Valery Gibson and Huguette Daigle are from Les Fermes Lufa, which is a striking example of urban agriculture: vegetables grown above the city, harvested year-round, and delivered to homes that want to eat locally, even in the heart of winter. (Photo by Lise Lafond)
Surrounded by supporters, Transition Québec founder and former Limoilou councillor Jackie Smith announced she is exiting municipal politics. (Photo by Peter Black)
Jackie Smith quits leadership of Transition Québec Peter Black Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph, Local Journalism Initiative peterblack@qctonline.com Jackie Smith, founder and leader of Transition Québec, a municipal party promoting social and environmental…
This content is for QCT Online members only. Join Now
Bombing of Iran brings fear and hope for local grad students Ruby Pratka Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph, Local Journalism Initiative editor@qctonline.com In a normal year, the members of the Université Laval Iranian…
This content is for QCT Online members only. Join Now
Supreme Court rules Quebec cannot bar asylum seekers from subsidized daycare
Kevin Dougherty
kevin@qctonline.com
On March 6, the Supreme Court of Canada rejected an appeal by Quebec’s attorney general, who opposed granting the three children of a Congolese woman access to Quebec’s subsidized daycare on the grounds she was a refugee claimant.
Bijou Cibuabua Kanyinda came to Quebec in October 2018 from the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo with her three young children and immediately applied for asylum.
Her asylum claim was approved in January 2021. While waiting for that decision, she obtained a work permit and tried to get subsidized childcare so that she could work.
She was refused under a Quebec regulation limiting subsidized childcare to certain categories of residents, but not refugee claimants, making it impossible for her to work.
She took her case to court, arguing Quebec’s decision violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Section 15 (1) because it discriminates based on sex and citizenship.
A Quebec Superior Court judge ruled a Quebec regulation barring her children from subsidized daycare was not discriminatory, but the Quebec Court of Appeal ruled it was, and the Quebec attorney general appealed that decision to the Supreme Court.
Section 1 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows a government to limit Charter rights if such limits can be reasonably justified.
“The Attorney General of Quebec has not shown that this discrimination is justified under Section 1 [of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms],” wrote Justice Andromache Karakatsanis for the majority in the high court’s eight-to-one ruling, with Quebec Justice Suzanne Côté the sole dissenter.
Karakatsanis concluded that the Quebec regulation affects women refugee claimants who are likely to have primary child care responsibilities, making access to affordable childcare closely tied to their ability to work.
Bernard Drainville, a candidate to succeed François Legault as Coalition Avenir Québec leader and premier, reacted to the judgment on X.
“The Supreme Court judgment is a slap in the face to the thousands of Quebecers waiting for a daycare place, often for years.” Drainville wrote.
“There are 6,000 places in subsidized daycare filled by the children of asylum seekers. If I am elected, I will use the notwithstanding clause [in a new law] to give a priority to Quebecers for these services.”
“This is a new defeat for the CAQ in the courts,” said Québec Solidaire immigration critic Andrés Fontecilla in a statement, praising the Supreme Court decision and adding that Quebec’s CPE subsidized daycare network allows the children of newcomers to learn French and integrate into Quebec society.
“Subsidized daycare also allows immigrant women to work, often in public services,” he said. Depriving them of daycare would be “a major loss for our workforce.”
Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon found the Supreme Court ruling “worrying” because it granted asylum seekers the same rights as citizens.
In a Facebook post, Quebec Liberal leader Charles Milliard applauded the ruling, adding, “The key here is to create [daycare] places to support the network better,” and the federal government “should assume its real share of the costs welcoming asylum seekers.”
Join the QCTeam for the Défilé de la Saint-Patrick! (Photo by Cassandra Kerwin)
Volunteers needed! March with the QCT in the Défilé de la Saint-Patrick
We at the Chronicle-Telegraphare looking for a few volunteers to march with our “float” (a decorated car) to help carry our banner and/or hand out copies of the latest edition to parade watchers along the route of the Défilé de la Saint-Patrick on Saturday, March 28.
This year’s Défilé will be bigger and better than ever. The QCT has proudly marched in the parade since 2014 and invites friends, subscribers and former QCTstaff to join them in the parade. Please dress for the weather and be ready to walk the full parade route; green accessories (hats) will be provided while supplies last. To thank you, we will all go to a local pub for a drink and a meal after the parade. If you are interested, please get in touch with Shirley Nadeau at shirley@qctonline.com for details.
Join the QCTeam for the Défilé de la Saint-Patrick! (Photo by Cassandra Kerwin from QCT archives)
Honouring the Kiley family at the 57th Shannon Irish Show Submitted by Kerry Ann King and Deborah Kiley, co-ordinators, Shannon Irish Show The 57th Shannon Irish Show embraces the spirit…
This content is for QCT Online members only. Join Now
As the current skating season comes to an end, the City of Quebec is already planning the 2026-2027 season. Two rinks are slated for closure – Parc de la Falaise in Sillery (pictured) and Parc des Écores in Cap-Rouge. (Photo by Cassandra Kerwin)
City to close two outdoor rinks in 2026-2027 Cassandra Kerwin cassandra@qctonline.com Quebec City residents will have two fewer free outdoor ice rinks to skate on next winter. On Feb. 23,…
This content is for QCT Online members only. Join Now
Santa and some of his many helpers give a huge THANK YOU to all the people who helped deliver the goodness for the 30th annual Community Christmas Hamper Campaign. (Photo by Shirley Nadeau from QCT archives)
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS HAMPER CAMPAIGN: Wrapping up the 2025 Community Christmas Hamper Campaign
Submitted by Rev. Dr. Katherine Burgess, member of the CCHC organizing committee
Thanks to the efforts of scores of volunteers, the 30th annual Community Christmas Hamper Campaign (CCHC) is coming to a close. We would like to extend our thanks to members of the organizing committee (many of whom have been here from the beginning), the people who picked up the non-perishable food donations from various points around the city, the people who sorted these donations and packed the boxes, and those who delivered them. Without you, we would never be able to help nearly 300 households in the Quebec City area who need a little extra to make their Christmas happier.
There was a slight increase in the number of hampers delivered, which proves this campaign is definitely fulfill- ing a need in the community. This year, we had just over 200 volunteers, who together gave an impressive 590 hours of their time to deliver Christmas goodness.
We could not do all that we do without the support of our corporate partners. This year’s partners included: Bo-Fruits, Canada Post, Construction Dynamo Inc, Emballages L.P. Aubut, IGA Marché Poulin and Nutri-Oeufs Ovale in Saint- Lambert-de-Lauzon. We are grateful for and amazed by your continuing generosity.
Thanks to everyone who donated canned food and other non-perishable items. Because of you, hampers were filled to overflowing. Thanks also to those who donated money. Because of you, we were able to provide each family with a turkey, other meats, eggs, milk, bread and fresh produce, so each recipient was guaranteed a delicious Christmas dinner.
There were many fundraising events again this year, and we thank the organizations that hosted them. Many English churches and schools in the area collected non-perishable items, and in addition, Ste-Foy Elementary held an in-school bake sale; St. Patrick’s High School had a special donation drive; Quebec High School had a Gold Rush Challenge; Everest Elementary School had a Helping Hands Christmas Tree; Holland Elementary School did a Husky Leaders Dare; and CEGEP Champlain-St. Lawrence organized a basketball game to raise money for the cause. The Holiday Happy Hour, hosted and organized by VEQ and the Morrin Centre, was a great success. The R.I.S.E. program prepared and sold cookie mix jars. JH Partners, in close collaboration with Saint Brigid’s, organized several sales at the Home – spring plants and herbs, spaghetti sauce, as well as harvest, garage and Christmas sales – all of which raised money for the CCHC. VEQ’s Oh Deer! Holiday Dares Challenge was a great success, and let’s not forget Philip Goyer, who ran a half-marathon while dressed in a Grinch suit!
If you check the thermometer on our website (qchampers.ca), you will find that we are still a little short of our fundraising objective for this year. We had set our goal at $50,000, and presently we are at $36,748. You can still donate either online or by dropping off or mailing a cheque to the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign, c/o Jeffery Hale Community Partners, 2000-1270, chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC G1S 2M4.
While there were many busy days during the CCHC, the busiest one was definitely D-Day (delivery day) when, in addition to our great individual volunteers, we had Canada Post employees who donated their time to help load and deliver hampers. As usual, Santa was present, handing out decorations to drivers.
Again, a huge thank you to every single person who helped us, in whatever capacity. We look forward to working with you again next year, for the need will still be there.
Santa and some of his many helpers give a huge THANK YOU to all the people who helped deliver the goodness for the 30th annual Community Christmas Hamper Campaign. (Photo by Shirley Nadeau from QCT archives)
Milliard calls for withdrawal of proposed constitution Kevin Dougherty kevin@qctonline.com Recently acclaimed Liberal leader Charles Milliard has written to the leaders of all parties in the National Assembly, including outgoing…
This content is for QCT Online members only. Join Now
For many, the eternal winter months bring on a nostalgic longing for past summer days. The sight of the shovel can make us cringe after continued ‘day dates’ with it. Many people start booking their warm-weather vacations during the deep days of winter. By February, those of us who are not winter sports people, get tired of this cold. It can be hard to find inspiration under a dome of weather that seems to beat us down.
When you meet someone who truly loves the winter it can be alarmingly uplifting to the winter skeptic. Marilou Villeneuve-Last is one of those people who loves the season of snow. Some of her best memories occurred in the landscape of winter while serving in the military. These experiences have shaped her inspiration for art over time.
Villeneuve-Last joined the Army Reserve in 2003 as a resource management support clerk. She stayed in the Reserves the next 14 years although she changed uniforms, shifting to the Air Force Reserve and then the Naval Reserve. In 2017, she transferred to the Regular Forces as an imagery technician.
Villeneuve-Last deployed on HMCS Athabaskanin 2014 to take part in Operation CARRIB and sailed on the Atlantic in various exercises. In 2019, she participated as an imagery technician in Operation LENTUS to help the civilian force through the floods in the province of Quebec. In 2023, she deployed on MV Asterix to take part in Operation PROJECTION in the Pacific. Villeneuve-Last has worked in Shilo, Man.; Halifax; Montreal; Ottawa and Borden, Ont.; however, the majority of her years in the military were spent in Quebec City at CFB Valcartier.
“Quebec City to me is a magical city. Every corner you turn, there’s history, old architecture, yet you get to another part of the city and you’re well into modernity. I spent many hours wearing out my shoes walking in the old town. It is a city heavy in history and I love history. It gets really cold but Quebec City is where we embrace winter. We celebrate it with the winter carnival, one of the oldest in the world. I’m a winter person and this is something that inspires my painting,” she said.
In 2022, Villeneuve-Last transferred to CFB Borden and became an instructor for the Imagery School at Canadian Forces Training Development Centre. “I get to tell stories through my lens. I love meeting people and [to] capture their emotion, their own stories,” she said.
Villeneuve-Last’s artwork hung in The Steel Spirit art gallery in Barrie, Ont., in 2025. One of her abstract pieces, Winter, was on display.
“People often create art about things that they love. However, how Marilou talks about the city that she loves, really draws others in to remind us of the memories we all have of places that have shaped us. Places that hold our happy memories locked in time are what define us. Though like any enticing book, new chapters and new seasons can be just as inspiring as old ones,” said Barbara Brown, founder of The Steel Spirit galleries.
It certainly can remind us that a season can be much more than a weather network daily check. It can simply be the background of very happy times in our lives and how we embrace them. The seasonal frame of a chapter in our life book.
The winter-hibernation months can be the best months to seek out our own talents, when the weather doesn’t permit us to stay outside for long periods.
“Many people say they’re not artistic, but sometimes it’s that they haven’t tried the right medium. Art is not only about painting or drawing. When you’re not too hard on yourself, it can be truly satisfying to create something and practice a medium you’ve always wanted to try,” said Brown.
One of Villeneuve-Last’s favourite motivational quotes is, “Embrace the hardship. This too shall pass.”
Sometimes it’s about embracing the wild weather knowing it too will pass, and to capture our own memories through creativity … no matter the season.
The Steel Spirit is a platform for artists from military, first responder and hospital practitioner services to share their art and their stories. They are always looking for new submissions and involvement in upcoming galleries.
Quebec City native Marilou Villeneuve-Last is a photography instructor at the Canadian Forces Training Development Centre at CFB Borden. (Photo courtesy of The Steel Spirit)Villeneuve-Last’s artwork hung in The Steel Spirit art gallery in Barrie, Ont., in 2025. (Photo courtesy of The Steel Spirit)
Valery Gibson and Huguette Daigle are from Les Fermes Lufa, which is a striking example of urban agriculture: vegetables grown above the city, harvested year-round, and delivered to homes that want to eat locally, even in the heart of winter. (Photo by Lise Lafond) 
Surrounded by supporters, Transition Québec founder and former Limoilou councillor Jackie Smith announced she is exiting municipal politics. (Photo by Peter Black) 
Join the QCTeam for the Défilé de la Saint-Patrick! (Photo by Cassandra Kerwin) 
As the current skating season comes to an end, the City of Quebec is already planning the 2026-2027 season. Two rinks are slated for closure – Parc de la Falaise in Sillery (pictured) and Parc des Écores in Cap-Rouge. (Photo by Cassandra Kerwin) 
Santa and some of his many helpers give a huge THANK YOU to all the people who helped deliver the goodness for the 30th annual Community Christmas Hamper Campaign. (Photo by Shirley Nadeau from QCT archives) 
