Author name: Cult MTL

by Lorraine Carpenter, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

On Tuesday, the City of Montreal unveiled a new plan for nightlife in Montreal, which aims to identify areas most conducive to nightlife activity, and build on offerings in the area, in conjunction with the boroughs as well as “cultural, economic and community partners.” Regulations in these areas would be adapted accordingly, says the draft policy, with tranquility in residential neighbourhoods being a priority.

Having already announced intentions to build an all-night party zone in the Quartier Latin, Projet Montréal’s proposal covers three stages of nightlife (evening: 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., “heart of the night” 12 to 4:30 a.m. and early morning: 4:30 a.m. to 6 a.m.). The plan highlights the following goals:

1. Offer new business opportunities and distribution possibilities to our commercial and cultural partners, ensuring healthy coexistence between nighttime activities and the needs of the population. 
2. Offer a dynamic and safe nightlife, which focuses on entrepreneurship and the Montreal cultural experience. 
3. Ensure the maintenance of current nocturnal activities and equip developing sectors.  

This proposal will be evaluated by the Commission on Economic and Urban Development and Housing, which will hold a public consultation Feb. 13.

by Lorraine Carpenter, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante has confirmed that over 50 new social housing units will be built in the heart of the Plateau-Mont-Royal.

Plante made the announcement on Twitter, saying, “We continue to accelerate our efforts to house more people and fight the housing crisis.”

Earlier this month, the City of Montreal put out a call for proposals to build 700 affordable housing units on the site of the former bus station between Berri and St-Hubert streets, and de Maisonneuve boulevard and Ontario Street.

By Lorraine Carpenter LJI Reporter

The City of Montreal has launched an online map of construction work that can alert Montrealers to potential traffic obstacles as well as keep a live log of projects in progress.

Located on the City of Montreal website, the construction map is accompanied by a list of projects broken down by borough.

“We want you to know what is happening in front of your home, who is doing the work, for how long and what the impacts will be. The platform also allows you to better plan your trips and avoid unpleasant surprises. We are putting this platform online in a desire for transparency, but also to make the clients who lead the projects more accountable.”

by Lorraine Carpenter, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement today, the seventh anniversary of the Quebec City mosque attack, addressing the recent rise in Islamophobia since the Oct. 7 attacks and subsequent war in Gaza. Trudeau named all the victims of the 2017 massacre in Sainte-Foy, a Quebec City suburb, and expressed condolences to their loved ones as well solidarity with the Muslim community in Quebec and across Canada as they continue to experience Islamophobia.

“This attack was not an isolated incident — it was a painful reminder of the consequences of Islamophobia, hate and violent extremism. In recent months, Canada’s Muslim communities across the country have experienced a disturbing rise in hate speech, discrimination and Islamophobia. This is absolutely unacceptable, and we will continue to take action so that Canadians can feel safe and secure in their homes, communities and places of worship.”

Outlining what the Liberal government is doing to combat Islamophobia, Trudeau cited the continuing work of Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, Amira Elghawaby, investments in the Security Infrastructure Program to support communities at risk of hate crimes (including enhanced security at community gathering spaces) and federal gun control legislation.

Lorraine Carpenter, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante has reacted to the murder of Narjess Ben Yedder in Pointe-aux-Trembles this morning. A suspect, reportedly the woman’s husband, has been arrested.

Plante expressed her condolences to the victim’s family and neighbourhood.

“Another femicide has shaken Montreal. This is unacceptable. Violence against women and girls must end. I offer my condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim as well as to the entire community of Pointe-aux-Trembles.”

To contact SOS Violence Conjugale, please call 1-800-363-9010 or visit their website.

Lorraine Carpenter, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

The City of Montreal announced today that a total of $735,000 in funding is available for professional artists working in visual arts and crafts.

In conjunction with the Conseil des arts de Montréal, the city is offering funding to artists for studio space — specifically tenants or owners of a workshop space in a non-residential building. The fund will cover $13 per square metre for creative spaces and $3 per square metre for storage space.

Last year, over 400 Montreal artists received financial aid through this program, according to the city’s executive committee member in charge of culture and heritage, Ericka Alneus.

“Our artists contribute directly to the vitality of our city, the quality of life in our neighborhoods and the attractiveness of Montreal. We must offer them every chance to succeed, and accessibility to artist workshops is crucial.”

The deadline to apply for the subsidy this year is March 31, 2024.

Lorraine Carpenter, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante announced today that the city is investing nearly $37-million in local businesses and economic development.

Aside from direct investment, the city also supports local businesses via the PME, an organization overseen by the municipal and provincial government to provide funding and other means of support to Montreal entrepreneurs.

“Local businesses are good for neighbourhood life and the economy. Faced with a difficult economic reality, we continue to support them with investments of nearly $37-million and essential services offered by the PME.”

Lorraine Carpenter, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Heads of the four Quebec unions that make up the Front Commun, representing 420,000 education and healthcare workers, have announced that an agreement has been reached with the Quebec government today on the crucial issue of salaries.

This comes a day after tentative agreements on working conditions were made during negotiations. All members of the unions in question — the CSN, CSQ, FTQ and APTS — will be presented with the deals at a general meeting after the holidays in order to vote and ratify the deal. It’s up to the members to decide whether the agreements made yesterday and today “constitute a global agreement in principle.”

The CAQ’s Sonia LeBel tweeted about today’s development, explaining that the details will remain confidential until they’ve been presented to union members. According to CBC, it could take up to three weeks for all four unions to vote on the agreement.

Lorraine Carpenter, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Yesterday, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante and Ville-Marie MP Steven Guilbault, among others, announced a new joint investment of $80.5-million by the municipal, provincial and federal governments in 191 social and affordable housing units in the city.

The spaces will reportedly include a supervised rooming house for men on social assistance who are on the verge of homelessness, located in a former bed-and-breakfast on Ontario Street near St-Denis, as well as new housing for women, run by the women’s Downtown YWCA, and units for formerly homeless teens and young adults.

Plante reiterated the city’s commitment to working on the housing crisis, and thanked the city’s partners in these projects.

“We continue to take action to house Montrealers. Thank you to the Canadian government and the Quebec government for their support.”

Lorraine Carpenter, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

According to multiple news sources in Canada, Google has agreed to abide by legislation put forward by the federal government requiring the tech giant to compensate Canadian news companies for their content online.

Google has reportedly agreed to pay $100-million per year to news companies in Canada.

The government had initially estimated the annual amount owed by Google to Canadian news outlets at $172-million.

Federal Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge is expected to formally announce the news in a press conference at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon.

Meta continues to protest Canada’s Online News Act — aka Bill C-18, which comes into effect on Dec. 19 — with a ban on Canadian news content on their Facebook and Instagram platforms.

Lorraine Carpenter, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

This morning the Quebec government announced a $9.7-million investment to support the homeless this winter. The funding will go towards the addition of beds in emergency shelters, and making the services at those shelters available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who spoke at today’s press conference alongside Quebec ministers Pierre Fitzgibbon and Lionel Carmant, commended the province for the initiative, and community organizations for supporting the homeless year-round.

“The needs of people experiencing homelessness are dire. We have a responsibility to provide them with safe shelter in the winter. It is a question of human dignity. I invite us to continue to work together to support community organizations, which do essential work.”

Plante also made mention of social housing, another financial need in Montreal when it comes to preventing and reducing homelessess.

“We must also work to provide a sufficient quantity of social housing. It is the central solution to respond to homelessness issues.”

Lorraine Carpenter, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

A petition calling for the cancellation of the impending Quebec university tuition hike is available to sign on the National Assembly website. The petition was sponsored by Liberal MNA for Saint-Laurent Marwah Rizqy, who is the official opposition critic for education and higher education.

The widely criticized CAQ proposal would increase university tuition for out-of-province Canadian students from approximately $9,000 to $17,000, while tuition for international students will exceed $20,000, as of September 2024.

To view and/or sign the petition to cancel the Quebec university tuition hike, please visit the National Assembly website.