Latest news with #FrançoisBonnardel
Montreal Gazette
2 days ago
- Climate
- Montreal Gazette
Mop-up begins after storms dump up to 100 mm of rain on Montreal
Homeowners across the island of Montreal were taking stock Monday morning of how much damage was done after violent storms swept the region on Sunday afternoon, dropping up to 100 millimetres of rain while knocking out power to thousands of households. Preliminary data compiled by Environment Canada posted Sunday night reported that the island of Montreal had received 70 to 100 millimetres of rain. On the North Shore of the Montreal area, a total of 80 to 110 millimetres was recorded, while the totals stood at 40 to 70 millimetres in the Montérégie region. The heavy rains quickly flooded streets and residences, submerging Highway 40 in the West Island, flooding basements in the city's east end and temporarily transforming major thoroughfares across the island into canals. The storm also delayed flights at Montreal—Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. At its height on Sunday afternoon, the storm system had knocked out power to nearly 100,000 households across Quebec, a number that had dropped to less than 5,000 early Monday morning. Quebec public security minister François Bonnardel took to social media to say his ministry was in contact with those municipalities affected by the rains and was also 'in contact with our partners' and Hydro-Québec and the provincial transport ministry. Les équipes du @secpubliqueqc sont en contact avec les municipalités touchées par la pluie et les orages dans les régions des Laurentides, de Lanaudière, de la Montérégie, de Laval et de Montréal. Le centre des opérations gouvernementales va rester vigilant alors que les orages… — François Bonnardel (@fbonnardelCAQ) July 13, 2025 After blowing through the Laurentians, the Montérégie, Laval and Montréal, the storms headed downriver to Quebec City, where they disrupted the Festival d'été activities and forced the cancellations of most of the scheduled concerts. While the rains may have stopped, Environment Canada said the extreme heat will continue Tuesday and Wednesday. Heat warnings remain in effect for the Montreal area, Lachute, Lanaudière, the Montérégie and Drummondville. Similar warnings are in effect for Ontario. This story was originally published July 14, 2025 at 5:54 AM.
CBC
19-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Quebec to detain trans inmates based on anatomical sex, not gender
Transgender inmates in Quebec will now be incarcerated in detention facilities according to their anatomical sex, not their gender. On Wednesday, the Quebec government announced changes which focus on ensuring "fairness in the treatment of all inmates," said François Bonnardel, Quebec's minister of public security, in an online news release. Previously, transgender inmates could ask to be incarcerated in the detention facility of their choice. For security reasons, they could also choose to be isolated from the general population in both their accommodation sector and during social reintegration programs. The announcement follows the case of Levana Ballouz, a trans woman who was convicted of murdering her partner Synthia Bussières and their two children Éliam Al-Ballouz, 5, and Zac Al-Ballouz, 2, in 2022. Ballouz, 38, was known as Mohamad Al Ballouz at the time of the charges. Once convicted, she made a request to serve her time in a federal women's prison. The request was denied and she is currently being held in a men's prison. Her case sparked a debate over where trans inmates should serve time. The Quebec government says the new guideline announced this week promotes safety and access for transgender inmates to social reintegration services and socialization. "Safety must always come first, for the benefit of correctional officers, our fellow citizens and those incarcerated," said Bonnardel in the online news release. Sylvie Guertin, the mother of Bussières who was killed, says she received a call from Bonnardel informing her about the new directive on Tuesday. "I said 'oh my God.' I was very happy to hear the news. It really touched me," said Guertin, clutching her chest. "They heard me." She says the minister was inspired by her plea. "He said 'it's not right that a man who killed a woman and then two children is going to go to a women's prison,'" recalled Guertin. From the start, she was against Ballouz's plea to be placed in a women's prison, especially considering the violent nature of the crimes committed against her daughter and grandchildren. Celeste Trianon says she thinks Ballouz's case certainly played a significant role in the government's decision to go forward with this directive. A trans advocate and legal clinic operator in Montreal, Trianon says she understands the logic of wanting to prevent people from exploiting women in prisons. But she added that a case can "incite fear" even though there are solutions to approaching tricky situations. "We cannot just like put one model template of like what a trans person is and apply to everyone," she said. "My initial reaction was utter disgust at seeing such blatant transphobia being pushed forward." 'I don't see how they could justify it,' says lawyer Alexandra Paquette, a prison lawyer and president of the Association des avocats Cartéralistes du Québec, says this move is a step back for fundamental rights. "From what we understand … if your anatomy is male genitals, you're going to have to have the surgery in order to get to a female institution," said Paquette. "[That] does not correspond to the concept of gender identity." She notes that in 2017, the federal government made it possible for people to request to be incarcerated in the institution that corresponds to their gender identity. Most provinces have since adopted similar policies at provincial jails, but Paquette says a policy in Quebec has been long awaited. In the meantime, she says cases have been resolved on a case-by-case basis. Quebec's incarcerated trans population represents 0.1% With the incarcerated transgender population representing only 0.1 per cent of the prison population in Quebec — just six people — Paquette says the government's energy could have instead been used to improve staffing and resource issues in detention centres. "The provincial government, it's a very conservative way to write those type of instructions," said Paquette. "I don't see how they could justify it." Amy Matychuk, an Alberta-based lawyer at a prison justice and police misconduct law practice, says there are many transgender people who will choose not to seek any sort of surgical modification to their body, but still do not identify as the sex they were assigned at birth. Requiring people to go to an institution based on their sexual characteristics is not a directive that will prevent violence against trans people, she says. "And it's also not a policy that's necessarily going to protect other inmates or correctional officers," said Matychuk, noting there's no good data showing that these kinds of policies actually protect anyone. According to the office of Quebec's public security minister, there will still be accommodations for trans inmates. Training will also be provided to prison guards.
Global News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Quebec to jail inmates according to anatomical sex, not gender identity
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Quebec's public security minister says transgender inmates will be incarcerated according to their anatomical sex, not their gender identity. François Bonnardel says in a statement the measure is to ensure the safety of all inmates. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy He says inmates' bodies will be scanned to determine which detention centre they will be directed to, adding that some accommodations will be possible. Inside jails, transgender inmates will be allowed to identify with the gender of their choice. Bonnardel says the province is providing corrections officers with a guide to educate them on sexual diversity, gender plurality, and the rights of LGBTQ+ people. The Public Security Department says that as of last week, six out of 5,400 incarcerated people in Quebec jails identified as transgender.
Montreal Gazette
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Quebec transgender inmates will now be detained based on anatomical sex
Quebec's public security minister announced Wednesday that transgender inmates in provincial prisons will now be incarcerated according to their anatomical sex. The announcement follows a high-profile murder case that sparked debate this year about whether transgender inmates should have the option to serve their time in men's or women's prisons based on their gender identity. In a statement issued Wednesday, Public Security Minister François Bonnardel said the change is being made for security reasons. 'The Quebec government is ensuring equity in the treatment of all inmates in Quebec,' Bonnardel said. 'Safety must always come first, for the benefit of correctional officers, our fellow citizens and incarcerated people.' Previously, transgender individuals could request to be incarcerated in the detention facility of their choice. They could also be isolated from the general population for safety reasons. The government says transgender prisoners will still be able to identify with the gender of their choice while detained. As of this month, there were only six transgender inmates in Quebec's provincial prisons, representing 0.1 per cent of the prison population. The issue came to the forefront this year after a Quebecer convicted of killing their wife and two young sons transitioned while in custody and requested to be incarcerated in a women's prison. Mohamad Al Ballouz, who now uses the name Levana, was sentenced last year to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 25 years. Their request was denied. In its announcement on Wednesday, the Quebec government said accommodations will still be made for transgender inmates. Inmates in federal prisons in Canada can be placed in institutions based on their gender identity, regardless of their biological sex.
National Post
17-06-2025
- National Post
'Nothing left to lose:' Montreal police question mother who made bizarre post before child went missing
Article content Police have not issued an Amber Alert because the circumstances of the disappearance did not meet the criteria for one. Amber alerts are issued when law enforcement have reason to believe that a missing child has been abducted. Article content The SQ established a command post near the store where the girl was reported missing. The store, a fireworks and souvenir shop, is located off an exit on Highway 20. Article content Article content A police helicopter was seen flying over the area throughout the morning. Police mentioned that their canine unit has been deployed, and officers could also been seen searching through surrounding fields on all-terrain vehicles. Article content Article content No volunteers needed yet Article content Avoine asked that people who would like to assist in the search stay away from the areas in question for now. Article content 'At the moment, volunteers are not needed but the investigation is evolving. If we need them eventually, we could request some,' she said. Article content Depuis hier, les policiers sont à la recherche de la petite Claire Bell. J'invite toute la population à garder l'œil ouvert et à contacter les services d'urgence s'ils ont des informations. Vous pouvez appeler au 1-800-659-4264, n'hésitez surtout pas. — François Bonnardel (@fbonnardelCAQ) June 16, 2025 Article content Article content She suggested people who live in the sectors can help by checking their lawns, backyards or sheds for anything suspicious. Article content Claire is three feet tall, weighs 35 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. Article content When last seen, she was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with a red collar and grey pants. She was not wearing shoes. Article content Anyone with information on Claire Bell's whereabouts is asked to call 911. Information can also be shared confidentially via the SQ criminal information line at 1–800–659–4264.
