In this spirit they are opening the gates for 450,000 annual immigrants, largely from the well-educated classes abroad, (which leads to its own ethical debate over whether it's fair for us to take the best and brightest which foreign governments have already invested in but let's save that one for another time)
What effects will this have on Montreal? Let's explore some possibilities.
- Nationalism Quebec traditionally seeks to have about 25 percent of Canada's population but new immigrants are shunning the eastern half of this country for places further west, so that could enfeeble Quebec's power in Canada, which will lead to new dissatisfaction and passport burning episodes. Quebec has long imagined that there's an endless flood of francophone talent from places like France wishing to get over here, so those peoples could serve to replenish our aging ranks, but in fact less stable countries might end up bringing their folks instead, leading to further irritation in a place that rejects multi-culutralism.
- Population density A nine-million soul greater Montreal begs the question: where would they all live? Urban sprawl and densification would be the inevitable reply. Places like St. Henri, where anti-condo sentiment thrives, would see a far more intense battle against gentrification. Cities, of course, like new towers because they bring in solid tax revenues. Pressure could be put on park space and highways could become more crowded, which brings us to....
- Transportation infrastructure More trains, metros and roads will be needed, which dovetails with the government's newest darling, which is transportation infrastructure spending. Elements of those fantasy Montreal metro systems that sexless transit geeks draw up for fun could actually take place. Many have added a stop at Sherbrooke and St. Lawrence sprouting up from Berri, which seems like an awesome idea. I'd like to see one from Vendome to the airport. Land could be obtained cheaply by building in the corner of Oxford Park, NDG Park, then a variety of such places down to Montreal West where it just cruises through industrial land thereafter.
I'm as pure laine as they come, and over sixty, but you have to be a fool not to realize that we have no choice - we desperately need more immigrants. Whatever problems an influx of them will cause (and there will be problems) are NOTHING compared to what would face tweny years from now if we don't. It is just that simple.
ReplyDeleteNew building projects, overwhelming noise pollution, and safety issues, will force Dorval Airport to close and be replaced by a re-expansion of whatever remains of Mirabel. Failing that, a brand-new one will have to be built. But we all knew that was inevitable, didn't we? We were warned about this decades ago, of course, but the powers-that-be did not listen.
ReplyDeleteA child with coloured crayons can figure out that every large city with a Metro (subway) has been required to add line extensions and entirely new ones to serve its increasing population. Once the island of Montreal has run out of housing and industrial space to build upon, the surrounding boroughs and suburbs will likewise become more dense.
Personally, I am glad that I will not be alive to tolerate living in such a megalopolis--which will likely become the new name of this blog as well, Kristian. ;-(
Last night, Mayor Coderre mentioned that the Cavendish Boulevard extension was going to happen "soon", but we've all heard that before. It might very well take a referendum or court order--or at least the threat of one--to complete that long-outstanding project once and for all, but then the recent push by Cote St. Luc to get the CPR to move their railway yards off island could easily become another irritant to delay it all. Hmmm...what a coincidence.
The political chess game continues. :-(
I tend to agree with Mr. Legend in that I too am glad I will be dead when it looks like that photo of the throngs at the beach.
ReplyDeleteWhat was NOT mentioned in the caption is that the image showed ONLY the First of SIX 6 Daylight Shifts as in a Time Share Condo, there being SIX 6 Night Shifts, also, for Beach Occupancy.
There will be a number tattooed and a Chip embedded to preserve Order, and a mandatory App for all devices stating the Regime's intent under the guise of Order for Peace and fluid use of facilities and resources. The system's Rules, when en Anglais, will be named 'Our Struggle for Peace and Profits', which will be sent to all, in the Eight 8 Official Languages, and mandatory reading with spot tests, anywhere.
There will be other conditions regarding skin shades and hair styles allowed to 'mingle' in public places, and authorized beach apparel, religious or otherwise, types of music permitted to be played on various devices and other rules to help preserve the peace and harmony, cultures and profits.
Certain 'toys' will be banned. Plastic Swords, Water operated replica Guns, and Soakers, Metal Frisbees with sharp edges, Boomerangs, and so on.
No Pets.
Parking will be high use, and various Metro and Coach Services will be laid on, depending on water table, to transport those from further spots to the beach.
Anyway, that is just at the Beach.
The whole municipality, from Piedmont to Granby, Sorel to Cazaville. will be operated on the Time Share System, the Six 6 hour 'Sleep' period being the longest, altho' not in the same bed every night.
Some do that already, part of the whole population thing. Fuckers!!
Now, for the real problem!
Where is all the domestic water for drinking, cooking and bathing going to come from?? Where will it all GO after it is USED?
How much electricity will be required, and how will it be generated? If Fossil Fuel, what about the emissions? Ditto heating?
Electric cars NEED lots of electricity to recharge.
What about transport for food and other deliveries to stores? Garbage pickup?
Space in Hospitals? Dentists?
What about those that die? where will THEY go? Sky Burials from top of PVM? or the Big Owe??
Passengers riding ON TOP of trains in the Metro, as in Asia. The Shits in Winter.
All on Time Share, coach and seat number assigned, even on the roof.
Maybe THATS why they are lowering the trolley voltage on the mega project for transportation?
When I go, they can burn me in the 1200.
I am tired, so tired.
If Insanity Rules, what does Sanity look like, then??
Thank You, All.
Introspection without exception.
P.S. Back in the Fifties, Miron et Freres used to barge sand for concrete from Oka to Lachine on the Canal opposite Dominion Bridge in their own fleet of barges and tugs, Orange and Red in colour. These colours on building at Miron Farms on the Ottawa R.
Cheer up, Mr. W, life will continue in the Brave New World even though they will have missed the best decades which have gone by. :-)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, do you remember in what year the harbour banned ships from signalling via their horns and whistles? Judging from what I hear in the background of many film noirs, it must have been quite an annoying din!
Mr. Legend should seek other interests as he is ALWAYS NEGATIVE and condescending.
ReplyDeleteTelling the forum member to go back in his hole or whatever it was is rude and ignorant.
Get out and smell the coffee instead of hovering over your keyboard similar to an e-vulture just waiting to interject yourself onto someone else.
Almost every forum has a Mr. Legend, who likes to dominate and demean.
Sad, as there is so much that can be learned and left as a record.
Get out of your lonely typer's Garratt and see the sun, before it's too late.
I ride my bike everyday, while I still can.
What is coming will be worse that we are leaving behind, which is too bad.
Grow Up.
Get a life.
Thank You.
WHO is the "always negative" one?
ReplyDeleteMr. MP&I, methinks you have become a hopeless curmudgeon, but glad that you are at least out and about on your two-wheeler despite presumably dodging the cones and road-ragers.
Don't forget your helmet and to stock up on your meds for the long winter ahead.
Just some positive advice, I'm sure you'll agree. But then I suppose it would all depend upon what side of the bed you get up in the morning before you launch yourself with a snarl into Coolopolis.
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
The Mirror Answers! a reflection of himself, and, sadly, me too.
ReplyDeleteYou have a vicious streak inside that is worrisome, never having said a 'nice' thing since you arrived here on this forum.
I hate a popcorn fest, as it hurts my Diverticulitis and Bowel movements, Mais,what the heck.
Join me??
Salt?? More Butter?
I'm going out to ride my Norco, so THERE!!!
BPPPHHHHHBT!! as Calvin would say.
SHIT! I got Saliva on my SCREEN!
and, its ALL YOUR FAULT!!!
( If my Teachers @ Iona off Circle Rd. could only see me,now!! )
Dear Sir, you are raving again.
ReplyDeleteTake a Valium.
He is right public transport, buses and metro wagons are already pretty crowded, we regurlarly have to wait for another one. Something needs to be done, Montreal is getting pretty crowded.
ReplyDeleteOne point that I might add is that, in the discussion of transport infrastructure, people seem to neglect the great possibility that driverless cars will be an actual reality in the not too distant future.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, these driverless cars will completely change how we move people and things in the future (related to another post, maybe we should all take photos of our existing cars since they will be a thing of the past).
It will also unfortunately eliminate a whole lot of jobs – taxi drivers; truck drivers; bus drivers etc., etc.
I think investing lots of bucks in the way we currently transport will likely all have to be redone to allow for driverless transportation and not too far down the road.
The entire concept of driverless cars and, presumably, other larger vehicles as well, has not been thought completely through.
ReplyDeleteFor example, how will hit-and-run incidents be dealt with? Who exactly will be liable? Someone inside the vehicle at the time or the owner? They might very well claim the vehicle itself was defective and therefore attempt to escape prosecution. Imagine the outrage by families of the victims.
What about joyriders, stolen vehicles, drunken passengers? What charges could be laid in a court of law? Will relevant laws be universal, overseen by federal jurisdiction or by state and province?
Rest assured some crucial factor which no one has yet realized or figured into the equation will render such technology an unacceptable risk once people are being killed. Lawsuits are inevitable.
Case in point: the faulty airbag fiasco.
BPPPHHHHHBT!!
ReplyDeleteThere are about 30,000+ deaths in highway accidents currently; driverless vehicles will result in a fraction of that number (if any); drunk driving would not be an issue with driverless cars since the driver will not be in control; it is even suggested that private ownership of cars will be a thing of the past and everyone would simply rely on a call up service of a driverless car.
ReplyDeleteWith all the million of miles of testing currently being conducted around the world by Tesla; Google and others; as well as, California already working on the laws that will be required for driverless vehicles – I have no doubt that they will become a reality in the not too distant future.
My only point is that planners of major infrastructure as it relates to highways, like Turcot, should be factoring in these changes in their plans now.
And I also believe that this change to driverless vehicles will have a very major affect on us. In my opinion it will be as big as how the Internet changed the way we communicate – vehicle without drivers will completely change how people and things move from one location to another, and as usual, there will be winners and losers with this technology.
Cheap driverless electric taxis could conceivably even wipe out public transit if it's cheap enough. As for the Turcot, it's already done. Planners of the Turcot already screwed NDG over by removing access to the 20 eastbound from Addington and St. James. Now you've got to drive all the way up to Cote St. Luc or through St. Henri/Burgundy just to get downtown. Don't know if the Greene entrance will ever reopen either.
ReplyDeleteRest assured that the automobile insurance companies are already working overtime to incorporate new, relevant fine print into their future policies for driverless vehicles.
ReplyDeleteThey will without a doubt utilize every possible escape clause whereby they will not have to pay any more to accident victims than they are obliged to.
Watch for it: mechanical failure versus incompetence/recklessness of vehicle occupant/owner.
Why should we expect otherwise?
Worth mentioning:
ReplyDeletehttps://au.news.yahoo.com/a/33577296/driverless-uber-runs-red-light-almost-ploughs-into-pedestrian/#page1