MTLQC – Montreal QC
Montréal QC ☕ Morning Chat
Good morning, Montréal.
Good morning, Montréal. We hope your coffee is nice and hot this Friday, because we’ve got a packed edition for you today.
Between the official arrival of spring bringing us… snow (yes, you read that right), an important decision in the junior hockey world, and a few political developments worth your attention, there’s plenty to take in.
Take a sip, and let’s dive in.
🔦 Top Story
Spring arrives with snow and slippery roads in Montréal
The first day of spring is looking a lot more like mid‑winter in Montréal, with a burst of snow expected to create difficult travel conditions across the region today.
Clouds will thicken through the morning before snow begins around noon, with about 5 centimetres expected in the city and up to 10 centimetres in surrounding areas. At times, snowfall rates could reach 2 centimetres per hour, reducing visibility and quickly covering roads.
The system will sweep from west to east during the afternoon, making the drive home tricky. Winds will shift to the northeast at around 20 km/h, with a high of –2 °C and a wind chill near –9 °C.
Snow will taper off this evening, with a chance of flurries early tonight before partial clearing overnight. Temperatures will drop to –5 °C, with a wind chill near –11 °C.
A brief taste of spring returns Saturday with clearing skies and a high of +4 °C, but the break will be short‑lived. Snow is expected to develop again Saturday night, followed by flurries Sunday and steady snow into Monday.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the greater Montréal area, warning of heavy snowfall Friday. Snowfall rates of up to 2 centimetres per hour are possible between noon and 5 p.m., with reduced visibility.
The advisory covers much of the region, including the Outaouais, Montréal, Montérégie, Laurentians and Eastern Townships. Snowfall amounts will range from 5 to 10 centimetres, making some roads snowy and slippery.
⚡ What You Should Know
François Legault will remain an MNA until the next election.
François Legault says he intends to finish his term as MNA for L’Assomption after handing over leadership of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) to his successor on April 12.
“For him, it’s above all a question of responsibility toward his citizens: he didn’t want the people of L’Assomption to be left without an MNA mid‑mandate. He also sees this period as a way to close out his political career,” the premier’s office said in a written statement.
“He intends to stay active in his riding, meet with residents, and true to his priorities, use this role to promote and support businesses in L’Assomption.” The two leadership candidates are Christine Fréchette and Bernard Drainville. The next CAQ leader will automatically become premier of Québec.
New trial ordered in sexual assault case involving former Quebec junior hockey player.
The Quebec Court of Appeal has ordered a new trial in a sexual assault case involving former junior hockey player Noah Corson.
The victim, a 15‑year‑old girl, was allegedly assaulted in 2016 in Drummondville during group sexual activity involving Corson and two other minors. A Quebec Court judge had found Corson who is now 28, guilty, ruling that he had not taken reasonable steps to verify the victim’s age.
In a decision released Thursday, the province’s highest court overturned the February 2024 conviction, finding that the judge failed to consider evidence and testimony supporting Corson’s defence that he honestly, though mistakenly, believed the victim was his age.
Corson, son of former NHL player Shayne Corson, was 18 at the time and played for the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL. In May 2025, he was sentenced to two years less a day in jail, but had already appealed the verdict.
Child critically injured in two‑vehicle collision in Mauricie.
A child was in critical condition Thursday evening after being involved in a two‑vehicle collision in Sainte‑Thècle, in the Mauricie region.
Police were called around 6:30 p.m. to a crash on Route 153, also known as Chemin Saint‑Georges. Early information suggests a southbound driver lost control in a curve and collided with an oncoming vehicle.
The driver who skidded was taken to hospital with minor injuries. A young child in the same vehicle was critically injured, and police feared for the child’s life Thursday night.
The other driver suffered minor, non‑life‑threatening injuries. Slippery road conditions may have contributed to the crash.
New agreement clarifies patient registration by nurse practitioners.
Santé Québec must now sign agreements with each family medicine group (GMF) to allow nurse practitioners (NPs) to register patients under their own name—something previously reserved for physicians.
A March 16 agreement between the FIQ and the Ministry of Health clarifies and regulates the role of NPs within GMFs. Most primary‑care NPs already work in these clinics.
Depending on case complexity, NPs could register between 700,000 and 1.4 million patients. Many patients are already followed by NPs but remain officially registered under a doctor.
The agreement states that Santé Québec has the authority to intervene if a GMF refuses to allow NPs to register patients.
Health and emotional well‑being among Canadians has declined over the past decade, according to StatCan.
The share of Canadian adults reporting very good to excellent health has dropped by 13 percentage points between 2015 and 2024, according to a Statistics Canada report released Monday.
Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey shows that 69% of adults described their health as very good to excellent in 2015, compared with just 56% in 2024.
According to the survey, two key dimensions of the Health Status Index account for much of this decline. Leading the drop is emotional well‑being, which fell by 17 percentage points. The proportion of adults reporting no difficulties dropped from 78.3% in 2015 to 61.2% in 2024.
Judge bans two Quebec men accused of fathering hundreds of children from donating sperm.
Two Quebec men accused of fathering hundreds of children have been prohibited from donating sperm in the province while a court case against them proceeds.
Experts say Canada cannot avoid engaging with the U.S. as Trump shakes NATO.
U.S. President Donald Trump is widening the rift between the United States and European NATO members with his calls for allies to help him finish the war he initiated with Iran.
On Thursday, Canada joined the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan in issuing a joint statement on Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The countries expressed their “willingness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the strait.”
Experts note that given the length of the Canada–U.S. border, the vast shared geography and the population imbalance between the two countries, it is unrealistic to think Canada could decouple its defence from that of the United States.
🏙️ Local Stories
Canadiens fall 3–1 to the Detroit Red Wings.
Alex DeBrincat scored the game‑winner with 3:25 left and assisted on Detroit’s two other goals, lifting the Red Wings to a 3–1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.
DeBrincat scored the decisive goal on a backhand after stripping the puck from defenceman Mike Matheson in the Canadiens’ zone. J.T. Compher scored earlier in the period, and Andrew Copp added an empty‑netter with 16.8 seconds remaining.
John Gibson made 32 saves for Detroit, which earned its second straight win and pulled even with Montreal in the Atlantic Division standings.
Juraj Slafkovsky scored Montreal’s lone goal on the power play in the second period. Cole Caufield picked up an assist, and Jakub Dobes made 25 saves.
Montreal (37‑21‑10) hosts the New York Islanders on Saturday.
Man may face fraud charges after disruptions at Montréal‑Trudeau Airport.
Quebec provincial police say a man arrested at Montréal‑Trudeau International Airport may face fraud charges after an incident that caused flight delays on Wednesday.
Cancellation of specialized Montréal camp leaves families scrambling.
Montréal families say the cancellation of a specialized summer camp for children with disabilities has left them scrambling, with no alternative options in place.
Montréal’s SAT Fest showcases 52 immersive films.
The annual SAT Fest immersive film festival will feature 52 short films inside the SAT’s 360‑degree Satosphere dome. Filmmakers from 14 countries created works specifically for the full‑dome experience.
The 15th edition kicks off Tuesday, March 24, with a 5 p.m. cocktail for festival pass holders and two opening films starting at 6:30 p.m. Most screenings run from March 25 to 27.
SAT Fest wraps up March 28 with its first‑ever family program, Petite SAT (40‑minute screenings at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.) followed by an awards ceremony and closing party.
After the festival, Montréal audiences can catch a compilation of award‑winning films from March 31 to April 29.
Ecomuseum Zoo’s black bear finally wakes from hibernation
Animal care staff at Montréal’s Ecomuseum Zoo usually predict the day Genie the black bear will wake from hibernation based on her activity. But they didn’t expect the strong winds on March 17 to make her hit the snooze button.
Deportation order threatens to separate a Montréal family.
An Indian man whose wife is a recognized refugee in Canada is facing deportation along with the couple’s five‑year‑old son, in what lawyers say is a troubling new practice of separating families with protected status.
🏘️ South Shore
$1.9‑million lawsuit filed against Longueuil and its police.
The mothers of minors who witnessed the police shooting of a teenager in Longueuil have filed a $1.9‑million civil lawsuit against the city and several officers. They say their children were traumatized by the incident.
The lawsuit stems from a September 2025 police intervention in which officers fatally shot a teenager. The claim seeks compensation for the psychological and emotional harm suffered by the young witnesses.
❄️ Practical Corner
Prepare for snow and slippery roads Friday.
A special weather statement is in effect for the greater Montréal area, with heavy snowfall expected Friday. Environment Canada says snowfall rates of up to 2 centimetres per hour are possible between noon and 5 p.m., with reduced visibility.
The advisory covers the Outaouais, Montréal, Montérégie, Laurentians and Eastern Townships. Between 5 and 10 centimetres of snow is expected, making many roads snowy and slippery. Drivers are urged to monitor road conditions.
The system will sweep from west to east this afternoon, making the commute home difficult. Winds will shift to the northeast at around 20 km/h, with a high of –2 °C and a wind chill near –9 °C.
Snow will taper off this evening, with a chance of flurries early tonight.
A brief break Saturday, then snow returns.
A short taste of spring arrives Saturday with clearing skies and a high of +4 °C. But the break will be short‑lived.
Snow is expected to develop again Saturday night, followed by flurries Sunday and steady snow into Monday. Plan your weekend travel accordingly.
👋 Before We Go
That’s it for this Friday, the first official day of spring, even if winter refuses to let go. Between the snow arriving this afternoon, key developments in sports and politics, and stories affecting our community, you’re now up to speed on what’s happening across the region.
Stay safe on the roads this afternoon, dress warmly despite the calendar, and have a great weekend, Montréal.