News

Bergeron wants new Montreal Tramway

If Projet Montreal leader Richard Bergeron has his way Montreal will be the proud owner of a new tramway by 2017. Bergeron wants a 37.5 kilometer tramway system, which would run down St. Laurent and Rene Levesque, to help stop the surge of young families moving out of Montreal and in to suburbs. A problem he says Montreal can’t ignore. Bergeron says that cheap reliable public transportation would help young families a lot.


May 20th, 2011

News read by Jessica MacDonald and produced by Erica Bridgeman

Stories written by Aisha Samu, Samah Fadil and Jessica MacDonald


Strauss-Kahn granted bail

Dominique Strauss-Kahan has been granted bail. The former head of the International Money Fund was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of criminal sexual act, attempted rape, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment and forcible touching.

The judged announced on Thursday that Strauss-Kahn can be released on one million dollar bail. He also has to be placed under 24 hour home detention with electronic monitoring.

He released a letter on Wednesday denying all the charges. He also announced his resignation at the head of IMF. 


Supreme Court to hear case of a man killed by tree in Westmount

The Supreme Court of Canada has decided to hear an appeal by the City of Westmount involving an accidental death. In two thousand and six, Gabriel Rossy was killed by a falling tree while in his car. The coroner concluded that the death was preventable since the one hundred year old poplar tree was ninety percent rotten.


Conservative cabinet shuffle

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will announce his new cabinet at a Rideau Hall ceremony Wednesday morning. According to government officials, Canadians should expect to see more of the same. Officials say that while there might be a few surprises, Harper's cabinet shuffle is unlikely to introduce new faces.

Jim Flaherty will continue as Canada's finance minister, a position he has held for five years. In Quebec, Harper is expected to reappoint Maxime Bernier to cabinet and elevate Natural Resources Minister Christian Paradis and minister of state Denis Lebel. 


Metal robbery in Varennes

Varennes police officers reported on Monday that masked and armed thieves staged an early morning robbery.

 

They stole one point five tonnes of molybdenum from a warehouse in the city which is to the northeast of Montreal. Police valued the stolen metal to be worth five hundred thousand dollars.

 


Bixi Battle

Attempts to force release of details pertaining to the Bixi financing plan were blocked for the third time Monday afternoon. Anie Samson of Vision Montreal placed three separate resolutions before the municipal council to gather information about the Bixi financing, all of which ultimately failed.

All three resolutions were denied the unanimous consent needed by Marvin Rotrand of Union Montreal.


NHL v. Basha Restaurant

Basha Restaurant on rue Drummond

The Basha restaurant by the Bell Centre now has more to worry about than preparing a delicious shawarma. The National Hockey League is demanding 89,000 dollars in compensation for a sign outside the restaurant that displayed a Montreal Canadiens sweater. The sign also had the slogan "Go Habs Go" on it. Both the slogan and the jersey are trademarks of the NHL according to a lawyer working for the league. The owner of the Lebanese restaurant called the allegations nonsense and wonders why his establishment was singled out.


May 16th 2011

Read by Sofia Gay

Produced by Jacqueline Di Bartolomeo

Stories by Chris Hanna, Jacqueline Di Bartolomeo, Sofia Gay and Sarah El Fangary


Recount helps NDP match largest ever official opposition to majority

The New Democratic Party captured another seat in Quebec after a tabulation error prompted a recount in the riding of Montmagny-L’Islet-Kamouraska-Riviere-du-Loup. The eastern Quebec riding went Conservative on election night but 100 NDP votes were given to the Green party.

After the votes were validated, the NDP’s Francois Lapointe beat Tory Bernard Genereux by five votes. An official recount put Lapointe ahead by nine votes, giving Jack Layton’s NDP its 103rd seat.


Boogard's parents donate brain to science

The parents of recently deceased New York Rangers player Derek Boogaard have decided to donate his brain for research. He was found dead in his apartment on Friday.

An autopsy was conducted Saturday but the cause of death remains unknown. Officials say they are waiting for toxicology test results that might not be determined for several weeks.


New flooding rules to come into effect this summer

The city of Montreal is creating new rules to prevent flooding damage in buildings on the island. Sixteen boroughs are adopting the regulations. They require certain owners to install a pumping system and check valves in their buildings.  The system will force the water away in the event of a flood.

The rules apply to buildings which have flooded in the past, have ongoing renovation or are under construction. Property owners who do not comply could face fines of up to $700.

The city is also upgrading its water and sewage systems to cope with the heavier rainfall expected in coming years.


Marchers to protest Shale Gas development

A march against shale gas development kicks off on May 16. The group of 30 walkers will march from Rimouski to Montreal over a 33 day period. 

They are asking for a 20-year suspension of shale gas development in Quebec. Marchers will visit areas where rights for shale gas development were sold.
 
They say Quebecers don’t know enough about the issues. The march will end on June 18 in front of Jean Charest’s downtown office.


May 13th 2011

News read by Jessica MacDonald and produced by Erica Bridgeman

Stories written by Aisha Samu, Samah Fadil and Michael Lemieux


Montreal to expand bike paths

Montreal officials want us to think of bicycles as a real alternative to car use. That’s why they are pledging 10 million dollars to expand bicycle routes in the city. The plan is to add seventy kilometers of bike path across the city and the greater Montreal area. We already have an existing five hundred and thirty.


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