Montréal QC ☕ The Morning Chat
Good morning, Montréal.
Today, Québec enters a new era with the swearing-in of Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and the introduction of his cabinet. Meanwhile, a report on hunger is a reminder that precariousness is gaining ground, even among workers. We also bring you news on health, safety and a few great places to eat.
Top Story
A new government takes the reins of Québec
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon officially becomes the 34th premier of Québec during a swearing-in ceremony Wednesday at the National Assembly. He takes the opportunity to unveil his cabinet, marking the Parti Québécois’s return to power after more than a decade.
The sovereigntist party won 59 seats in the October 5 election, five short of an absolute majority. Requests for judicial recounts in two ridings where its candidates finished second could, however, bring it closer to that goal.
The new premier entrusts Health to Marie-Karlynn Laflamme and Education to Joël Arseneau, two key posts. PQ MNAs were already sworn in last week, pledging allegiance to the people of Québec rather than to the King, a practice made possible since 2022.
At Home
The opposition wants answers from the SPVM chief
Projet Montréal filed an emergency motion Monday to summon the director of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, Fady Dagher, before city council. The opposition wants explanations about troubling allegations of misconduct, including the suspension of two officers from Station 21 for urinating on homeless people and placing suspects in humiliating positions.
The motion initially called for an appearance within seven days, but Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada amended it to postpone the visit until after the internal investigations are complete, including the one into racist acts at Station 39. “We have serious questions to ask Mr. Dagher about the organizational culture and internal oversight mechanisms,” the opposition argued.
Pink in the City celebrates 20 years of the fight against breast cancer
The Montréal organization Pink in the City marks its 20th anniversary. It all began in 2006, when Lawrence, the 11-year-old son of Denise Vourtzoumis, shaved his head in support of women with breast cancer. That simple gesture became a movement that has raised more than $3.5 million.
In partnership with the Montreal General Hospital Foundation since 2014, the organization has contributed $1.949 million to the breast clinic’s wellness program. The program offers psychological support, nutritional counselling and physical rehabilitation all in one place. The 20th anniversary Magic of Hope gala will be held Friday in Laval.
Key Takeaways
One in four workers turns to a food bank
Québec food banks responded to more than 3.27 million requests for help per month in 2026, a historic high. That is an increase of more than 150,000 monthly requests compared with last year, according to the annual HungerCount report.
Nearly 600,000 people receive support each month. The proportion of households whose main source of income is employment rose from 20.6% to 23.4% in a year, the largest increase ever recorded. “The need for food assistance continues to grow and food insecurity is becoming a persistent reality for far too many people,” said Alexandre Lebel, executive director of Banques alimentaires du Québec.
Judicial recount in Champlain
A judge granted the Parti Québécois a judicial recount in the riding of Champlain, in the Mauricie region. The recount will take place Thursday and Friday at the Trois-Rivières courthouse, after the PQ reported that 110 ballots were missing from two ballot boxes.
The PQ candidate René Branchaud had been defeated by the Conservative Adriana Szalontai by 191 votes, or 0.44 percentage points. Another recount is under way in Vachon, in the Montérégie region, where the Liberal Affine Lwalalika edged out the PQ’s Stephan Fogaing by just 10 votes.
The Canadiens blow a lead and fall in overtime
The San Jose Sharks erased a two-goal deficit to beat the Canadiens 4-3 in overtime Tuesday. Macklin Celebrini scored his second goal of the game at 2:13 of overtime on the power play.
Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki each recorded a goal and an assist, but Montréal surrendered a two-goal lead for the fourth time this season. Goaltender Jakub Dobes made 26 saves after three difficult outings.
Practical Corner
A man with a disability seriously injured in Longueuil
A man with reduced mobility was hospitalized with critical injuries after being struck by a vehicle while riding a three-wheeled scooter, Tuesday around 1:40 p.m., at the intersection of boulevard Jean-Paul-Vincent and rue De la Métropole. The man, who also has hearing and speech limitations, was following his spouse, who was also on a three-wheeled scooter. The intersection remained closed to traffic late in the day.
Coup de Coeur
The story of Pink in the City shows that a personal gesture can become a collective movement. Twenty years after an 11-year-old boy shaved his head to support women with cancer, thousands of people continue to mobilize, from restaurants to schools. It is a reminder that Montréal solidarity is often built from small actions that grow.
In Closing
We wish you a day that begins with the satisfaction of seeing a new chapter open for Québec. Whether you follow politics or prefer good pizza spots, take the time to savour the moment. ☕