Montreal City Weblog

Updates from March, 2021 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• Kate 15:51 on 2021-03-27 Permalink | Reply  

  La Presse’s Mario Girard does a fair dissection of Denis Coderre’s book, not hesitating to point out how many “new” ideas Coderre has just had that he’s openly copied from Projet, nor how many other individuals are credited with helping him write the text.

  The key point Girard zooms in on, though, is that while Projet’s focus has been quality of life, often on the neighbourhood scale, Coderre is fired by a Jean Drapeau-like drive to “faire rayonner la métropole.” We’ve seen what that means, and what it costs. The real question is whether people will want more of that bread-and-circuses stuff if we can get past the pandemic – and whether they will want to help pay for it.

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  • Mr.Chinaski 21:59 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    It’s weird because Girard has been ass-kissing Coderre for the past months

  • ant6n 06:23 on 2021-03-28 Permalink

    Improving quality of live and improving all neighborhoods is something that could probably be done with levers at city-scale as well, as part of some sort of bigger vision. Not just with micro-action at the block level. Maybe I’m a bit out of the loop, but perhaps there could be some more vision coming from the current administration.

  • MarcG 12:40 on 2021-03-28 Permalink

    All we need to improve quality of life is to call the cops more often – why even bother having a city council?

  • Ant6n 13:41 on 2021-03-28 Permalink

    Well, perhaps the crypto fascist future a la Robocop doesn’t work for everyone.

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• Kate 15:44 on 2021-03-27 Permalink | Reply  

  I had thought the issue of Sue Montgomery and the man who has been dogging her steps for years was settled, but she’s going to have to face him again in court. The last time, a judge drew a fine line, saying there had been harassment but it wasn’t criminal.

  rich and John B are discussing. Toggle Comments

   

  • John B 21:50 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    At least the reason she has to face him again is that the higher court said that the lower court was wrong to draw the line that the harassment wasn’t criminal because Sue Montgomery wasn’t scared enough.

  • rich 00:13 on 2021-03-28 Permalink

    This case recalls what the Supreme Court stated in R. v. Quartey, 2018 SCC 59, [2018] 3 S.C.R. 687

    “[3] Nor did the trial judge err by applying generalizations and stereotypes in rejecting the appellant’s evidence. We agree with the majority at the Court of Appeal that the trial judge’s statements in this regard were directed to the appellant’s own evidence and to the believability of the appellant’s claims about how he responded to the specific circumstances of this case, and not to some stereotypical understanding of how men in those circumstances would conduct themselves.”

    The trial judge did not err when she compared Sue Montgomery on the video to Sue Montgomery in her own testimony,… that is what Judge Longo did, she did not … compare Sue Montgomery to a stereotype. Considering the favourable findings of fact by Judge Longo, due in part to Montgomery forgetting the events giving rise to the other charges which were not appealed, an appeal would appear the best thing to do. The new judge would not know that Montgomery forgot about those events indicating that they really did not bother her to the point of causing her to fear.

• Kate 15:28 on 2021-03-27 Permalink | Reply  

  Not for the first time, we’re told the Grand Prix probably won’t be held here again this summer.

  The existence of the Canadian Grand Prix has been tentative and uncertain for years. A two-year pandemic interruption isn’t likely to help.

  Mr.Chinaski and Bert are discussing. Toggle Comments

   

  • Bert 19:52 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    One dilemma that we have is that the track is not a permanent circuit. This is a one-off event that has to effectively bring in all supporting equipment and services. From what I have heard, last year Formula 1 basically “rented” tracks from the classic, historic, established tracks as opposed to charging them hosting fees, since no fans were allowed, thus no revenue for the track.

    To add to that, and more importantly, the RISK of travel restrictions might make it not viable. It’s not like F1, the 10 teams, the 10-20+ major suppliers (tires, fuel, local catering, etc.) can just turn around in a few weeks, 1-2 months to host an event.

    I wonder how the current situation has impacted the construction / renovation of the pit complex.

    On a side note, Canadian billionaire, CEO of Aston Martin F1 team, owner (possibly -ish) of the Circuit Mont-Tremblant has put the track up for sale, reportedly after loosing a long standing case against local residents due to noise complaints.

  • Mr.Chinaski 22:06 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    The pit complex was 90% final when they were here in 2019 two years ago, it’s a non-issue.

    You can’t just throw the cars on a track, it needs to become a FIA grade-A standard circuit. It takes about a month of preparation, you need to open to a tender proposition that is public and a contractor need to be contracted to do the works.

    It’s not Montreal that’s in trouble but also Monaco and Baku…cya in 2022

• Kate 14:25 on 2021-03-27 Permalink | Reply  

  The Arts Café on Fairmount joins the list of independent businesses priced out of Mile End. This time it isn’t Shiller-Lavy but an unnamed independent landlord who’s after more cash.

  Meezly, DeWolf, and Chris are discussing. Toggle Comments

   

  • DeWolf 19:37 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    Valerie Silva at Eater Montreal identified the landlords as a couple that doesn’t own any other properties. The Arts Café owner is quoted as saying they begged her to stay after she had started packing up but by then it was too late to make amends. She thinks they were misled by a property broker or someone else they are working with, which doesn’t surprise me. Sounds like they took a gamble that didn’t pay off and now everyone is paying the price.

  • Chris 23:57 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    I don’t follow such things, but I’d think with the pandemic, and the restrictions imposed because of it, not too many new businesses are looking to open or move right now. The landlords may have trouble finding a new tenant.

  • Meezly 11:01 on 2021-03-28 Permalink

    @DeWolf, can I share what you said to a Plateau parents group, because many are concerned about their neighbourhood and what had happened to the Arts Cafe.

  • DeWolf 12:23 on 2021-03-28 Permalink

    It’s probably better just to share the Eater article I was referring to!

    https://montreal.eater.com/2021/3/25/22350726/arts-cafe-closed-mile-end-rent-hike-eviction-montreal-restaurant

  • Meezly 09:31 on 2021-03-29 Permalink

    Thanks DeWolf!

• Kate 13:18 on 2021-03-27 Permalink | Reply  

  The attack on a man of Asian ethnicity in the Plateau earlier this month has been deemed by police not to have been a hate crime, but four minors have been arrested.

  Meezly, Uatu, Kate, and 1 other are discussing. Toggle Comments

   

  • Chris 13:20 on 2021-03-28 Permalink

    Well, well, well. No one wanted to wait for actual evidence, everyone wanted to assume it was some kinda white supremacist, but in fact it was four black minors (according to victim and police). Perhaps doing some idiotic thing that teenagers sometimes do. Happily, they were caught, and we should find out more once in court.

    It’s interesting to re-read the original thread again. ex:

    walkerp: “Of course it was a racist attack, Chris. Your desperate attempts to use internet logic to cast doubt are just another example of ingrained racism…”

    Meelzy: “What’s disturbing is that this same paternalistic attitude from Chris…” “…as you so arrogantly pointed out, there is no evidence so we must assume that it’s not racially motivated.”

    I’m curious what you two think now.

    Honestly, it really does seem some people *want* to see racism everywhere and always these days. Yes, racism exists; yes, we should combat it; but also remember that we live in the least racist period of human history in one of the least racist countries on earth. Things are better than ever. Yet there’s a concerted effort by some people with an agenda to make it seem like things are worse than ever.

  • Kate 14:02 on 2021-03-28 Permalink

    Chris, you appear to think you have a massive gotcha here, but you don’t.

    1. Black people can have racist feelings and impulses.

    2. Because police say this wasn’t a hate crime, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t (viz. some of the actions of police themselves).

    Why did the four young people single out this young Asian man for their prank? What made him stand out to their eyes? Was he the only person they pranked, and if so, why?

  • Uatu 20:30 on 2021-03-28 Permalink

    As an Asian I get hassled mostly because I’m short and some see that as an easier target. I doubt I’d get bothered if I were a 6′ football player like my friend. The guy was attacked from behind and sometimes when I’m all covered up in winter clothing I’m actually mistaken as a youth from behind. Also the recent reports of attacks on Asians encourages copy cats. And hey I’d like to believe that we live in the least racist place but could you please tell the place because occasionally it tells me the opposite.

  • Meezly 16:47 on 2021-03-29 Permalink

    I still think you’re paternalistic, and now you’re smug and paternalistic.

    The so-called hate crimes squad is staffed with 4 white male officers. There are also strong arguments from communities and organizations that this squad is not properly trained to deal with hate crimes. This already sets a power imbalance and disadvantages the victim. These officers have the power to identify whether a crime is racially motivated or not. Even if the victim denies it, they need to do the work by proving it, which can entail looking at their social media presence, correspondences and interviewing family and associates.

    It’s possible this squad was reluctant to press hate crime charges because the perpetrators are minors since a hate crime is a much more serious charge.

    There is been a lot of black on Asian violence. This is a symptom of white supremacy in North America. If you’re interested in why or how this happens, I encourage you to read up on it.

    It also should be noted that when this pepper spray incident was published, the Atlanta shooting happened the following day.

    In case you were not aware, several Asian people were massacred for no reason other than the murderer wanted to vent his toxic frustrations on a group of innocent and vulnerable people. The police almost immediately tried to deny that it was a hate crime and used the almost laughable excuse of saying he had a bad day.

    This kind of attitude (paternalistic is too nice a word) already adds to the trauma that people of colour have to deal with when they repeatedly hear about these horrific attacks. If you have been paying ANY kind of attention, hearing about racial violence really impacts the mental state of racialized people. In this regard, do you really truly think that visible minorities WANT to make everything about race?

    So with all this sh*t that’s happened, you get all smug and righteous about whether a fucking pepper spray assault on a visible minority is a hate crime or not. It really sums up the kind of person you are. So I’m done having any kind of dialog with you.

• Kate 11:14 on 2021-03-27 Permalink | Reply  

  The extra shelters for the homeless put in place for the winter will be extended till June. Isn’t this a sign that we need them year-round?

  DeWolf and Kate are discussing. Toggle Comments

   

  • DeWolf 13:07 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    We need more permanent housing, not shelters. As that 24 Heures article you shared in the winter made clear, even a hotel shelter is pretty basic – a place to keep you from dying on the street, but not a place where you can get help and a leg up. It’s hard for a social worker to reach you if you’re floating around all day and popping up at different shelters every night.

    There’s a federal program called Housing First that helps homeless people get permanent places to live. It sounds like it has been get successful at helping people manage their addictions, improve their health and get on with their lives. Montreal will be taking a similar approach by converting one of those cheap hotels at Parc/Mont-Royal into permanent studios for people who have been living on the street.

  • Kate 14:01 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    Do you have a news link for that info in your last sentence, DeWolf?

  • DeWolf 19:44 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    Here’s a Metro report from March 1.

    Seems like I was mistaken about the city being involved. It’s Mission Old Brewery that is leading the project with federal funding. There’s a quote from Richard Ryan noting that Quebec hasn’t offered any funding for initiatives like this.

• Kate 09:05 on 2021-03-27 Permalink | Reply  

  La Presse talks to Chantal Rouleau, one of only two CAQ MNAs on the island and Legault’s minister responsible for Montreal. Rouleau mostly gives Valérie Plante a dressing down for not praising the recent CAQ budget.

   

• Kate 08:59 on 2021-03-27 Permalink | Reply  

  QMI looks into what’s become of biker gang members 20 years after they were all rounded up in the SharQc raids. There’s even a sidebar in sports card style enumerating their various fates, although I notice a certain falling off in the previously lurid nicknaming tradition: it’s hardly remarkable if a Normand gets called Norm or a Gregory Greg.

  Инна is discussing. Toggle Comments

   

  • Инна 12:51 on 2021-04-16 Permalink

    Some of those at the restaurant – which became the site of the deadliest biker brawl in US history – accused police of firing indiscriminately into the crowd, but the three officers who participated were cleared by prosecutors in 2016. Of the 177 charged with engaging in organised criminal activity resulting in murder and aggravated assault, prosecutors later dropped charges against all but 155.

• Kate 08:54 on 2021-03-27 Permalink | Reply  

  TVA shocked some viewers with a chyron reading “8000 juifs en 24 heures à la frontière”.

  Kate, JoeNotCharles, jeather, and 2 others are discussing. Toggle Comments

   

  • jeather 10:27 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    Yeah, hard to imagine antisemitism at TVA. (Not to let the other news stations off the hook — I saw how they all reported on synagogues vs churches that broke the rules about number of people in a building.)

  • Ephraim 10:57 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    93% of the people at the land border were essential workers and truckers were 63%. Wow… all those Jewish truck drivers and essential workers.

    But what punishment is TVA really receiving over this? In the UK, they have the Independent Press Standards Organisation… and maybe it’s time we set one up in Canada and fix this problem. It will end TVA’s nonsense and fix the problem of The Rebel and Fox News and other stations that claim they are news, but aren’t. You use the word NEWS and you better have some integrity.

  • steph 11:00 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    In Quebec, they’re working hard to establish that racism only exists if there’s intent to be racist. :eyeroll:

  • jeather 11:29 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    See the police officer who was just relaxing his middle finger out the window at the anti Asian hate crime march. Not racist, just a pure accident! Surely we can all just rest our hands out the car window at the cops now.

  • steph 12:37 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    ^^ makes me want to print out a wallet sized version of the picture to include with my papers & ID if I ever get pulled over.

  • Kate 20:15 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    jeather, that’s nuts. How stupid do they think we are?

    (btw Chag Sameach!)

  • jeather 09:41 on 2021-03-28 Permalink

    They want us to know (deniably) that they have all the power and they can do whatever they want and no one will punish them.

    Thank you, Kate. Next year in Jerusalem person.

  • JoeNotCharles 10:25 on 2021-03-28 Permalink

    The UK’s Independent Standards Organization hasn’t stopped The Daily Mail, so I don’t think that’s the solution.

  • Kate 11:32 on 2021-03-28 Permalink

    We should remember that while there is a Quebec press council, Pierre Karl Péladeau withdrew his properties from it more than ten years ago. He doesn’t want his writers and producers to be subject to the standards held by the competition, and has even gone to court to try to silence judgements of his content made by members.

• Kate 19:52 on 2021-03-26 Permalink | Reply  

  Sad to read that the Coalition verte has lost in Superior Court in their attempt to preserve the St-Laurent Technoparc ecosystem as a sanctuary for rare and interesting birds and animals. Check out the range of creatures photographers have captured in the area and posted to Flickr.

  Of course, they make no profit for anyone, so they’re dispensable. It’s irrational, but it makes me sad.

  Виктор, Chris, Meezly, and 1 other are discussing. Toggle Comments

   

  • Su 21:19 on 2021-03-26 Permalink

    Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

  • Meezly 09:31 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    Dominion implies some kind of control or management, which man isn’t even capable of doing with the natural world that it continues to destroy, in the name of “progress.”

    That really is sad. Their cause should have got more traction in the media.

  • Chris 12:21 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    What happens on Earth doesn’t really matter anyway. All that matters is the eternal afterlife. /s

  • Виктор 19:23 on 2021-04-24 Permalink

    While both sides were expecting a decision on the injunction Friday, the judge presiding over the case said she ll need more time to go over all the information that was presented.

• Kate 19:41 on 2021-03-26 Permalink | Reply  

  Let me get this straight. Legault gets his vaccine Friday and talks breezily about a third wave of Covid while opening places of worship and gyms, and sending high school students back to school in person – even while variants are shutting schools down in various parts of Quebec.

  Is coherence too much to ask for?

  Kevin commented here Thursday: “Legault’s goal is not eradicating this disease or keeping you healthy.” Like all politicians, his goal is re-election – we shouldn’t forget that, especially if we’re Montrealers. He has no reason to do anything to help us out.

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  • JaneyB 20:06 on 2021-03-26 Permalink

    It’s frustrating. I don’t think Legault is sacrificing Mtl; it is the engine of the province – he can’t afford to. I think he’s mostly focused on ICU numbers not covid cases. As long as the hospitals can function, that’s the goal. We’re on our own otherwise.

    It’s worth remembering that people were locking themselves down weeks before the politicians caught up with official lockdowns last year. That was true in Canada and even in the US. I assume many will just ignore the official opening up. The variant crisis is getting a lot of media attention; maybe some of it will go in.

  • Phil M 09:05 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    “I think he’s mostly focused on ICU numbers not covid cases. As long as the hospitals can function, that’s the goal. We’re on our own otherwise.”

    Precisely.

  • jeather 10:50 on 2021-03-27 Permalink

    Let us not forget that hospitalizations lag by 10-14 days, so of course the huge jump that started Thursday (and the beginnings of the increase that started a week ago) probably won’t affect hospitalizations until the end of next week. (I’m not sure if the variant have a different lag time.)

  • Юлия 02:44 on 2021-05-03 Permalink

    Monday morning, in Montreal, Legault clearly chose his camp. Legault said he did not agree with Trudeau, but rather with French President Emmanuel Macron. Since the Oct. 16 beheading of a teacher in the middle of a French street, France’s president has vocally supported the right to make fun of religions and the need to protect freedom of expression above all.

• Kate 17:54 on 2021-03-26 Permalink | Reply  

  The fire department has lost a veteran of note. Bruno Lachance was with the service for 40 years, culminating in becoming chief of the service in 2017. He stepped down a year ago.

   

• Kate 13:39 on 2021-03-26 Permalink | Reply  

  At the end of last year, the Museum of Fine Arts ruled out the creation of a special new wing for the works of Riopelle. At that time, the idea was floated of turning the old Saint-Sulpice library into a museum dedicated to his work. Now that too has been ruled out as the handsome old library building is gradually falling into ruin from disuse.

  Kate and j are discussing. Toggle Comments

   

  • j 18:05 on 2021-03-26 Permalink

    I thought the St Sulpice library was supposed to be converted into a youth centre?

  • Kate 18:44 on 2021-03-26 Permalink

    It was supposed to become a sort of tech centre and library for adolescents but that was cancelled last year.

• Kate 13:35 on 2021-03-26 Permalink | Reply  

  Excellent example here against naming sites for politicians – especially living ones. Laval was about to name an arena after longtime councillor Jacques St-Jean, when he was faced with five criminal charges of fraud. Maybe the fact he was an old pal of Gilles Vaillancourt should have tipped them off.

   

• Kate 13:32 on 2021-03-26 Permalink | Reply  

  Union United Church, close to Lionel-Groulx metro, had some disgusting cleaning-up to do after people left graffiti on the walls and shit all over the place. Did they do the latter as a statement or simply because there aren’t enough public toilets? The graffiti, however, is not a response to a physical need.