This is Montreal

Are bike paths being made ‘the bogeyman’ with Montreal’s planned review?

The City of Montreal is planning to review some bike paths across the city, following through on a campaign promise by Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada. The mayor says the goal is to evaluate mobility and safety for all and that, at this point, the city isn’t removing any bike paths. But some are skeptical that this review is the right focus when it comes to road safety in Montreal.

Why downhill skiing disappeared from Mount Royal

Throughout most of the 20th century, you could find downhill ski runs on and around Mount Royal, complete with tow ropes, T-bars and even a 100-ft long ski jump! More than 100 years ago, ski-jumping competitions in the city would draw crowds of thousands of people. In this episode from the archives, we hear why downhill skiing disappeared from the heart of Montreal, and why not everyone agrees over whether it should come back. This episode was first released March 6, 2025.

Why are Montrealers penalized under Quebec’s new immigration program?

International students and immigrants on work visas are finding new allies in their fight to stay in Quebec and get permanent residency. Many have been calling for the province to reverse its decision to scrap the Quebec experience program, known as the PEQ, or at least to grant them exemptions to apply under the old rules, instead of new ones that penalize applicants from the Greater Montreal area. Now, the Mayor of Montreal and the opposition at city hall have come together to put pressure on the immigration minister too.

Hydro-Québec says we have enough power, for now

During a cold snap this winter, Hydro-Québec was twice forced to issue a rare alert and to tap into reserve power to meet "exceptional" demand. The utility has chalked it up to bad timing because some installations were undergoing maintenance and says it has enough capacity to keep the lights on for everyone, at least, right now. With demand increasing, and the province courting energy hungry-industries, the power utility is looking to double its network by 2050. We’ll hear what that means for Quebec residents and businesses.

What is Premier François Legault’s legacy?

Quebec Premier and Coalition Avenir Quebec leader François Legault has announced he is stepping down, just nine months before the next provincial election. We’ll talk about the issues that shaped his terms as premier and what his resignation means for voters who are headed to the polls next fall.