TL;DR
- Ottawa and Beijing announced a new Canada–China “strategic partnership” (Jan 16), including a cut to Canada’s tariff on Chinese EVs (to 6.1% for up to 49,000 units/year) in exchange for major Chinese tariff relief on canola and other agri‑food; visa‑free travel for Canadians was also flagged. (pm.gc.ca)
- Montréal tabled a $7.67B 2026 budget (Jan 12): average residential tax bills up ~3.8% (borough‑by‑borough variation), with homelessness funding roughly tripled. (montreal.ca)
- STM labour file: the overtime strike ended Jan 11; no deal yet with maintenance workers, though professionals reached a Dec 31 tentative agreement. (montreal.citynews.ca)
- Bill 1 (“Constitution of Québec”) hearings resume in February; the Assembly posted the detailed February schedule on Jan 13. (assnat.qc.ca)
- Culture: Igloofest opened Jan 15 (through Feb 7); Innu‑language feature “Capitaine” opened in Quebec cinemas Jan 16. (igloofest.ca)
Canada–China “strategic partnership” resets trade (EVs, canola) and mobility
- Key facts and current state of the topic
- On January 16, 2026, PM Mark Carney and President Xi announced a new Canada–China strategic partnership. Canada will allow up to 49,000 Chinese EVs annually at the MFN 6.1% tariff (vs. the 100% tariff imposed in 2024), and China will lower tariffs on Canadian canola seed to about 15% starting March 1, 2026; related agri‑food barriers are expected to ease. The PMO also highlighted steps toward visa‑free travel for Canadians. (pm.gc.ca)
- Important context and background information
- The reset is part of Ottawa’s push to diversify trade beyond the U.S.; AP and other outlets noted U.S. unease with the EV move. Quebec‑exposed sectors (aluminum, aerospace, agri‑food) will watch follow‑through closely. (apnews.com)
- Recent developments or changes
- The partnership includes MOUs on energy, crime, wood construction, culture, and SPS/food safety. Ottawa set a goal to lift exports to China by 50% by 2030. (pm.gc.ca)
Montréal’s 2026 budget: 3.8% average tax rise; homelessness funding surges
- Key facts and current state of the topic
- On January 12, 2026, Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada tabled a balanced $7.67B budget and a $25.9B ten‑year capital plan. City materials highlight priorities including homelessness, housing, safety, mobility and culture. (montreal.ca)
- Important context and background information
- Average residential tax bills rise about 3.8% in 2026, with variations across boroughs; The Journal/TVA detail the spread and typical dollar impacts. (journaldemontreal.com)
- Recent developments or changes
- The administration says funding for community organizations serving unhoused people roughly triples (Canadian Press report), framing homelessness as the “absolute priority.” (montreal.citynews.ca)
STM labour file: overtime strike ends; talks still unresolved with maintenance unit
- Key facts and current state of the topic
- The overtime strike by ~2,400 STM maintenance workers ended on January 11, 2026, without a deal; negotiations remain stalled. A separate professionals’ union reached a tentative agreement on December 31. (montreal.citynews.ca)
- Important context and background information
- The strike proceeded under essential‑services orders set by Quebec’s labour tribunal in December. Earlier, STM warned of potential bus shortages during the action. (tat.gouv.qc.ca)
- Recent developments or changes
- STM says it remains available to negotiate after 20 months of talks and multiple mediation/conciliation rounds; no new bargaining dates were set as of Jan 11. (montreal.citynews.ca)
Bill 1 (“Constitution of Québec”): February hearing dates posted
- Key facts and current state of the topic
- The National Assembly’s Committee on Institutions updated its schedule on January 13 for public hearings resuming in February (e.g., sessions on Feb 3, 11–12, 17–18). (assnat.qc.ca)
- Important context and background information
- December hearings featured legal and language institutions; February’s lineup adds academics and professional orders, ahead of clause‑by‑clause study later in the session. (assnat.qc.ca)
- Recent developments or changes
- Stakeholders continue to file briefs addressing rule‑of‑law safeguards, language provisions, and institutional design set out in Bill 1. (assnat.qc.ca)
January culture watch: Igloofest opens; Innu‑language feature “Capitaine” debuts
- Key facts and current state of the topic
- Igloofest runs January 15–February 7 in Montréal’s Old Port, with headliners including SOFI TUKKER, Madeon, DJ Snake and Elderbrook. (igloofest.ca)
- Important context and background information
- On January 16, “Capitaine” (William Mazzoleni Valin) opened in Quebec theatres; the thriller foregrounds Innu‑aimun alongside English and centers an Indigenous father‑daughter story across Côte‑Nord and Montréal. (filmsquebec.com)
- Recent developments or changes
- Igloofest’s first weekend featured SOFI TUKKER and The Blaze; “Capitaine” rolls out via Entract Films after an Abitibi‑Témiscamingue festival premiere. (igloofest.ca)