Laval QC ☕ The morning chat
Good morning!
It’s Wednesday, and while the conflict in the Middle East continues to dominate international attention, a few local stories deserve a closer look. Between a major drug seizure in Laval, a boil‑water advisory in Montreal, and political developments in Quebec, there’s plenty to talk about. Grab your coffee — let’s dive in.
🚔 Main Story
Laval police seize drugs in operation targeting “Les Grecs de Chomedey”
Laval police say they seized large quantities of cannabis and other items as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged drug‑trafficking network known as Les Grecs de Chomedey.
On February 24, investigators with the Laval police organized‑crime unit carried out a series of searches at five locations believed to be linked to the group. The operation focused on addresses in both Laval and Montreal.
Two homes were searched in Laval’s Chomedey neighbourhood, along with two residences in Montreal’s LaSalle borough and a commercial address in Saint‑Laurent. The SPL was assisted by its Équinoxe team, canine handlers, patrol officers, and the SPVM tactical intervention unit.
Police seized 32.5 kilograms of dried cannabis, 4.2 kilograms of cannabis edibles, and 11 bottles of cannabis syrup.
Investigators also confiscated a replica handgun, 10 cellphones, a GPS tracking device, a drone, a computer, more than $5,000 in cash, and fraudulent credit cards.
No arrests were made. Police describe the searches as the first phase of a larger, ongoing investigation, adding that the operation reflects continued efforts to disrupt organized‑crime activity in the region.
Last December, a Mr. Puffs location in Laval’s Chomedey neighbourhood — identified by police as the group’s “headquarters” — was targeted by gunfire. The leader of Les Grecs de Chomedey, Charalambos Theologou, known as “Bobby the Greek,” was shot dead in broad daylight at a Starbucks in Laval last October.
⚡ Highlights
💧 Boil‑water advisory in Plateau‑Mont‑Royal
A water‑main break in Plateau‑Mont‑Royal has triggered a boil‑water advisory for residents. City officials issued the precautionary notice after Tuesday’s break involving a 20‑inch pipe on De Lorimier Avenue.
Authorities have not provided a timeline for lifting the advisory. The break forced the closure of De Lorimier between Masson Street and Saint‑Joseph Boulevard. City crews are carrying out emergency repairs while the SPVM manages traffic.
The cause of the rupture has not been determined. Residents in affected areas are asked to bring tap water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before drinking it or using it for cooking, until further notice.
📊 Liberals catch up to the PQ in new poll
The Quebec Liberal Party has erased the once‑significant lead held by the Parti Québécois and is now virtually tied with its rival. A new Léger poll conducted for Le Journal and TVA shows the PQ at 31% support, just ahead of the Liberals at 30%.
In December, Paul St‑Pierre Plamondon and his party held an 18‑point lead over the Liberals. The shift comes as Charles Milliard settles into his role as Liberal leader. The Coalition Avenir Québec has, for the first time, fallen behind the Conservatives.
Support for Quebec sovereignty has dropped to its lowest point since the 1995 referendum. Only 29% of respondents said they would vote for independence if a referendum were held today, while 71% would vote against.
Within the CAQ, Christine Fréchette has widened her lead in the party’s leadership race. Seventy percent of CAQ supporters consider her the best choice to lead, compared with 20% for Bernard Drainville. The online poll was conducted from February 27 to March 2, 2026, among 1,041 respondents aged 18 and older.
🏒 Canadiens fall 7–5 to the Sharks
Macklin Celebrini recorded a goal and three assists, Kiefer Sherwood scored the power‑play winner with 3:26 left, and the San Jose Sharks beat the Montreal Canadiens 7–5 on Tuesday night.
Alex Newhook scored two power‑play goals for Montreal. Oliver Kapanen, Phillip Danault, and Ivan Demidov also scored, while Mike Matheson added three assists.
The Canadiens lost in regulation for the first time since January 24 in Boston.
🏠 The Overview
⚖️ Quebec Chief Justice Manon Savard announces her departure
The chief justice, who clashed publicly with Simon Jolin‑Barrette last year, will step down on June 30.
⚖️ Boundaoui trial: Crown says the accused “intended to kill”
As the trial continues in the killing of 15‑year‑old Meriem Boundaoui, the Crown sharply challenged on Tuesday the version of events given by the two men accused in the February 7, 2021 shooting in Saint‑Léonard.
Aymane Bouadi, 30, testified that he had no idea his co‑accused, Salim Touaibi, also 30, would pull out a gun and open fire that day. Touaibi admitted pulling the trigger, claiming he believed the vehicle where Boundaoui was sitting was empty.
The prosecution rejected that account. “You intended to kill the Rekik brothers, but you killed a 15‑year‑old girl,” prosecutor Simon Lapierre told Bouadi. Lapierre also suggested that Bouadi may have been the actual shooter, contradicting Touaibi’s confession.
“That’s completely false,” Bouadi reportedly replied. “I know I didn’t do anything.”
The court heard that the shooting stemmed from a parking dispute between two neighbouring businesses on Jean‑Talon Street.
🛂 New immigration rules threaten Quebec’s circus industry
Tightened rules under the TFWP and the end of the PEQ are making it harder for Quebec circus companies to recruit foreign talent.
🏛️ Quebec constitution: Liberals want to start from scratch
Charles Milliard believes the debate should be paused and relaunched under the next legislature.
🏒 Canadiens approach the trade deadline
The Habs have the assets to make a major move — but is now the right time to use them?
⚖️ Extradition of Dave Turmel to Quebec approved
The former fugitive now has 15 days to appeal the decision.
👶 Childcare: Supreme Court to rule Friday on asylum seekers
Children of asylum seekers were once allowed to attend subsidized daycare (CPE), until the rule changed in 2018.
⏰ Has the time come to abolish the time change?
British Columbia has announced it will keep Pacific Daylight Time year‑round starting March 8.
💰 Mark Carney speaks candidly about his relationship with Trump
“You have to be very careful with the language you use with him,” the prime minister said. “It’s not easy.”
⛽ Bay du Nord: N.L. and Equinor reach an agreement
The massive offshore oil project appears to be back on track after years of uncertainty, with support from Ottawa.
✈️ Bank of Canada governor issues warning
Tiff Macklem says new players in global debt markets — such as hedge funds and non‑traditional investors — are not monitored as closely as banks. He warns this could create additional risks in an already unstable economic environment.
He notes that U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have increased volatility in financial and energy markets, making these risks even more concerning.
Macklem also points out that hedge funds now buy up to half of Government of Canada bonds at auction. This growing presence of less‑regulated actors in such a central market could make the system more vulnerable during periods of turbulence.
✈️ Canada secures limited seats on flights out of Lebanon
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says the federal government has secured “a limited number of seats” on commercial flights out of Lebanon for Canadians trying to leave the region.
She says more than 103,000 people have registered with Global Affairs Canada in the Middle East and Gulf region, highlighting the scale of the demand for assistance.
The Canadian government is not offering assisted departures, meaning Canadians must rely on available seats on commercial flights.
✈️ Canadians stranded in the Middle East ask for help
A Canadian visiting Dubai says his family needs more government support to return home, as flight cancellations have multiplied since the U.S.–Iran conflict escalated on Saturday.
Devin Ramoutar, 27, from Toronto, says he arrived in Dubai on Thursday with his parents and sister for a short vacation. They were supposed to return Monday, but their flight has been cancelled six times.
Ramoutar says his family has received no support from the Canadian embassy despite their attempts to get help.
🌴 One‑third of Canadians changing their Mexico travel plans
A new poll shows that 31% of Canadians who had plans or intentions to visit Mexico are now considering choosing another destination. An additional 7% are thinking about cancelling a trip they already booked.
However, 46% of respondents still plan to stick to their Mexico itinerary.
The Léger poll also shows that 55% of Canadians rate their level of concern about travelling to Mexico as “high.” The anxiety comes after violence erupted in the country about a week and a half ago, following the Mexican army’s killing of a cartel leader.
🚌 Canadian woman killed in Dominican Republic
The daughter of a Canadian woman killed in a bus crash in the Dominican Republic says her family is still searching for answers three days after the incident, which also left another Canadian dead and 13 people injured.
Amanda Fullerton, from Manitoba, says her mother, Colleen Fullerton, died in the crash Sunday night, while her father, John Fullerton, is hospitalized. She says she has not been able to reach him since the accident.
She is urging Canadian consular officials to send a representative to the hospital where her father is being treated, saying the family feels unsupported. The official confirmation of her mother’s death arrived Monday afternoon from the RCMP.
⚖️ B.C. chief coroner to investigate Tumbler Ridge
The investigation will examine mental‑health services in rural communities. Many observers also wonder whether it will determine how the killer’s mental state may have contributed to the tragedy, and whether gaps in access to care played a role.
🚗 Cattle on the loose on Highway 17 in Ontario
A collision on March 1 on Highway 17 near Inglis Lake Road in Kenora caused several cows to escape from a trailer being hauled by a commercial vehicle. The crash, which happened around 10 a.m., led to the animals scattering in the area, prompting authorities to secure the scene.
The Ontario Provincial Police say a plan is in place to safely recover the remaining cattle still at large. Officers are asking the public not to chase or shoot the animals, warning that doing so could lead to charges under the Trespass to Property Act or the Criminal Code, including reckless discharge of a firearm, careless use of a firearm, or theft of livestock.
Drivers in the Inglis Lake Road area are urged to stay alert and report any stray cattle. Police thanked residents for their cooperation and emphasized that community safety — and the safety of the recovery team — remains the priority.
🎓 The red square resurfaces in Ontario
The red square, which symbolized the Quebec student movement in 2012, is now appearing in Ontario amid a major overhaul of student financial aid.
🎿 Ralf Etienne: first Haitian athlete at the Winter Paralympics
The skier becomes Haiti’s first‑ever representative at the Winter Paralympic Games, going from the 2010 earthquake to the mountains of Cortina in 2026.
🛡️ Alberta not ready for foreign interference, experts warn
A referendum on Alberta independence could take place this year, but experts say the province is not prepared to deal with foreign interference.
💰 U.S. tariffs rising to 15% this week
U.S. “reciprocal” tariffs are expected to rise to 15% this week. This does not include sector‑specific tariffs imposed by Trump.
✈️ Saab invites Canada to help develop the fighter jets of the future
Sweden is among several countries working on the next generation of fighter aircraft.
👋 Before we wrap up
A busy day with major developments in Laval and across the region. Between local police operations and provincial political shifts, there’s a lot to take in this morning. And if you’re in Plateau‑Mont‑Royal, don’t forget to boil your water. Have a great day! ☕