Quebec News | Drop for 2026-01-03

TL;DR

Quebec Liberals set a March 14, 2026 leadership vote; Marc Tanguay returns as interim leader. (plq.org)
Montréal transit: STM maintenance and professionals’ overtime strikes run to Jan 11; essential services upheld but bus trips could be cut by up to ~1,100/day in early January; REM ran overnight on New Year’s and has brief planned closures for testing. (montreal.citynews.ca)
Montréal will table its 2026 city budget on Jan 12 and aims to adopt it Jan 28; agglomeration and STM budgets are included. (montreal.ca)
New rent‑increase rules took effect Jan 1, 2026, updating how Quebec calculates allowable rent adjustments. (quebec.ca)
Culture: Radio‑Canada’s New Year’s lineup stayed dominant, though Bye Bye 2025’s preliminary live audience fell ~12% year‑over‑year. (presse.radio-canada.ca)

Key facts and current state of the topic
- The PLQ will choose a new leader on March 14, 2026; the race officially opens Jan 12 with a Feb 13 candidacy deadline and $30,000 entry fee/ $120,000 spending cap. (plq.org)
Important context and background information
- Following Pablo Rodriguez’s Dec 17 resignation, the party named Marc Tanguay interim leader on Dec 19 to stabilize caucus and preparations for 2026. (ipolitics.ca)
Recent developments or changes
- Party rules outline a two‑round points system across ridings; debates will be announced by the PLQ’s electoral committee. (plq.org)

Key facts and current state of the topic
- STM maintenance workers’ overtime strike (Dec 11–Jan 11) is proceeding under an essential‑services ruling; STM professionals also joined with an overtime strike to Jan 11. (quebec.ca)
Important context and background information
- Quebec’s labour tribunal deemed the essential‑service level sufficient; STM had warned cumulative maintenance delays could hit bus availability. (montreal.citynews.ca)
Recent developments or changes
- The STM projected up to ~1,100 bus departures/day might be cancelled in early January if backlogs persist. REM ran all night Dec 31–Jan 1 and has short network closures (Dec 27–28; early closure Jan 9) for Anse‑à‑l’Orme branch testing. (journaldemontreal.com)

Key facts and current state of the topic
- Special council on Jan 12 will table the city’s 2026 operating budget and 10‑year capital plan; adoption is slated for Jan 28. (montreal.ca)
Important context and background information
- A separate agglomeration meeting on Jan 12 will table the agglomeration budget and STM budget materials, ahead of late‑January approvals. (montreal.ca)
Recent developments or changes
- This is the first budget process under Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada, following a hiring freeze and increased borough transfers announced in November. (newswire.ca)

Key facts and current state of the topic
- Quebec’s revised Regulation on rent‑setting criteria took effect Jan 1, 2026, shifting the base calculation to a three‑year average of Quebec CPI and setting a fixed 5% recovery rate for capital expenditures. (quebec.ca)
Important context and background information
- The Tribunal administratif du logement has updated guidance for rent‑setting files where notices are given on/after Jan 1, 2026. (tal.gouv.qc.ca)
Recent developments or changes
- Tenant groups are scrutinizing impacts as the new method rolls out with January notice periods. (journaldequebec.com)

Key facts and current state of the topic
- Radio‑Canada reports preliminary audiences of 1.893M for En direct du jour de l’An and 2.246M for Infoman 2025; Bye Bye 2025 remained a powerhouse but dipped year‑over‑year. (presse.radio-canada.ca)
Important context and background information
- Preliminary Numeris data cited by Journal de Montréal shows Bye Bye at ~2.627M live viewers (−12% vs. 2024’s live broadcast), with shares still exceptionally high. Final consolidated ratings to come. (journaldemontreal.com)
Recent developments or changes
- Radio‑Canada will release updated totals once digital and time‑shift viewing are included. (presse.radio-canada.ca)