MTLQC – Montreal QC
Montréal QC ☕ Morning Chat
Good morning, Montréal.
We hope your coffee is nice and hot this Monday morning, because we have a particularly packed edition for you today.
Between a major weather alert that needs your attention, important political developments, and a few local stories that touch your daily life, there’s plenty to start your week off right.
Take a big sip and let’s dive into the news.
🔦 Top Story
Potentially severe freezing rain warning for Wednesday
Get ready, Montréal… Wednesday is shaping up to be icy in every sense of the word.
Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a special weather statement early Monday morning, warning that 20 to 30 millimetres of freezing rain could fall between Wednesday and Thursday across several regions. The affected areas include Greater Montréal, Montérégie, Outaouais, the Laurentians, Lanaudière, Mauricie, Centre‑du‑Québec, and the Québec City region.
Forecasters say the freezing rain could last up to 24 hours, creating dangerous travel conditions and potentially disrupting key services. Ice buildup of this magnitude can weigh down tree branches and power lines, leading to prolonged outages.
Recovery could also be complicated by cold temperatures expected in the days following the storm, which may slow cleanup efforts and delay the return to normal for transportation and public services.
Monday in the Montréal area is expected to be mostly cloudy before clearing in the afternoon, with southwest winds of 30 km/h gusting to 60 and a high of 14°C. Monday night will bring a few clouds and patches of fog with a low of 7°C.
Tuesday should see a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 12°C before conditions begin to deteriorate Tuesday evening.
Authorities are urging residents to consider postponing or cancelling non‑essential travel during the storm and to prepare for possible outages, hazardous roads, and major disruptions to public transit.
⚡ The Essentials
Federal government proposes a parliamentary debate on the war in Iran
After concerns raised last week about the impact of the war in Iran on Canadians, Liberal House Leader Steven MacKinnon is now proposing a parliamentary debate.
In a post on X on Sunday, he said the government has offered opposition parties a debate on the hostilities in Iran — and their consequences for Canadians abroad — to be held Monday evening.
The proposal comes as some members of Mark Carney’s caucus publicly expressed discomfort after the prime minister supported the U.S.–Israeli strike on Iran on February 28.
Last week, interim NDP leader Don Davies called the Liberal government’s position “unprincipled, inconsistent, and contradictory.”
At a press conference in Australia a few days after the strike, Carney added that the airstrikes likely violate international law and that he supported the mission “with regret.”
Crude oil prices surpass USD $100 per barrel
Oil prices have climbed above $100 per barrel for the first time in more than three and a half years as the war in Iran disrupts production and transportation in the Middle East.
Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global supply passes, remains nearly at a standstill.
Brent crude, the international benchmark, was trading at $101.19 shortly after markets reopened in Chicago, up 9.2% from Friday’s settlement price of $92.69.
West Texas Intermediate crude was selling for about $107.06 per barrel, a 16.2% increase from Friday’s settlement price of $90.90.
Iran names Mojtaba Khamenei as new Supreme Leader
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, has been appointed as his successor, state television announced early Monday, as the war that began just over a week ago with his father’s killing takes a dramatic turn.
Khamenei, who had not been seen or heard publicly since the start of the conflict, had long been considered a contender for the role. His appointment follows signs of division among Iranian officials as the country awaited a decision from the Assembly of Experts.
The 56‑year‑old now sits at the centre of Iran’s theocracy and will have the final say on all state matters.
U.S. President Donald Trump said, “Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me,” adding, “We want someone who will bring harmony and peace to Iran.” He told ABC News on Sunday that he wants a say in who comes to power once the war ends.
The conflict has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, 397 in Lebanon, and 11 in Israel.
Carney calls by‑elections for April 13
A by‑election will be held Monday, April 13, in the federal riding of Terrebonne, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced.
He also called by‑elections in the Toronto ridings of University–Rosedale and Scarborough Southwest.
If the Liberals win both Ontario seats and Terrebonne, they will hold an extremely narrow majority.
The Terrebonne race is a rematch between the Liberal and Bloc Québécois candidates.
NDP leadership vote begins
Party members can now vote for one of the five candidates. The winner will be announced on March 29.
Laval ordered to pay $1 million to former mayor Vaillancourt
The money will go toward covering tax payments owed by Gilles Vaillancourt to the Canada Revenue Agency. The city says it is outraged.
Félix Auger‑Aliassime defeats Gabriel Diallo at Indian Wells
Just 24 hours after playing one of the best matches of his career to defeat Andrey Rublev, Montréal’s Gabriel Diallo faced Félix Auger‑Aliassime in an all‑Montréal showdown.
Auger‑Aliassime proved he remains the city’s top tennis talent with a win over Diallo.
Canadiens beat the Los Angeles Kings 4–2
The Montréal Canadiens mounted a late comeback Saturday to defeat the Kings 4–2.
🏙️ Local Stories
Montréal man accused of terrorism appearing in court Monday
A Montréal man previously convicted in the United States for supporting al‑Qaida is set to appear in court Monday as he faces multiple terrorism‑related charges in Québec.
Mohammed Abdullah Warsame, 51, is facing a terrorism charge after allegedly telling a worker at the Old Brewery Mission shelter in Montréal that he knew how to make explosives and wanted to build bombs to use on public transit in order to kill a large number of people.
Warsame is also facing two additional provincial charges — uttering threats and another terrorism‑related count — for allegedly threatening to burn, destroy, or damage Passport Canada offices in Montréal and Québec City.
Prosecutors allege the threats were made during four phone calls on November 20 while Warsame was being held at the Rivière‑des‑Prairies detention centre.
Warsame previously underwent a psychiatric evaluation at the Philippe‑Pinel Institute. According to U.S. authorities, Warsame, a Canadian of Somali origin, pleaded guilty in Minnesota in 2009 to providing material support to al‑Qaida after attending conferences led by Osama bin Laden.
He served 92 months in a U.S. federal prison before being deported to Canada in 2010.
Montréal marks International Women’s Day with downtown march
Downtown Montréal was filled with chants and banners Sunday as crowds gathered to mark International Women’s Day.
The march began at Norman Bethune Square near Guy‑Concordia metro station and wound its way through city streets.
The demonstration, organized by Women of Diverse Origins, an anti‑imperialist women’s collective active across several sectors, highlighted issues affecting women locally and globally, including immigration, political repression, Indigenous rights, and economic inequality.
Dolores Chew, a founding member of the group, said that although progress has been made over the years, women still face major challenges related to pay equity, violence, and reproductive rights.
She also criticized local policies, including restrictions placed on Muslim women wearing the hijab in the public sector, as well as cuts to education and health care.
Woman in critical condition after SUV–bus collision in Montréal‑Nord
A 25‑year‑old woman was fighting for her life Sunday after the SUV she was riding in crashed into a parked STM bus in the Montréal‑Nord borough.
Westmount Public Library temporarily closed due to bedbugs
The Westmount Public Library has been temporarily closed after inspections revealed the presence of bedbugs, the library announced Sunday.
Paid parking proposal on Sherbrooke Street in NDG raises concerns
A proposal to install parking meters along a stretch of Sherbrooke Street in Notre‑Dame‑de‑Grâce has left some residents puzzled.
💛 Spotlight
The thousands of Montréal women who took to the streets Sunday for International Women’s Day, showing that even in the face of ongoing challenges around pay equity, violence, and threatened rights, solidarity and collective determination remain stronger than ever.
⚠️ Practical Corner
Get ready now for Wednesday’s freezing rain
It can’t be said enough: 20 to 30 millimetres of freezing rain is a lot… really a lot. Here’s what you should do now to prepare:
- Consider postponing or cancelling all non‑essential travel on Wednesday and Thursday
- Prepare for possible extended power outages (flashlights, candles, charged batteries)
- Do your grocery shopping before Tuesday evening
- Keep an eye on forecast updates
- Expect major disruptions to public transit and other services
Enjoy Monday’s mild weather
Before the freezing rain arrives, enjoy a relatively mild Monday with a high of 14°C and southwest winds.
Tuesday will also be pleasant at 12°C, but conditions will deteriorate Tuesday evening.
This is your last chance to get some fresh air before the storm.
👋 Before We Go
That’s it for this Monday morning.
Between a weather alert that deserves your full attention, major political developments, and local stories that matter to our community, there’s plenty to fuel your week.
Prepare well for Wednesday, take care of yourselves and your loved ones, and stay warm, Montréal.