Montreal QC ☕ The morning chat
Good morning, Montreal.
We start with news that hits the city’s Jewish community directly: a kosher bakery has been targeted by arson for the second time in two days. We also look at the expansion of the surveillance camera network, a historic partnership between Hydro-Québec and Kahnawake, and a few stories that will spark conversation in the coming weeks.
Top Story
Arson at kosher bakery: hate crime unit takes over
Montreal police are investigating a second suspicious fire in two days at a kosher bakery. The hate crimes unit has taken over the case because of the establishment’s ties to the Jewish community.
The fires occurred twice this week, and investigators are treating the case as a potentially hate-motivated crime. No arrests have been announced so far.
This incident comes amid rising tensions already felt by Montreal’s Jewish community. Authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward.
Close to Home
Montreal to add nearly a hundred surveillance cameras to its streets
The City of Montreal plans to buy about 60 remotely controlled security cameras and about 30 license plate reader cameras. The latter use artificial intelligence to track targeted vehicles across the network.
This expansion of urban surveillance raises privacy concerns, but the City justifies it as a public safety measure. Deployment details are still to be worked out.
McGill could bring back its track and field team
McGill University’s track and field team could return to the school’s sports program. A working group recommends reinstating the men’s and women’s teams, which were cut last year as part of budget cuts.
The report will be presented to McGill’s Senate on November 11, then submitted for approval to the board of governors on December 10. If all goes as planned, the plan would be phased in starting next spring, with a full return for the 2027-2028 season.
Montreal mayor to table 2027 budget on November 24
The City of Montreal will table its next budget on November 24. Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada said investing in infrastructure and preserving essential services will be among her priorities.
This tabling also marks the first anniversary of her term at the helm of the City.
Worth Knowing
Hydro-Québec proposes historic partnership with Kahnawake
Hydro-Québec is proposing to sell a stake in a segment of its new power transmission line to New York to the Mohawk community of Kahnawake. The 58-kilometre segment, mostly underground, cost about $800 million to build, but the asset is valued at $310 million.
The First Nation council plans to buy a stake worth about half of that value. If the deal is approved by the regulator, the community would become a shareholder in a new joint company with Hydro-Québec and would receive revenue for the use of the line.
This is a first for Hydro-Québec, which thus recognizes the need for economic partnerships with Indigenous communities. The company has also donated $10 million for the construction of a cultural centre in Kahnawake.
Quebec parliamentary return pushed to December 1
The Parti Québécois government has again postponed the return of MNAs to the National Assembly, this time to December 1. The session will last only two weeks, until December 11.
The Liberal opposition criticizes the delay, which leaves little time to deal with urgent issues. The government justifies the delay by the preparation of ministers, most of whom are novices, and by the premier’s participation in the Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh.
ADISQ Gala sparks outcry: no Black rappers nominated
None of the five nominees in the best rap album category at the ADISQ Gala is Black, and Montreal artists are denouncing a lack of representation that is not new. The controversy has grown as the ceremony approaches.
Quebec to launch diplomatic offensive in the United States
Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon announced that his government will launch a diplomatic offensive toward the United States following the U.S. midterm elections. The trade war with Canada was an issue in key states like Maine and Michigan.
Practical Corner
Online gambling explodes in Montreal
A new public health study reveals that fewer Montrealers are betting than seven or eight years ago, but online gambling has nearly tripled since 2018. Researchers warn that this shift carries risks.
If you or a loved one feel that gambling is becoming a problem, know that resources exist. It’s better to get informed than to let the situation get worse.
Coup de Coeur
A master electrician breaks barriers in a man’s trade
Marisa Timmler is the only woman in Quebec with a master electrician’s license. Owner of Big G Electric, she hires women and members of minorities, giving them a chance to learn the trade. Her approach, both firm and caring, inspires her employees and proves that construction trades are not reserved for one category of people.
Before you go
We wish you a day that starts well, with a hot coffee and the certainty that, even in difficult times, the Montreal community knows how to pull together. See you tomorrow. ☕