Montreal Morning Brief: Top 5 News Stories for Feb 18, 2026

Mayor Announces Major Civil Service Restructuring

Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada announced Tuesday a comprehensive plan to eliminate 1,000 civil service positions by 2029 as part of an effort to streamline municipal operations. The restructuring initiative comes as the city grapples with budget pressures and aims to modernize service delivery.

The announcement was made during a press conference at City Hall, where the mayor outlined the phased approach to the workforce reduction. The positions will be eliminated primarily through attrition and voluntary departure programs, according to city officials. The restructuring is expected to save the municipality approximately $75 million annually once fully implemented.

The plan coincides with the city's 2026 budget, which includes property tax increases for residential and commercial properties. The budget documents reveal a significant funding gap for STM (Société de transport de Montréal) maintenance operations, raising concerns about the transit agency's ability to maintain aging infrastructure.

Union representatives have expressed concern about the impact on service levels. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) local representing municipal workers said they would monitor the implementation closely to ensure essential services are not compromised. The mayor emphasized that the restructuring would focus on administrative redundancies and would not directly affect frontline service delivery.

The city's finance committee will review detailed implementation plans over the coming weeks, with quarterly progress reports scheduled to be presented to council throughout the three-year period.

Metro System Experiences Network-Wide Shutdown

Montreal commuters faced significant disruption this morning when a communications equipment failure forced a complete shutdown of the Metro system for over an hour during peak travel time. The incident affected all four Metro lines, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at stations across the city.

STM officials reported that the failure occurred at approximately 7:15 AM and affected the central communications network that coordinates train movements throughout the system. Service was restored around 8:30 AM, but residual delays continued into the late morning as the system worked to normalize operations.

The shutdown has reignited debate over the reliability of Montreal's aging transit infrastructure. The Metro system, with portions dating back to 1966, has experienced multiple technical failures in recent years. Transit advocates have pointed to the incident as evidence of chronic underinvestment in maintenance and modernization.

STM spokesperson confirmed that a full investigation into the root cause of the failure is underway. Preliminary assessments suggest the issue originated from aging communications hardware that controls train signaling and operations. The agency stated that replacement parts have been ordered and that redundancy measures are being reviewed to prevent similar incidents.

The timing of the shutdown, coming just days after the budget announcement revealed funding gaps for STM maintenance, has added urgency to discussions about transit infrastructure investment. Opposition councillors have called for an emergency session to address transit reliability concerns.

Healthcare Labor Shortage Threatens Regional Hospital Opening

Officials in Vaudreuil-Soulanges are making an urgent appeal to the Quebec government to provide relief for a critical healthcare labor shortage threatening the scheduled opening of a new regional hospital. The crisis stems from the recent elimination of the Programme de l'expérience québécoise (PEQ), which previously provided a pathway for immigrant workers to remain in Quebec.

Local officials have requested that the provincial government allow immigration applicants who were already in the PEQ process to continue working while their cases are resolved. The region is facing a severe shortage of healthcare workers, including nurses, personal support workers, and medical technicians essential to staffing the new facility.

The new Vaudreuil-Soulanges hospital, representing a $350 million investment, was scheduled to begin phased operations later this year. However, staffing challenges have put those timelines at risk. Hospital administrators report they are currently short approximately 200 positions across various healthcare roles.

The PEQ program, which was substantially reformed last year, had been a key recruitment tool for healthcare facilities in suburban and regional Quebec. The changes eliminated certain occupational categories and added new requirements, effectively cutting off a pipeline of qualified workers already integrated into local healthcare systems.

Regional health authority officials have warned that without immediate intervention, the hospital opening could be delayed by six months or more. The situation has prompted calls for emergency measures from provincial health and immigration ministries.

Community leaders argue that many of the affected workers have established roots in the region, with families and community connections, and possess skills desperately needed in the healthcare system. They are requesting transitional provisions that would allow these workers to continue their employment while immigration status issues are resolved through alternative pathways.

Marie-Philip Poulin Ties Olympic Scoring Record

Montreal hockey star Marie-Philip Poulin has etched her name deeper into Olympic history, scoring her 18th career Olympic goal to tie the all-time record. The milestone goal came during Canada's quarterfinal match and propelled the team into the semifinals of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Poulin, who serves as captain of the Canadian women's hockey team, scored the record-tying goal in the second period, demonstrating the clutch performance she has become known for throughout her Olympic career. The 34-year-old forward now shares the record for most Olympic goals scored in women's hockey history.

The achievement marks another chapter in Poulin's storied Olympic career, which spans multiple Games. Known for her ability to elevate her performance on the biggest stage, Poulin has been a cornerstone of Canadian women's hockey dominance at the international level.

Her hometown of Montreal has been following her Olympic journey closely, with viewing parties organized across the city. Local hockey associations and youth programs have celebrated Poulin as a role model who has inspired a generation of young players in the region.

With Canada advancing to the semifinals, Poulin has the opportunity to break the record outright in the coming matches. The team's next game is scheduled for later this week, where another strong performance could see her claim the record exclusively.

Montreal Pursues NATO Defense Bank Headquarters

A unified coalition of Quebec political and business leaders has launched a formal bid to establish NATO's new defense investment bank headquarters in Montreal. The initiative represents one of the most significant international institution recruitment efforts undertaken by the city in recent years.

The proposed NATO defense bank would serve as a financial institution focused on coordinating defense infrastructure investments among member nations. Montreal's bid emphasizes the city's established financial sector expertise, bilingual workforce, and existing international organization infrastructure.

Supporters of the bid include representatives from all levels of government, major financial institutions, and business organizations. The Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal has taken a leading role in coordinating the pitch, highlighting the city's experience hosting international bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other UN-affiliated agencies.

The bid document emphasizes Montreal's strategic location, cost competitiveness compared to other North American cities, and quality of life factors that facilitate international recruitment. City officials project that hosting the NATO bank headquarters could create 500-800 direct jobs and generate significant economic spinoff effects.

Competition for the headquarters is expected to be intense, with several European and North American cities expressing interest. Montreal's proponents argue that establishing the facility in Canada strengthens transatlantic ties while providing a North American anchor for the institution.

The selection process is expected to take several months, with NATO officials scheduled to conduct site visits to shortlisted cities in the spring. A decision could come before the end of 2026.

Local economic development officials view the bid as part of a broader strategy to position Montreal as a hub for international financial and governance institutions. The city's existing multilingual capacity and established protocols for hosting international organizations are seen as competitive advantages in the selection process.