Latest news with #Archambault
Boston Globe
14-06-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Call for Medicaid work requirements is greeted by a chorus of boos
Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up What Archambault does not acknowledge is that Medicaid serves the working poor, which includes low-wage workers who are working multiple part-time jobs that don't provide coverage or positions that fall just below the threshold that would qualify them for coverage by their employer (an all-too-common practice by companies to avoid providing benefits). Advertisement Moreover, some family members who are caregivers might not be able to meet the work requirement. In a June 2 op-ed, Advertisement Finally, this hyperfocus on which low-income people deserve access to subsidized medical care distracts from what should be the primary focus: that our federal leaders are promising 'savings' on the cost of benefits in order to advance massive tax cuts that will benefit the wealthy and increase the national debt. Rosemarie Buxton Haverhill With health care costs skyrocketing, reform is needed — but not this kind My Pioneer Institute colleague, Josh Archambault, is correct that we do need Medicaid reform, but the solutions he offers, an old trope of work-or-volunteer remedies that recall the 'welfare queen' stereotype of 40 years ago, will As Archambault states, the original idea behind national Medicaid was to provide health insurance to seniors and people who are blind or have other disabilities. Over time, however, rapidly escalating health care costs strained the limits of employer-sponsored health insurance, and by 1995 the Since that time, Massachusetts has chosen policies to expand health insurance coverage. Eligibility for Medicaid, known here as MassHealth, has grown to include those who are not only below poverty lines but also those who are at certain levels above poverty rates. This includes nondisabled people and many more children. At the same time, health care prices in Massachusetts have skyrocketed, with Advertisement Barbara Anthony Cambridge The writer is a senior fellow at the Pioneer Institute and former undersecretary of the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. National health safety net is frayed enough as it is Josh Archambault's op-ed does nothing to advance an important debate around our national health safety net. The situation is far more complicated than the talking points he offers. An estimated We have seen this before. When Arkansas and Georgia implemented work requirements, most of the people who lost coverage actually met the requirements but got caught up in red tape. We hear from callers every day on We stand with the Massachusetts congressional delegation in pushing back against the unprecedented health care cuts in the House bill. Advertisement Amy Rosenthal Executive director Health Care for All Boston Instead of prodding the 'able-bodied,' strengthen workforce development Josh Archambault's argument that imposing work requirements on 'able-bodied' adults who receive Medicaid will improve health is wrong on several levels. First, multiple evaluations of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion demonstrate improved health overall and improved outcomes for specific populations (for example, reduced deaths from opioid use). The Second, evaluations of the impact of work requirements for welfare recipients have generally shown the initial increased work participation failed to sustain income or reduce poverty over time because of low wages and insufficient work supports. Third, to get Medicaid via disability, people must meet strict Social Security definitions of disability — a high severity bar — and large numbers of people with significant disabilities do not. Many of the 'nondisabled' childless adults on Medicaid have major mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and developmental disorders, including autism, that significantly affect their ability to succeed in the workforce. The population of low-income adults who became eligible for Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act also includes many parents, who too would be subject to paperwork burdens every six months. Work that provides a living wage is a desirable outcome. Rather than imposing burdensome administrative requirements, real reform means strengthening workforce development policies — at all ages — through apprenticeship programs, other training work, coaching, reliable hours and transportation, and other policies that encourage jobs for previously unemployed people. Advertisement Real reform also means strengthening health care prevention and promotion. MassHealth has taken clear leadership in promoting comprehensive primary care by transforming payment systems and providing incentives for team care, including the integration of mental-behavioral health care. Such efforts should be amplified rather than impeded through work requirement efforts. Dr. James M. Perrin Boston Dr. Charles J. Homer Brookline Perrin is a professor emeritus of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and John C. Robinson Distinguished Chair in Pediatrics at MassGeneral Brigham for Children and former president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Homer is senior adviser at Economic Mobility Pathways and former deputy assistant secretary, human services policy, at the US Department of Health and Human Services. The less fortunate don't need more hoops to jump through There are a number of sleights of hand in Josh Archambault's call for Medicaid reform, not the least of which is judging a program that pays for access to our medical system by the outcomes provided by that system. But it's his call for government-mandated community engagement as a condition for having your doctor's visit subsidized that is truly gobsmacking. It was not so long ago that such a proposal would be derided by conservatives as government social engineering because, among other things, it's literally that. Does Archambault truly believe that the federal government is capable of creating a meaningful social fabric for the less fortunate among us, or does he think that, as proven time and time again, adding requirements to social safety net benefits will simply discourage recipients from applying, thus reducing the costs of the programs? Saul Tannenbaum Boston
Forbes
15-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How La Tablee Des Chefs Is Turning Waste Into Meals
Jean-François Archambault, Founder of La Tablée des Chefs In Canada, a paradox exists. While millions struggle to access fresh, nutritious food, perfectly good meals are discarded by restaurants, hotels, and catering companies. Food banks operate under immense strain, often lacking quality ingredients. At the same time, an invisible barrier—fear of litigation—prevents many food providers from donating surplus meals. But where others saw an intractable problem, Jean-François Archambault saw an opportunity. During his decade in hotel management, he wrestled with an uncomfortable truth: vast amounts of food were going to waste while communities went hungry. Reflecting on the values instilled in him through his family's community work, he knew he couldn't stand by idly. In 2004, he walked away from his career at the prestigious Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal and founded La Tablée des Chefs—a game-changing organization that connects the food industry to the fight against hunger. 'I was successful,' Archambault recalls, 'but it was like, at the end of the day, I was taking off that suit, putting it back in the closet, and then being Jean-François at home, and I hated that. I needed to wake up and feel I was whole.' The leap wasn't easy—but it was fueled by belief and mentorship. 'That sense of purpose came to me very strongly when I met my wife—and she gave me confidence,' he shares. 'Having her by my side and believing in me really helped. And then some key business people, one in particular who became a mentor—she was the Executive VP of HR at National Bank of Canada—really pushed me to do something.' He recalls preparing to hire La Tablée's first employee after raising $150,000, only to have a moment of clarity over breakfast with his mentor. 'I told her I stopped the hiring process,' he says. 'She asked why, and I said, 'Because I'm going to do it. Nobody else is better than me to do that.' That's where it all started.' Archambault's first challenge was to dismantle a system built on fear. Working alongside legal experts, he uncovered an overlooked solution: Good Samaritan laws. These laws protect food providers from liability when donating food in good faith. By educating businesses and industry leaders on these protections, he flipped the script, shifting mindsets from risk aversion to social impact. In provinces like Alberta, vague food safety regulations still prevent large quantities of safe, untouched food from being recovered. Archambault is working with pro bono legal partners to change that. 'We could double the amount of food that we recover if we clarify the definition of served food,' he says. Next, he forged powerful partnerships with industry heavyweights, such as Montreal's Bell Centre, home to the Canadiens hockey team. His vision: a streamlined system where surplus food is retrieved, repurposed, and distributed to those in need—at scale. 'What I really want to do is change the mindset of the industry on looking at food waste—and looking at food that can be recovered that is not recovered,' he says. 'To really engage in maximizing all the opportunities we have as an industry. I'm talking about the hospitality industry coming together to prioritize this—and getting the industry around to change.' He emphasizes that many workers in the industry already want to help—they've simply lacked a system that makes it possible. 'The industry is not aware that a lot of hotel and convention spaces employees are all for this,' Archambault says. 'But they've been stopping to think it's possible. And I'm here to make that possible.' A key milestone came when Marriott Canada stepped up. 'When we signed the agreement with Marriott Canada, the president at the time said, 'I want this in my 260 hotels,'' Archambault recalls. That really helped accelerate the change. Thanks to that kind of leadership, word spread quickly within the industry. Through these partnerships, La Tablée des Chefs has built an operational backbone that makes food recovery seamless for hospitality teams. Using a data-driven platform, the organization coordinates surplus food collection and meal distribution with precision. Restaurants, hotels, and caterers donate prepared meals, which are then labeled, packaged, and delivered to food banks and shelters based on real-time demand. The result? A sustainable, systemic solution to food insecurity—one that empowers the industry to act with both efficiency and compassion. 'We have 400 hotels or venues doing this across the country and serving 3 million meals annually,' he explains. La Tablée des Chefs—a game-changing organization that connects the food industry to the fight ... More against hunger But Archambault knew that simply providing meals wasn't enough. To truly address food insecurity, he needed to empower communities to feed themselves. Enter La Tablée des Chefs' culinary training programs. Through initiatives like Kitchen Brigades and Cook Up Your Future, the organization is teaching vulnerable youth how to prepare high-quality, low-cost meals—building self-sufficiency where it's needed most. From schools and youth centers to juvenile detention facilities, their culinary education initiatives are equipping young people with essential life skills—and a pathway to a brighter future. 'We're in more than 350 public high schools with chefs coming into schools every day,' says Archambault. 'We've educated over 75,000 youth through food education and food literacy.' In 2018, the Quebec government made a major investment in the program, allowing it to scale even further. La Tablée des Chefs now runs an e-learning platform and a culinary school, ensuring that its impact reaches far beyond the kitchen. La Tablée des Chefs' culinary training programs In its first 15 years, La Tablée des Chefs has provided over 20 million meals to food-insecure communities, partnered with more than 400 hotels and venues across Canada, and trained young people in more than 350 public high schools and foster care programs across seven provinces. But Archambault's ambition doesn't stop at Canada's borders. Today, the model is being tested in France, with plans to expand into culinary schools across Canada. By fostering a new generation of socially conscious chefs, La Tablée des Chefs is proving that food is more than just sustenance—it's a vehicle for social change. That impact was powerfully demonstrated at the President's Cup PGA tournament at the Royal Montreal Golf Club.'There were 30 small kitchens on the course feeding tens of thousands of people,' Archambault recalls. 'We partnered with Proof of the Pudding, the PGA's caterer, and recovered 22 tons of food that fed over 120,000 people in six days.' The quality of the food, he says, is often what surprises people most.'We opened one aluminum container, and it was these lamb chops—pink, perfect,' he says. 'Would you eat that tomorrow? Absolutely. That's the kind of dignity this brings.' In its first 15 years, La Tablée des Chefs has provided over 20 million meals to food-insecure ... More communities. Jean-François Archambault's work isn't just about feeding people—it's about transforming the way we think about food. It's about reimagining a food system where waste is no longer the norm, where chefs wield their expertise as a force for good, and where communities are empowered to take control of their own nutrition. 'We are the missing link into making that food accessible to the front line,' he says. 'And that's really what I want to continue to do.' This is what happens when passion meets purpose. And this is how one man—and a growing movement of compassionate chefs and business leaders—are rewriting the future of food in Canada and beyond.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Energy Transfer board chair says he sought settlement with Standing Rock in 2016
Kelcy Warren, executive chairman of Energy Transfer, the company that developed the Dakota Access Pipeline, talks about pipeline security during the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference at the Bismarck Event Center in May 2021. (Mike McCleary/Bismarck Tribune) Energy Transfer Executive Chairman Kelcy Warren claimed in court testimony he traveled to North Dakota in December 2016 to discuss a settlement with then-tribal chair David Archambault II to end protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. 'I said, 'David, I'm here to make a deal with you,'' Warren said in a video deposition shown to jurors last week during a trial involving Energy Transfer and Greenpeace. ''What do you want? Money? Land?'' Warren, who was CEO of Energy Transfer at the time, said he was willing to give the tribe a ranch that the company had purchased near part of the pipeline construction site in North Dakota. Energy Transfer just months prior had bought Cannonball Ranch, which is north of Standing Rock in an area that became the center of the anti-pipeline demonstrations. Warren said he also offered to build a new school on the reservation. Archambault in a Monday statement to the North Dakota Monitor said his memory of his meeting with Warren is very different. Archambault did not appear as a witness during the trial. 'From my perspective, the purpose of the meeting was not to negotiate a settlement,' Archambault wrote. Archambault said he met with Warren because he was concerned about growing violence at the protests. 'Given the growing danger, I felt it was necessary to have a direct conversation to discuss de-escalation,' he wrote. Archambault said that oil and gas magnate Harold Hamm and then-Quapaw Nation chair John Berrey helped arrange his meeting with Warren. He said he told Warren at the meeting that he was not there to end the protests. 'He asked what it would take to stop the movement, and I explained that it was no longer in my control,' Archambault said. 'The fight against the pipeline had become much bigger than Standing Rock; it was about Indigenous rights and the long history of injustice faced by our people.' According to Archambault, Warren told him if he had been aware of the history of how infrastructure projects have affected the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe then 'we might not be in this situation.' Archambault said in the statement that more than a year before his meeting with Warren, he met with another Energy Transfer executive, Joey Mahmoud, to relay his concerns about the Dakota Access Pipeline. Mahmoud was in charge of the project for Energy Transfer. 'At that time, I made it clear that the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe would resist the pipeline due to the historical and ongoing harm caused by infrastructure projects on Indigenous lands,' Archambault wrote. Archambault said Mahmoud told him that Energy Transfer is used to dealing with protests. 'I let him know I thought this was going to be different,' Archambault wrote. Greenpeace case in hands of jury as Energy Transfer makes case for $800 million in damages Warren in his video deposition speculated that Archambault rejected his offer to settle because he had already made a separate deal with a third party. Warren said he suspects someone had paid money to the tribe and that Earthjustice, an environmental law group, was 'the carrier of that money.' 'It was very clear to me he had struck a deal with the devil,' Warren said of Archambault. Warren acknowledged that he did not have concrete evidence that the deal took place. 'Warren has no evidence of it because it never happened,' Jan Hasselman, a senior attorney for Earthjustice who previously represented the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, said in a statement to the Monitor. Archambault said that his meeting with Warren 'ended with an understanding that neither side would change course.' 'Energy Transfer would attempt to push the pipeline through, and we would continue to resist,' he wrote. More Dakota Access Pipeline coverage Warren's deposition came as part of Energy Transfer's lawsuit against Greenpeace over its involvement in protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016 and 2017. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe started the protests to oppose the project, which it states is a pollution threat to its water and a violation of Native sovereignty. Greenpeace was one of many organizations present at the demonstrations. In his testimony, Warren said that he was not privy to the day-to-day operations of Energy Transfer at the time of the protests. He said that he had no personal knowledge of Greenpeace's involvement in the demonstrations, and that his legal staff were heading up the lawsuit against the environmental group. Warren said that it was his understanding that the purpose of the lawsuit was to push back against an organized effort to harm the company, which he said included 'defamation' and 'paid protesters.' 'I did feel strongly that we've got to stand up for ourselves,' Warren said. Energy Transfer alleges Greenpeace coordinated illegal attacks against the pipeline that cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars. Greenpeace denies the claims. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2019, went to trial in Mandan in late February. The parties presented their closing arguments on Monday, though the jury has yet to render a verdict. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Boston Globe
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Creating a dramatic dining room inspired by candlelit dinners
2 The sideboard from Frontgate, which is modeled after an 18th-century French antique, has a honed marble top that makes it ideal for serving. 'The creamy finish brightens the space,' Archambault says. 'That's also why I chose a light rug.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 3 The Hollywood Regency-style mirror came out of Archambault's childhood home and the Currey & Company porcelain lamps were in her living room in the city. 'The mirror reflects sunlight from the windows during the day,' she says. 4 The vintage travel poster that Archambault found at Details, Inc. in Harwich Port reminds the couple of their Monte Carlo, Monaco, honeymoon. 5 Peter Dunham sisal grass-cloth wallpaper with a large-scale block-printed paisley pattern wraps the room. 'I love how the texture juxtaposes the high-gloss ceiling,' the designer says. 6 For a hint of playfulness, Archambault opted for two brass-lotus pendant lights by Jamie Young Co., rather than a single chandelier. 'The design directs light downward, which lends a more intimate feel than a light that diffuses outward,' she explains. Marni Elyse Katz is a contributing editor to the Globe Magazine. Follow her on Instagram
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Home prices rise 14% in year as more older buyers selling homes
Feb. 4—Realtor Moe Archambault said he's seeing home sellers skewing older in early 2025. "What I'm finding is there are more, I guess, you would call Baby Boomers and seniors," said Archambault, principal of Moe Marketing Realty Group in Laconia. "They're afraid to lose out on this elevated-priced market to get something else to better suit their needs as they get older," he said. "They've got lots of equity in their houses." Prices continue to rise year-over year, with January's median statewide price of $507,350 up 14% higher than a year earlier. The 657 single-family homes that closed in January were nine fewer than in January 2024, according to figures from the New Hampshire Realtors. Bedford's median jumped 34% to $820,000 while Hooksett's dropped 19% to just over a half-million dollars. Manchester's median price of nearly $430,000 was 6% higher than a year ago. Goffstown's median price jumped 47% to $567,000. Monthly totals can vary greatly from month to month, so the real estate market focuses on year-over-year comparisons. Coos County saw a record median price of $312,000 — — a 61% jump based on 21 homes sold both last month and in January 2024. "I'm still seeing bidding wars" on homes priced at less than $400,000, Archambault said. Merrimack's median price dropped $40,000 to $500,000 while Nashua's median grew by 13% to $513,750. Londonderry ($602,000 median) and Derry ($522,500) both saw more than 4% gains.
