Montreal Afternoon Update: February 17, 2026

Poulin Ties Olympic Goal Record as Canada Advances

Marie-Philip Poulin tied the all-time Olympic goal-scoring record as Team Canada defeated their opponent to secure a spot in the women's hockey semifinals. The Montreal native scored her milestone goal during Tuesday's game, bringing her career Olympic tally to match the existing record.

Poulin, who serves as captain of the Canadian women's hockey team, has been a central figure in Canada's Olympic hockey program for over a decade. The goal marks another achievement in her decorated international career.

Team Canada will now prepare for the semifinal round as they pursue another Olympic medal. The team's next game is scheduled for later this week. Poulin's performance continues to draw attention from hockey fans across Montreal and the country.

The Canadian women's team has been training at facilities in the Montreal region in preparation for the tournament. Poulin's hometown supporters have been following the team's progress throughout the competition.

Rodriguez Resigns as Quebec Liberal Leader

Pablo Rodriguez announced his resignation as leader of the Quebec Liberal Party on Tuesday, ending his tenure at the helm of the provincial opposition party. Rodriguez made the announcement at a press conference in Montreal.

The former federal cabinet minister took over leadership of the Quebec Liberals after stepping down from federal politics. His departure creates a vacancy at the top of the party as it works to rebuild support ahead of the next provincial election.

Rodriguez did not provide specific details about his reasons for stepping down during the announcement. The Quebec Liberal Party has not yet announced a timeline for selecting a new leader.

The party executive will meet in the coming days to establish the process for a leadership race. Rodriguez indicated he will remain as a member of the National Assembly representing his constituency.

The Quebec Liberals currently sit as the official opposition in the National Assembly. The party has been working to regain ground following recent electoral setbacks in the province.

Mayor Proposes AI Solution for Traffic Cone Management

Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada discussed the potential use of artificial intelligence technology to manage construction zone traffic cones during a public appearance on Tuesday. The mayor outlined a proposal that would use AI systems to optimize the placement and removal of orange cones across the city.

Martinez Ferrada said the technology could help address longstanding complaints from Montreal drivers about construction zone management. The system would track construction schedules and coordinate cone placement more efficiently than current manual processes.

The mayor's office has not released specific details about the cost or timeline for implementing such a system. Officials said they are currently exploring various technological options and consulting with industry experts.

Montreal's orange construction cones have become a symbol of the city's ongoing infrastructure work. The city manages thousands of construction zones annually, requiring significant coordination of traffic management equipment.

Martinez Ferrada emphasized that any new system would need to integrate with existing city infrastructure management protocols. The proposal is still in preliminary stages and would require approval from city council before implementation.

City officials said they will provide more information about the AI traffic management proposal in the coming months.

Wrong-Way Collision Injures STM Bus Driver

A wrong-way driver collided head-on with a Société de transport de Montréal bus on the Ville-Marie Expressway early Tuesday morning. The crash occurred during morning rush hour, causing significant traffic delays.

The STM bus driver sustained injuries in the collision and was transported to a Montreal hospital for treatment. The extent of the driver's injuries has not been disclosed. No passengers were on the bus at the time of the accident.

The driver of the wrong-way vehicle was also injured and taken to hospital. Police have not released information about charges or the circumstances that led to the vehicle traveling in the wrong direction.

Montreal police closed sections of the Ville-Marie Expressway for several hours while investigators examined the crash site. Traffic was diverted to alternate routes, creating delays for commuters throughout the downtown core.

STM officials said they are cooperating with the police investigation. The transit authority has not commented on whether the bus sustained significant damage or when it will return to service.

Wrong-way collisions are relatively rare on Montreal's expressway system. Police are investigating how the driver entered the highway traveling against traffic.

The investigation is ongoing and police have asked anyone with information about the collision to contact authorities.

Province Delays New French Curriculum

The Quebec government announced Tuesday it is postponing the implementation of its revised French language curriculum until September 2027. Education officials said the delay will allow more time for teacher training and resource development.

The new curriculum was originally scheduled to be introduced in schools across the province in September 2026. The postponement affects elementary and secondary schools throughout Quebec.

Education Minister officials said feedback from teachers and school boards indicated more preparation time was needed. The revised curriculum includes updated teaching methods and expanded content requirements for French language instruction.

School boards had raised concerns about whether adequate training and resources would be available for the fall 2026 implementation. Teachers' unions had also requested additional time to prepare for the curriculum changes.

The education ministry said it will use the additional year to conduct more professional development sessions for teachers. The department will also work with school boards to ensure necessary teaching materials are available before the 2027 rollout.

The revised French curriculum is part of broader efforts to strengthen French language education in Quebec. The curriculum updates include changes to reading, writing, and oral communication instruction methods.

Education officials said the postponement will not affect other curriculum updates scheduled for implementation in 2026. The ministry plans to provide regular updates on preparation progress throughout the coming year.

Schools will continue using the current French curriculum during the 2026-2027 academic year. The education ministry said it remains committed to implementing the revised program in fall 2027.