MontrealNewsQuebec’s music industry under stress as it scrambles to comply with new language lawBy Maria Sarrouh and Erika MorrisPublished: May 02, 2025 at 6:32PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved | CBC.ca LoadedHow do the calls for a sovereign Alberta compare to Quebec's sovereignty movement 15 hours agoDuration 9:02How do the calls for a sovereign Alberta compare to Quebec's sovereignty movement?15 hours agoNewsDuration 9:02Separatist movements advocating for sovereignty are not new in the West. A professor and author of a book on Quebec's 1995 referendum discusses the similarities and differences between the two movements. Here’s how the automatic recount will work for Terra Nova-The Peninsulas1 hour agoVideo2:16 Video evidence, NHLer testimony raise questions in world junior sexual assault trialThe National |May 2Video4:45 Trump repeats 51st state taunt as Carney prepares for White House visitThe National |May 5Video11:28 It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem MontrealNewsQuebec Liberal leadership race: Rizqy, Kelley back Pablo RodriguezBy The Canadian PressPublished: May 05, 2025 at 12:19PM EDT MontrealNewsNew civility rules for Quebec schoolsBy Denise RobertsPublished: May 02, 2025 at 6:32PM EDT The Lion Electric Company's lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility in Mirabel The assembly floor at Lion Electric Company's lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility is shown in Mirabel MONTREAL - The Quebec government says it is rethinking the pace of its plan to electrify the transportation sector and will not pump any more public money into vehicle maker Lion Electric Economy Minister Christine Fréchette told reporters in Quebec City on Thursday that the government had to make a "difficult decision" about whether to invest more government dollars in the beleaguered company which manufactured electric school buses and trucks She said the governing Coalition Avenir Québec had received a proposal from a group of buyers interested in Lion Electric which sought creditor protection in December amid financial struggles News reports this week said the group was seeking government aid of about $24 million to relaunch the company "It would have been irresponsible to go ahead with another significant injection of public funds into Lion based on the plan that was presented to us," the minister said "I would have expected the private sector to be more involved." Lion Electric was once a star player in Quebec's aspirations to be a leader in electric vehicles Premier François Legault suggested the government's agenda may be shifting given the political reality south of the border "We see that the situation has changed in the United States with the arrival of (President Donald) Trump," he said "I continue to think that in the medium and long term we need to electrify both our transportation and our entire economy we have a neighbour who isn't making this a priority." Fréchette first made the announcement about Lion Electric Wednesday evening on social media saying the government believed in Lion's potential and it was difficult to decide not to support "a local company that offered an innovative product that contributed to the energy transition." Quebec has already invested heavily in the St-Jérôme-based company Premier François Legault told reporters the province stands to lose about $140 million on its bet on Lion Electric The decision appears to jeopardize the company's hopes of restructuring It has been seeking a buyer since December with a restructuring plan that would focus only on school buses and return all manufacturing to Quebec The company shut down production at a plant in Illinois last year after undergoing several rounds of layoffs It has said its remaining staff are focused on servicing school buses and trucks already on the road Lion Electric was expected to present the bid from the group of buyers to Quebec Superior Court on Monday Its court-appointed monitor has said it has also received offers from companies interested in liquidating the electric-vehicle maker A spokesperson for Lion did not respond to a request for comment The government's decision has been met with "panic" by Quebec school-bus operators president of the Quebec federation of bus operators The companies relied on Lion Electric to fulfil a government requirement that all new school buses be electric There are about 1,175 Lion school buses on the road in Quebec currently Quebec has said it wants 65 per cent of its school buses to be electric by 2030 The province offered subsidies to help operators afford the higher cost of electric buses but that program expired in March and has yet to be renewed as Lion Electric's search for buyers played out the obligation to buy electric buses remains which Lafrance said presents a "major dilemma" for operators who will have trouble renewing their fleets Environment Minister Benoit Charette said the government is "evaluating the entire electrification file," including school buses "We have a market that has changed considerably Legault also suggested changes may be coming raising doubts about the "speed" of the current electrification program a physics professor at the Université de Montréal and scientific director of an energy institute at the university said Quebec shouldn't back away from its targets just because of Trump He pointed out that there are still large markets for electric vehicles in the U.S. he said Quebec's subsidy program for school buses was poorly designed and did little to bring down the high cost of electric buses "So what we find ourselves with today is significant expenditures that have not delivered that much," he said Lafrance said the government will also have to come up with a solution for servicing the existing Lion Electric buses if the company goes under Legault suggested the province could turn to rival companies to provide maintenance This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1 The Atlantic News Today newsletter keeps you updated on the latest stories from Eastern Canada  Top News Today newsletter delivers the day's essential stories from the Maritimes and top national headlines directly to your inbox every day of the week Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she would hold a referendum on provincial sepa… British Columbia MLA Mable Elmore gave a speech in the legislature on her first da… The Canadian Press is a member of the International Fact-Checking Network Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: says the court-appointed monitor for the electric-vehicle maker.Premier says province stands to lose about $140M on the companyThe Canadian Press · Posted: May 05 2025 3:13 PM EDT | Last Updated: May 5The chassis of a Lion C electric school bus is assembled at the Lion Electric Company assembly plant in St-Jérôme (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)Social SharingLion Electric will very likely be liquidated following the Quebec government's refusal to invest more public funds in the company says the court-appointed monitor for the electric-vehicle maker said in a Superior Court hearing on Monday that government aid would have been a condition of any sale of the struggling company it's unlikely any buyer will step forward with a plan to relaunch the St-Jérôme which sought protection from its creditors in December "The likelihood of a liquidation of assets is very high," he said Nadon said the government's recent announcement that it would not inject any more public money into Lion Electric was a "shock wave" for the company News reports last week said a group of buyers was seeking $24 million from the province to relaunch the electric-vehicle maker Nadon said there was "no indication" before the government's decision that the buyers would be unable to secure that funding But Quebec Economy Minister Christine Fréchette announced Wednesday evening in a statement on social media that it would be irresponsible to offer Lion more public money She later told reporters she "would have expected the private sector to be more involved." Premier François Legault invoked the return of U.S President Donald Trump when asked about Lion Electric last week He suggested Quebec may need to relax its targets for electrifying transportation "isn't making this a priority." Quebec has already invested heavily in Lion Electric and Legault said the province stands to lose about $140 million on the company Nadon said he believes the government made its decision because of the "socio-political situation" with the U.S. which he said "limits the expansion of Lion's business plan" and created "extremely significant risks" for the company's outlook Deloitte began contacting liquidators and auctioneers who had previously been interested in selling off Lion Electric's assets They were asked to submit offers over the weekend and Nadon said he hopes to have a deal to present to the court next Monday Nadon said Lion laid off all but 12 of its employees after the government announced its decision last week He said the company is still able to pay its remaining staff but it was unable to pay rent for all of its locations on May 1 Lion Electric manufactured electric school buses and trucks and currently has about 1,175 school buses on the road in Quebec But the company went through several rounds of layoffs last year and shut down production at a plant in Illinois before entering creditor protection in December A proposed class-action lawsuit filed by Lion Electric shareholders against the company's directors and officers which claims they misled investors and misrepresented the company's financial health President Donald Trump is planning to put a '100% tariff' on movies produced outside of America Erica Natividad with how this may impact Canada's closely tied industry The family of an Ontario man who died in a correctional facility in 2016 is calling out the provincial government for failing to act on recommendations made in an inquest into his death an Anishinaabe (Algonquin) community member during a rally Monday at Montreal's Cabot Square to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls preparing for a first meeting with the U.S and some say simply getting America to agree to a framework for negotiations going forward is the goal President Donald Trump is planning to put a ‘100% tariff’ on movies produced outside of America Erica Natividad with how this may impact Canada’s closely tied industry and we need it now,” said Naomee James during a rally Monday at Montreal’s Cabot Square to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls The Quebec Liberal party held its only English-language leadership debate on Sunday at John Abbott College in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue “Entirely unfair both to the unhoused persons and to the STM,” said David Chapman of Resilience Montreal as the STM lifts its temporary loitering ban in Montreal’s metro system 11 high school lacrosse players in New York have been charged over an alleged hazing incident involving five younger teammates Laura Aguierre looks at the disturbing allegations and the role the suspects’ ages might play in what happens next and get up-to-the-minute breaking-news alerts weather and video from CityNews anywhere you are – across all Android and iOS devices Quebec offers students the chance to learn both English and French this bilingualism also provides a distinctive advantage in the global education market This article explores how institutions like the Lester B Pearson School Board are adapting to these changes and highlights key strategies for success Quebec’s bilingual nature often makes it a secondary choice for international students who may prefer English-only environments the opportunity to learn both languages can be a significant draw for students seeking to enhance their global competencies the field of international education has undergone significant changes Adapting to new requirements: a strategic advantage The introduction of PALs and the revised financial requirements had a minimal impact on the Lester B Pearson School Board (LBPSB) due to Quebec’s existing Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) process The CAQ process already required higher financial proof than the new federal standards This continuity ensured that our processes and requirements remained stable providing a smoother transition for international students programs eligible for post-graduation work permits (PGWP) were a major selling point maintaining healthy student intake levels with minimal marketing effort The message is no longer solely about the PGWP; it is about acquiring a skillset that can be exercised globally continues to be a prime study destination due to its quality of education and availability of a wide range of outdoor activities and hobbies Montreal was always part of our marketing plan it is crucial to keep our messaging and name intact Pearson School Board emphasizes stability and a long-term commitment to international education Quebec offers an exceptional option for students to benefit from its established quality education system Students study in state-of-the-art facilities This experience is not only about receiving a quality education but also about personal growth The education and personal development gained here are invaluable and transferable anywhere in the world While the housing crisis in Quebec is not as severe as in other parts of Canada The lack of housing has been cited as a key reason for limiting the number of international students in Canada yet this approach overlooks a crucial fact: many international students especially those in vocational programs like Lester B are essential to addressing the very housing shortage they’re being blamed for These students are training to become carpenters and other skilled tradespeople—professions desperately needed to build more homes across the country.To ensure accessibility to safe and affordable housing for international vocational students Pearson School Board has partnered with 4Stay to offer a dormitory experience on campus for adult vocational students This is a one-of-a-kind offering in Canada and student life programming to ease their transition to life in Montreal.About 4Stay 4Stay was founded by international students who experienced firsthand the challenges of finding student housing when they arrived in the United States for their education 4Stay is driven by the mission to create a world where everyone has a “home away from home.” The company connects students and interns with local hosts offering both short-term and long-term housing solutions 4Stay works with educators and administrators to craft bespoke housing programs tailored to the institution’s unique needs Recognizing that every institution has their own set of unique interests 4stay has a suite of services and strategies to source student housing options and manage them.By providing affordable homes 4Stay helps students find a supportive community that eases their transition to life in a foreign country The company’s vision and values resonate deeply with the Lester B making it an ideal partner to manage our student residence and enhance the student experience.Building a supportive community The partnership between LBPSB and 4Stay allows students to access residence options either as a short-term landing pad (up to three months) or as a long-term accommodation solution throughout their entire program This initiative helps build a community of students who can support each other through the challenges of settling in a new country Pearson School Board ensures that international students have a safe and welcoming environment contributing to their overall success and well-being.  Adapting to the ever-changing world of international education requires innovative strategies and a commitment to providing comprehensive support for students By leveraging Quebec’s bilingual advantage and addressing housing needs through partnerships like 4Stay public institutions in Quebec can continue to thrive in the global education market These efforts not only attract international students but also ensure they have the resources and community support needed to succeed in their academic and personal endeavors is the director of international programs at the Lester B With over two decades of experience in education she oversees the recruitment and support of international students ensuring they receive high-quality education and a welcoming environment Her strategic vision and expertise have positioned LBPSB as a top choice for students worldwide About The PIE News Regions Here’s how the automatic recount will work for Terra Nova-The Peninsulas1 hour agoVideo20:16 The Breakdown | Supplying Canada’s military + Duty Free tariff fearsThe Breakdown - Full Show |1 hour agoVideo2:01 Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter, First Up, soon. Quebec Conservative Leader Eric Duhaime waves to supporters at a rally where he announced he will be candidate in the Arthabaska riding byelection on Sunday, May 4, 2025 in Victoriaville, Quebec. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot VICTORIAVILLE - The leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec has formally announced his intention to seek a seat in the legislature by running in the riding of Arthabaska when a byelection is eventually called. VICTORIAVILLE - The leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec has formally announced his intention to seek a seat in the legislature by running in the riding of Arthabaska when a byelection is eventually called. Eric Duhaime made the announcement during a speech on Sunday afternoon.  The Arthabaska riding in central Quebec has been vacant since the March resignation of Éric Lefebvre, an Independent who had previously left the governing Coalition Avenir Québec to run in the recent federal election. He won the riding of Richmond-Arthabaska for the Conservatives, one of 11 seats the party claimed in the province. Duhaime’s Conservatives did not win any seats in the 2022 provincial campaign despite the party capturing more than 530,000 votes and growing their share of the popular vote to nearly 13 per cent. Duhaime lost his own attempt to capture the Quebec City area riding of Chauveau in 2022, finishing second to Coalition Avenir Québec. Poll aggregator Qc125 predicts a very close three-way race in Arthabaska between the Coalition Avenir Québec, Parti Québécois, and Duhaime’s party. Premier François Legault has not yet called a byelection, which must come within the next six months. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4, 2025. Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account. Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account OTTAWA — Mark Carney didn’t even know how many MPs the Liberals would have in Quebec the day after the election when he got a taste of what awaited him Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle content“Mark Carney owes one to Quebecers,” said Quebec Premier François Legault after the Liberal party’s resounding results in Quebec on April 28 Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon who enjoys a comfortable lead in the provincial polls had not congratulated the federal leader but did predict that the next government would be “hostile” to Quebec “To say that Mark Carney will not collaborate and will not favour Quebec’s interests in the upcoming years… is pretty obvious to me,” said St-Pierre Plamondon Your guide to the world of Canadian politics By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of First Reading will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. the interim leader of the Quebec Liberal Party seemed indifferent to Carney’s successes and wanted everyone to know that “the Liberal Party of Canada is not the Liberal Party of Quebec.” Does it help the Quebec Liberal Party at the provincial level “The next election campaign will be between the Quebec Liberal Party and a referendum on the sovereignty of Paul St-Pierre Plamondon,” Tanguay added underlining that the context between the federal election and the 2026 provincial election will be “completely different.” A separatist source pointed out that after the 1980 election Pierre Trudeau’s Liberals “stuffed a constitution down Quebecers’ throats.” The government of Quebec has never signed the 1982 Constitution Another source said they believed that for the first time Quebecers would “really have expectations” of the federal government and predicted that within a year Carney’s honeymoon would be over and would be replaced by a “hangover.” Carney’s Quebec Lieutenant Steven Guilbeault said that “the day after an election you have to roll up your sleeves because the work begins.” He acknowledged that premiers environmentalists and “the people” have “expectations.” “This means that there will be many strong Quebec voices around the cabinet table,” Guilbeault said I would say it’s an obligation we have to represent them well.” managed to make gains outside Montreal and in French-speaking regions traditionally favourable to the Bloc Québécois “I think that’s what we’re kind of expecting … a slightly greater weight for Quebec compared to Ontario not necessarily compared to the whole country he owes one to Quebecers,” said Geneviève Tellier a political studies professor at the University of Ottawa While Legault is “happy” with Carney’s victory “I think that the best way to thank Quebecers is to take action about the economy who wishes to see the 400,000 temporary immigrants controlled by Ottawa reduced by 50 per cent Legault is “very happy” with Carney’s presence at the helm of the federal government because the two men share a similar vision for the economic future of the country and the province Tellier believes the Liberals could invest quickly in projects such as the high-speed rail line in the Quebec City-Windsor corridor but also contribute to the development of Quebec’s energy sector and support Quebec’s traditional industries it was because they were concerned about the Canada-U.S “Carney will also have to deliver the goods but anything that goes up quickly comes down quickly,” said Tellier the prime minister’s announcement of an upcoming royal visit to Canada gave PSPP an opportunity to attack Ottawa PSPP sharply criticized Bloc Québécois operatives for their campaign strategy “which validates Mark Carney as a collaborator as someone who is preparing to collaborate with Quebec.” The Bloc put the independence project on hold for at least a year while the federal government negotiated a new economic and security agreement with the United States and leader Yves-François Blanchet boasted of having exchanged cell phone numbers with Carney much to the chagrin of Bloc candidates and supporters “We need to get out of Canada and create our own country,” said PSPP transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account MontrealNewsFamily doctors reject Quebec government’s latest offerBy Erika MorrisUpdated: May 04, 2025 at 4:39PM EDT Montreal WatchMore than 2,000 Quebec summer camps not certifiedMore than 2,000 Quebec summer camps are not properly certified, according to the Quebec Camps Association. MontrealNewsSol Zanetti mulls Québec Solidaire leadership run By Erika MorrisPublished: May 03, 2025 at 10:30AM EDT OttawaNewsMan, 70, killed in western Quebec ATV crash after hitting treeBy William EltheringtonPublished: May 04, 2025 at 2:21PM EDT Peter Mansbridge provides thoughtful takes on this week's news stories Toronto police have arrested a man who is accused of stealing police equipment from a parked car in the city’s South Riverdale neighbourhood Officers say the incident happened on April 30 at approximately 4:00 a.m. near Queen Street East and Broadview Avenue the man smashed the rear passenger window of the parked vehicle and stole the unspecified items before fleeing the area police arrested 34-year-old Carl Chateauvert of Quebec theft under $5,000 and failure to comply with a release order He was scheduled to appear in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre on Saturday A Canadian man arrested on vacation has been proven innocent Melissa Nakhavoly with why he is still being held in the Dominican Republic Warmer temperatures but showers are expected on-and-off for the next few days Meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai has your seven-day forecast Ontario Premier Doug Ford calls on Prime Minister Mark Carney to prioritize a list of projects including the proposed Highway 401 tunnel a mentally ill man who was killed in an Ontario prison is calling out the provincial government over the lack of correctional reform listen to NewsRadio Toronto live anytime and get up-to-the-minute breaking-news alerts weather and video from CityNews Toronto anywhere you are – across all Android and iOS devices a region that has held two referendums over whether to leave Canada It was the middle of the night when the Bloc Québécois realized they had achieved the improbable the separatist party in Canada’s francophone province had been campaigning hard to steal an electoral district in Montreal long held by the Liberals When the trickle of votes finally stopped on that September evening, the Bloc’s Louis-Philippe Sauvé had emerged victorious by a narrow margin of 200 votes. Chastened by the loss, the then prime minister, Justin Trudeau admitted his Liberals had “a lot of work to do” The defeat reflected a governing party in tatters and a leader losing his grip on power the Bloc’s win reflected an excitement that the separatist movement was once again in ascendance as Canada finds itself in the middle of a federal election campaign the heady days of the Bloc’s growing popularity are over Donald Trump’s effort to trash his country’s relationship with Canada has led to a dramatic realigning of allegiances with a swell in Canadian pride washing over regional differences On a recent afternoon, the district of Verdun was bustling and the sun was shining on election signs for major political parties, including the Bloc’s “Je choisis le Québec” (I choose Quebec) posters as they fight for both Sauvé’s seat and the prospect of Quebec sovereignty Experts say those efforts are doomed to fail in the coming 28 April election “Sauvé will get to put on his résumé that he was an MP for six months But there’s no way the Bloc is holding that seat in the coming days,” said Philippe Fournier “Things were great for the Bloc months ago The shift was largely the result of Trump’s repeated threats to annex Canada and his imposition of tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum prompting fears in Quebec that further actions from the White House could have devastating effects on its timber Trump’s efforts to damage Canada’s economy have had the unsurprising effect of unifying a diverse geography in a common cause But a recent poll found that amid the surge in Canadian patriotism in the wake of Trump’s threats one of the largest leaps is coming from Quebec – a region that in the last half-century has held two referendums over whether to leave Canada the Bloc Québécois emerged as a federal party to give Quebec a voice serving as a corrective to the dominance of anglophone politics and culture in the rest of Canada Quebec came close to seceding with 49.48% voting for independence But Trump’s aggression has temporarily dampened separatism and invigorated Quebecers in a defence of Canada That fervour was on display in February when Canada faced off against the United States in a closely watched ice hockey game “I have never in my life heard people in Montreal sing the national anthem like they did before booing the US anthem,” said Fournier “I’m not an overly patriotic or partisan person Even the Bloc’s founder, Lucien Bouchard, has signaled temporary support for Canada, telling La Presse that “we are together” in the broader project of preserving Canadian sovereignty Analysts say the waning sentiment among sovereigntists is simple calculation: an independent Quebec can only exist with an independent Canada The rise of Canadian nationalism has largely benefited one figure: the prime minister, Mark Carney an anglophone whose tenuous command of the French language might have weighed on his candidacy in any other election But Quebec is a region of the country known for its unpredictable voters and I don’t think a unilingual anglophone would [normally] get this level of sympathy but francophone voters see he’s making a sincere effort That counts for something in a place where they’re used to seeing outside political leaders as uncaring about the French language he has probably the best résumé for prime minister in their lifetimes.” has flubbed names and key events in the province’s past an admission he made on Tout le monde en parle (Everybody’s talking about it) an immensely popular weekly Radio-Canada program that draws one million viewers my French is far from perfect,” he told the host and audience Quebec’s apparent embrace of the Liberals foreshadows a grim reversal of fortunes for the Bloc who once hoped to win as many as 50 seats in the province they’re staring down steep losses that could wipe the party out “They’ve gone from thinking ‘We might be the official opposition’ to ‘OK maybe we’ll hold the balance of power in a minority government’ to ‘Now we’re just fighting for survival,’” said Fournier Quebec-centric parties have long experienced rapid ascents followed by perilous collapses. In the 2011 federal election, the Bloc went from 47 seats in parliament to only four. But a recent surge in support for the provincial Parti Québécois – an expressly separatist party – had appeared to bode well for the Bloc’s political fortunes in this year’s federal vote Everything was going well and there was a sense that voters appreciated the work being done by the Bloc But then it all shifted,” said Kristina Michaud a two-term Bloc MP who recently opted not to run for re-election “It feels as though the Trump administration is calling the shots in this election And with Canadian sovereignty and unity being defended and being talked about people feel they’re better off with a party that can lead a country - and we know the Bloc cannot do that Michaud worries that an embrace of the Liberals and Carney comes at a cost cutting out the opposition parties that serve as the “conscience” of the House of Commons and hampering the Bloc’s ability to be a voice for Quebec “I was elected in 2019 being an advocate for the independence of Quebec I became even more certain of my values and that this was needed,” said Michaud “I saw how different Canadian culture was from the one in Quebec.” Quebec’s governing party has passed controversial legislation in recent years that requires all provincial communication with immigrants to be in French and limits the use of English in the legal system The law also aims to one day change Canada’s constitution to redefine Quebec as a nation with its official and common languages being French “There are times I feel like a stranger in my own country,” said Jacob Lamontagne “We need these laws because if the English speakers have their way there’d be nothing But Lamontagne has also seen the surge in Canadian patriotism reflected among his friends and classmates as the threats from the US president persist “When Quebecers love and are embracing Canada all you need to know is that things are really shit.” Federal Election 2025Blanchet calls Canada ‘an artificial country with very little meaning’By Joshua FreemanOpens in new windowPublished: April 25, 2025 at 3:21PM EDT You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter A longtime Hells Angel Craig (Truck) McIlquham was shot dead Tuesday in the parking lot of a Mandarin restaurant in Burlington after dining there with his family Investigators will have to look across the GTA into Quebec and down to the Caribbean to catalogue deadly enemies of a long-time Hells Angel into Quebec and down to the Caribbean to catalogue the deadly enemies of a long-time Hells Angel who was shot dead in front of a Mandarin restaurant in Burlington Tuesday after eating at the family-style buffet restaurant at 1881 Fairview Street about a five minute-drive from the Queen Elizabeth Way who was president of the Niagara chapter of the Hells Angels spent much of his time recently in the Caribbean Police appealed to the public for anyone with dash cam footage of Fairview Street and Brant Street between the hours of 4 and 10 p.m They are particularly interested in a late model His hefty build helped him become a bodyguard for former Hells Angels boss Walter (Nurget) Stadnick of Hamilton once widely considered the most influential outlaw biker in Canada Stadnick was convicted in Montreal in September 2004 of a variety of organized crime offences conspiracy to traffic drugs and involvement in gang activities Stadnick was then sentenced to 20 years in prison which was reduced for pre-trial time served to 14 years McIlquham was known to Canadian police for decades in connection with big-money crimes an alleged multimillion-dollar international gambling ring in 2019 He appeared to thrive financially in the 2000s even as the Hells Angels lowered their profile across Canada Project Hobart investigators said that McIlquham was one of the leaders of an international gambling ring including five illegal offshore sites based in the Caribbean The ring also operated an illegal gambling house in Mississauga The gambling investigation was spurred by an escalation of violent crimes across Ontario Police said at the time the Hells Angels were working in the gambling ring with a York Region-based ‘ndrangheta Mafia group Police said the gambling ring also had access to provincial Ministry of Transportation computer databases Gamblers were allowed credit limits as high as $20,000 but they were also expected to settle debts within a week McIlquham was charged with a dozen offences including possession of a restricted weapon book-making and commission of an offence for a criminal organization The gambling operation pulled in $131 million in illegal revenues over five years the OPP announced they had seized more than $12 million in assets $1.2 million in financial accounts and approximately $1.7 million in cash police announced 228 related charges against 28 people from across the province and in Oka The Project Hobart case was ultimately dropped because of court delays The Crown said that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the delays in the complex case as well as “voluminous” amounts of disclosure documents praising the Ontario Provincial Police for conducting a “thorough and effective investigation.” McIlquham’s legal difficulties continued after the criminal charges were dropped as Canada Revenue demanded he explain the source of his wealth McIlquham was charged with failing to report revenues totalling over $2,000,000 for the tax years 2014 to 2018 Investigators alleged he kept some of his cash in secret compartments and used trap doors in a Toronto home to squirrel away gold a gun and a cellphone in a trap in one of his vehicles The Crown further charged he also had a Brazilian visa with his photo but someone else’s name Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Montreal WatchQuebec Liberal leadership candidates debate, outline proposalsThe Quebec Liberal leadership candidates outlined their proposals during the English language debate. MontrealNewsShould helmets be mandatory for Quebec cyclists?By Christine LongUpdated: May 04, 2025 at 4:48PM EDT MontrealNewsQuebec man among first in Canada to receive lab-grown cell transplant for Type 1 diabetes By Laurence Brisson DubreuilPublished: May 02, 2025 at 8:45PM EDT Quebec Conservative Leader Eric Duhaime waves to supporters at a rally where he announced he will be candidate in the Arthabaska riding byelection on Sunday VICTORIAVILLE - The leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec has formally announced his intention to seek a seat in the legislature by running in the riding of Arthabaska when a yelection is eventually called Eric Duhaime made the announcement during a speech on Sunday afternoon The Arthabaska riding in central Quebec has been vacant since the March resignation of Éric Lefebvre an Independent who had previously left the governing Coalition Avenir Québec to run in the recent federal election He won the riding of Richmond-Arthabaska for the Conservatives one of 11 seats the party claimed in the province Duhaime’s Conservatives did not win any seats in the 2022 provincial campaign despite the party capturing more than 530,000 votes and growing their share of the popular vote to nearly 13 per cent Duhaime lost his own attempt to capture the Quebec City area riding of Chauveau in 2022 finishing second to Coalition Avenir Québec Poll aggregator Qc125 predicts a very close three-way race in Arthabaska between the Coalition Avenir Québec Premier François Legault has not yet called a byelection which must come within the next six months This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4 MontrealNews ServiceQuebec Liberal leadership hopefuls say they’re open to fossil-fuel projectsBy The Canadian PressPublished: May 03, 2025 at 5:54PM EDT Quebec Liberal Party leadership candidates Pablo Rodriguez and Karl Blackburn pose for a photograph following the Quebec Liberal Party French-language leadership debate in Laval LAVAL - Several candidates for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party say they’re open to fossil-fuel projects in the province as a means to boost Canada’s energy independence energy development played a central role in a leadership debate focused on the province’s economy former president of a Quebec employers group said he would send a “clear message” that the province is ready to consider oil and gas projects “in a geopolitical world that has completely changed.” He said Quebec is heavily reliant on oil and gas that travels through the United States which he said is a risk given the threats to Canada from President Donald Trump to sustainable development and the fight against climate change,” he said “But we must also strive for energy independence.” Former federal minister Pablo Rodriguez also said Quebec will need to look at east-west energy projects including possible oil and natural gas pipelines he said all projects will have to respect environmental norms and have social acceptability “I think we need to be open to all of this today,” he said “One thing has fundamentally changed: the United States.. Quebec has traditionally been staunchly opposed to pipeline development on its territory but Premier François Legault has recently suggested that may be changing in the face of Trump’s economic threats Legault said if a new pipeline were proposed his Coalition Avenir Québec government would consider it Rodriguez said any such development would require the Quebec government to “believe in Canada,” and argued Legault has no interest in working with other provinces Fellow leadership candidate Charles Milliard former head of the federation of Quebec chambers of commerce took a more cautious approach to the issue He said he’s open to energy development but pointed out there are currently no major fossil-fuel projects under consideration “When we ask politicians whether they agree or not with a project said he would end Quebec’s cap-and-trade program which he said is making local businesses uncompetitive Quebec’s carbon pricing scheme has been under scrutiny since Prime Minister Mark Carney scrapped the federal carbon tax in April though no major political party in the province has come out against it Responding to questions from journalists after the debate Rodriguez and Milliard — the likely frontrunners in the leadership race — all said they support the cap-and-trade system said Quebec must exploit its natural resources to enrich the province The Quebec government passed legislation in 2022 banning oil and gas production The Quebec Liberals are hoping the leadership race will reinvigorate the party with dismal polling among francophone voters the candidates claimed Legault’s time is up and said they would reclaim the Liberals’ status from the CAQ as the party of the economy Legault’s government recently tabled a budget with a record $13.6-billion deficit ratings agency S&P Global downgraded Quebec’s credit rating from AA- to A+ “The (Liberals have) a date with history,” Milliard said “The (party) must prove that it can constitute an alternative to the CAQ government positioned himself as a “breath of fresh air,” while Blackburn who was a member of the provincial legislature during the government of former Liberal premier Jean Charest said he would help the party reconnect with the regions outside Montreal Rodriguez leaned on his experience as a federal minister But his rivals at times pointed to his close connection with former prime minister Justin Trudeau as a liability Legault’s nationalist party has declined in the polls since forming government in 2018 and the sovereigntist Parti Québécois has been leading for well over a year Saturday’s debate was the first of six before Liberal members choose their new leader on June 14 The next provincial election is set for October 2026 This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3 Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey (right) and Quebec Premier François Legault look on at the start of a first ministers meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday many in Newfoundland and Labrador will likely remember outgoing premier Andrew Furey for ending a decades-old lopsided energy deal with Quebec More than 80 people sent Furey emails about a new tentative arrangement with Hydro-Québec in the seven weeks after he announced the deal on Dec The emails were obtained by an access to information request The emails show a hopeful public deeply engaged in energy issues in a province still scarred from past missteps “I am senior citizen and never thought that I would live to see the day that this issue would be addressed,” wrote one person “I am a proud Newfoundlander … my eyes fill with tears when I hear the ‘Ode to Newfoundland,’” wrote another on the day of the announcement “Today my eyes filled with tears and I doubled in size.” Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have long resented a deal signed in 1969 that allows Hydro‑Québec to purchase the lion’s share of the energy from the massive Churchill Falls power station in Labrador for rock-bottom prices – 0.2 cents per kilowatt hour The deal yielded close to $28 billion in profits to Quebec as of 2019 compared with about $2 billion for Newfoundland and Labrador Andrew Furey tore up a copy of the 1969 contract He and Quebec Premier François Legault then signed a new draft agreement between the province’s utilities that would see Hydro‑Québec pay much more for Churchill Falls power If the agreement is finalized and its plans proceed as hoped Hydro‑Québec would also co-develop new projects along the Churchill River with Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and assume much of the financial risk for the builds officials say the deal would bring about $225 billion to Newfoundland and Labrador over the next 50 years Friday is Furey’s last day in office after he shocked the province with his announcement in February that he would step down The provincial Liberal party is choosing a new leader – and hence a new premier – on Saturday afternoon Furey’s announcement of the new deal prompted a flood of emails to his inbox about half of which were effusive and congratulatory “Years of inequity are over,” said one note advice or pleas for Furey to have the draft agreement reviewed by independent experts Many of those asking for a review pointed to the Muskrat Falls hydroelectricity project which ran more than $6 billion over budget and prompted a public inquiry “This is so important for our future … is Newfoundland and Labrador getting the very best deal it can?” said one email “Let’s be sure … an independent review is critical.” People from Labrador asked Furey to ensure jobs will go to Labradorians and its Indigenous Peoples noting that many Labradorians worked on the Muskrat Falls project and have developed expertise One email asked Furey to subsidize airfare in Labrador since the fortunes promised in the draft agreement come from Labrador’s natural resources People said they were discussing the deal with their friends Some asked detailed questions accompanied by charts and references to specific tables in the memorandum of understanding document Others worried Newfoundland and Labrador would once again sign a contract that gave its natural resources away and allowed Quebec to profit most People said they felt the deal didn’t receive enough scrutiny before the Liberals voted in the legislature to continue negotiating toward final agreements But even some of the emails critical of the deal or its oversight were hopeful it would ultimately pay off for Newfoundland and Labrador Furey appointed an independent three-person oversight panel in January to review the memorandum of understanding and the negotiations toward final agreements This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2 Quebec PoliticsNewsLegault outlines Quebec’s priorities with Carney during phone call By The Canadian PressPublished: May 02, 2025 at 6:31AM EDT MontrealMarie-Claude Nichols returns to Quebec Liberals, supports Pablo Rodriguez for leaderBy The Canadian PressPublished: May 02, 2025 at 2:39PM EDT OTTAWA — Liberals are back to 168 seats and the Bloc Québécois to 23 after the Bloc took back the Montreal-area riding of Terrebonne according to revised election results Elections Canada published their validated riding results on Thursday which show that Bloc incumbent Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné won 23,340 votes — 44 votes ahead of Liberal challenger Tatiana Auguste who got 23,296 votes some mistakes may happen at the reporting stage staff could mishear some of the results being phoned in or make a typo when entering the results into the system The validation process — during which the returning officer compares the official statements for each polling station with the results that were entered into the system on election night — typically happens within a week after election day the suspense is not over in the riding of Terrebonne as the close result means there will automatically be a judicial recount in the coming days those happen when the difference between the number of votes cast for the candidate with the most votes and the candidate in second place is less than one one-thousandth of the valid votes cast in a riding Anyone can also ask for a recount in a riding within four days after validation provided that they have proof that an election officer incorrected counted or rejected ballots or if there were other irregularities that may have affected the result of the vote Monday’s election saw many close races across the country and many of the results were called only on Tuesday afternoon after advance polls and special ballots were counted Other razor-thin victories included the riding of Terra Nova—The Peninsulas in Newfoundland and Labrador where the Liberal candidate won by 12 votes where the NDP incumbent held onto her seat with 77 votes Newfoundland and LabradorNewsN.L. premier leaves office on waves of praise, worry about legacy Quebec energy dealBy The Canadian PressPublished: May 02, 2025 at 12:08PM EDT MontrealNews‘Multi-parent’ families, like throuples, to be granted legal rights in QuebecBy Rachel LauPublished: April 30, 2025 at 10:15AM EDT Saskatchewan is the province that wants to leave Canada the most if Liberals win the upcoming election in Canada “We need to unite the country,” said Poilievre The percentage of residents from Saskatchewan who said they would vote “yes” to leave Canada to become an independent country went from 20 per cent, initially, to 33 per cent, if Liberals won. Meanwhile, the percentage of residents who believed the province should join the United States went from 17 per cent, initially, to 23 per cent, if Liberals won. (To the south, Saskatchewan shares its borders with American states North Dakota and Montana.) Residents from Alberta and Quebec were tied at a close second (30 per cent) when it came to wanting to become independent if Liberals won. The provinces that followed were British Columbia (17 per cent), Ontario (13 per cent), Manitoba (12 per cent), and Atlantic provinces, which were grouped together, at 10 per cent. Alberta had the highest percentage when it came to wanting to join the U.S. if Liberals won, at 27 per cent, followed by Saskatchewan at 23 per cent. British Columbia, Ontario and Manitoba were in the middle, at 19, 16 and 15 per cent, respectively. On the lower end of the spectrum were the Atlantic provinces (12 per cent) and Quebec (11 per cent.) While the numbers coming out of Saskatchewan are “significant,” according to the Angus Reid report on the survey, the “vast majority still say they would vote no (to becoming independent or joining the U.S.) in each province.” The survey also points to a possible underlying reason behind Saskatchewan wanting independence. Only one quarter of its residents said they felt that the province was respected by the rest of Canada. In both prairie provinces, Saskatchewan and Alberta, “legislation has been passed in recent years to increase autonomy and reject federal influence,” per Angus Reid. However, the report from Angus Reid explains that “while threatening separatism is evidently seen as a good bargaining chip, few Canadians appear to actually want to leave federation, whether it’s to join the United States or to have their province become its own nation.” The survey was conducted online from March 20 to March 24, using a randomized sample of 2,400 Canadian adults. “The sample was weighted to be representative of adults nationwide according to region, gender, age, household income, and education, based on the Canadian census,” the institute said.