Montreal QC ☕ The morning chat
Good morning, Montreal.
We start with a story that strikes at trust in our institutions: the police union is challenging the dismissal of seven SPVM officers, while community groups are calling for broader reforms. Also on the menu: an arrest in the hit-and-run that killed a young cyclist, ramp closures in the Ville-Marie tunnel, and a heartwarming story of solidarity with sandwiches for people experiencing homelessness.
Top Story
Police union challenges dismissal of seven SPVM officers
The Montreal police union has announced that it will challenge the administrative dismissal of seven SPVM officers, a decision made public on Monday by Chief Fady Dagher. In a message sent to members on Tuesday, Yves Francoeur, president of the Fraternité des policiers et policières de Montréal, said the union intends to fight the matter before the appropriate bodies, arguing that the move raises significant legal issues and amounts to an unprecedented step in the history of labour relations within the service.
According to the union, the revocation of the affected officers’ accreditation and security clearances does not rest on the usual mechanisms provided for under labour relations. The Brotherhood therefore says it intends to assert its rights through legal channels. For its part, the SPVM said it worked with the City’s lawyers to carry out this exceptional procedure.
The seven officers were dismissed following allegations of racism, discrimination and misconduct. Five of them were assigned to Station 39, in the north end of Montreal, where a 16-officer squad had already been disbanded after allegations that some officers had kept locks of hair from racialized citizens. The other two worked at Station 21, downtown, which was the subject of separate misconduct allegations reported in the media.
Fady Dagher, however, noted that some of the allegations reported in the media did not match the findings of the internal investigations. He nonetheless confirmed that conduct he described as particularly reprehensible had occurred in one of the cases reviewed.
Six of the seven officers had already been suspended. The file related to Station 39 was referred to the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP), which confirmed it is reviewing the evidence it received to determine whether criminal charges should be laid.
Several Montreal community groups, meanwhile, welcomed the dismissals, while calling for broader reforms within the police force and a public inquiry into the events.
Close to Home
17-year-old arrested in fatal hit-and-run in Ahuntsic-Cartierville
A 17-year-old has been arrested in connection with the hit-and-run that killed an 18-year-old cyclist last Friday in Ahuntsic-Cartierville. He faces charges of manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death, dangerous driving causing death, failing to stop at the scene of an accident causing death, and fleeing a peace officer.
Police said the vehicle involved was stolen. The Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes also confirmed the car was being chased by an unmarked Sûreté du Québec patrol car just before the collision. The cyclist was crossing an intersection when he was hit head-on by a driver going at “high speed,” according to a police spokesperson.
Surveillance cameras on Montreal arteries raise questions
The City of Montreal wants to buy about sixty surveillance cameras and about thirty license plate readers. Cybersecurity experts worry about the lack of legal privacy protections and say the public should be concerned.
Housing project for youth leaving DPJ care
About 2,000 young people leave Quebec’s youth protection system each year, and nearly a third end up homeless. Agora Déclic, an organization working with at-risk youth, is proposing a housing project to change that. Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, former co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire, is one of the project’s ambassadors.
Deer hunt in eastern Montreal
Nearly 200 deer from Pointe-aux-Prairies nature park will be culled over the coming nights to control overpopulation. The deer density there is ten times higher than provincial guidelines, and experts say the forest can’t sustain it. The hunt, worth nearly $350,000, will take place next week.
McGill confirms convicted murderer no longer enrolled in law
McGill University has confirmed that a convicted murderer, admitted to the Faculty of Law while on day parole, is no longer enrolled. Provost Angela Campbell informed students and staff in a statement sent Monday. The university is reviewing its admissions procedures.
Guilty plea in murder of pregnant woman
Mustapha Khalil Mechken, a 45-year-old Tunisian man, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his wife, Narjess Ben Yedder, 32, before the Superior Court of Quebec in Montreal. The victim, who was about ten weeks pregnant, was killed at their home in Pointe-aux-Trembles in January 2024. The plea brings an end to the jury trial that was set to begin this week.
According to the facts admitted in court, the man attacked his wife while she was sleeping. Narjess Ben Yedder was stabbed 49 times, most of the wounds to her abdomen. Investigators also determined that she had tried to defend herself before succumbing to her injuries.
Evidence presented in court indicates that the accused did not want to become a father and had carried out several searches related to inheritance, benefits paid to a surviving spouse, and the legal consequences of a homicide in the days leading up to the murder. The Crown and the defence are recommending a sentence of life in prison with no possibility of parole for 22 years. The judge is to rule at a future hearing.
Worth knowing
Democrats win Senate and House in midterm elections
Riding a blue wave, Democrats won majorities in both the Senate and the House, dealing a sharp setback to President Trump. They even won in Republican strongholds, including Texas, where Gina Hinojosa became the state’s first Latina governor, and Georgia, where Keisha Lance Bottoms is the first Black woman elected governor. Voters expressed frustration over inflation, the war in Iran, and perceived corruption.
More intense trade talks with the U.S.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said “more intense” trade talks with the United States have begun, following his call with President Donald Trump. Some of Canada’s “red lines” have been taken off the table, including language, culture, and the ability to negotiate trade deals. Carney says the U.S. is asking for less and offering more, but important issues remain.
Hydro-Québec may need to import electricity
Hydro-Québec released a report suggesting it may need to import electricity from neighboring provinces or the U.S. within three years to avoid a shortage. The crown corporation isn’t counting on a return to nuclear power to secure supply.
Bloc asks to double grocery benefit
In its budget demands, the Bloc Québécois is asking for the “grocery benefit” to be doubled and is stressing the homelessness crisis.
Canadiens fall in overtime to Jets
The Canadiens lost 5-4 in overtime to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night, after leading 4-0. The Jets scored four goals in two minutes and eight seconds late in the third period to tie it, before winning in overtime. Cole Caufield scored twice for Montreal, which suffers its first loss in six games.
Nova Scotia convicted murderer gets computer back
A judge has ordered that the laptop containing William Sandeson’s Bitcoin be returned to his family. The value of the Bitcoin is disputed, ranging from $8,000 to over $200,000.
Practical Corner
Ramp closures in Ville-Marie tunnel
Ramps in the Ville-Marie tunnel on Highway 136 will be closed from November 4 to 20 for paving and water pipe inspection work. Exit 5 from Highway 136 west to Mansfield Street will be closed from 11:59 p.m. November 4 to 11:59 p.m. November 20. Entrances to Highway 136 east from de la Cathédrale, Notre-Dame West, and Robert-Bourassa Boulevard will be closed from 10:30 p.m. November 5 to 5 a.m. November 11. Detours will be in place. Drivers are advised to check Québec 511 before heading out.
Coup de Coeur
The story of the 5,036 sandwiches prepared by Bread and Beyond with the help of 200 volunteers is a beautiful example of Montreal solidarity. One sandwich for every visibly homeless person on the island, delivered to ten shelters. It’s a concrete action that reminds us generosity can take the form of a simple but meaningful gesture.
Before you go
We wish you a day that starts well, despite the closed ramps and debates over safety. Take the time to enjoy a good coffee, and remember that even the smallest actions can make a difference. See you tomorrow ☕