Laval QC ☕ The morning chat
Good morning and happy Monday. It was a big night for Canadian cinema at the Oscars, with several awards going to creators from here. Meanwhile, Quebec’s medical specialists are launching a new pressure tactic today, and Mark Carney celebrated his 61st birthday in London. Grab your coffee and let’s start the week with the stories that matter.
🎬 Main Story
A Triumphant Night for Canadian Cinema at the Oscars
The Quebec animated film The Girl Who Cried Pearls won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film on Sunday during the 98th Academy Awards.
The short film, directed by Montrealers Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, was produced by the National Film Board of Canada. It has screened at more than 40 festivals and has already received multiple awards.
Set in early 20th‑century Montreal, the film tells the story of a poor boy who falls in love with a mysterious young girl who cries pearls at night.
For the filmmakers, the Oscar represents more than recognition for a single project. “We see this as the result of several decades of public policy,” Szczerbowski said in a phone interview, praising Canada’s cultural funding system.
The duo had previously been nominated for Best Animated Short Film in 2007 for Madame Tutli‑Putli.
It was also a major night for Canadian animation overall. The Oscar for Best Animated Feature went to Toronto’s Maggie Kang for KPop Demon Hunters, which she wrote and co‑directed with Chris Appelhans.
The film’s song Golden, performed by Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, became the first K‑pop song to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Canadian artists working on Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein also had reason to celebrate. Production designer Tamara Deverell and set decorator Shane Vieau won the Oscar for Best Production Design, while Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey were part of the team honoured for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another won Best Picture. The ceremony also saw Michael B. Jordan win Best Actor, and Sinners cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw become the first woman to win Best Cinematography.
Before Sunday, Anderson had never won an Oscar. One Battle After Another earned six awards, including Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her role in Hamnet, becoming the first Irish performer to ever win in that category.
Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the horror thriller Weapons, a victory that comes 40 years after her first nomination.
The ceremony also paid tribute to Rob Reiner, who was killed along with his wife Michele Singer Reiner in December. Their son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with two counts of murder. Billy Crystal, a close friend, led the tribute. The In Memoriam segment also honoured those lost in 2025, including Catherine O’Hara, Diane Keaton, Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, Brigitte Bardot and Val Kilmer. Barbra Streisand paid tribute to her The Way We Were co‑star, Robert Redford.
⚡ The Essentials
Quebec Medical Specialists Launch New Pressure Tactic Today
The Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec is beginning a new phase of pressure tactics as negotiations with the provincial government continue to stall.
Specialists will no longer offer appointments through the Centres de répartition des demandes de services (CRDS), the platform that normally distributes consultation requests from family doctors and nurse practitioners. Appointments will now be handled through alternative methods, such as direct email referrals.
The federation says the move should not harm patients. Its president, Dr. Vincent Oliva, argues the CRDS platform has always been completely dysfunctional.
Health Minister Sonia Bélanger says she hopes patients will not be affected. Only 20 percent of appointments currently go through the CRDS, although the government wants that number to reach 100 percent.
The framework agreement with specialists expired on March 31, 2023.
False Alarm at Quebec City Airport Leads to Overnight Evacuation
Access to Quebec City’s Jean Lesage International Airport was restricted for several hours overnight after a threatening call was made to 911 around 10:10 p.m. Sunday.
As a precaution, the terminal was evacuated and airport grounds were closed to traffic. Quebec City police secured the area and examined a potentially suspicious object. A police dog handler, investigators and bomb technicians from the Sûreté du Québec were also called in.
Police later confirmed the threat was unfounded. Shortly before 3 a.m., airport officials announced that operations had returned to normal.
United States and China Begin Trade Talks in Paris
The discussions will be led by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and the Chinese Vice Premier.
AI Is Eating Up Global Microchip Supplies
Several industries say they are preparing for possible microchip shortages within the next year as the rapid growth of artificial intelligence puts pressure on global supply chains.
🏙️ The Daily Rundown
Montreal Wants to Remove All Garbage Bins from Parc La Fontaine
A new pilot project is drawing criticism from blue‑collar workers who fear the park could turn into a pigsty.
Referee Attacked During Minor Hockey Game in Lac‑Etchemin
Police were also present on Sunday following the incident, which was captured on video the day before.
The Canadiens Looking for Risk‑Management Experts
A recurring theme that disappears for a game or two, only to return right on cue.
Gallagher, Matthews and the Challenge of Fighting Time
Both the Canadiens and the Maple Leafs have a veteran player in decline, writes columnist Martin Leclerc.
La Victoire Falls 4–3 in Overtime Against the Fleet
La Victoire de Montréal lost 4 to 3 in overtime to the first‑place Boston Fleet, despite holding a 3–0 lead in the third period. The team is now trying to focus on the positives.
Unlike in 2024, when Montréal dropped three straight playoff games in overtime to Boston and was swept out of the postseason, there are still eleven regular‑season games left and the team intends to move forward.
The lineup faced significant adversity. Defender Erin Ambrose remains on long‑term injured reserve, and captain Marie‑Philip Poulin left the game in the first period. With just over three minutes left in the opening frame and Montréal on the power play, Poulin collided with Boston forward Shay Maloney along the boards. She immediately favoured her right leg, the same one she injured against the Czech Republic at the Winter Olympics on February 9.
With the win, Boston now sits three points ahead of Montréal at the top of the standings.
Poilievre Wants to Save Canada’s Auto Industry
The Conservative leader wants to bring Canadian vehicle production back up to two million units per year.
FIFA World Cup: Construction Projects Could Be Halted in Toronto
Builders and developers are concerned about a proposed three‑month construction blackout zone.
New Brunswick Lobster Fishers Show Interest in Seal Hunting
A workshop on seal processing has sparked curiosity among fishers who dream of a commercial hunt.
Québec Solidaire Presses Government to Act on Energy Drinks
The party wants a cross‑party parliamentary study on energy drinks and youth, similar to the work done on screen use.
Will Canadian Immigration Regret Relying on AI?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has unveiled its new artificial intelligence strategy as part of the federal public service AI plan for 2025 to 2027.
The department aims to use AI to streamline administrative tasks while insisting that the technology will not make final decisions on immigration files. IRCC says it has used AI since 2013, but only for simple “if‑then” models.
Starting this year, AI will be used to sort applications and respond automatically to certain inquiries. The department says these tools are meant to speed up processing without replacing human judgment.
“There Is Room for a Party on the Left,” Says Yvon Godin
The former NDP MP believes the party can experience a revival, even though it currently holds only six seats.
Small Businesses Hit Hard by Rising Fuel Costs
Canadian small businesses are already feeling the impact of rising fuel prices linked to the war in the Middle East. According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, 80 percent of the roughly 1,200 members surveyed fear the conflict will affect their operations.
Two thirds of businesses say they are absorbing the higher fuel costs rather than passing them on to customers. The remaining third has raised prices. Between 10 and 15 percent of surveyed businesses have also reduced employee hours, or their own, to cope with rising energy costs.
Ontario Wants Citizens to Be Allowed to Defend Themselves with Pepper Spray
The Ford government also wants people arrested for sexual offences to be required to provide a DNA sample.
Lindsey Vonn Not Ready to Discuss Her Future
The American skier is still recovering from a serious injury sustained at the Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics.
Pakistan Says It Has Struck Targets in Afghanistan
Clashes between the two countries have intensified since February 26.
Finding Refuge on Stage: Displaced People Turn to a Beirut Theatre
For many Lebanese, the theatre has become a space of freedom and a form of therapy as they flee ongoing bombardments.
The Challenges of Covering the War in the Middle East
Reporting from conflict zones remains difficult for journalists, who face obstacles such as restricted access, censorship and the growing influence of AI.
Carney Meets Starmer on His 61st Birthday
Prime Minister Mark Carney met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Monday. Starmer opened the meeting by wishing him a happy 61st birthday.
A statement released after the meeting said both leaders condemned Iran’s missile and drone attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure. They also expressed deep concern about civilian casualties, the risk of further regional escalation and the broader economic fallout.
Before the meeting, Canada’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Bill Blair, said Canada supports efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon while remaining outside the conflict. The United Kingdom is considering deploying naval assets to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
At a news conference, Starmer said reopening the strait is essential, while acknowledging that it will not be a simple task.
Being Around Negative People Accelerates Aging
The study suggests that negative relationships can be a chronic source of stress.
Sex in Space: The Last Taboo
Scientists are still asking whether humans can truly reproduce in space.
💛 Spotlight
Congratulations to Montreal creators Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, who won the Oscar for The Girl Who Cried Pearls and thanked the NFB for “allowing eccentrics like us, who are still playing with dolls in our fifties, to create things that genuinely inspire the world.”
👋 To Wrap Up
A magical night for Canadian cinema at the Oscars, a Monday that begins with new pressure tactics in the health system, and Mark Carney celebrating 61 years in London. The week is off to a strong start. See you tomorrow.