with the biggest threat to Canada now being our southern neighbour. Article content Small wonder that the country and Canadians as a whole are more concerned about protecting our national sovereignty, our jobs and the economy from that threat than from a boisterous bunch whose narrative consists of a fantasy about the type of relationship Alberta will have with the rest of Canada and the world.
Cision Canada
2 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
La Caisse finalizes the acquisition of Innergex and mobilizes a group of investors to support its long-term growth Français
Institutional investors from Québec and around the world commit to supporting Innergex's ambition for sustainable growth and value creation The transaction marks a strategic turning point for this Québec renewable energy leader, with the vast majority of its shareholding remaining in Québec MONTRÉAL, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - La Caisse (formerly CDPQ) announced today that it has finalized the privatization of Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. This transaction represents a key step in the growth of one of Canada's leading renewable energy platforms. La Caisse also completed the syndication process that was initiated when the transaction was initially announced, in keeping with its stated intention to syndicate up to 20% of the capital it invested in Innergex with investors who share its vision for the next chapter in the company's growth. This approach brought together a group of investors, including several Québec institutions such as Investissement Québec, Desjardins Global Asset Management and Fondaction. This syndication was also open to international investors, including 14 Swiss institutional investors that will join the syndicate of leading Québec investors mobilized by La Caisse. "Innergex is a Canadian renewable energy leader and plays a key role in the energy transition. To shift into a higher gear, the company needed shareholders aligned with its long-term potential, protected from stock market cycles. That's why we brought together a syndicate of Québec and international investors who share this vision," said Emmanuel Jaclot, Executive Vice-President and Head of Infrastructure at La Caisse. "This privatization immediately provides Innergex with increased financial agility to accelerate the development of large-scale projects. It is a reflection of Innergex's potential and Québec's leadership in the energy transition." "With the strong commitment of a group of leading investors, Innergex is beginning a new chapter in its history," added Michel Letellier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Innergex. "This alliance with partners who believe in our mission and values will enable us to pursue our growth with ambition, agility and vision. Together, we will accelerate the development of promising renewable energy projects, here and around the world, and continue building a more sustainable energy future for all." As the leading shareholder, La Caisse will continue to support Innergex in its long-term growth strategy, both in Canada and internationally, by leveraging its diversified asset portfolio and its expertise in developing renewable energy projects around the world. ABOUT LA CAISSE At La Caisse, formerly CDPQ, we have invested for 60 years with a dual mandate: generate optimal long-term returns for our 48 depositors, who represent over 6 million Quebecers, and contribute to Québec's economic development. As a global investment group, we are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private credit. As at December 31, 2024, La Caisse's net assets totalled CAD 473 billion. For more information, visit or consult our LinkedIn or Instagram pages. La Caisse is a registered trademark of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec that is protected in Canada and other jurisdictions and licensed for use by its subsidiaries. SOURCE La Caisse
Montreal Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Hanes: Respect is a one-way street for Education minister
By Education Minister Bernard Drainville has been on a mission lately to instil civility in Quebec's classrooms. Starting this fall, students will be obligated to use the formal 'vous' to address adults at school, while smartphones will be banned outright to eliminate distractions. Despite these efforts to command respect from young people toward their teachers, he's failed to show much of it himself. In fact, Drainville's latest manoeuvres show outright contempt toward those running and working in Quebec's public school system, in both word and deed. Deep cuts to education were announced on the cusp of the summer holidays, catching administrators off guard. About $570 million was slashed after plans for the coming year were already set in motion, sending educators scrambling to review staffing and squeeze resources before classes resume in the fall. The last-minute timing of the reductions was disrespectful to begin with, but their scope was the real blow. Outraged teachers, union leaders and parents warned crucial services would be lost and the most vulnerable students would suffer. If Drainville was hoping the umbrage would die down over the summer, he was wrong. More than 157,000 Quebecers signed a petition spearheaded by Parti Québecois education critic Pascal Bérubé. And many took to the streets in protest. Drainville's initial response to widespread concern was to insist the government wasn't actually cutting the education budget, but rather limiting projected increases after years of budget growth. While technically true (education spending has been rising by about 7 per cent annually in recent years and the government belatedly decided to keep it to 2 per cent), the effects would, nevertheless, be devastating. Schools would have to lay off staff, shelve tutoring sessions, cancel lunch programs, or reduce pedagogical supports for the students who need it most. Attempts to dismiss the alarm came off as gaslighting. But it's when the government reversed most of the cuts that the real disdain emerged. Last week, Drainville came up with a 'new envelope' of $540 million to offset the previously announced budget compressions. But rather than just retracting what was previously announced, he attached strings to the money and lectured administrators about fiscal responsibility. 'Let's be clear: this is not an open bar,' the minister warned in a Facebook post. 'Accountability will be required.' To access some of the funding, each English school board and French service centre will have to jump through hoops. 'Of the $540 million announced today, $425 million will be in a dedicated envelope,' Drainville said. 'In order to access it, each CSS should demonstrate they've made efforts to diminish their administrative expenses and commit to using the money solely for student services.' The minister didn't bother to offer any examples of what 'administrative expenses' service centres and school boards are supposedly wasting money on. Instead, he made it sound as they were planning to throw parties with public funds. In reality, most principals, teachers, classroom aides, behavioural specialists, psychologists and speech pathologists probably buy supplies or snacks for their classrooms out of their own pockets. The 'open bar' remark was gratuitous. Worse, is Drainville's comments suggest he doesn't get these dedicated professionals are the ones who provide the services to students he has suddenly realized are so critical. This, after all, is what the entire education sector was trying to tell him when he announced the budget cuts at the start of the summer. Now, after weeks of 'consultation' (more like backlash) 'he's heard the worries and the needs.' It's as if he's throwing warnings back in educators' faces. He could have just stuck with 'You spoke and we heard you.' Drainville could have used the recent financial results showing Quebec went $3-billion less in the red last year than previously projected to justify a political climbdown, but he went with arrogance and haughtiness. 'We're choosing education, we're choosing students — without sacrificing sound management,' he declared, once again getting a dig in at school staff. Education budgets have been climbing since the Coalition Avenir Québec was elected in 2018 — 55 per cent, in fact. But that was after a period of Liberal austerity. And after many of the province's teachers went on strike in late 2023 to demand support so they can help their students learn. Education should be spared from belt-tightening as much as possible. It's an investment in the next generation. This one-step-forward-two-steps-back routine of adding money and then taking it away, then putting it back again is more than short-sighted. It's destabilizing for public schools. Hiring and then letting support staff go only exacerbates the teacher shortage. Premier François Legault has repeatedly claimed education is one of his priorities. But his government doesn't always act like it and his Education minister sure doesn't sound like it. When asked in 2023 why elected Members of the National Assembly deserved a 30-per-cent pay hike, but not teachers, he responded snarkily: 'Are you really comparing the job of being a teacher to being an MNA?' There's nothing wrong with schools establishing expectations for respect, but it should start with the Education minister.
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Montreal Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Quebec can't afford to be ‘the most generous welfare state in North America'
The Corner Booth On Wednesday, the Coalition Avenir Québec government pledged to invest $540 million into student services — less than one month after it was met with fierce backlash for slashing $570 million in education funding. While former senator André Pratte is 'happy for the education system,' he says this flip-flopping by Quebec means more drastic cuts are on the horizon. 'We can't afford everything that we want from the government of Quebec, as a society. I'm all for government intervention in many different fields, but we have to choose (to take) into account our means, to pay for all this,' Pratte told hosts Bill Brownstein and Aaron Rand on this week's episode of The Corner Booth, where he discussed his latest op-ed for The Gazette: A welfare state Quebecers cannot afford. 'This $540 million that they just found, they need to take from somewhere else.'
