Laval, QC ☕ Morning Briefing
Good morning,
We’re starting today with concrete local happenings: a strike at Metro in Laval and the full return of regular service at the STL. Beyond that, we’re keeping an eye on a few Quebec and Canadian stories that are likely to make headlines today.
The Daily Rundown
- Strike at Metro’s fruit and vegetable distribution centre in Laval: An open‑ended strike began Monday and also affects the company’s head office and drivers in Rivière‑des‑Prairies.
- STL restores regular service: Service cuts introduced earlier in March have ended sooner than expected.
- Montreal municipal professionals on a one‑day strike: They’re demanding wage increases that keep pace with inflation.
- Public inquiry begins into deaths involving heavy trucks in Quebec: Hearings start Monday at the Montreal courthouse.
- Air Canada CEO announces he will step down in 2026: The company says succession planning is already underway.
- Most Canadians support banning social media for youth under 16: An Angus Reid poll puts support at 75%.
Local Stories
- Metro strike in Laval: The dispute affects 550 workers and centres on wages, subcontracting for drivers, remote work for head‑office staff, and health and safety issues.
- STL back to normal: The agency says it now has enough buses in good condition to resume full service.
Elsewhere
- Freezing rain warning for Montreal and nearby regions: Up to 10 mm expected between Tuesday and Wednesday, with potentially slippery conditions.
- Canadiens win their fifth straight: Montreal beat Carolina for the second time in six days.
- Quebec awards new contract to Amazon: Government data management will go to the U.S. company rather than a local provider.
Top Story
Strike at Metro in Laval hits a key hub for fruit and vegetable supply
An open‑ended strike began Monday at Metro’s fruit and vegetable distribution centre in Laval, as well as at the company’s head office. The movement also includes drivers from the Mérite 1 warehouse in Rivière‑des‑Prairies.
In total, 550 workers are affected. The Laval centre supplies roughly 1,000 Metro stores across Quebec, giving the conflict immediate weight.
Issues on the table include wages, subcontracting for drivers, remote‑work rules for head‑office employees, and workplace health and safety.
The union says the strike is open‑ended but has not indicated whether it could become unlimited. Metro had not commented at the time of writing.
In Depth
STL ends service reductions introduced earlier in March
The Société de transport de Laval has restored regular service after suspending part of its routes starting March 10.
At the time, major delays in routine bus maintenance, tied to parts shortages and equipment management issues, forced the cancellation of dozens of peak‑hour departures.
The STL now says it has enough buses in good condition. It has also implemented short‑term measures and begun reviewing certain processes to prevent a repeat of the situation.
Public inquiry opens into deaths involving heavy trucks in Quebec
A coroner’s public inquiry begins Monday at the Montreal courthouse into several fatal collisions involving heavy trucks.
Hearings will run over five weeks between March 30 and November 13. The review includes deaths that occurred in Boucherville and Ange‑Gardien in 2025.
The goal is to better understand the causes and contributing factors behind these collisions and to issue recommendations to prevent future tragedies.
Air Canada prepares for leadership transition as Michael Rousseau announces departure
Air Canada says CEO Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of the third quarter of 2026.
The company says succession planning has been underway for more than two years, and a global external search began in January 2026.
His departure follows criticism over a condolence message delivered almost entirely in English after the LaGuardia crash. In Quebec, CAQ leadership candidates reacted by saying the next CEO should be bilingual.
Most Canadians support banning social media for youth under 16
An Angus Reid poll shows that 75% of Canadians would support banning social media for youth under 16.
Among parents with children at home, support dips slightly but remains high at 70%. The poll also shows most Canadians don’t believe teens use these platforms responsibly.
Another notable detail: more respondents believe regulation should fall to parents rather than government. As usual, everyone wants a solution, just not the same one.
Bright Spot
The STL’s faster‑than‑expected return to regular service deserves a small shout‑out. When public transit runs the way it’s supposed to, it’s not flashy — but for a lot of people, it’s a genuinely good, concrete piece of news.
To Wrap Up
Thanks for spending a few minutes with us this morning.
We’ll let you start your day with the essentials in hand, already a small victory before the first spilled coffee. ☕