Labour law sparks threats, vandalism, walkouts Allegations of intimidation swirl as Liberal politician says 'mud and feces' thrown at his door

Vancouver Sun, 26 October 2011 -- The explosive feud over job placements in the Quebec construction industry became nastier Tuesday as the Liberal presiding over the hearings on a proposed bill to limit union powers reported feces was spread on his office door overnight.Allegations of intimidation also continued to swirl Tuesday as the Quebec Construction Commission reported it had received more than 60 complaints from contractors, workers, and project managers about intimidation and illegal union activities following Monday's wildcat strikes.

Construction workers stage second day of wildcat strikes

Ctvmontreal.ca, 25 October 2011 -- For the second day in a row, construction workers are continuing a so-called spontaneous and unorganized strike Tuesday at construction sites across Quebec. Once again members of the Quebec Federation of Labour (FTQ) showed up at their job sites before dawn, and once again they refused to work, as did workers who belong to the Conseil provincial du Quebec des metiers de la construction (CPQMCI).

MUHC superhospital held up by labour unrest

Ctvmontreal.ca, 24 October 2011 -- Construction workers walked off the job at numerous sites across Quebec as a dispute between the Quebec government and construction unions quickly escalated Monday.The workers are protesting proposed legislation that would prevent unions from dictating which employees are allowed to work on job sites.

McGill University seeks broader picket restrictions

The Gazette, 21 October 2011 -- McGill University is to go before a Quebec Superior Court judge Thursday afternoon to seek another injunction to restrict protests by its striking support staff. However, according to McGill University spokeman Doug Sweet, the injunction request "has nothing to do" with pickets set up Thursday morning McGill University Health Centre's Glen Campus, a pressure tactic that halted construction of the MUHC hospital complex there.

McGill staff set up picket at hospital site

Cbc.ca, 20 October 2011 -- More than 300 striking members of McGill's support staff demonstrated in front of the MUHC construction site Thursday. More than 300 striking members of McGill's support staff demonstrated in front of the MUHC construction site Thursday. (Jay Turnbull/CBC).

Shriners will stay in Montreal 'forever' Ground broken on new hospital site

Montrealgazette.com, October 14th 2011 -- Montreal’s new Shriners Hospital for Children will be more than twice the size of its existing building on Mount Royal and will have an entire floor devoted to research to attract the finest physician-scientists from around the world, Shriners said at a ground-breaking ceremony on Thursday. Six years after threatening to close their Montreal pediatric orthopedic hospital and build a new one in London, Ont., senior Shriners are vowing to stay in Quebec for good.

Glen Yards MUHC: On time and on schedule

The Suburban, October 12 2011 -- Following their conspicuous absence during a recent information session held to discuss traffic issues around the Glen Yards construction site, senior MUHC Hospital executives held their own press conference after which the City's own assembled media were given their own guided tour through the site. (p.7)

Cedar Ave. clinicproject allowed to die Province declines to intervene

Montrealgazette.com, October 7 2011 -- The Quebec government and the city of Montreal have killed plans by the Montreal General Hospital to build a controversial four-storey complex of medical clinics on Cedar Ave. A day after The Gazette reported that city executive committee chairman Michael Applebaum rejected the zoning request by the Montreal General, Health Minister Yves Bolduc has decided not to intervene.

Shriners ready to break ground on new $150-million hospital

Montrealgazette.com, October 7 2011 -- After years of uncertainty about the future of the Montreal Shriners Hospital, the Shriners will hold a groundbreaking ceremony next Thursday at the Glen Yard to announce the construction of a $150-million hospital to replace their facility on Mount Royal, The Gazette has learned.

Getting the sick in Accessing the MUHC superhospital may not be easy for those who need it the most

The Mirror, October 6 2011 -- Community organizers from Westmount, NDG and St-Henri are growing impatient as their questions about pedestrian access to the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Glen Campus, expected to open in 2014, remain unanswered.

Joint Corporate Campaign of the CHUM and the MUHC Foundations - National Bank Provides $8-Million Gift: The Largest in its History

Canada Newswire, October 5 2011 -- National Bank is giving $8 million to the Joint Corporate Campaign of the Fondation du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and the McGill University Health Centre Foundation (MUHC). Announced today, the donation will support the Montreal projects' goals of enhancing academic medicine, including research. Both centres will be able to acquire state-of-the-art equipment and create ultramodern facilities so as to better meet current and future healthcare needs.

Patient advocates help bridge the gap

Leader Post, October 1 2011 -- "You have advanced colorectal cancer that has spread to your liver and to your lungs," the oncologist said in a clipped tone. "You don't have much longer left to live." Mitch Fieldstone (not his real name) had found traces of blood in his stool, and that's why he went to see the doctor. Until then, the retired film executive had never been seriously ill in his life. "I was totally unprepared for the diagnosis," the 68-year-old Montrealer recalled of that day in July 2010. "I didn't expect I'd have something as advanced as that." And Fieldstone also didn't expect to suddenly confront the maze that is Quebec's health-care system: the different departments to visit, all the appointments and tests and the cycles of chemotherapy. Worse, he couldn't shake off the nagging suspicion that perhaps he wasn't receiving the best care. Read more: http://www.leaderpost.com/health/Patient+advocates+help+bridge/5486640/story.html#ixzz1bEerfw7P

Health board elections push for diversity

Montrealgazette.com, October 1 2011 -- What if elections were held across Montreal and virtually nobody showed up to cast a ballot? That’s the challenge facing the city’s 43 health and social service institutions – from hospitals to rehab centres – when elections are held on Nov. 1 to choose members of the public for their boards of directors.

Critics question pedestrian access to MUHC superhospital

CTV.ca, September 28 2011 -- Montrealers who live near the Glen Yards are demanding the MUHC amend its plan for access to the superhospital. But the MUHC says not only are plans for pedestrian access already included, they are trying to make them better. At an information session Tuesday evening critics called for a pedestrian tunnel linking Vendome metro to the medical campus, and a pedestrian bridge over the railway tracks that parallel De Maisonneuve Blvd.

Ding dong, the wicked piling’s done at the MUHC site

The Free Press, September 27 2011 -- The headache-inducing, backyard-barbecue-cancelling, sleep-depriving, piledriving project at the McGill University Health Centre’s (MUHC) Glen Campus has finally come to an end after nearly a year of pounding cement-filled, stilt-like tubes into the unstable earth. REad more: See page 6.

Residents, McQueen take aim at dangerous intersection

The Free Press, September 27th 2011 -- With the sewer work finally completed under Decarie Blvd. and the nighttime train bridge reconstruction slated to get under way soon, residents and a city councillor have taken aim at Montreal’s failure to improve a constructionplagued, three-street intersection in eastern NDG. Read More: See front page.

Start-up group promotes cycle and pedestrian safety

The Free Press, September 27-28 2011 -- [...] The incoming McGill University Health Centre, she continued, will take a lot of the group’s attention as members encourage planners to incorporate more bike-friendly features into the hospital’s extensive campus. Along with the bike bridge, Michie said the hope is that, as millions of dollars are pumped into car parking, there will be adequate space for bikes. [...] Read more on page 12.

Ikeman stands up for District 5 residents complaining about construction noise

Westmount Independent, September 27-28 2011 -- Councillor Gary Ikeman, representing District 5, defends Sara Meland and other Westmount residents who have been waking up to the beeping sounds of reversing trucks on the McGill University Health Centre’s construction site. During a public meeting on September 22 at the MUHC building on de Maisonneuve Blvd., Ikeman told Montreal officials and an SNC Lavalin representative that the situation was unacceptable. “The beeping is going to put me in the hospital if it ever gets built,” said Meland. A Montreal police officer, Mina Lévesque, recommended that residents dealing with construction noise before 7 am call 911 to complain. (see p.9)

Will insurance cover MUHC megahospital’s private rooms?

Openfile, September 25th 2011 -- The McGill University Health Centre calls it the “ideal room” for recovering hospital patients: one person only, private bathroom, a nice sitting area and natural light. But the MUHC’s announcement that each and every room in the new megahospital will be single-patient only has prompted fears that it will exclude patients whose insurance doesn’t cover private rooms. Yves Millette of the Canadian Health and Life Insurance Association says those fears are unfounded.

Users of busy Decarie/de Maisonneuve intersection vent frustration

CTV.ca, September 23rd 2011 -- People who need to use the busy, five-pronged intersection of Decarie Blvd., Upper Lachine Rd. and de Maisonneuve Blvd. got a chance to vent their frustration Thursday evening over the danger involved, whether it's in a car or on foot. The nearby construction of the McGill University Hospital Centre's (MUHC) new super hospital has made an already complex intersection even more daunting. "It doesn't feel safe at all," one pedestrian said Thursday evening. A meeting of the Good Neighbourly Relations Committee organized by the MUHC and the city featured a lot of complaints about the intersection coming from both motorists and pedestrians. "It's pathetic," said Projet Montréal city councillor Peter McQueen. "It's eight seconds for pedestrians to cross Decarie Boulevard and, with no warning, it goes from full walk man to green for the cars."