The orange line was down during afternoon rush hour for almost two hours because of a water main break between Lionel‑Groulx and Place Saint‑Henri.
Updates from July, 2024 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
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Kate
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Kate
Two traffic signs were hacked Wednesday morning to display pro‑Palestinian slogans.
Chris
With 3 phrases, including “escalate now”.
The article tries hard to whitewash the phrases, but seems to give up explaining that one.
bob
Well, “intifada” could mean polite letters to the editor, not only “deadly suicide bombings on buses and at restaurants and hotels”. Assholes.
Ian
Kate, did you forget to lock down this thread to comments? I am politely refraining from responding out of deference to your moderation (literal moderation in this case).
Kate
I’m not locking down for the moment because, in general, the people who participate here are civilized. But it’s always an option if things get heated again.
Ian
Ok then.
@Bob if ww2 had gone the wrong way, the Resistance would be considered terrorists.
Anyhow no matter how you slice it the occupation is illegal and Israel is committing war crimes if not outright crimes against humanity. They have clearly stated that they see a two-state solution as an existential threat. What would you have Palestinians do?
Asymmetric warfare aside, the ICJ ruling clearly shows that Israel does not have the moral high ground.Chris
>They have clearly stated that they see a two-state solution as an existential threat.
Likewise the other side of the conflict (Hamas), who refuses to recognise Israel’s statehood.
walkerp
Pretty major distinction between Israel and the current Netanyahu government.
Ian
@Chris even taking your argument at face value, Hamas isn’t in the West Bank. Illegal settlers and the IDF are, though. Thoughts?
Kate
We’re not going to solve the Middle East on this blog.
jeather
Not if you keep shutting comments on the topic, that’s for sure.
dwgs
That’s a cheap shot jeather. Also, do you actually believe there is a chance that Kate’s commentariat is so brilliant that we can indeed hit upon a solution? If so I demand a raise in pay and better working conditions for all of us!
MarcG
jeather: That’s some top-tier sarcasm, thanks for the lol
Kate
jeather, as I think I explained before, the reason I’ve been shutting down comments on this topic is that I’ve wanted to take note of the pro‑Palestinian encampments, protest marches and other incidents which stem from the situation in Israel/Palestine, because they’re happening here, but since it’s not a Montreal story, debate and anger about the situation is fruitless on this platform. I still think so and will go back to shutting down comments if I need to.
jeather
It was a joke! I understand why you shut down comments and think it makes sense.
dwgs
Sorry, missed the sarcasm.
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Kate
Beaconsfield mayor Georges Bourelle is doubtful about the utility of a bike path to link Exo to the Kirkland REM station. Bourelle sees no point in putting in the path unless it can be shown that a significant number would cycle between the train and the REM, ignoring the possibility that some would use it to get around the traffic‑heavy suburbs safely with no other transit plans.
Ian
It really would be a nice parallel to the Lakeshore path.
Uatu
You’d think that the increasing use of e bikes would make this a no brainer
PO
How are these reports so light on information?
There’s already a path along the Angel woods there — just not paved. It’s used frequently enough that it even shows up on Google maps.
If there’s already a path carved out, why not hold the mayor to task when he makes stupid comments like “I only see 3 bikes on this bike rack”
What route would the total path take? Not even a mock-up?
What’s the total approximate distance?
No mention of how to cross A-40?
Do EXO trains allow bikes? Will the REM allow bikes?
No trip time estimates? On-foot time? Bike time?
What’s the projected completion date for the REM station?
Even if these are evident to a small fraction of the population, they all should be answered in an article like this. It blows my mind that we get news reports like this without even an ounce of effort. Maybe I’m in a mood, but this article was basically:
“Mayor questions whether a bike path connecting EXO to REM would be worth it. A local cyclist thinks it would. A McGill guy agrees. There isn’t much parking at the new station. The end.” That’s literally all that was provided.
Kevin
I know this area very well and have wondered for decades why, when they eliminated the golf course, they didn’t extend Woodland to Highway 40.
While there’s been a lot of talk about putting in a bus route north of highway 40 and rerouting buses elsewhere to head to the REM, there should also be a direct route from the 20 to the 40 without going to St. Charles or Ste. Anne’s.
Taylor
This is really infuriating short-sightedness:
1. It’s hard to estimate how many people will drive on a road before the road gets built, much like it would be for a bike path.
2. This would encourage more cycling between transit stations
3. That in turn would reduce roadway congestion
The problem here is that these old farts think bikes are toys for kids (or a small niche of adults who use them principally for leisure or exercise), and have no concept of the fact that they’re efficient means of conveyance that reduce congestion, free up parking spots, improve the health of the citizenry (both cyclists and drivers alike due to increased exercise and decreased air pollution), and are exactly what we need to be encouraging in the era of climate change.
Their myopia condemns future generations. Total failure.
Blork
I’m not defending the short-sighted view of the Beaconsfield mayor, but what I see here (based on maps and whatnot, not direct experience with the area) is that the proposal of paving the 400 meter path that already exists along the forested area seems like a no-brainer at first. But on closer examination it only really creates a sort of hermetically sealed run between two train stations, which is not all that useful. It’s “hermetically sealed” in that it’s hemmed in on both sides by autoroutes, so it is not easy to get to, and there is very little need to simply cycle between train stations.
That said, if I were the King of the West Island, I would propose that this new path also be extended to cross the 20 to the south and to run along Woodland down to Lakeshore. On the north side, I’d propose some kind of passerelle be build that would cross over the 40 into Kirkland.
This would create a much-needed bicycle connection between the north of the West Island and the South. If done right it would be safe and I’m sure it would be very popular.
Unfortunately it would also be very expensive. On the south side there is already an overpass over the 20, but the bike path would have to cross two service roads and a regular street in close proximity. It’s already a somewhat chaotic exchange. Figuring out how to add a bike lane and making it safe would not be easy.
On the north side they’d need to build something grand, on the scale of the Passerelle Normandie in Longueuil (which is the finest passerelle in the land if you ask me; picture: https://flic.kr/p/QidW4u ) That is a huge and expensive project.
As King of West Island I’d pay for all of it without hesitation. But the problem here, I think, is that we have a conflict between creating a cheap but not very useful bike path, and an expensive but very useful bike path. So wot’s a king to do?
Nicholas
I hate the framing as between the REM and Exo stations, as if people will bike between them, when they run parallel. More like people will bike from the adjoining neighbourhoods to one of the two stations, or to Lakeshore, or another path. If there’s actually a reasonable way to cross the highways then people will likely cycle a few kms and then hop on another vehicle, bringing or locking their bike. The bike to train model works very well, if you make it safe and easy.
As for parking spots at the REM station, am I confused or is there not a giant set of parking lots just to the north of the station? Are we going to pay for an expensive deck when most of those spots sit unused? Just make a deal with the mall/cinema operator to allow REM users to park there, or in some of the spots, that’s gotta be cheaper than building some decks. Or maybe reroute some buses and people will bus there rather than drive.
Jaye
A similar path/overpass is being proposed from Stillview (near Lakeshore Hospital) to Fairview. It would cost 2 million dollars for the study and 20 million dollars to build.
Apparently the agglomeration requested that Montreal pitch in, but they see our bike paths as not their issue, while we pay for paths in the city, mini putt courses, and baseball diamonds in theirs.
yasymbologist
one of my impressions with the beautiful Beaconsfield town is that they are on the verge of cancelling that thin pedestrian sidewalk in the neighbourhood.
Ian
@Jaye I sympathise with the WI independent towns’ complaint that they bear an unfair tax burden in the balance, but mini putt courses? I live downtown, I don’t know about these mini putt courses. Where are tehy? That sounds fun.
Jaye
@ian https://montreal.ca/en/places/jardins-du-petit-laurier
I heard something about the original intent being housing, but can’t confirm…Ian
Transitional space usually means a tax break for the owner as opposed to outright purchase but yeah, your tax dollars at work. It’s a wonder there aren’t clowns.
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Kate
There’s been a growing resistance in some European towns to the onslaught of tourists during high season – I recently read about similar sentiments in Japan – but Montreal so far has not manifested a similar reaction, although this brief item doesn’t get into feelings about Airbnb and other short‑term rentals and their effect on housing.
Nicholas
Obviously we need more hotels to counteract the demand for Airbnbs, but I bet the reason here is that the tourists aren’t overwhelming. Like sure, Old Montreal and downtown are filled with tourists, and places like Schwartz’s, but places I actually go as a local have, at most, a handful. They aren’t loud, and there’s so much going on that they spread out. I just found out some friends who moved here years ago didn’t know about the fireworks, and then were put off by the high price tag on the official site, so I took them to Notre Dame and they were wowed for free. There’s more than enough Montreal for everyone.
Jonathan
Many of these cases are in small towns or in cities with a huge number of tourists (Paris, Rome, Miyajima, etc). Montreal is both too big and not big enough at the same time, haha
dhomas
I’m currently in Spain for work, living in Valencia with my family. There are no direct flights from Montreal to Valencia, so I needed to fly into Barcelona and take the train to Valencia. I will also be flying out of Barcelona in August.
Barcelona has a smaller population than Montreal, but it is also 3 times smaller in size. It is flooded with tourists. I want to take my family to see Güell Park before leaving Barcelona. I know there is a bus that goes there, the 116. The city requested Google and Apple remove the bus line from their navigation apps because the locals could not get home since the bus was too packed. I was in Barcelona last year, as well, and you could barely walk on La Rambla. I barely heard any Spanish. The tourist situation is a little out of control, but it is also very profitable.
As a tourist who has been living in Spain for a month, here’s my take on it. Some locals want tourism because it makes them money. Others dislike it because it raises the cost of housing. Sure the tourists are partially to blame, but I feel the anger is misdirected. It’s more expensive for tourists to stay in Barcelona, too! (I myself will probably shorten my stay in Barelona and stay in Madrid and Zaragoza, before leaving via Barcelona). The issue is that real estate was bought up by a group of rich people who now have somewhat of a monopoly. Even the independent, small owners raise their prices because why wouldn’t they if everyone else is. There should be more regulation on how much property a given entity can own, though I don’t know how enforceable that is. And it might already be too late.Ian
I live in Mile End so we do have an amusing number of walking tours. I like to walk just behind them and correct the tour guides, Thankfully the bicycle and scooter tours have mostly faded out. There are still way too many AirBnBs here but I think Ubisoft and French international students contributed to driving up the rent more. But hey, at least it’s (apparently) cheaper than Saint Hank…
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Kate
Environmental protesters are blocking access to the airport.
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Kate
Randy Tshilumba has been declared guilty a second time of murdering Clémence Beaulieu‑Patry in 2016, and won’t be able to request parole till 2041.
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Kate
Real estate developers! This story is about people buying a house under development in Ste‑Anne. The developer assured them that the woodsy greenery adjoining their lot was protected, so they paid more on the understanding it would be a permanent feature. But it wasn’t. The woods are being razed to create parking for an adjoining industrial installation. No promise is included in the deed, nothing but hot air. Real estate developers! Salt of the earth!
CE
Always get everything in writing! This was advice my father gave me even as a young child.
Jonathan
Wow. Some folks are just not very bright. Even what the Mayor of Ste-Anne is saying, “That land has always belonged to MDA. It has always been zoned as industrial. They have the legal right to do as they wish with that piece of land,” the mayor said.”is not even correct. Just because they own the land doesn’t mean they can do whatever they want!
Nicholas
Jonathan, I’m sure what the mayor means is they have the legal right to do as they wish within the confines of the law. The mayor knows it’s industrial, so they can’t put up a residential or commercial tower. But, in general, I don’t know of any rule that says you can’t cut down a tree you own on your own property, and that’s clearly the intent. (Yes, exceptions might exist for city-owned trees, preserves, trees with current nests in them, etc.)
People are often under the assumption that they can tell other people what do to with their land and property (but are usually aghast when they find out they can’t do what they want with theirs). There are limits imposed by law, or contract, but if you have that assumption you should always check it first, and know that anything that’s legal, as opposed to contractual, can be changed by the government.
Ian
How did I know Broccolini was involved haha – guess which development company owns much of the land around the new REM station?
Andrew
NIcholas, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue requires a permit to chop down any tree greater than 4″ in diameter, and I think most municipalities have similar rules. I don’t know the legal situation here, but everyone likes more trees, and they’re well protected in most places.
Jonathan
Nicholas:
I don’t know what the mayor meant to say. I only know what she said that was quoted in the article.In most boroughs in the city of Montreal you can’t just cut down a tree above a certain caliber (10cm in my borough) without first applying for a permit and justifying this. I don’t know about Ste Anne.
What I don’t like about the statement by the Mayor is that she is completely ignoring the role the muni has in preventing things like this happening. I don’t particularly care about the case of these people who bought into a piece in ‘nature’, while simultaneously destroying it and expecting that nobody else should be able to do the same.
It is completely within the right of the municipality to establish a framework of land use and to enforce it. For example, they could require that any zoned landed have a minimum of permeable surface/canopy cover/FAR, etc etc. All to say that rather than the owner being able to ‘do what ever they want’ we can reframe it as ‘we don’t have any regulations that prevent them from doing what they did’.
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Kate
La Presse’s Maxime Bergeron was witness to the blatant theft of a bottle of booze at an SAQ, upon which the workers did nothing. Useless to call the police, they tell him, because they won’t come. Police tell Bergeron they’re overwhelmed, and a lot of the people they pick up are disturbed in some way, so they bring them to hospital, from which they simply leave. The crimes he describes are individually mostly not a big deal but they’re on the rise.
Ephraim
I wonder how long until many things are sold like the store is an automat. You pay and it is dispensed
Walked into a pharmacy in the US, about 80% of the store was under lock and key
daniel
Really? 80%?
Nicholas
Yup, some stores are really locked down.
I’m sure the management of the SAQ would love to automate, given the negotiations with the union.
Ian
The LCBO has armed security in many urban stores. I think that might be cheaper than developing, installing, and maintaining automats.
Ephraim
Yup. It’s shocking… https://i.redd.it/ymvfbmfffv2c1.jpg for an example. Shampoo, body lotion, everything.
Janet
A few years back, the SAQ on Laurier had an attractive Christmas display of Veuve Cliquot right by the door. I witnessed someone pick up a whole case of the stuff and walk out with it. The cashier admitted it was a problem but that there was no using trying to stop it.
Joey
There’s a lot to learn from the fact that the introduction of the SQDC, with its Consumers Distributing customer service approach, didn’t result in a moment’s reflection about how we sell and buy booze.
Chris
As usual, it’s way worse in the US, where you have:
towns threatening to fine stores for reporting thefts
basic/cheap items behind lock and key
retail staff assaulted / killedJust yesterday, the NYT wrote about how even California is looking to rollback some of the recent insanity. This stuff is (part of) why normies don’t want ‘defund the police’ btw.
Linking back to the other thread, it wasn’t like this before Trudeau and Biden. And even if they aren’t the cause, and even if it’s not rational, people just remember things being better before them, and thus want rid of them.
walkerp
There was no shoplifting before Trudeau and Biden?
Ian
No, never ever. I heard Trudeau invented meth and homelessness and frowning. It’s so nice to have people here willing to speak truth to power, wake up, sheeple! /s
In seriousness though, I had no idea theft at the SAQs was so blatant. I wonder what the official policy is on shoplifting or if it’s outlet-by-outlet.
Chris
>There was no shoplifting before Trudeau and Biden?
I’m trying very hard to interpret your comment in the most charitable manner, but you sure don’t make it easy…
It’s not binary. There has always been shoplifting (duh), and now there’s more. i.e. it (the amount of shoplifting) literally wasn’t like this before Trudeau and Biden. This is just a fact. It is *not* a statement of causality. But many of the masses will see it as causal regardless, and I’m arguing this is part of why there is such a strong sentiment in the populace of ‘out with the old, in the with new’.
Hopefully that’s clearer?
As to the actual causality, I have not read deeply on the topic, but I’d wager it’s probably mostly because of inflation. And why is there inflation? Covid pandemic mostly, which of course was largely out of our leaders’ control. But one could make the argument that stimulus spending contributed to inflation too, and that was a policy choice by them.
Ian
The problem with your off-the-cuff analysis is that your statement is unsupported, partisan, and full if holes – and is based on the assumption that unverified correlation = definitive causation.
That’s me being charitable.
walkerp
It’s not a fact. It’s some info you are getting from the news media, with statistics coming from who knows which biased source (the big one in the U.S. is the retailer’s association who love to blame crime on all kinds of policies they put in place that often have nothing to do with crime).
And whatever actual “truth’ there may be about shoplifting in Montreal, it gets distorted and amplified by propaganda in social media, where we have now many people who believe (or want to believe) that San Francisco and Stockholm are unlivable warzones.
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Kate
City cybersecurity was put at risk when paramunicipal workers kept their passwords on post‑it notes stuck to their monitors, in age‑old office style. The CSEM faced a cyberattack last August which is blamed on this casual approach to security.
walkerp
That’s actually quite an article, with the lead being buried. The really wild thing, if I understand it correctly, is that Vertisoft, the company they hired to get them out of their cyber ransom situation, refused to hand over access to their own servers because the CSEM ignored them when they asked them to improve their security practices.
The post-it thing is an easy quote grab for the article, but these days it is probably one of the less vulnerable practices and in some cases may be more secure than anything kept on the machine itself.CE
I’m always a little worried about all the passwords that are automatically saved in my browser and phone. A notepad hidden in my desk drawer would likely be safer.
Nicholas
I’ve seen post it notes for passwords in many offices. Certainly better than the practice of everyone using something like their spouse’s first name or their home street, plus a number or character. Physical access to offices is a lot harder than digital these days.
Ephraim
That’s how I ended up with SnowWhiteDocGrumpySleepyBashfulHappySneezy&Dopey69. They wanted 8 characters a symbol and a number
Joey
Until everything runs on passkeys generated by devices that use some biometric indicator (fingerprint, face scan, etc.) on demand, I cannot recommend 1Password enough as a password manager that easily integrates into whatever browser, computer operating system or phone OS you may be using. You can have all the complicated passwords you want and all you have to do is remember the one that unlocks the rest of them.
Ian
@walkerp “lede” not “lead”
walkerp
“Bury the leddy”?!
That doesn’t sound right.
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Kate
The city will pay half the bill for trees planted on privately owned land, both commercial and institutional.
The CBC link goes to a video; I don’t know whether they’ve made a policy decision to deliver stories in video rather than text, but it seems to be the way they’re going. Radio‑Canada isn’t on quite the same path yet.
CE
Also, the thumbnails for the videos are so stupid, they look like the terrible clickbait YouTube videos. It puts me off wanting to watch them and makes the CBC look very unprofessional.
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Kate
Aaron Derfel reports that language inspectors are assessing hospitals in Montreal, making sure workers only speak French to patients and to each other.
Wednesday, CBC also reported on the trend.
carswell
But they’re not language police!
/sUatu
Hopefully they’ll crackdown on the Saudi med students here at the MUHC. That’ll learn’em! Lol
Ian
That thing about the Yiddish donor plaques cracked me up.
Besides the complete obliviousness to why Jews had to build their own hospital, Yiddish uses Hebrew as a phonetic alphabet, not an abjad like the Hebrew language. One of the easiest ways to tell Hebrew from Yiddish at a glance is that Yiddish spells out vowels. It’s not unlike how English uses the Latin alphabet.
So, I wonder if writing out French using the Hebrew alphabet would technically be within the letter of the law…
Joey
Turns out modern Hebrew is increasingly considered an “impure abjad” because vowels are being used more frequently.
Ian
Interesting, is it loanwords, or what?
Joey
While I am not even close to being a linguist, my understanding is that certain consonants have been repurposed as occasional vowels in recent decades; prior to that, Hebrew would use one consonant (vav) and a system of dots and dashes to indicate vowel sounds.
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