MTLQC – Montréal QC
Montreal QC ☕ Morning Chat
Good morning, Montréal.
We hope your coffee is nice and hot this morning, because we’ve prepared an edition that goes from the tragic to the inspiring.
Between an exceptional medical breakthrough made right here, several important local news stories, and developments that directly impact our daily lives, there’s plenty to fuel your morning.
Hang on, it’s a busy one.
🔦 Main Story
A World First at Sainte-Justine Saves the Life of a Young British Columbian
An extraordinary medical breakthrough has just happened in Montreal. Ty Sperle, a 19-year-old from Kelowna, British Columbia, has become the first person in the world to be cured thanks to a revolutionary treatment called “base editing.” This major advance was reported in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine in December.
Sperle was diagnosed around age five with chronic granulomatous disease, a rare condition that compromised his immune system and made him vulnerable to potentially fatal infections.
The treatment, performed at Sainte-Justine Hospital in Montreal—the only Canadian site for this clinical trial—involved extracting his own cells, correcting the “spelling error” in his DNA, and reinserting the cells into his body where they multiplied.
Sperle, now a second-year science student at UBC Okanagan, no longer needs medication and can finally live without the constant fear of developing a serious infection.
He says the success of his treatment can give hope to others with genetic diseases.
A victory for medical science, achieved right here in Montreal.
⚡ Of Note
Carney Heads to India, Australia, and Japan
Prime Minister Mark Carney leaves Thursday for a 10-day visit to India, Australia, and Japan—his first international trip since his Davos speech calling for middle powers to unite.
Carney will land in Mumbai on February 27, then travel to New Delhi on March 1 to meet Indian President Narendra Modi. He’ll fly to Sydney on March 3, stop in Canberra on March 5, and be in Tokyo on March 6.
The trip aims to reset Canada’s relations with India after a diplomatic crisis erupted in 2023. The two countries have restarted trade negotiations, with officials optimistic about concluding a deal within 12 months.
Ottawa Knew EV Rebates Were Running Out
Transport Canada officials knew that funding for the electric vehicle rebate program was at risk of running out months before informing the public in January 2025.
Documents show officials were aware as early as November 2024 that basic funding for the iZEV program could run out between late December 2024 and early January 2025.
The first public notice was sent only on January 10, 2025. The program was suspended January 13 after $48 million in requests came in over a weekend, including $43 million from Tesla alone.
The sudden halt left dealers responsible for millions in pending claims and sent a chill through the EV market as sales dropped.
The government reinstated rebates earlier this month, offering $5,000 for fully electric vehicles and $2,500 for plug-in hybrids.
Canadians Opposed to Concessions to Trump, Except Conservatives
According to an Angus Reid Institute study, 67% of Canadians believe Canada should take a “hard” approach in negotiations with the United States, refusing tough concessions even if it means deteriorating trade relations.
Only 33% of Canadians, including 64% of Conservatives, believe Canada should take a “soft” approach, making tough concessions to maintain a good relationship.
The survey was conducted online February 20–23, 2026, among 1,650 Canadian adults.
Forced Sterilization Still Occurs, Says Survivor
Katy Bear from Saskatchewan says that in 2005, when she was 21, she underwent a tubal ligation in a Saskatoon hospital just hours after giving birth to her fourth child.
Bear claims medical staff first recommended the procedure as contraception, and when she refused, a staff member allegedly told her that Child Protective Services would take her other children if she didn’t consent.
The Circle of Survivors for Reproductive Justice estimates between 12,000 and 15,000 people have been sterilized in Canada without proper consent, some as recently as last year.
Bill S-228 would amend the Criminal Code to include forced or coerced sterilization procedures as aggravated assault punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The bill passed the Senate last fall and is set for its first real debate in the House of Commons Thursday.
Justice Department Reviews Epstein Files
The U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday it is reviewing whether it improperly withheld documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files after media outlets reported that some files involving unsubstantiated accusations by a woman against President Donald Trump were not among those released.
Several media outlets reported that the released files did not include several interview summaries from the FBI with an unidentified woman who claimed she was sexually assaulted by Trump and Epstein as a minor in the 1980s.
The Justice Department said that if a document is found to have been improperly withheld, it will be released.
Coffee Roaster Brings Production Back to Quebec
Café William, which has operated in the province for nearly 40 years, is moving its operations back to Sherbrooke. This marks a reversal of a strategy adopted last year to survive the trade war.
Two Die in Head-On Collision in Lanaudière
Two people lost their lives Wednesday after a head-on collision between two vehicles in Crabtree, Lanaudière. The accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Route 158.
A driver lost control, went onto the shoulder, and veered into the opposite lane, crashing into an oncoming vehicle.
Both occupants of the veering vehicle were taken to hospital and declared dead. The other driver was hospitalized with minor injuries.
Slippery roads may have been a factor.
Quebec Liberals Gain Ground After Milliard’s Appointment
A new poll shows Quebec Liberals are seeing increased support just days after naming Charles Milliard as leader.
No Early Election in Quebec
The two candidates vying to replace Premier François Legault as head of the Coalition Avenir Québec say they will not call an early election this spring, ending speculation.
Innu Chief Condemns Wildlife Officers’ Intervention
An Innu community in Quebec’s Lower North Shore is shaken after wildlife officers surrounded and attempted to enter a cabin in Ekuanitshit Monday night, injuring an elderly woman in the process. The officers were searching for a caribou carcass.
McGill President Warns Against Isolation
The backlash following complaints by the Coalition Avenir Québec government about English-speaking university students coming to Quebec should serve as a warning, said McGill President Deep Saini Wednesday.
Sixth Complainant Continues Testimony in Stronach Trial
The sixth of seven complainants in Frank Stronach’s sexual assault trial was set to continue testimony Thursday after an emotional first day on the stand Wednesday. Her testimony was punctuated by tears and pauses to compose herself.
The woman told the court she became a “social recluse” after Stronach assaulted her in 1986. Stronach has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges stemming from alleged incidents dating back to the 1970s.
On Wednesday, prosecutors withdrew a kidnapping charge related to the complainant on the stand.
🏙️ Local Stories
Shooting in LaSalle: Man in Critical Condition
A man in his twenties was in critical condition Thursday after being shot Wednesday night in the LaSalle borough. Around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday, witnesses reported hearing a gunshot near Broadway Street and 7th Avenue.
Police found the man unconscious on the ground with a gunshot wound to the upper body. He was taken to hospital, where he was still fighting for his life Thursday morning.
The victim’s identity was unknown to police several hours after the incident. The suspect(s) fled before police arrived, so no arrests were made immediately.
A security perimeter was set up around the crime scene.
Metro Assaults Up 15%
Montreal police say there were 726 cases of assault in the city’s metro network in 2025, up from 631 in 2024 and 652 in 2023. A worrying trend that deserves attention.
Fifth STM Maintenance Workers’ Strike Avoided
Montrealers were spared, at least temporarily, from having to navigate a fifth strike by maintenance workers at the Société de transport de Montréal. Meetings are scheduled with a conciliator.
Empress Theatre Will Be Largely Demolished
After yesterday’s discussions, the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough says it finally has a solution for the historic Empress Theatre, which has been abandoned for three decades.
After years of considering proposals ranging from art and commerce to social and luxury housing, the City’s plan is to demolish it to create a new open-air cultural space.
Students Reflect on Bullying During Pink Shirt Day
February 25 is Pink Shirt Day in Canada, and events are organized across the country to fight bullying. Students at Willingdon Elementary wrote kind messages on paper pink shirts displayed on a poster to mark the day.
💛 Spotlight
Students at Willingdon Elementary who took the time to write kind messages on paper pink shirts for Pink Shirt Day, showing that kindness starts with small gestures.
🌡️ Practical Corner
Roller-Coaster Weather Ahead
Thursday will be windy and cold, with morning snow showers tapering off by noon before skies remain mostly cloudy. West winds at 20 km/h with gusts up to 40 km/h will keep the wind chill biting. Although the daytime high will reach minus 4°C, it will feel like minus 15°C this morning and minus 10°C this afternoon.
Friday will remain mostly cloudy with a 40% chance of snow showers and a high of minus 1°C.
Saturday continues the unstable trend with cloudy skies and a 60% chance of showers. Temperatures will climb well above freezing to a high of 9°C—a sharp contrast to the deep freeze earlier in the week. However, the respite will be brief. Snow showers are possible Saturday night as temperatures drop to minus 11°C.
The sun returns Sunday as skies clear, but colder air moves back in. The high will only reach minus 8°C, with a frigid low of minus 17°C overnight.
Keep your coat handy—the weather is playing yo-yo.
👋 Before We Go
That’s it for this Thursday morning. Between the medical breakthrough that makes us proud, the challenges affecting our safety and mobility, and the small acts of kindness that make all the difference, there’s plenty to reflect on over your coffee.
Take care, stay vigilant and supportive, and have a great day, Montréal. 🍁
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