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Montreal Gazette
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Martinez Ferrada pledges to consult borough mayors regularly if Ensemble Montréal wins election
Montreal Politics By Borough mayors would meet regularly if Soraya Martinez Ferrada is elected Nov. 2. Speaking to The Gazette Monday, the Ensemble Montréal leader said the current Projet Montréal administration has ignored the needs of the boroughs, to the point that Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante has not even met with some of them in years. As an example, she claimed Montréal-Nord mayor Christine Black told her recently that she hasn't had a sitdown meeting with Plante since 2021. She said if she becomes the mayor of Montreal, she will create a roundtable made up of all the mayors of the city's 19 boroughs, and it would meet regularly. Although, she did not say at what frequency. 'The idea is to make sure we are giving the boroughs more power of influence before the executive committee makes decisions,' she said. Martinez Ferrada said many of the decisions currently made by the executive committee don't take the specific experience of local boroughs into account. She gave the city's new snow-clearing policy as an example. 'I understand the idea was to save money, but I think we have to make sure that there is the space for everyone to make a decision, so that every citizen has the opportunity to have the same quality of services,' she said. The snow-clearing policy came under fire from several opposition boroughs earlier this year because of a lack of flexibility. The boroughs of LaSalle and St-Laurent were penalized for undertaking partial snow-clearing operations last Feb. 4 without the approval of the central city. 'I think as a mayor, you have to work with the other mayors, wherever they are,' Martinez Ferrada said. 'It's surprising to me that the mayor of Montréal-Nord has not sat down with the central city mayor.' Martinez Ferrada said the boroughs have also been asking for more funding under the Plante administration, complaining that the increases in allotments from the central city to the boroughs have not been in line with the inflation rate over the last few years. She recognizes that borough budgets are tight, and added that she would increase the amount the city doles out to its 19 boroughs. How much, however, has not yet been determined. 'I'm not there yet,' Martinez Ferrada said. 'We haven't figured out yet how we will address the needs and how we will fund things, but we also have to look at blue-collar workers, because many boroughs don't have enough people to give the services to their citizens.' Martinez Ferrada said that after nearly eight years of the Projet Montréal administration under Plante, Montrealers are ready for something new. 'People don't feel listened to,' she said. 'People are telling me it's very hard to have a conversation with the elected officials of Projet Montréal. We want to have a city for everyone and not leave anyone behind.' She added that Projet Montréal has polarized the city, and there is an impression that the party only caters to a certain segment of Montrealers.
Montreal Gazette
4 days ago
- Climate
- Montreal Gazette
Montreal's weekend weather: Stop, collaborate and listen
Between construction and the Tour de l'Île, Montrealers will have to show extra patience during the weekend. The Montreal traffic report suggests avoiding most bridges and tunnels if you're leaving the city and with extra closures because of the annual bike event, the best plan is to enjoy what the city has to offer — and to do it using public transit or foot power. If you must drive, keep your cool. You'll get there eventually. There's a chance of showers Friday and Saturday, then clouds on Sunday. Friday's high will be 23 C with a humidex of 26 and UV index of 7, or high. At night, temperatures will drop to 14 C. On Saturday, expect a high of 18 C, followed by Sunday's 17 C.
Montreal Gazette
5 days ago
- Climate
- Montreal Gazette
Montreal weather: This outlook is par for the course
Montrealers had a taste of summer, and now we're back to spring as May inches toward June. Expect increasing cloudiness early this morning and a good chance of showers in the afternoon. The temperature will hit a high of 19 C with a UV index 5, or moderate. The overnight low will be 14 C. According to EarthSky, the photogenic phenomenon Manhattanhenge could happen in New York Thursday. This happens when the sun aligns with the city's cross-streets 'to illuminate the 'canyons' created by the tall city buildings. If you leave now, you'll still miss it, so instead stay home, wait till nightfall and hope the clouds clear enough to spot the stars Pollox and Castor hanging out above the sliver of moon. This story was originally published
Montreal Gazette
6 days ago
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Mulcair: Liberals must heed lessons on connecting 'two Quebecs'
An environmental research team from McGill University made front-page news in the Journal de Montréal this past weekend about their discovery of massive environmental devastation stretching from the South Shore of Montreal to the U.S. border. The McGill team, styled 'Leadership for the Ecozoic,' had been studying the watershed of the Châteauguay River with colleagues from Vermont. Their landmark research revealed that the entire region had become a dumping ground for tens of thousands of truckloads of construction, demolition and other waste. The long-term damage to the environment, in particular to the underground water, is incalculable. This incredible work was not just important for the ecosystems, it is, to me, symbolic of a positive evolution I've been seeing in the institutions of the English-speaking community. Ever since the Legault government decided to undermine McGill and Concordia, I've noticed an enhanced presence of both universities at academic and research events. Their work has always been world class, but now, more than ever it seems, it's being connected to the wider community — and it's a good thing for the universities and for life here in Quebec. Over the past few months I've seen and heard researchers from McGill, Concordia and Bishops at conferences on the environment and on pressing social issues. The most recent ACFAS assizes included a thoughtful conference on Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms on minority language education rights. ACFAS (founded in 1923 as the Association canadienne-française pour l'avancement des sciences) is the premier organization promoting research and science in French in Canada. To see QUESCREN (the Quebec English-speaking Communities Research Network) out of Concordia organizing a part of the activities was positively refreshing. To hear these complex legal and social issues being shared and discussed dispassionately and professionally was also more than welcome. This evolution opens onto the wider question of how we can connect the 'two Quebecs': greater Montreal, and the rest of the province dominated by the Coalition Avenir Québec in the last two provincial elections. Understanding that urban-rural divide is central to the race now taking place for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party. There are three main contenders: Karl Blackburn, former MNA from Roberval and Conseil du patronat head; Charles Milliard, a pharmacist and former head of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec; and Pablo Rodriguez, a former federal minister. Rodriguez has strong support within the QLP caucus that is dominated by Montrealers like himself. Unfortunately for the Liberals, the entire province gets to decide the result of the next election, not just Montreal. Watching their first debate in Laval early this month I was struck by how little Rodriguez seemed to know about Quebec and its institutions. He was the only participant who was obliged to constantly flip through a binder of notes to find something to say, and it's easy to understand: He spent his entire career in Ottawa. It now appears clear that no one will win on the first round of voting. The rules of this leadership contest provide that only the two top finishers will take part in the run-off vote, and that provides hope for a candidate who can speak to all of Quebec. Milliard has rallied a lot of support from the youth wing, but Blackburn's numbers appear the most promising for a second-round win, owing to his widespread popularity in the regions. The QLP is a large tent that brings together federalists of very different stripes. It includes many Quebecers who vote Conservative or NDP federally. To win, the QLP cannot be seen to be the federal Liberal party in Quebec; otherwise, votes will again peel off to the Quebec Conservatives and Québec solidaire. It would be nice to see our universities' spirit of openness to working with the wider Quebec society pierce the wall of the QLP Montreal caucus.
Montreal Gazette
6 days ago
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Letters: More rules, more reason for businesses to abandon Quebec
Amazon, which closed its warehouses in Quebec, probably doesn't worry too much about the Office québécois de la langue française. But should the OQLF try to go after Amazon outside Quebec, Jeff Bezos might suggest to Donald Trump that it would be a case of unfair business practices. And the U.S. president might respond by telling Premier François Legault to rein in the OQLF or face, say, a 100 per cent tariff on Quebec aluminum. For Long & McQuade, one solution might be to open a store just across the Ontario border in Hawkesbury or Cornwall. Montrealers could take a trip to shop for their music accessories and bring home some wine (less expensive at the LCBO) and fill up their car with cheaper gas. Ragnar Radtke, Beaconsfield Manoir Kanisha will be missed I'm disappointed no solutions were found to save Manoir Kanisha while expanding Trudeau airport. The team there provided excellent services to my golden retrievers for more than 25 years. Many clients from abroad and in Montreal benefited from its location, quality, access to veterinary attention, and the care it offered. It is a shame airport management seemed not to understand the value it provided. Katherine Moxness, Westmount Westmount roads in sorry state, too Re: ' Hampstead cleared to repave Ellerdale Rd. ' (The Gazette, May 23) Now that Hampstead is set to resurface Ellerdale Rd., let's focus on Westmount, one of the wealthiest communities in Canada with some of the worst roads. Sherbrooke St. W. resembles a washboard, The Boulevard a detonated minefield and Cedar Ave. looks downright dangerous, particularly at the intersection of Clarke Ave. The roads have been in this state for years. It is an insult to a beautiful part of our city. An investigation is in order. Gerry Greenblatt, Montreal Good Samaritan warms the heart Too often, we read about people tragically being in the wrong place at the wrong time. How positively life-affirming and inspiring it is, then, to read of this 'mystery hero' being in the right place at the right time to save Sabato Borrelli's life by administering CPR. Bravissimo! Barry Beloff, Montreal Submitting a letter to the editor Letters should be sent by email to letters@ We prioritize letters that respond to, or are inspired by, articles published by The Gazette. If you are responding to a specific article, let us know which one. Letters should be sent uniquely to us. The shorter they are — ideally, fewer than 200 words — the greater the chance of publication. Timing, clarity, factual accuracy and tone are all important, as is whether the writer has something new to add to the conversation. We reserve the right to edit and condense all letters. Care is taken to preserve the core of the writer's argument. Our policy is not to publish anonymous letters, those with pseudonyms or 'open letters' addressed to third parties. Letters are published with the author's full name and city or neighbourhood/borough of residence. Include a phone number and address to help verify identity; these will not be published. We will not indicate to you whether your letter will be published. If it has not been published within 10 days or so, it is not likely to be.
