The accidental entrepreneur who brought car-sharing to Canada — long before smartphones
Benoît Robert dreamed of car-sharing long before there was a sharing economy, an app economy — or even smartphones.
In the early '90s the Montreal-native envisioned a future where cars were available for short-term use at an affordable price, offering a practical, sustainable and cost-efficient alternative to ownership.
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CBC
11 hours ago
- CBC
Lance Stroll cleared to race at Canadian Grand Prix after 'successful medical procedure'
Lance Stroll has been cleared to race at the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend after missing the Spanish GP because of pain in his hand and wrist, Formula 1 team Aston Martin said Wednesday. "I am excited to get back behind the wheel with the team for my home Grand Prix this weekend," the Montreal native said in a statement released by his team. "I was always going to fight hard to be ready to race in front of the Montreal crowd." Aston Martin said Stroll underwent a "successful medical procedure to resolve the symptoms" and that he completed some laps in France this week in an old F1 car. "I'm feeling good after my procedure and put some laps in at Paul Ricard this week to prepare," the 26-year-old Stroll said. The team did not specify which hand was hurting Stroll. It previously said that he had been experiencing pain for six weeks and that doctors believed the problem was related to a medical procedure he underwent in 2023 following a cycling accident to treat fractures and a broken toe. Stroll has scored 14 points this season while teammate Fernando Alonso has struggled, earning just 2 points. Aston Martin was not allowed to replace Stroll in Spain since he had qualified for the race. Verstappen claims 3rd straight Formula 1 in Montreal 1 year ago Duration 2:03 It's a sixtieth career win for Dutch driver Max Verstappen as he claims his six sixth Formula 1 win of the season, this time in Montreal.
Globe and Mail
13 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Quebec names mediator as Montreal public transit strike in third day
Quebec's labour minister says he has named a mediator in a labour dispute between Montreal's public transit authority and its maintenance workers that has limited bus and metro service across the city. About 2,400 maintenance workers have been on strike since Monday after more than a year of negotiating. As a result, buses and metros are only operating during morning and afternoon rush hours and late at night. Labour Minister Jean Boulet said Wednesday on social media that the mediator will be tasked with easing tensions between both sides and restoring a dialogue 'conducive to negotiations.' One day earlier, he urged the union and the transit authority to jointly seek mediation to bring them closer to a deal. In a news release on Wednesday, the transit authority — Société de transport de Montréal — said negotiations with the union extended late into the prior night before the two sides agreed on the conditions governing mediation. Both sides filed a joint application for mediation to the Labour Department. 'Meetings with the union continue and are still scheduled several times a week,' the transit authority said. The mediation deal is a 'step in the right direction,' said Marie-Claude Léonard, general director of the agency. But she said, 'we are not one meeting away from reaching a solution.' The agency noted it had proposed mediation as early as May 29. Bruno Jeannotte, president of the maintenance workers union, said in an e-mailed statement that mediation will hopefully accelerate negotiations 'to quickly resolve the issues that separate us.' As part of an agreement reached with Quebec's labour tribunal, regular service will be maintained from Friday to Sunday for the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, but operations will be restricted on other days until the strike is set to end on June 17. Earlier this week, Jeannotte also said his team is in talks with the union representing bus and subway drivers — who have also voted for a strike mandate — on ways to increase pressure on the transit authority. In a post on the X platform, Mayor Valérie Plante thanked Boulet for getting involved. 'This is an important step that will help move things forward,' Plante wrote. 'Our wish is clear: that the dialogue accelerates to reach an agreement.' She also sympathized with Montrealers who've been affected by the service cuts. 'The situation is difficult and complex for thousands of us. Public transit is essential and must resume quickly,' Plante said.
CTV News
14 hours ago
- CTV News
Lance Stroll cleared to race at Canadian GP after ‘successful medical procedure'
Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll of Canada steers his back to his team garage during the third practice session at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour) Lance Stroll has been cleared to race at the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend after missing the Spanish GP because of pain in his hand and wrist, Formula 1 team Aston Martin said Wednesday. 'I am excited to get back behind the wheel with the team for my home Grand Prix this weekend,' the Montreal native said in a statement released by his team. 'I was always going to fight hard to be ready to race in front of the Montreal crowd.' Aston Martin said Stroll underwent a 'successful medical procedure to resolve the symptoms' and that he completed some laps in France this week in an old F1 car. 'I'm feeling good after my procedure and put some laps in at Paul Ricard this week to prepare,' the 26-year-old Stroll said. The team did not specify which hand was hurting Stroll. It previously said that he had been experiencing pain for six weeks and that doctors believed the problem was related to a medical procedure he underwent in 2023 following a cycling accident to treat fractures and a broken toe. Stroll has scored 14 points this season while teammate Fernando Alonso has struggled, earning just 2 points. Aston Martin was not allowed to replace Stroll in Spain since he had qualified for the race. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025.
