Allison Hanes: Legault disconnected from the nonetheless powerless in Montreal

These battling the aftermath of final week’s ice storm gave the impression to be shortly forgotten over the weekend by the premier.

Printed Apr 11, 2023 • Final up to date 2 days in the past • 4 minute learn

Premier François Legault, second proper, speaks with a Hydro-Québec crew working to revive energy in Les Coteaux on Friday. Picture by Peter Mccabe /The Canadian Press

It wasn’t a lot the shortage of warmth, however the spoiled meals that received to me.

On Monday, after roughly 96 hours with no energy, I needed to toss out the contents of my fridge and freezer. Yogurt, milk, bacon, seafood, mayonnaise, ice cream, a pork roast, salad dressing went within the trash — to not point out all of the soups and stews stashed away for a simple supper. Not less than the meat received barbecued for dinner through the outage.

By my estimate, not less than $250 value of meals needed to be discarded — a sickening quantity of waste at a time the price of groceries is hovering and so many individuals are struggling to feed themselves.

The toll of the ice storm that pelted Montreal with as much as 35 mm of freezing rain Wednesday and knocked out energy to 1.1 million prospects principally within the metropolitan area might be completely different for every of us, measured in fallen branches, downed bushes, broken property, failed sump pumps, spotty cell service, misplaced meals and chilly properties. However the excessive climate induced untold stress and frustration for a broad swath of Better Montreal.

Almost every week later, greater than 7,500 prospects had been ready to be reconnected as of Tuesday night, based on Hydro-Québec, with 1,500 staff out attempting to revive service.

The widespread carnage has posed many challenges for crews, prolonging distress and testing endurance.

Over the lengthy weekend, neighbours got here collectively to assist one another bail out flooded basements, test in on weak seniors or soak up electrical energy refugees nonetheless shivering at the hours of darkness. Municipalities sprang into motion, organising warming centres, providing telephone charging stations, brewing numerous carafes of espresso and offering entry to scorching showers.

However Premier François Legault appeared to disengage because the emergency wore on.

Within the fast aftermath of the ice storm, Legault (together with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mayor Valérie Plante) visited Hydro-Québec’s Montreal operations centre for a briefing Thursday. On Saturday, Legault made a cease in Les Coteaux close to the Ontario border to thank Hydro crews on the bottom, accompanied by Marilyne Picard, the native Coalition Avenir Québec MNA.

However after that, it was again to enterprise as standard, with the premier tweeting about hockey, commenting on the guide he’s studying (O.V.N.I. Current by Sylvain Vincent) and even stirring up controversy by sharing an article on how Catholicism instilled Quebecers with a robust sense of solidarity, solely days after the Nationwide Meeting outlawed prayer rooms for Muslim college students in colleges within the identify of state secularism.

As Legault was wishing Quebecers a Glad Easter, tens of 1000’s had been nonetheless with out mild, warmth, or the means to whip up a typical vacation feast. The Jewish group noticed the beginning of Passover by candlelight and Muslims needed to break their daylong Ramadan quick with out functioning kitchens or scorching meals. In the meantime, greater than a thousand hydro staff had been logging lengthy days away from their households over a protracted weekend.

It’s not like this was a distant emergency in a distant area. This occurred within the metropolis, dwelling to half the inhabitants of Quebec and the biggest metropolis within the province. The premier wouldn’t have needed to enterprise far to carry a bit consolation to these nonetheless .

A retirement dwelling in Outremont, the place Legault lived for a few years, was one in all a number of disadvantaged of warmth for days on finish. A good friend within the West Island, the place the premier grew up, calculated her energy was out for 124 hours till Monday. Elements of St-Lazare (a CAQ driving) had been nonetheless with out electrical energy Tuesday, particularly after a automobile hitting a utility pole Monday night plunged some residents into the darkish over again.

A tweet of sympathy after he returned from Les Coteaux would have been a pleasant present of that Catholic solidarity Legault so proudly highlighted.

Legault normally takes a outstanding position responding to tragedies, like when a bus crashed right into a daycare in Laval. He was entrance and centre reassuring Quebecers in his folksy means through the pandemic. He’s additionally turn into extra closely concerned in managing Hydro-Québec. However this time, his consideration wavered.

Go away it to Sugar Sammy to seize the prevailing temper. The comic uploaded a section to YouTube over the weekend joking that the areas of Montreal ready the longest for energy restoration are dwelling to “ethnics and anglos.”

“That’s not coming again for some time, bro. You noticed the place the electrical energy went out. Laval, West Island, N.D.G., Côte-des-Neiges,” he quipped. “Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu has fireworks tonight.”

Laughter amid adversity is welcome, nevertheless it however hit a nerve amongst a lot of these feeling forgotten.

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