Articles from Journal de Montréal - Actualité

Despite an announcement by Minister Geneviève Guilbault to postpone new residential pool safety rules, several cities, including Bromont, are continuing inspections. The government agreed to delay the implementation by a year due to cost complaints, but without the official regulation, inspections are ongoing. Any fines issued before the postponement will be voided. The new standards require safety measures like specified fence heights and self-locking gates.

The Syndicat des Métallos criticizes a report by coroner Arnaud Samson that advises limiting the use of road flaggers in favor of technological solutions. The union argues that these recommendations threaten thousands of road flagger jobs in Quebec. They are urgently requesting a meeting with the Transport Minister to halt these recommendations. However, the union supports measures to improve road safety, such as increased police monitoring.

The article reviews the inauguration of Mirabel Airport on October 4, 1975, by Canada's Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and other dignitaries. Despite its ambitious goal to become the world's largest airport, the project ultimately failed due to its remote location and lack of proper transport connections to Montreal. Passenger flights ceased in 2004, and its history is marked by the massive expropriations it caused in the area.

In Mauricie, the TES Canada wind farm project is encountering growing opposition, turning the debate into an electoral issue. Citizens are looking to replace existing officials to halt the project's progress.

A former office building at 880 chemin Sainte-Foy in Quebec City will be converted into over 300 apartments by Immostar. After the leases end in 2026, construction is set to start in 2027 and will last approximately 24 months. Immostar is investing about $125 million in this redevelopment, which includes additional new buildings. Although the conversion might be costlier, it comes with benefits due to its proximity to services.

The opening of the new primary school in Cap-Rouge has been postponed to 2029, initially set for 2026, due to challenges in securing an appropriate site. The Centre de services scolaire des Découvreurs and the City of Québec have eventually identified a location, though environmental assessments may cause further delays. Student enrollment projections remain steady, ensuring the new school will meet needs upon opening.

Economist Ferdaous Roussafi highlights the economic impact of the housing crisis in Quebec, which led to a 4.2 billion dollar loss in 2021. She advocates for structural measures to mitigate the effects of this crisis. These economic losses underline the need for government intervention to improve the housing situation.

Nathalie Pépin from Trois-Rivières went into debt by $5,000 to make her pool compliant with a new regulation, which was ultimately postponed by a year. This decision frustrated those who had quickly complied, while others welcomed the extension granted by Minister Geneviève Guilbault. A group, the Comité Citoyens Piscine, initiated a petition that gained over 30,000 signatures to support the postponement. The regulation focuses on pool safety, particularly fence specifications, with a $500 fine for non-compliance.

The Legault government has denied Sam Hamad's request to halt the Quebec City tramway construction during the election campaign. Transport Minister Jonatan Julien stated that the project must proceed, noting that stopping it would incur penalties. Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand agrees, emphasizing that suspending the project would have drastic consequences for citizens.

Longueuil's mayor, Catherine Fournier, announced a halt to new construction projects, focusing instead on upgrading and maintaining the city's existing infrastructure. This strategy aims to optimize municipal spending by improving the current infrastructure's condition.

Montreal and Ottawa have announced a $320 million investment in hydraulic and sanitation infrastructure for the future Namur-Hippodrome district. The initiative aims to enhance local facilities and support urban development. The funds will be used to upgrade water systems and wastewater treatment in this new area.