<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/montreal-mayor-valerie-plante-gives-a-speeech-right-u-s-president-donald-trump-stands-at-a-rally.jpg?id=56154834&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=96%2C0%2C96%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>Montreal isn't taking the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/made-in-canada-grocery-items" target="_blank">Canada-USA trade war</a> lightly.</p><p>Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump followed through on his promise to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hit back with a <a href="https://www.narcity.com/trump-trudeau-tariffs-canada-full-list" target="_blank">25% tariff on $155 billion worth of American products</a>.</p><p>While Trudeau and Quebec Premier François Legault have already taken decisive action against the President, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante may use her municipal power to do the same.</p><p>On Monday, the mayor said the city is considering a 25% "penalty" on American suppliers as it actively searches for local and international alternatives to American goods.</p><p>"The City of Montreal will defend its economy with all the firmness that the current situation requires," Plante wrote in an X post. "Cities are on the front lines. It is the workers, businesses and families who will suffer the first impacts of this senseless tariff war."</p><blockquote class="rm-embed twitter-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1886461248943894958">
<div style="margin:1em 0"></div> — (@) <a href="https://twitter.com/Val_Plante/status/1886461248943894958"></a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<p>She added that with the city already reviewing the list of American companies registered in its supplier registry and that a decision could be made as soon as this week.</p><p>"In the coming days, we will work hand in hand with higher governments to respond with force and determination to this attack on our economy," said Plante. "In the face of such a threat, there is no partisanship or hesitation that holds. The friendship between our nations has always been based on mutual respect. If Washington chooses confrontation, we will respond with the same determination."</p><p><span></span>This follows the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/saq-american-alcohol" target="_blank">SAQ's decision to pull all American booze from its shelves</a>, meaning brands like Jack Daniel's, Tito's, and White Claw will soon disappear from stores, bars, and restaurants across Quebec.With Montreal now reviewing its supplier list, it's unclear which U.S. goods could be next on the chopping block. </p><p>One thing's for sure — this trade war is heating up fast. </p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/johnny-gumbley-at-the-bar-of-one-of-his-clubs-right-montreal-mayor-valerie-plante-poses-with-a-bixi-bike.jpg?id=59764295&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=96%2C0%2C96%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>One clear sign that summer is on its way in Montreal is the sudden appearance of <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/bixi-montreal" target="_blank">BIXI bicycle stations</a> across the city.</p><p>But while the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/bixi-montreal-expansion-2025-season" target="_blank">bike-sharing service continues to grow in popularity</a> — with thousands of users and a rapidly expanding network across Quebec — not everyone is thrilled about the new installations. Some local business owners say the placement of BIXI stations is blocking access to their venues and costing them serious revenue.</p><p>John Gumbley, founder of the <a href="https://jegantic.com/" target="_blank">Jegantic Hospitality Group</a> — the company behind Montreal nightlife staples like Yoko Luna, Bord'elle, the Farsides and Muzique — is among the most vocal critics. He says new BIXI stations have been installed directly in front of four of his group's venues, including Yoko Luna, the Farsides, Bord'elle and a future project, which will be called Bonita.</p><p>In response to a recent <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHy-Cb2JUfq/?img_index=1" target="_blank">Instagram post featuring images of the new BIXI stations</a>, Gumbley commented directly to Mayor Valérie Plante, promising a lawsuit.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img alt="An Instagram comment from Johnny Gumbley. " class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8f4b0f66732a2778372e4ee4325ee437" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="64753" loading="lazy" src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/an-instagram-comment-from-johnny-gumbley.png?id=59764276&width=980"/>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Gumbley claims his business will lose millions if BIXI stations remain.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit..."><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHy-Cb2JUfq/?img_index=1" target="_blank">@johnnygumbley | Instagram</a></small></p><p>"[Valérie Plante], we are the owners of four businesses you've completely blocked off with [BIXI stations]. We will lose millions in sales and we have invested many millions more and employ up to 500 people in the city," he wrote. "Are you simply trying to bankrupt everyone in Montreal? Hoping for a response, but a lawsuit is coming."</p><p>He followed that up with a series of Instagram stories showing the installations on rue de la Montagne, calling them a hazard and a disruption to day-to-day operations.</p><p>"They've placed 40 [BIXI bike racks] right at our entrance, creating a death trap and fire hazard at the entrance of a venue that is permitted for over 800 people. Removing all street access and parking," one post read.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img alt="An Instagram story posted by John Gumbley. " class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ca3e5ce16abfa0580422ff76796cf6eb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="b2790" loading="lazy" src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/an-instagram-story-posted-by-john-gumbley.png?id=59764046&width=980"/>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Gumbley is threatening a lawsuit. </small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" data-gramm="false" data-lt-tmp-id="lt-226873" placeholder="Add Photo Credit..." spellcheck="false"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/johnnygumbley/" target="_blank">@johnnygumbley | Instagram</a></small></p><p>In addition to safety concerns, Gumbley says the stations will affect things like visibility, Uber dropoffs, valet service, deliveries and customer access — all while a nearby parking lot was recently approved for condo development.</p><p>In an interview with MTL Blog on Monday, Gumbley said the BIXI stations first appeared last Friday, without warning.</p><p>"They just appeared Friday morning. No warning, no communication. Nobody asked us anything," he said.</p><p>Gumbley confirmed he has been in contact with BIXI, who responded to his Instagram posts and promised to reevaluate the station placement. However, he says that as of now, there's been no direct conversation with a decision maker at the organization.</p><p>"They're going to have no choice but to move ours. First of all, Yoko Luna has an 800-person capacity. There's no way that you could have this giant impediment that people have to go around in the event of a fire or an emergency — it'll create a funnel," he noted.</p><p>Gumbley, who believes the docking station may have accidentally been placed on his business's side of the street, says this wasn't an issue last season, when BIXI bikes were installed at a nearby corner that didn't block any businesses.</p><p>"Last year, they had it not blocking any doorways, not blocking any of the business, and it was fine. This year they moved it dead centre in front of our businesses," he said. "It makes no sense."</p><p>In his eyes, there's only one viable answer.</p><p>"The only solution would be simply moving them from where they are to where they had them last year — on the corner of the street where there are no businesses."</p><p>Gumbley says he hopes the situation can be resolved quickly, but he isn't ruling out legal action if necessary.</p><p>On Monday, BIXI announced that the 2025 season will see the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/bixi-montreal-expansion-2025-season" target="_blank">addition of 1,600 new bikes</a>, including a total of 3,200 electric bikes, and more than 130 new stations across Quebec. This expansion marks the largest in the company's history.</p><p>MTL Blog has reached out to the City of Montreal and the Service des incendies de Montréal for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.</p>
<div><img width="300" height="192" src="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/images-36-8-300x192.jpeg" class="attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" srcset="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/images-36-8-300x192.jpeg 300w, https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/images-36-8.jpeg 691w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></div>
<p>Popular Nigerian TV host, Rufai Oseni has lamented over the lifestyle of the ruling party despite the dire economic situation in the country. Oseni stated that amidst the hyperinflation of commodities, mass unemployment, poverty and hunger brought upon the country by the previous administration, those in power are still having a field day. Speaking via […]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.naijanews.com/2023/07/29/how-can-presidency-still-have-11-private-jets-despite-economic-crisis-in-the-country-rufai-oseni/">How Can Presidency Still Have 11 Private Jets Despite Economic Crisis In The Country – Rufai Oseni</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.naijanews.com">Naija News</a>.</p>