Latest from John MacFarlane
EXPLAINER
Quebec is in a recession. Maybe. What does that even mean?
It's a decidedly unfestive concept: a possible recession in Quebec. But politicians and economic experts have many opinions on what it actually means, or even whether it’s really happening.
Concordia joins McGill in offering bursaries to counter tuition hikes
The university says eligible students will be automatically considered for the bursaries, which will be pegged to academic performance. Concordia says the bursaries are a response to "concerns that recently imposed tuition fee increases would result in fewer students choosing to study in Quebec."
It's pouring and far above freezing in Quebec in December. Yep, that's weird
A weather system far more typical of early autumn is dumping rainfall and breaking temperature records across southern Quebec. "It's very unusual," says an Environment Canada meteorologist.
As Île-aux-Tourtes bridge repairs plod on, merchants navigate troubled waters
The story is similar for nearly every merchant in Vaudreuil-Dorion and other communities west of the island, whose customer base includes a significant chunk of people who drive from Montreal: business is bad, and the uncertainty looking ahead is worrisome.
Quebec doubles budget for fight against homophobia and transphobia
Quebec unveiled its action plan to fight against homophobia and transphobia Thursday. The plan doubles the budget for the file, sending more than half the $23.7-million total directly to community groups.
Olympic Stadium closes playing field as part of roof replacement pitch
The floor is not broken, nor is there a (known) risk of something falling from above. Rather, the closure is described as "exploratory work" related to "developing the business case" to replace the stadium's perennially problematic roof.
Charges laid in 1994 murder of 10-year-old Marie-Chantale Desjardins
Quebec provincial police say they have solved the 1994 murder of 10-year-old Marie-Chantale Desjardins using advanced forensic biology methods and have arrested a 61-year-old inmate at a prison north of Mont-Tremblant, Que.
2 charged in Dominica killings of Daniel Langlois and Dominique Marchand
Jonathan Lehrer, a neighbour of the couple, and Robert Snyder briefly appeared in the Roseau courtroom, both in handcuffs. Snyder appeared to have severe burns on his arm and leg.
Bureaucracy is holding up critical women's shelter spaces, groups say
Requests for help from victims of domestic violence are "reaching historic peaks," support groups say, while projects to expand second-stage shelter capacity around Quebec languish in financial limbo — in spite of already-allocated government funds.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante reducing workload after news conference collapse
The mayor was standing at a lectern answering questions from reporters when she abruptly crouched down and then sat on the floor, saying "oh no, I feel unwell" in French.