By Murray Sherriffs
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Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet plans to table a bill today to end the 11-day-old STM transit strike, saying public transportation in Montreal is an “…essential service”. Montreal’s mayor-elect Soraya Martinez Ferrada wants the transit strike to end by Saturday, saying that ”…we absolutely must settle quickly if we don’t want to end up with a special law that will take away all bargaining power.” The union representing 4,500 bus drivers and metro operators plans to strike this week-end, joining the 2,400 maintenance workers already off their jobs, which will shut down of the entire transit system. STM maintenance workers have heard the threats and have suspended all strike action as of this morning at 6 a.m. Labor Minister Jean Boulet wants the power to intervene in labour disputes that hold citizens hostage and will present a bill today to give the government broad power to end strikes.
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Research from Concordia University says Montreal’s transit agency could save about $3,500 a day by using electric buses because operating costs of electric buses are 40-60% lower than diesel-powered vehicles.
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Quebec’s Superior Court has refused a request by the federation representing medical specialists, to accept a new interpretation of parts of the Bill 2 health law. Doctors claim that the law could slow down or stop a physician’s professional activities by prohibiting them from discussing among themselves retirement plans, protesting or moving out of Quebec and impose $20,000 fines if they don’t comply. The government argues that interpretation misinterprets the law; that the law allows free speech and for doctors to discuss life plans. Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé is proposing draft regulations to reduce physician paperwork and free up 310,000 medical appointments.
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A 14-year-old boy has been arrested after attacking his 73-year-old grandmother with an axe yesterday morning in Sainte Julienne, rendering her in critical condition.
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Montreal police have arrested two 15-year-old lads following several armed robberies and centred on meeting people wanting to sell their possession online, then attacking them with pepper spray and robbing them at meeting points in Anjou, Saint-Léonard and Mercier–Hochelaga–Maisonneuve.
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A child has been hit by a car near the Sainte-Claire Elementary School in Brossard, leaving the girl with a fractured hip.
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Montrealers remembered Canada’s best during Remembrance Day ceremonies at Place du Canada as well as at several other locations. They witnessed a 21-gun-salute by the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment and helicopter flyover by 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron. The day brought back memories of those who didn’t make it home from conflicts in so many parts of the world and of the ones who can home but are not whole. On hand at the ceremony were Montreal Mayor-elect Soraya Martinez Ferrada, federal MP Marc Miller (a former infantry commander) and Quebec MNA Chantal Rouleau, the minister responsible for the Montreal region.
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Environment Canada admits it didn’t expect the 20 centimetre snowfall that surprised Montreallers this week; that they predicted a 4 cm. and expected the heavy stuff to fall on the Eastern Townships region.
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LA 5 Habs 1
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Snow / rain / 3 today and tomorrow
