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Daily Montreal Sep 3 - Sep 3, 2026

French-only Voter Cards, LaSalle College & REM Lines — Montreal Thursday

20 articles 1 hour ago 1

💼 Economy & Business

  1. Judge extends LaSalle College's creditor protection as fines near $30 million. A judge prolonged the college’s creditor protection Thursday while the institution negotiates a payment plan after receiving $8.8 million in fines for 2023–24 and $21 million the following year for exceeding English-program quotas by 716 and 1,066 students respectively; government subsidies were reinstated as classes prepare to resume Friday.

  2. Montreal blue-collar workers issue 7-day strike notice during major cycling event. A seven-day strike notice from municipal blue-collar workers was filed to coincide with a scheduled major cycling event, raising the prospect of service disruptions; organisers and city officials were notified as contingency planning begins.

  3. Long lines at Édouard-Montpetit REM station jam commuters during back-to-school rush. Montreal commuters faced unusually long queues at the Édouard-Montpetit REM station during the back-to-school period, with reports of congestion at station entry points and peak-period delays affecting students returning to classes.

🏈 Sports

  1. Alouettes can clinch CFL playoff spot with Friday win at Percival Molson Stadium. Montreal (9–2) returns home after a 44–28 loss in Winnipeg looking to secure a playoff berth and a home game Friday against the BC Lions; a Toronto loss to Hamilton on Labour Day would have also sealed their spot.

  2. Felix Auger-Aliassime eliminated in U.S. Open second round. Montreal-born Felix Auger-Aliassime was bounced from the U.S. Open in the second round, ending his run at the Grand Slam tournament this year.

🎨 Community & Culture

  1. Constant Awashish re-elected as Atikamekw grand chief for a fourth term. Constant Awashish won a fourth term as grand chief of the Atikamekw Nation, continuing his leadership role in the community.

  2. Montreal woman's cat Caramel found at Toronto Pearson after two weeks. Abir Batikhi’s cat Caramel, missing since Aug. 17, was located in a Pearson Airport cargo facility Wednesday and is expected to return to Montreal on Friday after surviving more than two weeks on the airport ramp.

🏛️ Government & Politics

  1. CAQ leader Fréchette defends French-only voter information cards ahead of election. Christine Fréchette said voter information cards will be mailed in French only but that anglophone voters can access English information via QR codes, Elections Québec website and by phone; a group of lawyers representing English-speaking Quebecers has threatened legal action.

  2. 726 Quebec hospital patients waiting for long-term care beds as of Aug. 3. Santé Québec data show 726 hospitalized patients were awaiting long-term care placements on Aug. 3, up from 568 in 2023–24; Pierre-Le Gardeur Hospital had 43 such patients, Charles-Le Moyne 37 and the Jewish General Hospital 30.

📰 Also Today

  • Quebec government refuses to reverse French-only voter mailout, decision stands.
  • Feds pledge $4.7B for new VIA Rail cars, to be built in Quebec and Ontario.
  • Poll names Winnipeg Canada’s least safe major city, 1,500 respondents surveyed.
  • Former Montreal mayor Valérie Plante takes new university role, appointment announced.
  • Crown seeks 16-year sentence for man who stabbed court interpreter 15 times, sentence request filed.
  • Examination of whether Quebec is most taxed jurisdiction in North America, analysis published.
  • Vaccine-preventable illnesses expected as kids return to school, public-health warnings issued.
  • Jérôme Dupras named Quebec’s chief scientist, appointment noted.
  • Quebec Conservative candidate apologizes for 2020 post about euthanizing pro-vaccine people, apology issued.
  • Longueuil opposes family’s request to identify officer who fatally shot teen, city filed opposition.
  • LaSalle College students and staff to return Friday, school reopening confirmed.

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Source Articles (20)

Longueuil opposes family’s legal request to identify officer who fatally shot teen

The family of the victim, 15 year-old Nooran Rezayi, has made a formal legal request asking the City of Longueuil to release the officer’s name. But the city is seeking a publication ban to keep the officer’s identity confidential, citing death threats received by police after the incident.

General Sep 3, 2026

Candidate for Quebec Conservatives apologizes for 2020 post about euthanizing pro-vaccine people

A candidate for the Conservative Party of Quebec is apologizing for online comments he made at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He wrote that Quebecers in favour of vaccines should be euthanized. Just seven days into the election campaign, several other candidates in various parties have faced pushback and even calls to resign.

General Sep 3, 2026

7-day strike notice from Montreal blue collar workers coincides with major cycling event

The blue-collar workers' union in Montreal has filed seven-day strike notice, with workers expected to walk out near the end of September during the UCI 2026 Road World Championships.

General Sep 3, 2026

Vaccine-preventable illnesses on the horizon again as Canadian kids head back to school

With millions of Canadian kids heading back to school and temperatures set to drop, it’s time to brace for another fall of seasonal illnesses — and medical experts say staying healthy takes more than just a flu shot.

General Sep 3, 2026

Is Quebec actually the most taxed jurisdiction in North America?

With the rising cost of living front and centre in the Quebec election campaign, a familiar refrain has emerged: Quebec is the most taxed jurisdiction in North America. But is the claim actually true? We took a closer look.

General Sep 3, 2026

Crown seeks 16-year sentence for man who stabbed court interpreter 15 times

Prosecutors are seeking a 16-year prison sentence for a man who attempted to murder a court employee at a courthouse on Montreal's South Shore in January 2024.

General Sep 3, 2026

Former Montreal mayor Valérie Plante embarking on new university role

Plante, who served as Montreal’s mayor for eight years, is heading back to post-secondary this fall as a guest expert at Université de Montréal.

General Sep 3, 2026
From folk rock to fundamental research: Dupras leads Quebec science

From folk rock to fundamental research: Dupras leads Quebec science

Dupras comes from farming families on both sides and said an uncle interested in genealogy traced about 16 generations of farmers on his father’s side.

Canada Sep 3, 2026
Winnipeg is seen as Canada’s least safe city, Ottawa considered safest: polling

Winnipeg is seen as Canada’s least safe city, Ottawa considered safest: polling

More than half of people polled by Liaison Strategies said they perceive Winnipeg to be very or somewhat unsafe, it found. Ottawa topped the list as safest.

Canada Sep 3, 2026

LaSalle College students, staff to go back to school Friday

LaSalle College students and teachers will be going back to school on Friday. Classes had been suspended since the start of the school year.

General Sep 3, 2026

Quebec won't reverse course on French-only voter info mailout ahead of provincial election

The Quebec premier insists 'the rights of the English-speaking community are being respected,' despite voter info not being mailed out in English ahead of the Oct. 5 election.

General Sep 3, 2026

Feds announce $4.7B for new VIA Rail cars to be built in Quebec, Ontario

In the latest push of its Buy Canadian Policy, the federal government is spending more than $4.7 billion for Via Rail to acquire and maintain 313 new passenger rail cars from Alstom Canada. This will be the first time in four decades that Via Rail passenger cars will be built entirely in Canada.

General Sep 3, 2026

Montreal commuters stuck in long lines at Édouard-Montpetit REM station during back-to-school rush

The station is one of Canada’s deepest rail stations, located about 70 metres underground. It has five elevators, but no escalators or stairs connecting the platforms to the exit, leading to overcrowding during rush hour.

General Sep 3, 2026

Felix Auger-Aliassime bounced from U.S. Open in 2nd round

Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime was eliminated from the U.S. Open on Wednesday, dropping his second-round match in four sets to Russia's Karen Khachanov.

General Sep 3, 2026

Constant Awashish wins 4th term as grand chief of Atikamekw Nation

Constant Awashish was elected to his fourth term as grand chief of the Atikamekw Nation.

General Sep 3, 2026
Internal data reveals 726 Quebecers waiting in hospital for long-term care beds

Internal data reveals 726 Quebecers waiting in hospital for long-term care beds

It's a situation that raises concerns for patients rights advocates who warn many elderly people now living in an unsuitable living environment and tying up hospital resources.

Health Sep 3, 2026
League-leading Als set to host surging Lions

League-leading Als set to host surging Lions

The Montreal Alouettes have another opportunity to punch their ticket to the CFL playoffs Friday night.

Sports Sep 3, 2026
Montreal cat returns home after 2 weeks on loose at Toronto Pearson airport

Montreal cat returns home after 2 weeks on loose at Toronto Pearson airport

Abir Batikhi said Caramel was one of four cats she had travelling with her from Jordan to Montreal on Aug. 17. 

Canada Sep 3, 2026
Quebec election: Fréchette defends French-only voter cards during campaign

Quebec election: Fréchette defends French-only voter cards during campaign

Speaking Thursday, Fréchette said information at polling stations will be available in both French and English.

Politics Sep 3, 2026
Montreal’s LaSalle College will open its doors as judge renews creditor protection

Montreal’s LaSalle College will open its doors as judge renews creditor protection

On Thursday, a judge prolonged LaSalle College’s creditor protection as the school faces close to $30 million in fines from the Quebec government.

Education Sep 3, 2026