Montreal QC ☕ Morning Chat
Good morning, Montreal.
Grab a hot coffee today, because a snowy weekend is on the way. Between Olympic twists, a few stories that touch everyday life, and tales that warm the heart despite the cold, there’s plenty to fill your morning. Get comfortable.
🔦 Main Story
Olympic dream ends in overtime
It came down to seconds. The Canadian women’s hockey team lost 2-1 in overtime to the United States in the Olympic final at Milano Cortina. Megan Keller scored the winning goal, giving the Americans the gold.
Quebec goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens made 31 saves in a match that kept everyone on edge until the very end.
Hundreds of fans gathered in Montreal bars, Le Nadia and Champs Sports Bar in the Plateau, to cheer on Team Canada. The disappointment was palpable after the U.S. won the gold medal.
Our hockey players came so close to pulling off a surprise. Hats off for the effort.
⚡ Of Note
A truck hits a REM overpass once again.
Friday morning, a garbage truck hit an overpass near Bois-Franc station, disrupting service between Sunnybrooke and Côte-de-Liesse stations. Shuttles were deployed between the two stations during the interruption. Service has since resumed. Another reminder that height matters.
67% of Canadians support Carney’s economic plan.
A CityNews/Canada Pulse Insights poll reveals that 67% of Canadians believe Prime Minister Mark Carney is doing a good job diversifying and building the Canadian economy.
Support is especially strong in Quebec (72%), Atlantic provinces (69%), and British Columbia (68%). Even 66% of Albertans and 60% of Saskatchewan and Manitoba residents approve of his approach.
Seven out of ten Canadians are proud of how he represents Canada on the world stage, especially after his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The poll was conducted among 1,510 Canadian adults between January 29 and February 2, 2026.
Ottawa advises First Nations to carry a passport at the U.S. border.
The federal government has updated its travel advice for the United States, strongly recommending that First Nations members carry a passport in addition to their status card when crossing the border.
The website now states that acceptance of all status cards is “entirely at the discretion of U.S. agents.”
The Assembly of First Nations has warned its members to be cautious at the border following immigration enforcement raids and the detention of some Indigenous people.
At least one First Nations person had a negative encounter with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and has since returned to Canada.
Trade agreement with India possible within a year.
India’s High Commissioner in Ottawa, Dinesh Patnaik, says Canada could sign a comprehensive trade agreement with New Delhi within a year, ahead of Prime Minister Carney’s anticipated visit to India.
In November, Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to formally launch negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
Talks had collapsed in fall 2023 after Ottawa accused Indian officials of involvement in the murder of a Sikh activist near Vancouver.
Both countries aim to double bilateral trade to $50 billion U.S. by 2030.
Tax season: CRA improves its services.
The Canada Revenue Agency says taxpayers should have an easier time this tax season after completing a service improvement plan in December.
The agency has streamlined its websites, hired more call centre agents, and updated accuracy standards.
Taxpayers can now manage their balance and set up payment plans without calling an agent. The agency is hiring 1,500 additional agents to add to the 3,500 already in place.
The goal is to answer 70% of unique callers during tax season with wait times under 30 minutes. The 2025 tax season starts Monday and ends April 30.
Death of actor Eric Dane at 53.
Actor Eric Dane, known for roles in “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria,” died Thursday of ALS, less than a year after announcing his diagnosis. He was 53.
Dane played Dr. Mark Sloan in “Grey’s Anatomy” from 2006 to 2012. He announced his ALS diagnosis in April 2025 and became an advocate for ALS awareness.
Trump orders release of files on UFOs and aliens.
President Donald Trump announced he is ordering the Pentagon and other government agencies to identify and release records related to aliens and UFOs.
Trump told reporters he has no opinion on whether aliens are real.
An unclassified report submitted to Congress in June 2024 said armed forces members made 485 reports of unidentified phenomena in the previous year, but 118 cases were mundane objects like balloons, birds, and drones.
Pressure on Quebec’s Justice Minister over abortion.
Pressure is mounting on Quebec’s Justice Minister to drop plans to enshrine the right to abortion in the province’s proposed constitution. Minister Jolin-Barrette detailed his thinking in an open letter published in the Journal de Montréal.
Guilty plea in Longueuil.
A Longueuil resident who killed a convicted drug dealer during an attempted robbery two years ago pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder.
Acquittal of former UFC fighter in Laval.
Former UFC fighter Edouardo Larenas, who pleaded self-defense throughout his murder trial at the Laval courthouse, was found not guilty by a jury Thursday.
🏙️ Local Stories
Montreal and Quebec City call for PEQ exemptions.
Municipal representatives from Montreal and Quebec City asked the province Thursday to reverse its November decision to close the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ).
Both cities adopted a rare joint statement calling for exemptions for candidates affected by the abolished immigration program.
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada said reinstating PEQ for immigrants would be “keeping our word.”
STM maintenance workers plan strike in March.
STM maintenance workers are likely to launch another strike in March as negotiations between the union and employers remain stalled.
Montreal Transport Union president Bruno Jeannotte said the union plans to meet with the Labour Administrative Tribunal next week to authorize a strike.
This would be the fifth limited strike by Montreal transit maintenance workers since June 2025.
Sticking points are salary and employers’ preference for hiring private sector subcontractors.
Martinez Ferrada wants to use the region’s political weight.
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada declared Thursday that the Greater Montreal region must use its political weight to pressure the Quebec government on priorities like housing, public transit, and the homelessness crisis.
St. Mary’s Hospital recognized for senior care.
The American College of Emergency Physicians recognizes St. Mary’s Hospital for its dedication to senior care. This is a first for a Montreal health facility. Criteria include how hospitals reduce risks of infection, delirium, and immobility.
💛 Feel-Good Story
Homer the terrier was reunited with his family after 80 days missing, a reminder that hope and perseverance pay off, even in cold weather.
🚗 Practical Corner
Snowy weekend ahead.
Friday started cold and sunny, with wind chills reaching minus 16°C. The day will warm up to minus 2°C before dropping to minus 8°C in the afternoon.
Tonight, expect up to 5 centimeters of snow and gusts up to 50 km/h. Temperatures will drop to minus 10°C with wind chills reaching minus 18°C overnight.
Saturday will see clear skies and gusts, with a wind chill of minus 18°C in the morning. High of minus 8°C and low of minus 8°C. Snow returns Saturday night.
Sunday will bring periods of snow with a high of minus 2°C and a low of minus 6°C.
Get your mittens and shovel ready—the weekend will be white.
👋 Final Thoughts
That’s it for this Friday morning. Between hockey that kept us on edge, incoming snow, and small daily victories, there’s plenty to reflect on while sipping our coffee. Dress warmly this weekend, take care of yourselves, and have a great weekend, Montreal. 🍁❄️
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