Laval QC ☕ The morning chat
Good morning! We’re starting the week with several important stories that directly affect our region. Between the Laval mayor’s appeal to Ottawa, a major weather warning for Wednesday, and international developments that continue to affect our wallets, there’s plenty to talk about. Grab your coffee—let’s dive in.
🏛️ Main Story
Laval mayor urges Ottawa to exempt recovered corruption funds from taxation
The mayor of Laval is pressing the federal government to ensure residents are not taxed on money recovered from a major municipal corruption scheme linked to former mayor Gilles Vaillancourt.
Vaillancourt, who served as mayor from 1989 to 2012, was sentenced to six years in prison in December 2016 after pleading guilty to fraud, breach of trust, and conspiracy to commit fraud. Authorities say he ran a large‑scale corruption network involving kickbacks from construction contractors.
Municipal officials say the recovered funds may now be subject to federal tax—something the current mayor considers unfair to residents who were victims of the fraud.
“Laval residents have already paid a heavy price for this fraud. It would be unacceptable to ask them to pay taxes on money that was stolen from them,” said Mayor Stéphane Boyer.
He is asking Ottawa to use its discretionary powers to exempt the funds from taxation, noting that the Quebec government took a similar step in 2016.
“There is discretionary authority to correct exceptional situations like this. We are asking the federal government to exercise that judgment, just as Quebec did in 2016,” Boyer said. “I would find it very difficult to write a cheque to Mr. Vaillancourt—we need to be on the right side of history.”
This request comes as Laval is being forced to issue a one‑million‑dollar cheque to the former mayor to cover taxes owed to the Canada Revenue Agency. The City is outraged.
⚡ Key Updates
IMPORTANT WEATHER ALERT: Major freezing rain expected Wednesday
Environment Canada issued a special weather statement Monday morning: 20 to 30 millimetres of freezing rain could fall between Wednesday and Thursday across several regions.
Affected areas include Greater Montreal, Montérégie, Outaouais, the Laurentians, Lanaudière, Mauricie, Centre‑du‑Québec, and the Quebec City region.
Freezing rain could last up to 24 hours, creating dangerous travel conditions and potentially disrupting services. Ice accumulation of this magnitude can weigh down tree branches and power lines, causing prolonged outages.
Temperatures are expected to remain cold in the days following the storm.
Monday in the Montreal area will be mostly cloudy before clearing in the afternoon, with southwest winds of 30 km/h gusting to 60 and a high of 14°C.
Tuesday will bring a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 12°C before conditions deteriorate Tuesday evening.
Residents are urged to monitor forecasts and prepare for possible power outages.
Montréal eases rules to speed up housing construction
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada is fulfilling a campaign promise by easing regulations for developers to help address the housing crisis.
A total of 80 municipal lots have been identified as suitable for residential development. About 40 can be used immediately, including 13 newly added to an interactive map.
Martinez Ferrada is scrapping the policy introduced by former mayor Valérie Plante that required developers to include affordable, social, or family housing in their projects—or pay a financial penalty. Critics said the policy wasn’t working and often pushed developers to build in the suburbs instead.
To support the rapid development of social and affordable housing projects, the City is making $83 million in financial assistance available.
Montréal man facing terrorism charges appears in court today
A Montreal man previously convicted in the United States for supporting al‑Qaida is set to appear in court today as he faces multiple terrorism‑related charges in Quebec.
Mohammed Abdullah Warsame, 51, faces a terrorism charge after allegedly telling a worker at Montreal’s Old Brewery Mission that he knew how to make explosives and wanted to build bombs to use on public transit to kill a large number of people.
Warsame also faces two additional provincial charges for allegedly threatening to burn or damage Passport Canada offices in Montreal and Quebec City. Prosecutors say the threats were made during four phone calls on November 20 while Warsame was being held at the Rivière‑des‑Prairies detention centre.
He previously pleaded guilty in Minnesota in 2009 to providing material support to al‑Qaida after attending conferences led by Osama bin Laden. He served 92 months in a U.S. federal prison before being deported to Canada in 2010.
Pedestrian hospitalized after collision in Longueuil
A pedestrian was hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle early Monday morning in Longueuil.
The incident occurred on Taschereau Boulevard near Curé‑Poirier Ouest.
Longueuil police say there is no indication the collision was criminal in nature. Investigators say the driver likely did not see the man as he crossed the busy boulevard.
The pedestrian was taken to hospital with injuries that are not considered life‑threatening.
Bedbugs: Westmount Public Library temporarily closed
The Westmount Public Library has been temporarily closed after inspections found evidence of bedbugs in several areas of the building.
Municipal officials say an initial inspection on March 6 detected bedbugs in certain parts of the library.
A follow‑up inspection on Monday found additional traces beyond the adult computer section, prompting the decision to close the entire facility for treatment.
The building will remain closed while extermination work is carried out.
Digital library services are not affected by the closure.
🏠 Tour d’Horizon
Canada’s first gold medal: Natalie Wilkie
Flag‑bearer at the opening ceremony, Natalie Wilkie has won Canada’s first gold medal at the Paralympic Games in Italy—her second medal of the competition.
Kalle Eriksson adds a super‑G bronze
The Canadian para‑skier earned his second medal at the Milan‑Cortina Paralympics with a bronze in the super‑G.
Frank Stronach: Crown drops additional charges
In the ongoing case, the Crown will now seek convictions on only 7 of the original 12 charges.
Life sentence for the murder of an 18‑month‑old
Former educator Tomy Carranza Ladry has been sentenced to life in prison and will not be eligible for parole for 14 years.
UQAR launches review of its psychosociology program
The Université du Québec à Rimouski has initiated an external review following criticism of certain teaching methods.
Mauricie municipality inherits a dam without knowing it
Saint‑Mathieu‑du‑Parc unknowingly took possession of land that included a dam.
Three federal by‑elections set for April 13
Voters in two Ontario ridings and one Quebec riding will head to the polls.
NDP leadership vote underway, results March 29
Party members are voting for one of five candidates: Rob Ashton, Tanille Johnston, Avi Lewis (leading fundraising with $724,000), Heather McPherson ($316,000), and Tony McQuail. The winner will be announced March 29 at the annual convention in Winnipeg. There are 100,000 eligible members.
Ottawa invests $94.5M to improve labour‑market data
The federal government plans to spend up to $94.5 million over five years to better understand the labour market.
Fourteen organizations will receive funding to create forecasts and dashboards tracking indicators such as job vacancies in key sectors.
The investment is expected to support industries directly affected by U.S. tariffs, including manufacturing and forestry, as well as construction, trucking, mining, and aerospace.
Bombardier: new defence contracts expected today
The Mark Carney government was set to announce new investments Monday to strengthen Canada’s defence‑industrial capacity, with a particular focus on Quebec‑based Bombardier.
“Today’s announcement will also include positive news for Bombardier,” the company said.
Swedish manufacturer Saab has submitted a proposal to Canada for a mixed fleet of multirole fighter jets, including 72 Gripen aircraft, along with GlobalEye surveillance planes based on Bombardier’s Global 6500 business jet.
Saab estimates the project would create 12,600 direct and indirect Canadian jobs—about 9,000 tied to the Gripen and another 3,600 linked to GlobalEye assembly at Bombardier.
This potential contract would come in addition to the six multirole surveillance aircraft already announced in December.
Canada sees steepest drop in alcohol sales in 20 years
Nearly 3 million litres of alcohol were sold in Canada in 2024–2025, a year‑over‑year decline of 3%.
RCMP in recruitment mode
A little over 8% of frontline police positions at the RCMP are currently vacant.
Haddock quotas cut by 57% in the Maritimes
The reduction could be “extremely damaging” for some fishing businesses in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Arctic Winter Games 2026 kick off in Whitehorse
After months of preparation, athletes marched through the streets to launch the event.
Kyra Wilson: From Long Plain to the Manitoba Chiefs Assembly
A profile of the Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.
Auger‑Aliassime defeats Diallo at Indian Wells
Ninth seed Félix Auger‑Aliassime beat world No. 38 Gabriel Diallo 6‑7 (5), 6‑3, 6‑3. Mboko advances to the fourth round.
Explosion outside a Belgian synagogue
The government condemned the overnight blast in front of a synagogue in Liège as an antisemitic act.
Record number of electronic device searches by U.S. customs
Smartwatches, SIM cards, and USB keys are now among the items subject to inspection. Searches reached a record high in 2025.
Immigration tensions and hateful graffiti in rural Alberta
Once a point of pride in Brooks, diversity has become a source of tension within the community.
Doug Ford defends his health‑care record
Ontario’s government may table its budget before the end of March as hospitals warn of a looming “crisis.”
International Women’s Day: progress still needed
The UN says significant gaps remain in achieving legal equality for women. The day was marked on March 8.
Women’s rights march in Montreal
A demonstration organized by Women of Diverse Origins (WDO) drew a large crowd downtown on Sunday.
The march began at Norman‑Bethune Square near Guy‑Concordia metro and highlighted issues affecting women locally and globally, including immigration, political repression, Indigenous rights, and economic inequality.
Dolores Chew, a founding member of WDO, said that despite some progress, women still face challenges related to pay equity, violence, and reproductive rights.
WDO member Norah Finlay emphasized the importance of intersectionality.
Parliamentary debate proposed on the war in Iran
Some Liberal MPs have expressed discomfort with Carney’s support for U.S.–Israeli strikes in Iran.
Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon announced that the government has proposed a debate on the hostilities in Iran and their impact on Canadians abroad.
Carney does not plan to participate in the debate this evening.
Mojtaba Khamenei named Iran’s new Supreme Leader
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader, has been appointed his successor.
State television announced the decision early Monday.
At 56, Khamenei now finds himself at the centre of Iran’s theocracy. He is considered close to conservative factions due to his ties with the Revolutionary Guard.
Oil surpasses $100 a barrel
Oil prices have climbed above $100 a barrel for the first time in more than three and a half years as the war in Iran disrupts production and shipping in the Middle East.
Brent crude reached $101.19, up 9.2% from Friday’s price of $92.69. West Texas Intermediate traded around $107.06, a 16.2% increase from Friday’s $90.90.
Donald Trump called the historic surge “a very small price to pay.”
Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly 20% of global oil supply passes—remains nearly at a standstill.
War toll in Iran
The conflict has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, 397 in Lebanon, and 11 in Israel.
Lebanon reports that more than half a million people have been displaced. Bahrain has accused Iran of striking a desalination plant critical to its drinking‑water supply.
Saudi Arabia has reported its first deaths. Israel has reported its first soldier fatalities in southern Lebanon. Seven U.S. soldiers have also been killed.
The U.S. State Department will order non‑essential staff and families to leave Saudi Arabia.
In Lebanon, hotels hit by the war
The Israeli army has struck two hotels in less than a week, saying it was targeting Iranian personnel.
Russian anthem played at the Paralympics
Para‑skier Varvara Voronchikhina earned Russia’s first gold medal, marking the first time the Russian national anthem has been played at the Paralympics since 2014.
⚠️ Practical Corner
Get ready for Wednesday: major freezing rain on the way
Here’s what you need to know for the next few days:
Monday will be mostly cloudy before clearing in the afternoon, with southwest winds of 30 km/h gusting to 60 and a high of 14°C. Overnight, a few clouds and patches of fog are expected, with a low of 7°C.
Tuesday should bring a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 12°C, before conditions begin to deteriorate in the evening. Precipitation is expected to start as rain or snow as temperatures drop toward 0°C.
Wednesday, temperatures hovering near the freezing point are expected to turn the precipitation into freezing rain, continuing into the evening. The system should shift to periods of snow and windy conditions on Thursday, followed by a sharp drop in temperatures.
Authorities advise monitoring updated forecasts and preparing for possible power outages, dangerous roads, and disruptions to public transit and other services. Consider delaying or cancelling non‑essential travel on Wednesday and Thursday.
👋 Before we wrap up
It’s a busy start to the week with major local issues and a significant weather alert to keep an eye on. Between Mayor Boyer’s appeal to Ottawa and the incoming freezing‑rain storm, there are plenty of reasons to stay informed and prepared. Enjoy the mild weather on Monday and Tuesday before Wednesday’s messy mix arrives. Have a great week! ☕