Montreal Concedes Closing Patios Abruptly During Busy Grand Prix Night Was Inappropriate
The City of Montreal has initiated an inquiry and placed an employee on suspension following an incident where fire prevention officers instructed several restaurants to close their crowded outdoor seating areas during dinner time on the bustling Grand Prix weekend.
Luc Rabouin, the president of the city’s executive committee, acknowledged that it was “unacceptable” for uniformed personnel to force restaurant owners to evacuate their patrons from the patios on Peel Street around 9 p.m. on June 7, one of the busiest nights of the year.
“We were all taken aback by that, and even our highest city officials decided to launch an investigation because it is not common or normal for such an event to occur in Montreal,” he informed reporters on June 10 outside Ferreira Café, one of the affected restaurants.
Since Montrealer Sandra Ferreira shared a tearful video on social media on June 7 detailing how uniformed officers arrived at her family’s Ferreira Café and demanded that the outdoor seating area be cleared due to non-compliance with municipal bylaws, the city has been under intense scrutiny.
In the video, Ms. Ferreira mentioned that there had been discussions with inspectors about the arrangement of the patios and tents covering them in the weeks leading up to the Montreal Formula One race, but she believed her setup had been approved.
“I find it cruel that they waited two to three weeks before shutting it down when the restaurant was at full capacity,” she expressed in the widely circulated video.
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Mr. Rabouin disclosed on June 10 that the city had suspended a fire department employee pending the outcomes of the internal investigation, without providing further information. He mentioned that the prevention officers observed that the tents above the patios were placed too close to the buildings, but acknowledged that the inspections should have been conducted at a different time.
The public outcry prompted the city’s firefighters’ association to clarify that the operation was carried out by civilian prevention officers and not firefighters, who wear a similar uniform. The four affected patios were permitted to reopen on Saturday without the tents that shielded customers from the rain.
The opposition at City Hall, Ensemble Montreal, insisted that the city administration should question fire officials before the council to provide the public with explanations regarding the “monumental fiasco” that marred the city’s image.
Julien Hénault-Ratelle, the party’s economic development critic, attributed the “shameful” incident to a lack of coordination and communication between the fire prevention team and the borough administration led by Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.
He noted that the closure, while affecting only a few restaurants, added to the challenges faced by struggling downtown businesses. “There are issues with cleanliness, cohabitation with the homeless in downtown Montreal, and here we have a work site right next to the street,” he remarked to reporters. “All of these issues are very challenging for all business owners.”
Alain Creton, the owner of Chez Alexandre et fils restaurant, along with another affected restaurateur, stated that they were still too distraught to determine the appropriate actions they wanted the city to take.
“We’re too emotional, we’re tired, so we don’t know what to do and what we want,” he expressed. However, he clarified that he had no intention of pursuing legal action. “I don’t want to fight anyone, I just want this not to happen again, not just for me but for everyone in Montreal.”
Mr. Rabouin mentioned that the city would propose solutions within 24 hours to enable restaurant owners to operate their covered patios safely, but Mr. Creton indicated that he was uncertain about re-erecting a tent.
