MTLQC – Montreal QC
Montréal QC ☕ Morning Chat
Good morning, Montréal.
We hope you’re staying warm with your coffee this Wednesday morning, because the forecasted ice storm has definitely arrived.
If you’re reading this, you probably made the wise choice to stay home. Rest assured, you absolutely made the right call.
Between widespread closures, a few concerning incidents, and some major political developments, we’ve got a special edition for you today.
Take a big sip and let’s dive into the news on this icy day.
🔦 Main Story
Ice storm hits Montréal, widespread closures in effect
The long‑feared ice storm arrived Wednesday morning, bringing dangerous conditions, widespread shutdowns, and the potential for significant ice accumulation across southern Quebec. Environment Canada officials warn the system could bring 20 to 30 millimetres of freezing rain, with the event expected to last up to 24 hours from Wednesday into Thursday morning.
The storm is expected to affect Greater Montréal, Montérégie, Outaouais, the Laurentians, Lanaudière, Mauricie, Centre‑du‑Québec, and the Quebec City region. Authorities say heavy ice buildup could paralyze some services, disrupt transportation, and lead to prolonged power outages as ice accumulates on trees and power lines.
Roads and sidewalks are expected to become extremely slippery, and residents are urged to avoid non‑essential travel. Freezing rain is falling across the Montréal area Wednesday, with northeast winds of 30 km/h gusting to 50 and temperatures hovering near –1°C.
Freezing rain is expected to turn to rain this evening as winds shift and strengthen overnight. Gusts could reach 80 km/h before Thursday morning as temperatures rise to around 5°C. Unsettled weather will continue Thursday as the system moves through.
Nearly all school boards and service centres in the Montréal region announced they would be closed Wednesday, including the English Montreal School Board, Lester B. Pearson School Board, Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board, Centre de services scolaire Marguerite‑Bourgeoys, Centre de services scolaire de Montréal, and Centre de services scolaire de Laval, among others.
Closed universities include Concordia University, McGill University, Université de Montréal, HEC Montréal, and Polytechnique Montréal. Closed cégeps include Dawson College, John Abbott College, Vanier College, Marianopolis College, Cégep Ahuntsic, Cégep Bois‑de‑Boulogne, Cégep Rosemont, and Cégep du Vieux Montréal, among others.
Dozens of flights scheduled to depart or arrive Wednesday morning at Montréal‑Trudeau Airport were cancelled or delayed. The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec has warned drivers to postpone non‑essential travel in the coming days.
⚡ Noteworthy
NDP MP crosses the floor to join the Liberals, bringing Carney closer to a majority
The NDP says Nunavut MP Lori Idlout has crossed the floor to join the Liberals, bringing Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government closer to a majority. Idlout’s move follows three Conservative defections to the Liberals in recent months.
Interim NDP Leader Don Davies issued a statement Tuesday night saying the caucus is “very disappointed” that Idlout chose to join the Liberals. He said the NDP’s position is that if an MP wants to switch parties, they should resign their seat and run again under their new banner so voters can decide.
This latest defection could help give the Carney government a majority, as the Liberals now need to win two of the three April 13 by‑elections to secure a narrow majority.
Idlout has represented Nunavut in the House of Commons since 2021 and had just appeared at NDP leadership candidate Avi Lewis’s campaign event in Ottawa last Thursday.
Canadian Cancer Society urges lowering colorectal cancer screening age to 45
The Canadian Cancer Society is calling on provinces and territories to lower the colorectal cancer screening age to 45. It says people under 50 are now two to 2.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer than previous generations.
Brandon Purcell, advocacy manager for prevention and early detection at the Canadian Cancer Society, said the rise is very concerning and it’s time for governments to act so more cancers can be caught early.
Routine screening currently offers a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) to people aged 50 and older, who collect a stool sample at home and send it to a lab. The society says offering FIT to people 45 and older would allow earlier detection, when survival rates can reach 90%.
A recent modelling study published March 7 estimated that starting at‑home testing at age 45 could potentially prevent 15,070 colorectal cancer cases and 6,100 deaths over the next 45 years.
Gun‑control groups frustrated by lack of information on Tumbler Ridge shooting weapons
Five gun‑control advocacy groups told the RCMP they are “alarmed and disappointed” that the force has not yet released basic information about the models and legal status of the firearms used in the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting in British Columbia. The RCMP says the information is part of an active investigation and it is unclear when details will be available.
In a letter sent Tuesday to RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, the groups say there is “no discernible reason” not to release the information immediately, arguing it could help improve public safety and prevent future shootings.
The letter is signed by Heidi Rathjen of PolySeSouvient, with support from Angie’s Angels, Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns, Danforth Families for Safe Communities, and the Quebec Mosque.
MPs vote on bill to close U.S. loophole in Canadian arms‑export rules
MPs will vote Wednesday afternoon on whether to advance a bill that would close a loophole in Canada’s arms‑export regime that allows Washington to send Canadian weapons to countries that would otherwise be blocked. NDP MP Jenny Kwan introduced the private member’s bill last September after Washington attempted to purchase Canadian weapons for Israel despite Canada’s ban on exporting certain weapons to that country.
Bill C‑233 is scheduled for a second‑reading vote after Wednesday’s Question Period. If it passes, it will be sent to committee for study. Liberal MP Salma Zahid broke ranks by rejecting most of her party’s arguments.
Kwan says she believes “9 to 16” Liberal MPs support the bill and hopes the party will not impose a whipped vote.
Support for Quebec sovereignty hits lowest point since 1995
A new Léger poll shows a strong majority of Quebecers oppose Quebec sovereignty. Support for independence is at its lowest level since the 1995 referendum.
There is currently a 42‑point gap between those who support sovereignty (29%) and those who oppose it (71%). A previous SOM poll found that only 3% of Quebecers consider sovereignty one of their top priorities.
A large majority of Quebecers (86%) say they are proud to be Canadian.
BEI submits report to prosecutors on the death of Nooran Rezayi
The Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes has submitted its report to the DPCP, which will decide whether charges will be laid against the officer who shot the teenager.
Station10 hair salon will appeal its ruling
Station10 hair salon has reversed course and will appeal its $500 fine related to its gender‑neutral haircut policy.
Canadian Transportation Agency complaint backlog reaches 95,000
Airlines are “abusing” the system, an expert says. The CTA backlog now sits at 95,000 complaints, with wait times reaching two to three years.
Price accuracy policy still poorly applied in grocery stores
In Quebec, when a scanned price doesn’t match the displayed price, retailers must compensate the customer. The price accuracy policy is still poorly applied in grocery stores.
Access to Information Commission facing investigations
The commission’s president and a vice‑president are under scrutiny for their management of staff.
Cyclist in critical condition after collision with SUV in Prévost
A cyclist is in critical condition after a collision with an SUV Tuesday evening in Prévost, in the Laurentians. The crash happened early in the evening at the intersection of Route 117 and Rue de la Station.
Police say the cyclist, a man from Saint‑Hippolyte, may have entered the intersection while the light was green for the SUV. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries and remains in critical condition.
The SUV driver was not injured.
Lawyer for woman who accused Cardinal Ouellet says she did not defame him
A lawyer for the woman who accused Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet of sexual misconduct told a Montréal courtroom that she did not defame the high‑ranking cleric.
🏙️ Local Stories
Man injured after partial brick‑wall collapse onto car in Westmount
A man suffered minor injuries after part of a brick wall collapsed onto his car Tuesday afternoon in Westmount. Paramedics were called around 1:40 p.m. to the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Sherbrooke Street West, where a section of a residential building’s brick wall had fallen.
The bricks crashed onto the roof of a vehicle, crushing part of it while the driver was still inside. First responders treated the 58‑year‑old man at the scene before transporting him to hospital. Paramedics say his injuries are minor and his life is not in danger.
The bricks fell from a residential building in Westmount Tuesday afternoon, striking two parked vehicles and injuring a man in one of them.
Police investigating after man found dead in Rosemont–La Petite‑Patrie apartment
Montréal police are investigating after a man was found dead inside an apartment building Tuesday night in Rosemont–La Petite‑Patrie. Officers were called to the building on Masson Street near 4th Avenue around 10 p.m. after a 911 call reported an incident.
According to the SPVM, responding officers found an unresponsive man inside the apartment. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the cause and circumstances of the death are not yet known, and the man’s identity has not been confirmed.
A security perimeter was set up around the building while investigators and forensic technicians examined the scene. Montréal police have launched an investigation following the discovery of the body Tuesday night.
Lawyer for man accused of murder says his client did not intend to kill Montréal teen
The lawyer for one of the men accused in the drive‑by shooting that killed a 15‑year‑old girl in Montréal told a jury that his client should be found guilty of manslaughter, not murder.
Mobilité Infra Québec still not in charge of the East End transit project
Despite saying it is ready to take over the file, Mobilité Infra Québec is still waiting for the provincial government to give the green light on the Projet structurant de l’Est.
Growing concerns in Montréal’s Lebanese community over Middle East conflict
Recent hostilities have some Lebanese Montrealers fearing the possibility of civil war and wondering when the conflicts there — and in the surrounding region — will finally end.
Canadiens beat Maple Leafs 3–1, hand Toronto eighth straight loss
Oliver Kapanen scored his 20th of the season as the Montréal Canadiens held on for a 3–1 win, handing the Toronto Maple Leafs their eighth straight loss Tuesday night. Phillip Danault also scored, while Jake Evans added an empty‑netter for Montréal (35‑18‑10). Jakub Dobes made 17 saves.
William Nylander replied for struggling Toronto (27‑27‑11), which is on track to miss the playoffs after nine straight appearances. Joseph Woll stopped 30 shots. The Leafs entered the night 11 points out of a playoff spot and 13 points behind the Canadiens, who held the second wild‑card position in the Eastern Conference.
Forward Cole Caufield spent much of the second and third periods on the bench, but Montréal still managed to keep Toronto at bay in the 3–1 win at the Bell Centre.
💛 Spotlight
Schools, universities, and cégeps across the Montréal region that made the responsible decision to cancel classes Wednesday to protect students and staff amid potentially dangerous weather conditions.
⚠️ Practical Tips
Stay home today if you can
It’s time to put all those Monday and Tuesday safety tips into practice. Freezing rain is currently falling across Montréal, with northeast winds of 30 km/h gusting to 50. Roads and sidewalks are extremely slippery.
If you absolutely must go out, use extreme caution while walking or driving. The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec has urged drivers to postpone non‑essential travel.
Check your flight before heading to the airport
Dozens of flights scheduled to depart or arrive Wednesday morning at Montréal‑Trudeau Airport have been cancelled or delayed. Check your flight status and allow extra time if you must travel.
Prepare for possible power outages
Authorities warn that heavy ice accumulation could lead to prolonged power outages as ice builds up on trees and power lines. Make sure you have flashlights, candles, and charged batteries on hand.
The storm will continue into Thursday morning
Freezing rain is expected to turn to rain this evening, but winds will strengthen overnight, with gusts potentially reaching 80 km/h before Thursday morning. Unsettled weather will continue Thursday. Stay tuned to weather updates.
👋 To wrap up
That’s it for this icy Wednesday. Between the ice storm paralyzing the region, political developments bringing Carney closer to a majority, and several local incidents reminding us to stay alert, you’ve got everything you need to stay informed today.
Stay warm, stay safe, and remember… this storm will pass.
Take care of yourselves and your loved ones, Montréal. ☕