The Quebec government has announced a $6.9 million investment in four tourism organizations in Est-du-Québec to enhance the region’s tourism experience and promote it beyond Quebec. This investment underscores the importance of tourism to Quebec’s regional economic development and aims to create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
A maximum security prison in Quebec, Canada, housing over 200 inmates, including notorious criminals, was evacuated due to raging forest fires. The evacuation order was issued for the city of Port-Cartier, prompting the relocation of inmates to other secure facilities. The prison, known for housing infamous killers like Robert Pickton and Luka Magnotta, is currently closed to visitors and staff.
Sunwing Vacations Group has launched WestJet Vacations Quebec, a new vacation provider tailored specifically to residents of the province. The company offers all-inclusive packages to 20 popular sun destinations, including Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, St. Maarten, Costa Rica, and Panama. Flights will depart from three major airports in Quebec: Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport, and Saguenay-Bagotville Airport. The company has partnered with reputable resort brands such as Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, Barcelo Hotel Group, and Princess Hotels & Resorts, to provide a variety of accommodation options.
In a province-wide operation involving multiple police forces, Quebec’s provincial police have apprehended 40 sex offenders deemed to be at high risk of reoffending. The operation, which commenced on April 2nd, targeted individuals who had breached court-imposed conditions and were subject to arrest warrants. Police discovered numerous violations of the national sex offender registry, highlighting the importance of collaboration among police forces, prosecutors, and corrections services.
Two Montreal police officers were justified in stopping and searching a man after they became suspicious of his shoulder bag and his behavior, a Quebec court judge has ruled. The man, Marcus Nimeri, was found to be carrying a loaded handgun that had been illegally modified in his shoulder bag. The judge ruled that the gun was admissible as evidence because police had a reasonable suspicion that Nimeri was carrying a weapon based on his behavior and the fact that shoulder bags are often used to carry handguns.
Road fatalities in Quebec decreased by five percent in 2023 compared to 2022, with a total of 370 deaths reported last year. The most significant reduction was among pedestrians, with a 23 percent drop, while the number of cyclist deaths remained unchanged. Safety advocates welcomed the decline but emphasized the need for continued efforts, including improved pedestrian infrastructure and increased enforcement of traffic laws.
Isabelle Granito, a nurse from Quebec’s Laurentians region, is seeking accountability after being forced to clean up her husband’s body after he died suddenly at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. Jacques Richard, 52, died of a heart attack last year, and Granito arrived at the hospital to find his body lying on a stretcher in the resuscitation room, covered in biological fluids and with a tube still in place. Despite Granito’s pleas for assistance, she was told there was no one available and had to clean up her husband’s body herself. Granito, who has worked as a nurse for 26 years, is now suffering from post-traumatic stress and is considering leaving the profession. She plans to file complaints with the MUHC and the Quebec Order of Nurses.
The Manitoba government plans to end its ban on homegrown recreational cannabis, aligning with the majority of provinces and the federal limit of four plants per household. The news is welcomed by activist Jesse Lavoie, who previously challenged the ban in court. A bill to enact the change is expected soon, but its timeline for passage is uncertain.
The Confédération des syndicats nationaux has filed an application to represent 200 workers at Amazon’s DXT4 warehouse in Laval, Quebec. If the Administrative Labour Tribunal finds that a majority of the warehouse workers have signed union cards, the union will be certified as the representative of all employees covered by the application.
Despite repeated flooding events, Quebec has yet to establish a comprehensive flood protection strategy or maintain a database of flood-prone structures. Experts stress the urgency of monitoring and maintaining flood control measures amidst increasing concerns over climate change. New maps detailing flood risk areas are in development, but concerns remain regarding the exclusion of meteorological factors and the need for transparency in mapping at-risk areas.
