Bonjour, Montréal! It’s a big week in Quebec politics and a better one for South Shore commuters. Here are the stories to know this Monday, October 19.
1. Liberal MNAs Sworn In This Afternoon
After the Parti Québécois MNAs took their seats last week (see our coverage of the PQ swearing-in), it’s the Official Opposition’s turn. The Quebec Liberal Party’s MNAs are being sworn in at the National Assembly this afternoon, according to The Canadian Press.
On Sunday, Liberal leader Charles Milliard unveiled his leadership team: André Fortin (Pontiac) is parliamentary leader, Madwa-Nika Cadet is chief whip, Filomena Rotiroti chairs the caucus and Julie White is deputy leader. The Liberals more than doubled their seat count in the October 5 election, from 18 to 40, though a judicial recount is under way in Vachon, where the Liberal candidate won by just ten votes.
2. The Rest of the Week at the National Assembly
- Tuesday: Québec Solidaire’s MNAs are sworn in.
- Wednesday: The composition of the new PQ cabinet is announced.
- Thursday: Conservative MNAs are sworn in.
Meanwhile, the outgoing CAQ has named Mathieu Lévesque as its interim leader, as we reported over the weekend in our weekend coverage.
3. Mercier Bridge: All Lanes Are Back
Good news for South Shore drivers: the weekend repair of the cracked steel beam on the Honoré-Mercier Bridge is done, and all lanes have reopened, CTV News reports. Quebec’s Transport Ministry said the work aimed to stop the crack from spreading and reinforce that section of the bridge, and thanked drivers for their patience. With the bridge fully open, tolls on the westbound A-30 have been reinstated. The bigger debate over repairing or replacing the 1934 bridge isn’t going away, as we explained in our Mercier Bridge feature.
4. McGill Reviewing Its Protocols
McGill University says it is reviewing how it identifies and responds to situations like the one revealed last week: a man convicted of second-degree murder and attempted murder for attacks in British Columbia in 1984, now on parole, had been attending law classes. In a memo to students, provost Angela Campbell said students’ concerns are legitimate and that every student has the right to study in a safe environment, while adding that McGill believes in rehabilitation. According to the university, the man has not been on campus since early October, and McGill has contacted Correctional Service Canada (CTV News).
We’ll keep following these stories all week. Bonne semaine!
More on MTL365
- Soup Season: The 8 Best French Onion Soups in Montreal Right Now
- This Week in Montreal (Oct. 19–25): Horror Films, Electronic Music, Halloween Parties and the Last Slurps of Ramen Fest
- Weekend Recap: Caufield’s OT Magic Lifts the Habs, While the Als Rest Their Stars in Regina
- More Montreal news on MTL365
Photo: Christophe.Finot / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Sources: CTV News / The Canadian Press, CTV News, CTV News
