Briefs

Local News MTC fare increase Public transportation users in Montreal might be paying more for bus and metro rides in the new year. Although the Montreal Transit Corporation hasn’t yet confirmed an increase, the president has said it’s dealing with funding shortages.

Local News

MTC fare increase

Public transportation users in Montreal might be paying more for bus and metro rides in the new year. Although the Montreal Transit Corporation hasn’t yet confirmed an increase, the president has said it’s dealing with funding shortages. The MTC needs more money in order to improve services by updating metro cars and replacing old busses, the president told CBC News. If the increase is approved, regular monthly passes will go from $66.25 to $68.50. Single tickets will remain at $2.75.

Eat to beat the system

A gang member convicted of drug charges was released from a Montreal prison because he is too fat. The 450-lb prisoner was detained for a little over two years of his five-year sentence before officials ruled his prison conditions were “difficult” on account of his health. In other news, prison is apparently supposed to be a comfortable experience.

New paths on Mont-Royal

The city of Montreal is planning to invest $7.5 million to build 10 kilometres worth of foot and bike paths on the mountain. The first of six phases of construction is completed. The project is expected to be completed by 2011.

Mayor Tremblay’s Christmas list

There’s a provincial election campaign, so Montreal mayor Gérald Tremblay has drafted up a list of demands and sent it to party leaders. Among other things, Tremblay has asked that the next government follow through on plans to have a tramway run through downtown Montreal, to help the city complete its Quartier des spectacles and the CHUM, and to renovate Notre-Dame Street.

It’s official; the Grand Prix is gone

Premier Jean Charest confirmed this weekend that the Grand Prix will not be stopping in Montreal next year. Federal, provincial and municipal representatives travelled to Europe to meet with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone. Despite their efforts, Ecclestone maintained his decision to cut Montreal out of the 2009 circuit.

Bailouts for everyone!

The province has deposited $200 million into a trust account to help eliminate UQAM’s debt. This sum is expected to eliminate the debt incurred by construction of the Ilot Voyageur building, which remains unfinished. The building is one of several real estate ventures that UQAM’s previous administration launched. Quebec has already given $180 million to eliminate the debt incurred by the construction of a science building. UQAM has announced a pledge to balance its budget by the 2013-2014 academic year.

International News

Slow and steady

A University of Ottawa professor was arrested this week in relation to a bombing in Paris nearly 30 years ago. The sociology professor is accused of building the explosive device that was detonated near a synagogue, killing four and injuring another 20 people, according to Agence France Presse. The RCMP and French police are working together on the case.

Don’t drink and bus drive

An Ottawa school bus driver sat in his idling bus drinking beer last week. He was caught when a man living nearby spied on him after becoming irritated with the loud noise of the idling bus. The man called police after watching the bus driver drink two bottles of beer. Police arrived and tested the 26-year-old driver, finding his blood-alcohol level to be within the legal limit. Police suspended his license for 23 hours and the bus company fired him immediately.

Conservative party takes step to the right at policy convention

Conservatives debated and endorsed a number of policies over the weekend at the party’s first convention in over three years. Even though Prime Minister Harper has been moving his party towards the centre, some of the policies discussed this weekend lean to the right. A proposal to take away the investigative powers from the Human Rights Commission for complaints of hate speech drew cheers from the delegates; they passed a resolution that calls for laws and charges for killing unborn children; another policy that passed, which is sure to become controversial, aims to provide support for unionized workers who don’t wish to strike. The resolutions passed at a party policy convention give the leadership direction, but they have no legal power.

Flaherty’s plan to avoid a deficit

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said he is considering selling government assets in an effort to avoid running a deficit, according to the Globe and Mail. Flaherty announced at the Conservative Policy Convention over the weekend that he plans to conduct a review of the assets to determine whether or not they still serve a purpose to Canadians. If they don’t, he said, they might be sold. Some of the assets that might be evaluated include over 900 hectares of land owned through Canada Lands Co. and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Flaherty said the CBC will not be for sale.

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